Royton roar back to win tight derby

Photo: Picture by CHRIS SUNDERLAND.

THAT’S OUT: Royton deputy pro Steve Whitwam falls victim to Oldham’s Munawar Mohammed.

CRICKET:

CHRIS Hutchinson made a superb return to the Paddock as Royton beat Oldham in a low-scoring Lake Garage CLL championship encounter.

The overseas amateur - a huge success here two seasons ago - showed Royton they can expect more of the same this season.

He made 31 runs in Royton’s 129 all out from 38 of their scheduled 50 overs.

He followed that with three for 31 as Oldham were dismissed for 93.

New-look Oldham made a fine start, bowling well to take an early grip on the game.

Hutchinson and another returning player, Ryan Carruthers (34) set Royton back on track, but a mid-innings collapse instigated by Zoaib Shah (six for 36) saw the pendulum swing back to the visitors.

Chasing a low total, Oldham knew a good start would make life easier.

But Adam Good and Matthew Smith made early inroads as Oldham slumped to 33 for three.

Whitwam and Hutchinson, with three victims apiece, were in no mood to let Oldham off the hook and new skipper Denny Hulme was able to celebrate victory as the final wicket fell on 93.



WERNETH made a winning start to their campaign with a three-wicket verdict against Radcliffe.

Joe Taylor took four for 28 as Radcliffe were skittled for 61.

That target should have been a doddle for Werneth, but they scraped over the finishing line for the loss of seven wickets, visiting pro Michael Burns taking four for 28.



CROMPTON, without pro Michael Pote and overseas amateur Denis Louis, went down by seven wickets at Monton and Weaste.

Carl Taylor’s men were bowled out for only 89, a total Monton passed for the loss of three wickets with Chris Monaghan hitting 50.