Preview for weekend 16th and 17th August DIVISION ONE: Its another important weekend of action in The Northern Cricket League, where the battle at the top of the division continues. Blackpool continue to lead the way at the top on 204 points, Paul Danson's team last tasted defeat in the league back in May when they lost at Chorley by 87 runs. However since then, Blackpool have been unbeaten in 16 games, where they have won 14, picked up a losing draw at Fleetwood and saw a home game against Kendal rained off. This weekend Blackpool host Netherfield at Stanley Park, Namibian Professional Christi Viljeon already resigned for 2015, currently has 82 league wickets. Viljoen has been in unstoppable form over the past few weeks, taking 9 wickets at Lancaster before taking 7 at Kendal. Richard Gleeson has also been in great form taking 40 wickets. Netherfield on the other hand have had a mixed campaign .They are a team with a lot of ability, wins over Darwen, St Annes and Fleetwood proves that point. However it's been the ability to keep that consistency going which has been their main problem. That on top of the weather where they have seen 5 games rained off, certainly hasn't helped their cause. Club Captain Marc Brown has been in great form with the bat since returning from a winter spell in Australia. The opener has scored 647 league runs, and has a total of 892 runs in all competitions. This is a potential banana skin for the League leaders where another victory would put them within touching distance of Northern Cricket League success. As for David Makinson's Leyland it's all about keeping within touching distance, as they play host to Chorley. Leyland will be keen to pick up the win after having to settle for a winning draw at Morecambe the week before. Overseas player Alex Ross has been in great form for Leyland this season where he has amassed a total of 1208 runs in league and cup all season. Tayyab Afsar has also impressed taking 42 wickets. Chorley are very much the cup specialists with their exploits in the National competition, however victory last weekend certainly gives Andrew Holdsworth's team the momentum going into the weekends game. With only a few games left the significance of this fixture is massive for the home side as they look to close in on Blackpool Darwen host Fleetwood at Birch Hall, a game which has the potential for being one of the top matches of the afternoon. Jordan Clarke's team will be keen to keep up their good season and despite falling away from the title picture, they will be pleased with how their season has gone. Fleetwood despite a strong start to the campaign have had some mixed results in recent weeks, In the other games Penrith host St Annes, with the visitors having to do without Andy Kellett for the season due to injury. Kendal will be keen to respond following their poor performance against Blackpool when they host a Barrow team who sauntered past Fleetwood last weekend. The final game sees Preston host Lancaster, Preston looking for form, whilst Lancaster will be keen to improve after a disappointing season. On Sunday, Kendal and The Lancashire Colts will be praying it stays dry as they battle it out for a place in the final of the Readers Cup to meet St Annes. Kendal will host the final if they get past The Lancashire Colts. DIVISION TWO: Leyland travel to Chorley, looking to pull further clear at the top, St Annes host Penrith, Netherfield entertain Blackpool,Barrow host Kendal, Lancaster face Preston at Lune Road, Fleetwood entertain Darwen. READERS CUP DIVISION 2 On Sunday 17th August Chorley host Blackpool at Windsor Park starting ar 1-30pm The Umpires list below will be updated on Friday by 8-00pm Please check for any changes The list below was compiled in June by Roy Booth and therefore is liable to change Any umpire that cannot officiate please RING Roy Booth ASAP so he can find a replacement DIVISION ONE 16th August Wickets pitched at 1-00 pm Blackpool v Netherfield Umpires - Mr Roy Booth Tel: 01253 391207 Mr Bob Cairns Tel: 01253 728104 Mob - 07850 684309 Darwen v Fleetwood Umpires - Canon Stephen Jones Tel: 01524 732948 Mob - 07733 159557 Mr Ken Ashworth Tel: 01772 632633 Mob - 07875 588291 Kendal v Barrow Umpires - Mr Kevin Hart Tel: 01257 793837 Mob 07812 921874 Mr Chris Coxhead Tel: 01704 513873 Mob - 07513 431222 Leyland v Chorley Umpires - Mr Joe Waters Tel: 01539 562917 Mob - 07974 108501 Mr Peter Wright Tel: 01524 414978 Mob - 07895 004995 Penrith v St Annes Umpires - Mr Kevin Howarth Tel: 01229 716943 Mob - 07799 020151 Mr David Whitworth Tel: 01539 536444 Mob - 07736 126556 Preston v Lancaster Umpires - Mr Ken Shenton Tel: 01253 343988 Mob - 07742 715595 Mr Andrew Wilson Tel: 01524 68793 Mob - 07747 673815 Morecambe No Game Sunday 17th August Readers Cup Division 1 Wickets pitched at 1-00 pm Kendal v Lancashire Colts Umpires - Mr Andrew Wilson Tel: 01524 68793 Mob - 07747 673815 Mr Kevin Howarth Tel: 01229 716943 Mob - 07799 020151 DIVISION TWO 16th August Wickets pitched at 1-00 pm Barrow v Kendal Umpires - Mr Ron Fullard Tel: 01229 839927 Mob - 07973 257291 Mr Colin Wilson Tel: 01524 822133 Mob - 07759 080614 Chorley v Leyland Umpires - Mr Jim Briscoe Tel: 01695 733945 Mr P Hamer Tel: 01253 711053 Lancaster v Preston Umpires - Mr Roy Armer Tel: 01253 812738 Mr Alf Dunn Tel: 01772 746281 Mob - 07985 633095 Netherfield v Blackpool Umpires - Mr Tony Armer Mob - 07873 625397 Mr John Butler Tel: 01254 410320 Mob - 07986 761603 St Annes v Penrith Umpires - Mr Steve Godfrey Tel: 01253 724893 Mob - 07901 860493 Mr Ian Laurence Tel: 01772 865649 Sunday 17th August Wickets pitched at 1-00 pm Fleetwood v Darwen at St Annes CC Umpires - Mr Ken Ashworth Tel: 01772 632633 Mob - 07875 588291 Mr Stephen Dewhurst Tel: 01772) 615487 Mob - 07590 464214 Morecambe No Game Readers Cup Division 2 Wickets pitched at 1-30 pm Chorley v Blackpool Umpires - Mr John Whiteside Tel: 01253 855518 07511 671398 Mr Chris Coxhead Tel: 01704 513873 Mob - 07513 431222

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