First Team - Werneth Away - 22nd June

From the Oldham Chronicle...Friday 20th June

Royton aim to end their cup drought

ROYTON believe this could be the year they break their duck in the Lees Bitter Wood Cup. Nine-times beaten finalists, Royton have yet to lift the cup which was first played for in 1921.
Royton travel to WERNETH on Sunday for a local derby which will see the winners reach the semi-finals. And captain Lee Gibbons is confident his team will triumph as they are enjoying one of their best campaigns for years. Beaten only once in 10 league matches, Royton are one of six teams featuring in the title race.
They defeated Unsworth in the first round of the Wood Cup and Gibbons feels his side is ideally suited to the knock-out. He said: "To do well in the cup you need an all-round side and I feel we have that. You need five bowlers and we have six or seven so are well blessed in that department. If you don't have a bowling Professional, you are likely to struggle".
Royton can also bat down the order as they demonstrated in Sunday's win against Littleborough.  Boro reduced Royton to 55 for seven before Mark Woodward (49 not out) and Paul Hughes (44), batting eight and nine, came to their rescue.  Gibbons says new-man Dion Taljard, a South African now based here, has helped to instill a never-say-die spirit in the side. 
Werneth, who are also in the top six, will be hoping to bounce back from Sunday's nine-wicket defeat by Radcliffe, who dismissed the Coppice club
for 92.  Captain David Ainsworth will be looking for Werneth to rediscover their winning touch as they pursue an 11th Wood Cup success.

From the Oldham Chronicle...Monday 23rd June

All to play for in derby battle

WERNETH and Royton will return to the Coppice tonight (6.30) with an equal chance of reaching the semi-finals of the Lees Bitter Wood Cup.
The forecast rain arrived early last night to bring to a premature end a fascinating day's play between closely-matched derby rivals.
Royton, having won the toss, predictably elected to bat first. And they must have been overjoyed to post a score of 259 for eight from their 50
overs. 
But the Coppice wicket looked full of runs and Werneth were on target to seriously challenge their visitors' total when the rain set in and left
them on 85 for one with the best part of 32 overs remaining.  It really couldn't be more evenly poised. With professional Sajith Fernando
unbeaten on 28 and looking menacing, Werneth will fancy their chances, especially with key batsmen such as Don Errock, Shaun Perris and the
big-hitting Paul Gill to come.
But runs on the board are always welcome and Royton will believe they are the favourites to build on the earlier efforts of their batsmen, led by the
watchful Matt Ward and belligerent Dion Taljard.  Opening batsman Ward's knock of 61 off 103 deliveries paved the way for the
strokemakers to come.  When he finally went, swinging across the line and getting a top edge with the score on 149, the foundations for a sizeable total had been laid.
Taljard took up the challenge and, after reaching 50 from 65 balls, he exploded into action, smashing another 36 runs from only 15 more
deliveries, including two clubbing sixes in one over from Perris and another maximum off Mark Dronsfield.  Dronsfield exacted his revenge when Taljard holed out to David Lees at extra cover, but Royton had already reached 237 by that stage and some more lusty six-hitting by Mark Woodward and Paul Hughes saw Royton to their commanding total.
The Werneth bowlers took a battering and even Fernando, normally so economical, could not stem the flow. He went for more than five an over,
while Perris was blasted out of the attack by Taljard as home skipper David Ainsworth was forced to shuffle his pack.
Like Royton, Werneth made a circumspect start, but their innings was blasted into life by the in-form Alan Durose, who smashed Martin Bell for
successive sixes over mid-wicket.  But just when it looked as though the young opening batsman was going to
take control, he was bamboozled by a delivery from Guy Lovell and wicket-keeper Denny Hulme did the rest.
Ainsworth, meanwhile, was having a nightmare. He either failed to lay bat on a Martin Bell delivery or his timing was out. But he hung around and eventually the runs started to come for the determined Werneth skipper.
He will return to the crease tonight alongside Fernando, who stated his intentions with a sweetly-timed six over mid-wicket off Taljard.  Werneth require just under six runs per over tonight. They have nine wickets intact and will fancy their chances.
But if Royton make early inroads, then the visitors will be in the driving seat to stay on course for that elusive first victory in the CLL's
prestigious cup competition.    Matt Ward survives an LBW appeal from Durose.

From Werneth's Play Cricket website...Monday 23rd June

The Lees Bitter Wood Cup match at The Coppice continues on Monday night 6.30pm start. The match is evenly balanced,
Royton have posted 259 for 8. With Dion Taljard top scorer with 86 opener Ward contributing 61.
Werneth in reply have lost Alan Durose(23) controversially given out caught behind with three Royton fielders including
Hulme appealing for a stumping, then changing the appeal for a catch!
Captain David Ainsworth 23* had just started to get the better of Martin Bell his former team mate and Fernando 28* looked
dangerous when the rain came. At the same stage Royton were 83 for 2.

From the Oldham Chronicle...Tuesday 24th June

Royton earn last-four spot

ROYTON marched into the semi-finals of the Lees Bitter Wood Cup last night following an impressive 62-run victory at local rivals Werneth.
Play resumed with Werneth on 85 for one in reply to Royton's 259 for eight. 
But the home side could not have made a worse start, losing captain David Ainsworth, who was bowled by Martin Bell, without the addition of a run.
Ainsworth's dismissal proved the start of Werneth's demise and they were finally bowled out for 197.
Professional Sajith Fernando provided the only serious resistance, scoring 58 before holing out to Matthew Ward on the boundary edge off the bowling of Iqbal Imam.
His dismissal, with the score on 147, proved to be the pivotal moment of the match.
Royton's success with the ball was shared, with Dion Taljard, Guy Lovell, Iqbal Imam and Mark Woodward each claiming two wickets and Bell picking up one.

Update from Werneth's site

Update Werneth lose, without adding to the score David Ainsworth shouldered arms and lost his off stump.
Pro Sajith looked to be in control, but started to panic with Royton on the defensive and went for one big
hit too many caught in the outfield (58).
Shaun Perris went first ball bowled by Woodward, and the task became too difficult.
 

Pictures from Sunday and Monday

Ward got Royton off to a good start.

Denny keeps the Werneth attack at bay.

Dion hits out on his way to fifty

Denny keeps another one out.

Dion opens up and smashes a six of Werneth's Aussie.

The team celebrate after seeing off Werneth on Monday night.

Dion picks up his Man of the Match award.

From the Oldham Chronicle...Wednesday 25th June

Royton cup hopes soar

ROYTON will rarely have a better chance of getting their hands on the Lees Bitter Wood Cup.
Nine-times beaten finalists, Royton’s superb victory over Werneth, and Rochdale’s surprising exit at the hands of Milnrow, leaves the CLL’s cup competition wide open.
And Paddock skipper Lee Gibbons reckons his side have got what it takes to meet the challenge.
He said: “Obviously it was a fantastic win for us against Werneth. When you make over 250 it’s a psychological barrier for the opposition and when we got their captain (David Ainsworth) out in the first over on Monday night it gave us a big lift.
“The turning point, though, was dismissing their professional, Sajith Fernando.
“They were up with the run rate and he was knocking it about well and hitting the bad ball for four. Then, when he got past 50, he suddenly hit out and was caught out on the boundary edge. That changed the game.”
League leaders Rochdale’s defeat at home to Milnrow was a major shock and its significance was not lost on Gibbons.
“Rochdale going out is a boost for us. They are a top side, but we will not be underestimating Milnrow, whom we play at their ground in the semi-finals on Sunday week.”
The other semi-final will see neighbours Middleton and Heywood locking horns at Towncroft.

Richie a real gent

THEY are affectionately known as “the Birmingham Six” at Royton . . . half a dozen cricket fans who hardly ever miss a match at the Paddock.
Watching cricket overseas is also a favourite hobby and one of the six recalls an interesting incident before the England v Australia match in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, during the recent World Cup.
“We were walking to the ground when this chap pulled up in a vehicle and offered us a lift to the ground.
“We all piled into the back, but it was only when we arrived at the ground and said thanks that we realised who the driver was – Richie Benaud.”
It just goes to show that great commentators can be nice guys as well!

Back To Fixtures