Oldham’s chance to shock derby rivals

RASHID HUSSAIN . . . overseeing an Oldham recovery.

CRICKET: OLDHAM were on the wrong end of a Wood Cup hiding against Clifton last Sunday, but this weekend gives them two chances to redeem themselves.

Before the cup setback and a couple of washed-out fixtures, Oldham had won their two previous matches at Ashton and Unsworth.

Defeat against a Premier Division outfit in the Wood Cup was no disgrace and Oldham will be keen to show their mettle in tomorrow’s Twenty20 game at home to Werneth and a 50-over league derby against Crompton 24 hours later.

Pollards skipper Rashid Hussain is convinced his new-look team can complete a weekend double.

“It took three games for the players to find their feet,” he said.

“But the players have adjusted and we are definitely getting better.”

The test of that improvement will come in Sunday’s longer game at home to a Crompton team who have won their last three completed fixtures.

Sunday’s Wood Cup defeat of Premier Division side Middleton was especially pleasing for skipper Carl Taylor, who is delighted with his own team’s recent improvement after a poor start to the season.

Crompton face a severe test against a strong Littleborough outfit in the Twenty20 Competition tomorrow.

But Royton will fully expect to see off Ashton before a home game against Radcliffe in the league on Sunday.

Werneth follow tomorrow’s cup game with a home match against Ashton, which gives them the chance to bounce back from the sickening Wood Cup loss on run rate to Rochdale.