Top two clash at Vernon Road
St Annes' Duncan Whalley, the top 'keeper in 2009 |
There is no finer way to commence the second half of the season than to have the top two teams in opposition.
That is the case on Saturday when St Annes, leaders of the Furness Building Society Northern Premier League (in association with 3D Sports) host second placed Chorley at Vernon Road.
St Annes (114pts) lead Chorley by six points with Preston third on 90 points. Leyland are fourth on 85 points with Morecambe (83) and Blackpool (82) completing the top six.
Chorley hope to be back to a near full-strength side on Saturday, apart from the injured Josh Tolley and Kieran McCullagh. Nigel Eastham, Ian Oakes, Billy Smith and Rex Purnell could all return.
Michael Baer returned to the St Annes side after completing his university commitments and took six wickets against Darwen. Baer's bowling partnership with Sri Lankan pro Dinuka Hettiarachchi could well hold the key to St Annes' title hopes.
Preston host Darwen at West Cliff while Leyland, fresh from qualifying for the last 16 of the ECB National Knock-Out are at Lune Road to play Lancaster.
Morecambe play Blackpool in an intriguing game at Woodhill Lane. After a fine win at reigning champions Netherfield on Saturday Barrow travel to Shap Road to play Kendal. Carnforth are without pro Gareth Pedder, who is getting married, for their visit to Fleetwood.
Last season's Castle Award batting winner Atiq Uz-Zaman again leads the Northern League batting aggregates with 516 runs at an average of 64.50.
Four other players have topped the 400 runs mark so far- Netherfield pro Glen Batticciotto (439) and a trio of amateurs: St Annes' Stephen Twist (438), Netherfield's Craig Walmsley (420) and Carnforth's Ryan Nelson (411). Lancaster captain Tim Barry has hit 357 at an average of 51.
Carnforth's Ryan Nelson- 411 runs and 18 dismissals in 2009 |
In the bowling stakes Preston captain/professional Bilal Asad leads the way with 34 wickets followed by Hettiarachchi (33).
In the battle for the Castle Award for amateur bowlers Carnforth's left-arm spinner Warren Quinn leads the way with 32 wickets at 12.47. Chorley's Jimmy Lee (27) and Blackpool's Richard Gleeson (24) are also well in contention.
Chorley's Jimmy Lee- 27 wickets in 2009 |
Duncan Whalley is out in front in the wicket-keeping stakes with 20 victims behind the timbers followed by Nelson (18) and Barrow's Chris D'Leny (17). Preston's David Fisher is top fielder with eight catches.
Ryan Nelson has the highest score of the season so far- 126 not out against Morecambe while Bilal Asad's 8 for 29 against Leyland at Fox Lane is the best bowling analysis.
Preston pro Bilal Asad took 8 for 29 against Leyland |
Lancaster 20 points clear in second division
In division two Lancaster (126pts) have a 20 point lead over Leyland going into the second half of the season. Blackpool are third with 99 points.
St Annes' captain Neil Bradley is top runs-scorer with 290 while Morecambe's Nick Milner (32) has most wickets though Leyland's Stephen Cartwright has 31. Lancaster's Nick Davey has 13 wicket-keeping victims and Graeme Cassidy (Morecambe) and Fleetwood's Matt Clark are joint top fielders with seven catches apiece.
Lancaster's Craig Atkinson has the highest score, an unbeaten 115 against Carnforth while St Annes' Richard Thomas took 9 for 25 against Kendal- the best bowling analysis so far.
DIVISION ONE FIXTURES
SATURDAY 4th JULY 2009 (1-00pm)
Fleetwood v Carnforth
Kendal v Barrow
Lancaster v Leyland
Morecambe v Blackpool
Preston v Darwen
St Annes v Chorley
Netherfield no game
Division Two (2nd XI)
Barrow v Kendal
Blackpool v Morecambe
Carnforth v Fleetwood
Chorley v St Annes
Darwen v Preston
Leyland v Lancaster
Netherfield no game
Division Two League Cup Fixture Sunday 5 July
On Sunday 5 July Leyland 2nd XI visit Preston 2nd XI for a quarter-final tie in the Furness Building Society Division Two Cup at West Cliff (2pm). The tie has been brought forward from 12 July after discussions between the two clubs.
