Saddleworth fix sights on a cup-tie lift

BRIAN LORD . . . top scored for Saddleworth in high-scoring Wood Cup defeat to Crompton

THE Tanner Cup, first played for in 1925 when Saddleworth defeated Hollinwood by 32 runs, is the focus of 16 clubs in the JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League tomorrow.

F Crow and J Hamer claimed five wickets apiece in the inaugural final - the latter also scored 41 out of 96 all out - for the joyous victors.

Cup exploits outweighed their efforts in the then Saddleworth League that season, though, as they finished a disappointing third-bottom, ahead of Austerlands and Denton.

The class of 2017 are facing struggles of their own in the PCL.

Still without a win in the Premiership, these are tough times at Well-i-Hole.

So can the Tanner Cup ignite an upturn in Saddleworth's fortunes? The competition has certainly been good to the club in the past, having won it on six previous occasions.

Beating top-flight rivals Walsden in the first round would certainly give them a welcome boost.

The hosts, who are second in the table, will be hot favourites to progress, but they were against Royton in the Wood Cup.

The Paddock club tore up the script with Ryan Carruthers' brilliant century releasing the holders' grip on the trophy.

Instead, Walsden, like Saddleworth who lost to Crompton, have had to switch their gaze to the Tanner Cup.

That loss to Crompton was one of Saddleworth's better performances of the season so far.

Brian Lord struck 93 as they amassed 268 for eight. A break for rain left Crompton chasing 222 and they achieved victory with two wickets to spare.

There is another all Premiership clash, with Heyside and Glodwick - they sit 10th and 11th in the table - meeting at Little Hey Street.

Uppermill will hope Ayaz Tasawwar can repeat his ton-up heroics of last Saturday, albeit it was in a losing cause at Werneth, when Stayley come to Leefields, while Ashton look to have their work cut out at Norden.

With home advantage, Milnrow will be confident of sweeping aside Micklehurst and Shaw might not have it all their own way against Hollinwood. Friarmere versus Oldham looks too close to call.

UPSET

The remaining tie sees Werneth seeking to pull off an upset at Moorside.

With the forecast for tomorrow unsettled - rain is expected - clubs are reminded of the league rules regarding cup games.

If play starts, but is later curtailed because of the weather, a result must be obtained preferably through a bowl-out, or if that is not possible due to the state of the ground, via the toss of a coin.

Where there is no play, both teams will return on Sunday (reserve day) when a result must be achieved, even if that means using a bowl-out or tossing a coin.

Let's hope the weather bucks up!

As for Sunday's action, five PCL clubs are involved in the LCB Cup.

Of the quintet, Crompton head to Ramsbottom.

This weekend's fixtures -

TOMORROW - Tanner Cup, round one: Uppermill v Stayley; Norden v Ashton; Milnrow v Micklehurst; Shaw v Hollinwood; Friarmere v Oldham; Moorside v Werneth; Walsden v Saddleworth; Heyside v Glodwick.

SUNDAY - LCB Cup, round two: Lytham v Littleborough; Rochdale v Westhoughton; Ramsbottom v Crompton; Walsden v Norden.