Crompton pay the penalty

THE old adage that catches win matches was never more true than for Crompton on Sunday.

Having beaten Middleton in their first fixture of this year’s CLL Championship, Crompton were confident of following up at home to Monton and Weaste.

But their profligacy in the field and the loss of a crucial toss, ultimately cost them victory.

Batting first, Crompton were bowled out for 108, Monton’s new professional Christiaan Jonker taking six for 22.

“It was a bad toss to lose,” said Crompton skipper Simon Wright. “You could see by the patches on the wicket that it was still drying out and we lost Josh (Tolley, professional) second ball to one that popped. The drier the wicket became, the easier it was to bat.”

“Even then we had them at 25 for four and were in with a great chance.

“But the guy who made a match-winning 47 for them (Jake Sandham) had two or three lives and we were made to pay for putting down those chances.

“Honestly, we must have put down 10 catches, some of them of under-13 standard, in the two games we have played so far. I don’t know why.”

Matches this weekend at home to Unsworth and away to Radcliffe offer Crompton the chance to bounce back and the bowling of Carl Taylor is one major plus as the Glebe Street outfit tackle their first double-header of the season.

Crompton are without overseas amateur Denis Louis for a further weekend, while batsman Andy Yates is likely to return from RAF duty in three weeks’ time.