Crompton’s run ended by Werneth

WERNETH produced a shock of colossal proportions when they ended Crompton's unbeaten Lake Garage CLL Championship record at Glebe Street.

Saturday's unexpected result not only gave Simon Wright and his team much to ponder, it also gave Werneth a huge lift with the rest of the season in mind.

The seeds of an impending Werneth revival were sewn the previous weekend in a narrow defeat at the hands of high-flying Middleton.

And it was harvest time at Crompton as Ian Dronsfield's men, inspired by opening bowler Michael Wilson, saw off the runaway leaders by 46 runs.

Werneth took first guard and made 161. Paul Entwistle hit 29 and Abdul Ghaffar 27, while Andrew Yates took six for 48 and Mel Whittle four for 87.

That total looked to be well within reach of a Crompton side containing plenty of free-scoring batsmen.

But, for the first time this season, they had a collective failure.

Only Darren Lee (28) provided any resistance as Crompton were skittled for 115.

Wilson was superb, collecting six wickets for 62.

Heyside bounced back to form and boosted their promotion hopes with a maximum points win at Elton.

The hosts were bowled out for 119, a target Heyside reached for the loss of eight wickets.

Oldham, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the table after going down by four wickets at Ashton, who made 146 for six in reply to 144 all out.

Premier Division action saw Royton go down by 72 runs at Littleborough.

Taking first guard at Hare Hill, Boro made 248 for eight with captain Clinton Perren leading the way with 101, Chris Schofield hitting 55 and former Werneth captain Matt Taylor chipping in with 32.

Royton were bowled out for 176, pro Geeth Alwis being dismissed by opposite number Mohammed Zaman Khan (11-1-32-4) for 43.

An amazing match at Norden saw Rochdale's Tom Avery come in at number nine and hit a century.

Rochdale were seemingly down and out at 58 for seven when Avery walked to the crease, but his 107 off 92 balls, which included 10 sixes and six fours, steered Rochdale to the rarefied heights of 224 for nine. Norden regrouped and reached their revised target.

Premier Division: Clifton 204-7 (Cross 71, Dorsey 55), Walsden 180-5, revised target (Karunaratne 47 n.o.); Littleborough 248-8 (Perren 101, Schofield 55), Royton 176 (Alwis 43, Z Khan 4-32); Norden 205-9 rt (Smith 48, Malik 47 n.o.), Rochdale 224-9 (Avery 107, Hartley 6-43); Monton and Weaste 256-7, Unsworth 182.

Championship: Ashton 146-4, Oldham 144; Crompton 115 (Wilson 6-62), Werneth 161 (Yates 6-48, Whittle 4-87); Middleton 217-9 (Kemm 49 n.o, Tierney 41, Majeed 4-69), Radcliffe 207 (Majeed 117, Pritchard 5-32); Elton 119, Heyside 120-8.