Moorside on a mission

CRICKET: GRANT Hodnett has thrown down the gauntlet to his Moorside team-mates.

Facing a Tanner Cup first-round tie at home to Shaw on Sunday, the professional has called on the lads from Turf Pit Lane to forget the pain of last season’s final defeat.

Moorside were beaten by Uppermill in an exciting replay, despite a century from man of the match Danny Anchor. They then went on to lose the Twenty20 final against perennial winners Heyside.

Prolific run-scorer Hodnett, who has carried on where he left off at Bamford Fieldhouse, said: “It is an historic competition which teams in the Saddleworth League want to win, and chatting to the hierarchy at the club, they are no different.

“The side has a nice balance. Yes, we’ve got specialist batsmen and specialist bowlers, but we’ve also got players who can do both which can sway outcomes in these types of games. The players are chomping at the bit.”

Hodnett plundered more than 1,600 runs for Bamford last season, and it has hasn’t taken him long to find his feet at Moorside with scores of 80 and 100 in his last two innings.

“I had a very good season in the Premier League for the Old Boys. The wickets were awesome over there, so it has take me a couple of matches to adjust as my shot execution wasn’t quite right, but with a run of scores under my belt I feel a lot better.”

Holders Uppermill also have home advantage against South West Manchester, while league leaders Droylsden go to Glodwick.