Heyside’s Premier incentive

Matt Taylor

CLL PREVIEW

A COUPLE of years ago, the notion of a league match between Heyside and Elton would have been greeted with howls of derision.

Shaw-based Heyside and Bury club Elton are not exactly neighbours and, until this season, both were playing in different leagues.

The Saddleworth and District Cricket League was home for Heyside, while Elton were members of the Bolton Association.

Yet now the two clubs are plying their trade in the Lake Garage CLL.

And they clash tomorrow at Little Hey Street with the hosts a single point ahead of the visitors in the Championship.

If this were a Twenty20 game, Heyside would be overwhelming favourites given their exploits in that format in recent weeks.

Skipper Ryan Barnes will still fancy his team’s chances and there is the added incentive of a possible place for Heyside in the top division of the proposed Pennine League (CLL-Saddleworth League merger) in 2016.

Elton will not be pursuing that target, though, according to Greater Manchester League sources who last night declared on social media that the Bury club would be joining them next season.

The CLL Premier Division carrot is dangling clearly in front of a Crompton team still to taste defeat in their division this season.

Simon Wright’s side go to Werneth tomorrow and everything points to yet another win for the Glebe Street outfit.

Oldham got off the mark in the league with victory over Werneth last weekend and will be looking to follow up when they entertain Ashton.

Royton made Walsden pull out all the stops in their most recent fixture and the visit of Littleborough to the Paddock offers them the chance to return to winning ways.

Boro are packed with matchwinners, including former Werneth pair Matt and Joe Taylor, but have blown more cold than hot so far this summer.

Places in the quarter-finals of the JW Lees Bitter Tom Hardman Twenty20 Competition will be secured tonight when Werneth, Royton and Crompton are in action.

TONIGHT — Twenty20: Ashton v Werneth; Norden v Elton; Royton v Rochdale; Middleton v Milnrow; Walsden v Crompton; Monton and Weaste v Littleborough.

TOMORROW — league: Premier Division - Walsden v Clifton; Unsworth v Monton and Weaste; Rochdale v Norden; Royton v Littleborough. Championship: Oldham v Ashton; Radcliffe v Middleton; Heyside v Elton; Werneth v Crompton.