Crompton too strong for strugglers

CROMPTON dispelled any notions of a Wood Cup hangover by producing a convincing 87-run victory at Ashton on Saturday.

Beaten by Heywood in the cup semi-final the previous weekend, Crompton showed their powers of recovery - not for the first time this season - by dismantling the Lake Garage CLL’s bottom club.

Taking first guard, Crompton made 227 for nine from their 50 overs, professional Kevin Stoute leading the way with 67 and Darren Graham hitting 34.

In reply, Ashton were always struggling to cope with Crompton’s pace attack.

Only paid man Ian Daniel, with 51 not out, could muster any real resistance as Stoute (five for 32) and fellow West Indian Javon Searles (four for 61) skittled them for 140.


OLDHAM continued their climb up the table with a thrilling six-runs victory over Middleton at the Pollards.



Chris McDonnell hit 50 and Liam Garnett 33 as Oldham were bowled out for 186 after taking first guard.

Middleton’s stand-in professional Brad Drew took four for 47, while former Crompton spinner Dale Highton collected four for 58.

Middleton came within an ace of winning the game, but were restricted to 180 for nine despite Jimmy Ryan’s 50.

Garnett completed a fine all-round performance with a vital spell of bowling which earned him four wickets for 23 runs.




ROYTON’S title hopes all but vanished when they lost by five wickets to Walsden at the Paddock.



The home side batted first and were bowled out for 174, Matt Thompson taking four for 38.

And James Rawlinson, with a superb 96, was in top form for Walsden in their total of 177-5 which earned them five points.

o WERNETH were always on the back foot against Heywood at Crimble and finally succumbed by six wickets.

Some accurate Heywood bowling - Steve Cheetham took three for 28 and Chris Kaye three for 33 - gave Werneth plenty of problems and they were able to make only 114 for nine from their 50 overs, overseas amateur Nathan Griffin top scoring with 34.

That total proved well within Heywood’s range, professional Ruvin Peiris hitting 43 as Heywood made 116 for four. Werneth professional Loku took three for 25.

Saturday scores:

Ashton 140 (Daniel 51 n.o., Stoute 5-32, Searles 4-61), Crompton 227-9 (Stoute 67, Graham 34, White 4-45, Zaman 3-56); Clifton 149 (Nisar 84, Brown 4-54), Milnrow 154-4 (Trepathi 79, Hough 4-36); Heywood 116-4 (Peiris 43, Loku 3-25), Werneth 114-9 Griffin 34, Cheetham 3-28, Kaye 3-33); Littleborough 121 (Keiser 40, Scott 4-15, Duxbury 3-10), Monton and Weaste 114 (Hussain 3-33, Collins 3-34); Norden 266-5 (Brierley 132 n.o.), Radcliffe 182 (Gibson 58, Arthur 4-46, Symes 4-53); Oldham 186 (McDonnell 50, Garnett 33, Drew 4-47, Highton 4-58), Middleton 180-9 (Ryan 50, Garnett 4-23); Rochdale 257-7 (Holder 157, Shah 4-64), Unsworth 258-7 (Madsen 154 n.o.); Royton 174 (Thompson 4-38), Walsden 177-5 (Rawlinson 96).




OLDHAM bowed out of the John Willie Lees Twenty20 Competition at the semi-final stage on Friday night.



Taking first guard at the Pollards, their opponents Monton and Weaste made 155 for five, professional Brendon Nash smashing 84 after Monton had been restricted to 49 for two from their first 10 overs.

Oldham were unfortunate as they had to bowl their final 10 overs in the rain and field in bad light - hardly a recipe for keeping down the runs.

Oldham were always struggling in their reply and were dismissed for 79 despite Jason Maher’s knock of 33.

John Pemberton took four for 41 from his four overs for the visitors.

Joining Monton in the final were Unsworth, who defeated Walsden thanks to a superior run rate.

James Rawlinson made 31 as Walsden reached 118 for six, while Unsworth were 116 for three after 16 overs - John Wiggans 55, Wayne Madsen 44 not out - when rain stopped play.

The two finalists will toss for the right to stage the final on a date still to be fixed.