Team spirit the key to trophy success

BIG PLAYER . . . all-rounder Dave Roberts.

CRICKET: SKILL and togetherness have carried the Saddleworth and District Cricket League representative XI to within one win of lifting the Readers Lancashire Inter-League Trophy.

Only a Lancashire County League XI can prevent them from clinching silverware glory in Sunday’s final at Well-i-Hole. Skipper Peter Skuse and his side have continually defied the odds-makers in this year’s renewal.

After beating the Liverpool Competition comprehensively, they overcame the Bolton League by virtue of a superior run-rate after the last-four clash ended in a dramatic tie.

With nerve-endings again intact, the trick will be to copy the success of Danny Anchor’s Saddleworth League class of 2005 and take the trophy.

“It’s good for the league that we’ve got to the final,” said Skuse, the former Saddleworth captain, now playing at Stayley.

“From the first time I walked into the dressing room, I could sense a strong team spirit within the group and that has been reflected on the field. Their attitude has been first class. We had a bit of a blip in the semi, but that happens. Hopefully it won’t repeat itself. The players really want to win.”

Included in the Saddleworth League team is a four-strong contingent of Greenfield players spearheaded by captain of the club Chris Gill and his predecessor Alex Peters.

Saddleworth, the league leaders, have three of their men in the line-up — Australian Michael Jones, seamer Mohammed Shakir and all-rounder Dave Roberts.

Jones is one of three overseas amateurs picked, the others being South African CJ Ferreira and fellow countryman Daelon Campbell.