Lancashire League: McNamara is out for revenge (17 July 1999)

17 July 1999

Lancashire League: McNamara is out for revenge

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Brad McNamara and his Haslingden team-mates have a score to settle when they clash with Colne at the Horsfield tomorrow.

The Bentgate outfit are still smarting from their Worsley Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Colne two weeks ago - the second time Gary Laycock's men have knocked them out of the competition at the semi-final stage in as many years.

But a win in their EW Cartons Lancashire League clash tomorrow would go some way to making amends as Haslingden aim to turn up the heat on East Lancs at the top of the table.

"To lose that cup game was a major disappointment," said McNamara.

"But, as the old saying goes, we stole defeat from the jaws of victory.

"Of course it's a blow not to be in the cup.

"But we need to make sure we remain on track in the league now."

Colne professional Joe Scuderi is the man in form at the moment.

He followed up his match-winning 63 in the Worsley Cup final with a total of six wickets and 200 runs in last weekend's double header with East Lancs and Rawtenstall.

But McNamara is also white-hot at the moment, following a half century in the tie with Todmorden and an unbeaten 99 in their victory over Accrington. "Joe's one of the best pros in this league and he has been for years," said McNamara.

"But I'm pretty happy with how I'm going at the moment and I've struck a bit of form with the bat.

"If I can match Joe's performance then we've probably got the better amateurs so we should win. But it's not always the best side who ends up winning.

"It's the side who wants it the most and Colne have got a lot of fighters in their side.

"We've got plenty of strength in our side but we probably need to be a bit hungrier in the field."

Skipper Stuart Taylor will return to beef up the Haslingden attack tomorrow after being away on holiday for the last two weekends.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Colne v Haslingden, Enfield v East Lancs, Lowerhouse v Bacup, Rasmbottom v Church, Rawtenstall v Burnley, Rishton v Accrington and Todmorden v Nelson.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)