Royton on the march . . . eight-wicket win lifts Paddock club

ROYTON are up to second place in the Pennine Cricket League Championship after brushing aside Ashton by eight wickets at Rayner Lane yesterday.

Following on from their defeat of Milnrow on Saturday - see round-up above, left - the Paddock club bowled out their lowly hosts for a meagre 50 runs.

Leaders Middleton were equally dismissive of Friarmere at Slack Lane.

Set 101, they achieved victory in the 14th over. Grant Jones scored an unbeaten 54.

There was a thriller at the Coppice, where visitors Oldham held off Werneth by eight runs in a high-scoring contest.

FIRST KNOCK

Taking first knock, Oldham made 229 for nine.

Werneth, with spirits up after defeating Shaw 24 hours earlier, were dismissed for 221 in the penultimate over.

Uppermill wrapped up a good weekend with an emphatic nine-wicket defeat of Shaw.

James Chamberlain did the damage with the ball - he took five for 53 - and Jack Shaw compiled 41 with the bat for the in-form Leefields outfit.

Hollinwood put 229 on the board at Micklehurst, for whom Stuart Chamley picked up five for 49.

Rashid Riaz, with 52, led the way, while Jatinder Singh and Abid Hussain added 47 and 40 respectively.

Micklehurst reached 161.

Moorside failed by eight runs to overhaul Milnrow's score of 215 at Ladyhouse.

The home side were grateful to Mohammed Saeed Anwar's 101 - he also claimed three wickets - while overseas amateur Ruan Havenga struck 52 in reply.

Scores -

Ashton 50, Royton 54-2; Friarmere 100 (T Rutter 4-24), Middleton 104-1 (G Jones 54 n.o); Milnrow 215 (Saeed Anwar 101, L Warburton 4-45), Moorside 208 (R Havenga 52); Shaw 104 (J Chamberlain 5-53), Uppermill 106-1 (J Shaw 41); Oldham 229-9, Werneth 221; Hollinwood 229 (R Riaz 52, J Singh 47, A Hussain 40, S Chamley 5-49), Micklehurst 161.