Lancs Inter-league Cup: League sides dominate cup clashes (18 May 1998)

18 May 1998

Inter-league cup: Lancs League sides dominate cup clashes

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

LANCASHIRE League sides were in red hot form in the first round of the Lancashire League and Central Lancashire League Knockout Cup.

No fewer than 11 teams booked their place in round two with only Burnley, Enfield and Colne biting the dust at the opening stage.

Accrington beat Heywood, thanks to a century from professional Ryan Campbell.

Heywood made 190-6 but Campbell smashed 148 off just 103 balls, including 15 fours and 6 sixes, as Accrington cruised to a six wicket win.

Professional Matthew Mott was the star in Lowerhouse's eight-wicket win over Royton.

Royton were bowled out for 145 and Mott made an unbeaten 62 as Lowerhouse breezed to 150-2.

East Lancs compiled a massive 269-7 at Werneth.

Phil Bolton hit 75, ably supported by skipper Mark Lomas's 63 and David Pearson's 52.

The home side closed 64 short, on 203-8.

Bacup professional Brad White continued his rich vein of form, making 94 in his side's narrow victory over Stockport.

White helped Bacup to 207-8 before the visitors were eventually skittled out for 196.

Skipper Russell Whalley top scored in Rishton's comfortable 70-run victory at Ashton.

Whalley made 51 out of Rishton's 199-8 before the home side were then dismissed for 129. At Bacup Road Rawtenstall booked their place in round two with an impressive seven-wicket win over Walsden thanks to a fine unbeaten 93 from West Indian professional Keith Arthurton.

Walsden were winkled out for 132 and the home side knocked them off for the loss of just three wickets.

A seven wicket haul from Ken Fergusson bowled Church to victory at Blackburn Road.

Fergusson claimed 7-16 as Unsworth crumbled to 102 all out in reply to Church's 196-6, for whom Mark Aspin had made 93.

Nick Riley's sparkling 72 not out was the backbone of Ramsbottom's successful run chase against Crompton.

Crompton had made 186-9 earlier in the day but Rammy knocked them off for the loss of five wickets.

Todmorden's formidable 249-8 proved too much for Middleton after professional Vasbert Drakes blazed 78. They finished 35 runs short of their target on 215-9. Nelson beat Stand by a similar margin at Seedhill. They compiled 166-8 and then dismissed the visitors for 132 to ease into the next round.

Haslingden caused a few hearts to flutter before finally edging out Oldham in a real thriller.

Oldham made 171 all out and Haslingden only just got home with two wickets to spare, finishing on 172-8.

Otis Gibson smashed a spectacular 123 but it was not enough to give Enfield victory against Rochdale at Dill Hall Lane.

Burnley lost to Radcliffe at Turf Moor and Colne completed the trio of Lancashire League sides to miss out when they crashed to a four wicket defeat at the hands of Norden.

Draw for Roud Two: Norden v Todmorden, Milnrow v Rishton, Church v Littleborough, Rochdale v Lowerhouse, Haslingden v Radcliffe, Nelson v Accrington, Rawtenstall v East Lancs, Ramsbottom v Bacup.

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