Royton upbeat for tests ahead

BAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT . . . Shadley van Schalkwyk is the top run scorer in the CLL Championship. Picture: Darren Robinson

CRICKET: NO wonder Denny Hulme was sporting a wide grin. The Royton skipper had just seen his team brush aside Crompton in their Wood Cup showdown at Glebe Street, earning the Paddock outfit a quarter-final crack at Walsden.

Royton are also through to the same stage of the league’s Twenty20 Competition and, perhaps most importantly, are fifth in the Premier Division.

So it’s all good news for Hulme and his pals as they enter this weekend’s double header against Heywood and Unsworth, the two teams immediately below them in the table.

The fixture list offers Royton the ideal opportunity to put distance between themselves and their nearest rivals and completely banish the prospect of slipping into the relegation zone.

The bottom two clubs will miss out on Premier Division status in the inaugural season of the Pennine League next summer so Royton will be anxious to maintain or even improve their position.

“We fancy our chances against anyone at the moment,” Hulme told me as he basked in the success at Crompton - quiet confidence rather than blind optimism and, given their recent displays, Royton’s belief is justified.

Tomorrow’s visit to Unsworth provides the Paddock men with a big chance to chase down Monton and Weaste and Rochdale, the two sides immediately above them. The gap is three points, and with Rochdale going to Heywood and Monton at home to leaders Walsden, it’s not impossible that Royton could be third on their own by tomorrow night.

The following day sees Royton out to avenge an LCB Cup defeat at the hands of Heywood. They have improved significantly since that setback, while Heywood have been hit and miss and are heavily reliant on their star batsmen Bobby Cross and Danny Pawson.

If either is allowed to settle at the Paddock in Sunday’s fixture, Royton could be in for a busy time in the field. Get them out early and another victory should be there for the taking.

twitter: @KeithMcHughOC