Werneth pushing for place in final

RYAN BARNES

THERE is a bit of everything for JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League watchers to get their teeth into this weekend.

Proceedings get under way tonight with quarter-final action in the Tom Hardman Twenty20 ­- see separate story ­- followed by a full league programme tomorrow and the last four of both the John Willie Lees Wood Cup and Tanner Cup 24 hours later.

For those players giving every ounce of energy on all three days, there are sure to be aches and pains aplenty come Sunday evening.

Saddleworth will be flying the flag for the borough in the semi-finals of the Wood Cup.

Brian Lord's side face a big task, at home to the league's top team Walsden.

The other tie sees the Premiership's second and third-placed teams, Littleborough and Rochdale, meet at Redbrook.

Werneth, meanwhile, are gearing up for their biggest game of the season so far.

The Coppice club head to Championship rivals Ashton in the last four of the Tanner Cup.

FORTUNES

With their fortunes picking up of late, Werneth stand a great chance of lining up in the final on Sunday, August 14.

Greenfield or Crompton, who meet at Ladhill Lane, will await the winners.

After last Saturday's hugely disappointing wash-out, fingers crossed the sun will shine for tomorrow's league matches.

The chasing pack in the Premiership will look to Rochdale to keep leaders Walsden in check.

Dale will not want the high-fliers to get too far in front as they possess aspirations of winning the title themselves.

Littleborough, in second place, appear to have a straightforward task at lowly Middleton, while Crompton journey to next-to-bottom Monton and Weaste.

In a congested mid-table, form-team Saddleworth head to Royton, and Greenfield can go above visitors Glodwick with victory at Ladhill Lane.

The stand-out clash in the Championship sees first take on second ­- and it could be all change at the top by tomorrow evening.

With only three points separating the two sides, victory for Ryan Barnes' Heyside would see them leapfrog pacesetters Milnrow.

Both Stayley and Friarmere, in third and fourth places respectively, are in an ideal position to mount a promotion challenge in the second half of the season.

The former make the trip to Danny Anchor's Moorside, while the latter welcome Ashton to Slack Lane.

Fixtures ­-

Tonight, Tom Hardman Twenty20 Cup quarter-finals (6.15pm): Saddleworth v Crompton, Glodwick v Friarmere; Monton and Weaste v Littleborough; Greenfield v Norden.

Tomorrow, Premiership (1.30pm): Greenfield v Glodwick; Middleton v Littleborough; Monton and Weaste v Crompton; Norden v Austerlands; Rochdale v Walsden; Royton v Saddleworth.

Championship (1.30pm): Friarmere v Ashton; Micklehurst v Hollinwood; Milnrow v Heyside; Moorside v Stayley; Oldham v Werneth; Shaw v Uppermill.

Sunday, John Willie Lees Wood Cup semi-finals (1.30pm): Rochdale v Littleborough; Saddleworth v Walsden.

Tanner Cup semi-finals (1.30pm): Greenfield v Crompton; Ashton v Werneth.