Gearing up for big title push

CRICKET: WITH Moorside and Whalley Range taking a break tomorrow with open dates, Austerlands have an opportunity to go second in the SWB Commercials Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

Though Mark Peters’ side has disappointed in the cups, the team has had a cracking time in the league.

With games in hand they, with Glodwick, could end up being closest challengers to leaders Saddleworth in the final throes of the season.

But Peters is sure to sound a warning before the trip to Micklehurst this weekend. The two sides last met in the quarter-finals of the Tanner Cup, also at Castle Lane, when Austerlands were very much second-best to Michael Blomeley’s men.

Glodwick hope for a straightforward game at South-West Manchester who, with only one win in the league, are adrift at the bottom of the table.

Tanner Cup favourites Saddleworth will hope to avoid last-minute injuries before Sunday’s final when they go to Friarmere. Opponents Greenfield will also be praying their players come through unscathed against Wythenshawe at Ladhill Lane.

Stayley’s aspirations of featuring in the new Pennine Cricket League’s top flight next year are hanging by a thread. In seventh place, the Millbrook outfit can’t afford to drop many more points before the end of the season. They visit Shaw tomorrow.

The remaining game sees Uppermill head to Droylsden. The former will take heart from last Saturday’s performance against title hopefuls Moorside, who prevailed by three wickets with an over to spare.



THE CLL beat the Saddleworth League by 18 runs in the Readers Inter-League Colts competition at Middleton. The hosts made 196 for six. and Saddleworth was dismissed for 178 in reply.