At Towncroft, Royton skipper Barry Woodward won the toss and elected to bat first in a match that had been reduced to 40 overs per side because of a shower about an hour before the start of play.

With Ken Skewes injured, Middleton acquired the services of New Zealander Luke Woodcock for the day, who is currently Professional of Church in the Lancashire League.

The two Richards – Valentine and Fitton opened the bowling for the Moonrakers and soon put the shackles on the visitors.

When Richard Fitton had to come off because of his age (bowling restrictions apply for anyone under the age of 20), Royton were 30 for 2 an in real trouble.

Valentine had Walsh caught by Stuart Fitton for 5 and Richard Fitton removed Morris for 6, Scott Stanworth taking a brilliant catch down the leg side.

Woodcock claimed a wicket in his first over – Dave Wilson caught by Lee Flint for just 5 to leave the visitors 35 for 3.

In-form Royton Professional Luke Procter and former Middleton skipper John Punchard put on a stand of 27 before Procter top-edged Woodcock to Steve Davey running around from slip to short fine leg for 19.

At this stage Royton were 62 for 4 with over half of the overs gone.

Mark Woodward and Punchard put on a stand of 57 with Woodward scoring rapidly – 49 off just 31 deliveries before dancing down the wicket and being stumped by Stanworth from the bowling of Dale Highton.

Punchard was next to go, well caught by Grant Jones on the boundary, for a well played 33 from 40 deliveries.

Matthew Hodson swung the bat, scoring 23 off 20 balls, before playing across the line to the returning Valentine.

The Royton tail was then mopped up by Highton and Woodcock, eventually bowling out the visitors for 164.

Woodcock finished with 5 for 70, Valentine 2 for 40, Highton 2 for 36 and Fitton 1 for 12 from 7 overs in what was good performance by the bowlers.

Annoyingly for the Moonrakers, the rain came at the tea interval and no further play was possible meaning an abandonment and 2 points for each side.

Rod Highton
Royton
T Walsh		c S Fitton		b Valentine		5
A Morris		c Stanworth		b R Fitton		6
L Procter		c Davey		b Woodcock		19
D Wilson		c Flint		b Woodcock		5
J Punchard		c Jones		b Woodcock		33
M Woodward		st Stanworth		b Highton		49
M Hodson				b Valentine		23
S Webb+		c R Fitton		b Woodcock		9
A Punchard				b Highton		4
B Woodward*		c Ryan		b Woodcock		0
J Lovell		not out				1
				Extras: 3w, 1nb, 6lb		10
				Total: all out		164
R Valentine		12-2-40-2
R Fitton		7-2-12-1
L Woodcock		12.1-2-70-5
D Highton		8-0-36-2

Match abandoned. 2 points each.

 

Royton batted first and Nick Maxwell started aggressively but with the score on 45 it was his partner, Liam Mason, was caught by George Walker in the slip cordon for 14 off Mark Buckley.

Liam Brown came to join Maxwell at the crease and the pair were looking dangerous and captain Reece Jones threw the ball to Marvyn Dickinson and almost immediately the off-spinner repaid the faith his captain had shown him by taking the prize scalp of Maxwell for 25 and in his very next over he bowled Conner Hey (2) in a spell that swung the match in the favour of the reigning league champions.

The tiring Buckley was replaced by the ever-impressive George Walker and in his very first over he made a mess of Andrew Westphall's stumps and soon had Khurram Hussain caught by Warren Teall for 7.

The Anchor of the innings, Liam Brown, and Richard Pertoldi then fell in a double wicket maiden. Brown edged behind to Sam Warren and Pertoldi mis-timed and aerial shots into the hands of Reece Jones.

Buckley and Gareth Hughes then returned to mop up the tail. And Royton ended up finishing on 136 all out. Buckley being the pick of the bowlers (3 for 37) but in truth everyone chipped in.

With the threat of rain in the air, and this being a must win game it was not a surprise that openers George Walker and Gareth Hughes both looked in an aggressive mind set.

Royton opened up with 14-year-old off-spinner, Callum Porteous, and he showed he was definitely a talent for the future taking 2 wickets for 59 runs off 13 overs.

Gareth Hughes (14) was the first man to go after being bowled by Nick Maxwell. The naturally aggressive Warren Teall came in as number 3 batsman and worked his way to 20 off 7 deliveries until the rain came and forced the players off the pitch for 29 minutes until the rain subsided and the pitch was fit to play.

Four minutes later the rain came again and the players were forced to leave the pitch for a second time, but this time the clouds had closed in and the sky was a blanket of grey. A draw was looking inevitable.

But at 7pm the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds and after 20 minutes of mopping up the players were back on and Middleton were chasing those 83 runs needed for victory.

Teall was bowled by Porteous for a 22 ball 30 with the score on 74 and Walker (32) top edged a sweep to Liam Mason at square leg to leave the Moonrakers 95 for 3.

Mark Buckley and Pete Baxter together ran the fielders ragged, pinching quick singles and finding gaps to run threes. But attempting to find a gap proved to be Buckley's undoing as he just didn't get enough elevation on a shot and Liam Mason took a fine catch running to his right at long on.

Baxter and Marvyn Dickinson then led the team within 6 runs of victory until a mix up led to a run out and Dickinson sacrificing his wicket. And the chase was finished with 5 wides down leg side to give Middleton and outright victory

 

Royton
L Mason		c Walker		b Buckley		14
N Maxwell				b Dickinson		25
L Brown		c Warren		b Copeland		32
C Hey				b Dickinson		2
A Westphall				b Walker		11
K Hussain		c Teall		b Walker		7
A Cassells		c Teall		b Buckley		12
R Pertoldi		c Jones		b Copeland		0
C Porteous				b Buckley		2
A Wade		LBW		b Hughes		2
G Lovell		not out				0
				Extras: 16w, 1nb, 8b, 4lb		29
				Total: all out		136
M Buckley		14-3-37-3
G Hughes		6.3-1-27-1
M Dickinson		10-2-27-2
G Walker		7-1-21-2
A Copeland		4-1-12-2
Middleton
G Hughes				b Maxwell		14
G Walker		c Mason		b Maxwell		32
W Teall				b Porteous		30
M Buckley		c Mason		b Porteous		14
P Baxter		not out				15
M Dickinson		run out				10
R Jones		not out				0
S Warren
A Copeland
L Kennedy
R Ball
				Extras: 11w, 6nb, 1b, 4lb		22
				Total: for 5 wickets		137
C Porteous		13-1-59-2
N Maxwell		13-0-68-2
A Westphall		0.2-0-5-0

 

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