Tanner rivals ready to roll again

MATT TAYLOR

CRICKET: “HOLD your nerve” says Uppermill skipper Matt Taylor ahead of Sunday’s Tanner Cup final replay at Leefields (1pm).

A thrilling encounter two weeks ago ended in only the second tie in the competition’s 88-year history.

It means Uppermill, the hosts this weekend, and Lloyd Kingston’s Moorside must try again.

Taylor is calling for cool heads and says it would be unwise to concentrate on countering the threat of professional Stephan Grobler and overseas amateur Francois Mostert.

He said: “We managed to remove their pro cheaply in the first final, but Moorside still managed to get 196, which shows if you focus on one player, somebody else will hurt you.

“We have to keep our discipline with bat and ball, and make sure the big moments go our way.”

While Uppermill are without seamer Andrew Jones, Moorside are missing batsman Francis Sutherland.

Danny Anchor is expected to replace Sutherland at the top of the order. He won the Tanner Cup in 2002 and 2003, both times in the Saddleworth team that featured Alex Griffiths and Andy McVeigh, who this time are in the opposing team.