Bird’s blast for Stayley

SPEARHEAD . . . James Chamberlain led the Uppermill attack against Saddleworth last weekend.

“OUR season starts this weekend” says Stayley skipper Steve Bird as leaders Saddleworth lay in wait tomorrow.

Bird is unhappy at the way his side has performed so far. Despite boasting one of the stronger first XIs in the Saddleworth League, results have been disappointing. Stayley are seventh, while hopes of success in the Tanner Cup and Twenty20 Competition have already evaporated.

“We’ve got to show some fight,” said Bird. “There is more than half of the season left, so there is still enough time to make an impression. Last weekend in the Tanner Cup against Glodwick, we were 72 for two but got bowled out for 110. That’s just not good enough. We should be doing better than that.”

The captain has praised the impact of professional Hamza Nadeem and Peter Skuse. Nadeem, in his first season at Millbrook, tops the batting averages and is second in the bowling statistics. Skuse has offered valuable words of advice on the field and is starting to make an impact with the bat.

Uppermill also seek a pick-me-up after being blown away by Saddleworth last weekend.

There were mitigating circumstances: Skipper Michael Brooks was away, Andy Jones was unable to bowl due to a strained hamstring and Jonathon Lees was absent with a damaged shoulder.

This left James Chamberlain and overseas amateur Daelon Campbell to lead the attack, and the former added to his haul of wickets this season by claiming the scalp of Michael Jones.

Uppermill’s challenge tomorrow is to get the better of an Austerlands side looking to hit back after their Tanner Cup exit. Austerlands follow Uppermill with a trip to Saddleworth.



Saddleworth League side Austerlands has voted to join the new Pennine League, the 23rd club to do so. But the Pennine League’s hope of attracting Flowery Field (Lancashire County League) has been dashed - the club has joined the new Greater Manchester League.



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