Sweet and sour for league teams

CRICKET: UPPERMILL wicketkeeper and captain Alex Griffiths removed his gloves to help the Saddleworth and District Cricket League book their place in the semi-finals of the Readers Inter-League Lancashire Trophy.

The ’keeper was one of three local players to break the wickets as the first-round tie against the Bolton League was decided by a bowl-out.

With no chance of play at Moorside’s Turf Pit Lane ground because of rain, cricket’s equivalent of a football penalty shoot-out was used to decided the outcome.

And, thanks to Glodwick’s Mark Whitehead, Griffiths and Gareth Dent, of Droylsden, the Saddleworth League emerged with a 3-2 victory to end five consecutive years of failure at the first hurdle.

The Saddleworth League are away to the Lancashire County League on Sunday, July 10.


THE Lake Garage CLL team, captained by Oldham’s Chris McDonnell, are out of the competition after losing a bowl out to the Lancashire County League.
Yesterday’s game at Glossop was called off without a ball being delivered and, when it came to a bowl-out, the CLL lost 4-1.

The CLL colts’ match against the Saddleworth League at Middleton was also abandoned, with both sides being awarded one point in their group.