Runaway leaders aim to keep pack at bay

SADDLEWORTH will be confident of taking another giant stride towards Saddleworth and District Cricket League title glory tomorrow when they welcome Wythenshawe to Well-i-Hole.

It has been a terrific season so far for Saddleworth and a currently-held 59-point lead over second-placed Austerlands looks almost unassailable.

But Austerlands still have two games in hand on the leaders, and they will be equally buoyant and keen to see off a visiting Friarmere outfit which has won only three times this season.

Arguably the game of the day comes at Warren Lane, where fourth-placed Glodwick will host a Moorside outfit only a point and a place in front of them. Neither will have given up hope of catching Saddleworth just yet.

In the lower reaches of the table, South West Manchester will hope to score only their second victory of the season against a visiting Micklehurst side that has won only four games.

Stayley face a mid-table Tameside derby clash against Droylsden, but Shaw will be disappointed with their open date tomorrow as they have the man in form at present in Azam Hussain. He has taken 12 wickets in his last two games.

Tomorrow also sees the start of the battle for the JK Bacon Trophy, played over the final six games of the season The club scoring most points from both its division one and two sides takes the prize.

Don’t forget, it’s Pro Elite Sports Twenty20 finals day on Bank Holiday Monday at Greenfield’s Ladd Hill Lane ground. Shaw and Moorside meet in the first semi-final from 10.30am, followed by Greenfield versus Saddleworth at 1.30pm. The final is scheduled for 4.30pm.



UPPERMILL are staging a Twenty20 match against Drakes Huddersfield League Premiership high-fliers Delph on Sunday at their Leefields ground (3pm). The host club will field a select XI, containing players past and present, and there will be other entertainment through into the evening.