In need of Aussie spirit

MICHAEL POTE: he and Chris Hutchinson will hope to make a strong impact for their clubs tomorrow.

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CRICKET: BEN Dunk and Chris Hutchinson can be forgiven for having their minds elsewhere in the build-up to tomorrow’s CLL action.

The two Australians will have spent the last three days watching their fellow countrymen play England in the Ashes at Trent Bridge.

But Royton professional Dunk and overseas amateur Hutchinson will need to focus on their own

performances when the Paddock club clashes with Radcliffe at The Racecourse.

This is a huge fixture for Royton, whose promotion hopes have been hit by back-to-back home defeats.

The chances of coming top are receding, but the runner-up spot would give Royton a passport to next season’s Premier Division.

In recent weeks what seemed like a formality has been cut back: defeat tomorrow would start the team’s nerves jangling.

Royton lead third-placed Crompton by eight points, with tomorrow’s in-form opponents a point away in fourth.

Dunk and Hutchinson have been pivotal to Royton’s success this season, although several other members of the team have put up their hands as well.

With 13 fixtures to go, there are lots of points to play for and Crompton, Radcliffe and fifth-placed Unsworth will be in no mood to wave the white flag at this stage.


WERNETH have been in majestic form, their only loss this season coming in a high-scoring encounter at Royton.
It will be a major surprise if they are beaten at Ashton tomorrow, although the Rayner Lane outfit can raise their game on their day and have an able professional in Naweed Ghany.


CROMPTON will be desperate to keep up the pressure on Royton and will view their home derby against OLDHAM as a game they should win.
Oldham’s bowlers took a fearful caning at the hands of Unsworth last weekend, while Crompton and their professional Michael Pote were in the runs at home to Ashton. It all points to a hard day in the field for Oldham.