Royton crumble as spin twins make hay at The Paddock

ROYTON were blown away by Premiership big guns Rochdale in the other Wood Cup semi-final at The Paddock.

After getting off to a decent enough start - they were 38 for one - a succession of wickets saw the hosts slip to 75 for six and eventually 110 all out.

Royton were strangled by spin as former Crompton player Dale Highton (two for 22) and Ollie Makin (four for 31) stifled attempts to post a reasonable total.

Three of the wickets, all to Makin and including professional Chirag Khurana (nine), fell in similar fashion as the fielders close in on the leg-side gleefully grabbed chances.

Royton, who have done so well recently to climb up to second place in the Championship, only used 33.4 of their allotted 50 overs.

Rochdale, beaten finalists 12 months ago, only required 22.2 overs to pass the winning post, which gave them plenty of time for a shower before popping down to Glebe Street to watch Crompton defeat Littleborough.

Scores -

Wood Cup semi-finals: Littleborough 158-7 (L Wilman 56 n.o, R Knight 46), Crompton 164 for three (S Wright 88 n.o, J Punchard 45 n.o); Royton 110 (O Makin 4-31), Rochdale 112-3.