Local rivals face cup showdown

NUMBERS GAME . . . William Lees-Jones, managing director of sponsors JW Lees Brewery, Pennine Cricket League chairman Nigel Tench and vice-chairman Glenn Kershaw, make the draw for the Wood Cup.

ROYTON will host Crompton in the stand-out tie in the preliminary round of next year’s JW Lees Brewery-sponsored Wood Cup.

It will be the first time the competition has been held under the umbrella of the newly-formed Pennine Cricket league.

Royton have been handed a place in the PCL’s top flight despite finishing bottom of the now-defunct CLL Premier Division last summer.

Crompton, in contrast, earned promotion to the top tier after winning the CLL Championship title.

Werneth have also been handed a preliminary round-tie. The Coppice club are away to Walsden, who have been one of the CLL powerhouses of recent seasons.

Oldham will travel to Milnrow, while the clash of Heyside and Stayley at Little Hey Street is an intriguing prospect, as are Micklehurst’s visit to Rochdale, Friarmere’s home clash with Shaw and Uppermill’s hosting of Hollinwood.

Greenfield await the winners of the latter clash in round one of the competition.

The draw is —

Preliminary round: Walsden v Werneth; Uppermill v Hollinwood; Rochdale v Micklehurst; Ashton v Middleton; Friarmere v Shaw; Milnrow v Oldham; Royton v Crompton; Heyside v Stayley.

Round one: Norden v Monton & Weaste; Greenfield v Uppermill/Hollinwood; Ashton/Middleton v Littleborough; Heyside/Stayley v Austerlands; Friarmere/Shaw v Moorside; Saddleworth v Glodwick; Walsden/Werneth v Royton/Crompton; Rochdale/Micklehurst v Milnrow/Oldham.

Early-round losers will be entered in the Tanner Cup,

Draw for the Burton Cup (seconds XIs) reversed.



THE opening day of the PCL season will feature some fascinating clashes between former CLL and Saddleworth and District League clubs.

Two Premiership matches which catch the eye are Glodwick at home to Littleborough and Saddleworth entertaining Rochdale.

Royton host Norden, who completed the Premier Division-Wood Cup double for the second successive season in 2015, while Crompton entertain Middleton and Austerlands are at home to Greenfield.



GROUPS for the Tom Hardman Twenty20 Cup competition —

Group ‘A’: Monton & Weaste; Norden; Moorside; Heyside; Micklehurst; Stayley.

Group ‘B’: Royton; Crompton; Hollinwood; Milnrow; Glodwick; Ashton.

Group ‘C’: Werneth; Saddleworth; Shaw; Walsden; Littleborough; Middleton.

Group ‘D’: Greenfield; Rochdale; Austerlands; Friarmere; Uppermill; Oldham.

All Friday night fixtures to be arranged.