Leaders Leyland are at home to Darwen on Saturday seeking their fourth successive 15-point victory of the season. But the visitors, fresh from a thrilling run chase win over Preston will provide stiff opposition. Gareth Cordingley and Mark Emery put together an unbroken stand of 95 from 10 overs in 35 minutes of which the former scored 62 including six 6's and three 4's, finishing 99 not out.
South African Friedel de Wet took 10 wickets in his first two games for Chorley over the May Bank Holiday weekend and will relish the trip to take on reigning champions St Annes. Pro Mansoor Ahmed was in top form with bat and ball as St Annes beat Blackpool
Morecambe travel to Preston with their left arm bowler, Graham Lee, looking to build upon his first five-wicket haul in the Northern League, at Chorley on Monday. But Bilal Asad, the first centurion of the season after his superb innings at Darwen, will be looking to again inspire his side, having been confirmed as stand-in captain.
Carnforth hope to continue their fine start when they visit Kendal. Fleetwood face Netherfield at Broadwater and Lancaster host Barrow at Lune Road. Blackpool have no game.
DIVISION ONE
FLEETWOOD v NETHERFIELD
The Fleetwood side reads: W Clarke (capt), N Coultas, T Wilson, M Clinning, A Parker, A Sharrocks, J Ellis, M Clark, L Jones, T Blundell, N Rupasinghe.
KENDAL v CARNFORTH
Kendal: Ikram Ullah - Cap/Wk; Kevin Howarth; Terry Hunte; Donovan Du Plessis; Oliver Killiner; Nick Lewthwaite; Tony Yasin; Sam Cooper; Ben Simm; Stuart Parkin; Ross McMillan (pro)
Ikram Ullah is a busy man- captain, wicket-keeper and opening bat for Kendal (D Sykes) |
Carnforth: Adam Hornby (capt); James Whincup (wk); Ryan Bailey (pro); Darren Moore; Robert Parker; John Denwood; Jordan Relph; Lewis Bradley; Gareth Denwood; Lee Barnes; Ben Harrison
LANCASTER v BARROW
Lancaster make one change, Brendan Hetherington returning for Luke Phillips. Their team reads: R Nelson; T Umar (pro); M Stevens; T Barry; J Heywood; M Walling; B Hetherington (WK); D Heywood (capt); R Childs; L Moffat; D Milligan.
The Barrow side reads: D Wearing (capt); I Allington; L Livingstone; C Brookshaw (WK); P Wilcock; G Kermode; D Clark; J Miles; I Kermode; R Lightfoot; P Wanasinghe (pro)
Barrow captain Daryl Wearing reports: "We had a tough weekend last week, playing two sides who finished top four last season.
"We will try and correct the two bad results from last weekend when we play Lancaster. It is still early in the season and I am certain last weekend will not set the tone for the rest of the season.
"Unfortunately, new signing, opening bowler, Graham Dawson misses out tomorrow through a back injury sustained in the game against Kendal. Young all rounder Glen Kermode has made the jump up after some good performances in the seconds.
"Our Cumbria County cup against Cockermouth, due to be played on Sunday has been cancelled. Cockermouth are due to play in their League cup."
LEYLAND v DARWEN
Leyland are unchanged: K Cross; C Parkinson; I Farrington; P Cummings; Ameer Khan (pro); A Makinson; T Reece; J Rounding; D Makinson (capt); M Watkinson (WK); S Pallett.
Stuart Hampson of Darwen |
Darwen are without Chris and Jordan Clarke. Darwen are at home to Colwyn Bay in the Lancashire Cup on Sunday; Saturday team: A Cook (Capt); G Jackson; G Cordingley; J Cordingley; N Burke; M Bennett(wk); S Hampson; M emery; K Anwar; Y Bhanji; Atif Ashraf (pro)
PRESTON v MORECAMBE
Preston are unchanged. Bilal Asad, the club professional, has taken over as captain until Glenn Johnstone returns from injury.
Morecambe: Lomas (capt); Goyal; Thornton; Woodhead; Dennison; Pedder; Clough; Gudgeon (WK); Lee; Gates; Martin(pro).
ST ANNES v CHORLEY
Chorley: J.Catterall (capt); J.Tolley (WK); A.Holdsworth; C.Mllward; I.Mawdesley; W.Moulton; K.McCullogh; B.Smith; N.Eastham; C.Critchley;
F. de Wet (pro)
Josh Tolley scored a fine half-century for Chorley last Monday |
Blackpool have no game but club spokesman Andy Griffiths reports:
"Just to confirm that Blackpool 1st and 2nd XI are without a league fixture this Saturday, but our 1st XI will replay their National Knockout fixture, which succumbed to the weather last weekend."
"We will again be hosting Longridge from the Palace Shield, at Stanley Park, with a 1pm start.
"Our 1st XI are hoping to build on the excellent bowling performances so far this season with an improvement in the individual and collective batting effort. With a view to ensuring the batsmen are presented with ample opportunities as the pitches hopefully become more batsmen friendly with the improved weather conditions, the following team has been selected: Danson (capt), Darlington, Gleeson, Hogarth (A), Moore, Melville, Outram, Penney, Reece, Smith (A), Smith (J)(w/k)"
"From the team which took the field last weekend against Longridge, there is only one change, with Michael Penney returning at the expense of Jamie Hogarth, who is following Kirkham & Wesham FC to Wembley. We are grateful to Andy Hogarth who has elected not to travel to Wembley and forego his ticket for a second bite of the cherry at the Longridge batsmen. Andy was Blackpool's most impressive performer with the ball last weekend, picking up 5-21, his second 5 wicket haul in 5 games, which leaves him with 14 league and cup wickets so far at an average of 6.57.
"The batsmen on the other hand have mustered a combined total of 384 runs between them in 4 completed league games, plus the 41 runs from the aborted National Knockout game. With a top score of 38 (Michael Penney) it is clear where the improvement needs to be if Blackpool are to mount a challenge this year."
"Our Professional Sajeewah Weerakoon is now fully recovered from his illness, and will be looking for a sub-professional engagement this weekend to ensure he is fully acclimatised to English conditions ahead of our next league fixture."
DIVISION TWO (2nd XI) (1-00pm)
Barrow v Morecambe
Barrow v Lancaster
Carnforth v Kendal
Chorley v St Annes
Darwen v Leyland
Morecambe v Preston
Netherfield v Fleetwood
Blackpool no game
Sunday 11th May
Lancaster travel to Keswick for a Cockspur Cup match.
Ben Thorne comes in for Tim Barry and Paul Moralee for Taufeeq Umar.
For Morecambe vs Vernon Carus (a) in the Lancashire Cup the only changes are Cassidy for Gates and Smith for Thornton
