Upbeat message despite defeat

Run-rate agony, but future is bright
CRICKET: WERNETH may be licking their wounds following a heartbreaking Wood Cup exit, but they are determined to be positive about Sunday’s home game against Rochdale.

Championship side Werneth and their opponents from the Premier division were both bowled out for 148 - but the visitors went into the quarter finals.

They faced 48.2 overs to Werneth’s 48.4 and, as both teams had lost all their wickets, superior run rate was the decider. Rochdale took two balls fewer to reach their 148 so were declared winners.

“We were devastated, but it was a great game,” admitted Werneth player Andy Walker, the club’s cricket chairman.

“Nobody knew who had won when we came off and it took about half an hour for the umpires to check the scorebooks before announcing Rochdale.

A place in round two of the CLL’s premier knock-out competition would have been a great tonic for Werneth and skipper Matt Taylor, but they at least know the team is moving in the right direction.

Rochdale are third in the Premier Division yet Werneth — in second place in the Championship — matched them all the way.

Added Walker: “The team is playing well and if we continue to do that, results will take care of themselves. The aim is promotion and we can do it if we keep playing as we are.”