Lancashire League: Worsley Cup - Griffin looks on the bright side

26 June 1998

Griffin looks on the bright side

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Haslingden skipper Mark Griffin is looking on the bright side as his team prepare for their rearranged Worsley Cup semi final with Colne at Bentgate tomorrow.

Griffin is praying for fine weather after the original fixture was postponed two weeks ago - even though he believed it was still fit to play.

"Colne were quite adamant they didn't want to play last time around," said Griffin.

"I thought it was playable and they didn't but that is their prerogative.

"They wanted the conditions right and I don't really blame them for that.

"Hopefully the weather won't be a problem this time."

Last season's double winners have failed to set the league alight so far this season but they have saved their best form for the cups.

And in professional Hamish Anthony they have a player who has happy memories of this particular competition.

The West Indian pace bowler acted as sub-pro for the Bentgate side in last year's final and took 5-53 as Burnley were skittled for 173.

"Obviously we signed him as professional for this season on the strength of that performance and we will be hoping he does well for us again this time around," said Griffin. "His batting has come good in the last three or four weeks and the ball is flying off his bat at the moment.

"He has not really been bowling quite as well as he was at the start of the season.

"But we have got a strong all-round team with five or six bowlers in the side who can all do a job."

If they are to go through and meet East Lancs in the final then the man they must keep in check is Colne professional Joe Scuderi.

The South Australian is one of the most consistent performers in the league and before last weekend's matches he was averaging 73 and had snapped up 29 wickets at 11.14 apiece.

He also smashed an unbeaten 61 and claimed 3-22 when Colne beat Haslingden in the league back in May - their only league victory in 12 attempts so far this term.

"Joe is the danger. He has been around a long time and he is a very experienced professional," said Griffin.

"He knows how to get the best from the conditions and he bowled and batted very well against us in the league."

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