Cup of opportunity faces gang of four

PROFESSIONAL Mohammed Zaman Khan will be keen to shine for Werneth against his former club, Royton, at the Coppice tomorrow.

CRICKET: THE most-eagerly awaited day of the Lake Garage CLL season is almost upon us.

Sunday sees the first round of the John Willie Lees Wood Cup - and it will be fascinating to see how the Championship clubs fare against the Premier Division outfits. Is there a class gap between the two sets of teams?

That was the case last season, but many of the second-tier outfits have strengthened considerably in the 12 months since a 16-team division was in place. Our four local teams are without doubt better equipped to play the big boys.

Royton narrowly missed out on a place in the top tier and the addition to their ranks of Chris Hutchinson, Ben Dunk and Ryan Carruthers has more than helped to compensate for the loss of skipper Alan Durose.

Sunday’s first-round opponents, Monton and Weaste, have already been beaten by Royton this season, but that was at the Paddock and this one is at Monton.

Also on their travels will be Crompton, although they don’t have so far to go. Middleton are the opponents and it will not have escaped skipper Carl Taylor’s notice that the Towncroft outfit is propping up the division.

Werneth face an arguably-tougher task despite home advantage against Rochdale. The visitors have made a solid start to the season and are currently third in the top flight, just behind Heywood and Littleborough.

Oldham also have home advantage against a decent Clifton side, who currently sit in mid-table in the Premier Division.


TOP SPOT in the Championship is the big prize at stake tomorrow when Werneth host Royton in the second tier of the CLL.
Royton lead their neighbours by a single point, with a four-point gap to third-placed Radcliffe.

So whoever comes out on top at the Coppice will not only have local bragging rights, but will have the luxury of looking down at the rest in the division.

The teams met at Royton only two weeks ago when a Hutchinson century for the hosts settled the issue.

The Australian and his fellow countryman, professional Dunk, pose a huge threat to Werneth, but the hosts have plenty of matchwinners of their own so a fascinating clash is in prospect.

Oldham won their two previous games before Sunday’s wash-out against Werneth, and Rashid Hussain’s team will be hoping to keep the momentum going when they entertain second-from-bottom Unsworth.

Crompton have also won their last two completed fixtures and an away fixture at winless Ashton gives them an obvious chance of continuing their good run.