Northern League Preview for 20th and 21st June Morecambe and Darwen are both in action with Blackpool having a Saturday off in another busy weekend of Northern Cricket League action. DIVISION ONE: League Leaders Morecambe have the chance to extend their advantage at the top of Division One as they host struggling Preston at Woodhill Lane. Morecambe have been the surprise package of 2015, the bowling attack of Eddie Read and Suraj Randiv has been a formula for success, whilst the batting of skipper Josh Dixon has also been impressive. Preston have found the season tough, they are bottom and are yet to win a game, the loss of players prior to the season didn't help with Saeed Bariwala leaving for Kendal. Preston though despite the troubles continue to battle away and will be looking to pull off a major surprise. Darwen have an interesting trip to the Lakes as they play Netherfield at Parkside Road. Darwen have been in great form in recent weeks, they are in the mix for the league title. The Cordingleys continue to play well, whilst new Professional Khaya Zondo is settling into the Club. Netherfield are showing signs of improvement however they still sit at the wrong end of the League table. The batting side of their game has improved with Marc Brown, Rick Potter and Ben Barrow getting runs. They also have Mark Clarkson who as taken 24 wickets so far and will be a threat. In the other games St Annes host Fleetwood at Vernon Road, St Annes have been struggling as they sit second from bottom in the League table, however their performances over the past couple of games have been an improvement, Xander Pitchers their young professional is adapting to the League well after arriving to the Club late. Fleetwood have had a very frustrating fortnight, losing to both Netherfield and Penrith in two high scoring games. Fleetwood's Pro David King has scored two centuries in the last two games. Fleetwood are posting scores well over 200 making it 400 + runs scored in a fortnight. However despite their clear strength in the batting it as been in the bowling where they have let themselves down, with both Netherfield and Penrith managing to chase down the Fleetwoods totals. At Ernest Pass Barrow entertain Kendal. Barrow are looking for consistency after having last weekend off. Kendal continue to battle away, despite their problems this campaign they had been on a great run up until the losing draw with Chorley. The team from Shap Road have plenty of fighting spirit having been looking down the barrel at defeat over the past few weeks but to their credit they have hung in and got over the line. In large parts down to the batting of Skipper Chris Miller who has had a resurgence of late. Tynefield Park sees Penrith entertain David Makinson's Leyland. Penrith will be in confident mood after chasing down a big score at Fleetwood to win, a victory in that fashion is bound to give them a boost. Leyland were also involved in a high scoring game with Netherfield as they almost chased down a big score. The team from Fox Lane have had an up and down season they are very much a work in progress with a lot of younger players being given their opportunity in what is a club that is currently evolving. The final Division One game takes place at Windsor Park as two improving sides go head to head with Chorley hosting Lancaster. Chorley have been on a good run, whilst Lancaster have also improved this campaign despite some inconsistent results of lately DIVISION TWO: Netherfield have the chance to extend their lead at the top of Division two as they travel to play Darwen in the classic top v bottom encounter. St Annes have an opportunity to close in at the top as they travel to Fleetwood, whilst the other games include, a youthful Kendal hosting Barrow, Preston entertaining Morecambe,League Champions Leyland hosting Penrith, and Lancaster at home to Chorley SUNDAY READERS CUP Division 1 Sunday sees the Readers Cup get underway as Kendal entertain Preston,St Annes hosting Leyland. Other games include Penrith vs Chorley, Blackpool vs Netherfield and Barrow hosting Morecambe Division2 Sunday sees the first round of the Division Two Readers Cup. Preston travel to Kendal, Leyland entertain St Annes, Chorley have Penrith as their visitors and Morecambe are at home to Barrow. Blackpool defeated Netherfield last weekend at Parkside Road FIXTURES The Umpires list below will be updated on Friday by 8-00pm Please check for any changes Will any umpires who cannot fulfil their appointment contact Roy Booth as soon as possible DIVISION ONE DIVISION ONE 20th June Wickets pitched at 1-00 pm Barrow v Kendal Umpires - Roy Booth Tel: 01253 391207 Colin Wilson Tel: 01524 822133 Mob: 07759 080614 Chorley v Lancaster Umpires - Andrew Wilson Tel: 01524 68793 Mob: 07747 673815 Sam Antcliffe Mob: 07964 577974 Morecambe v Preston Umpires - Albert D'Leny Tel: 01768 776615 Mob: 07979 560044 Eddie Payne Tel: 01229 832038 Mob: 07798 772662 Netherfield v Darwen Umpires - Peter Harrison Tel: 01524 380719 Mob: 07947 385534 Peter Wright Tel: 01524 414978 Mob: 07895 004995 Penrith v Leyland Umpires - Bob Cairns Tel: 01253 728104 Mob: 07850 684309 Barry Evans Tel: 01253 729369 Mob: 07971 641433 St Annes v Fleetwood Umpires - Ken Ashworth Tel: 01772 632633 Mob: 07875 588291 Ron Fullard Tel: 01229 839927 Mob: 07772 587081 Blackpool CC - No Game DIVISION TWO Wickets pitched at 1-00 pm Darwen v Neterfield Umpires - Kevin Hart Tel: 01257 793837 Mob: 07812 921874 Phil Watmough Tel: 01772 615642 Mob: 07980 934329 Fleetwood v St Annes Umpires - Ian Falkingham Tel: 01253 301683 Mob: 07905 392543 Ken Shenton Tel: 01253 343988 Mob: 07742 715595 Kendal v Barrow Umpires - David Lightburn Tel: 01931 716688 Mob: 07899 045405 Brian Nixon Tel: 01768 863938 Mob: 07860 914699 Lancaster v Chorley Umpires - Chris Coxhead 01704 513873 Mob: 07513 431222 Colin Dawber Tel: 01772 457861 Leyland v Penrith Umpires - Alf Dunn Tel: 01772 746281 Mob: 07985 633095 Tony Armer Mob: 07873 625397 Preston v Morecambe Umpires - David Armitage Tel: 01539 730753 Mob: 07714 181439 Jim Briscoe Tel: 01695 733945 Blackpool CC - No Game SUNDAY 21st JUNE READERS CUP - DIVIDION 1 Kendal v Preston Umpires - Kevin Hart Tel: 01257 793837 Mob: 07812 921874 Colin Wilson Tel: 01524 822133 Mob: 07759 080614 St Annes v Leyland Umpires - Bob Cairns Tel: 01253 728104 Mob: 07850 684309 Ken Shenton Tel: 01253 343988 Mob: 07742 715595 Penrith v Chorley Umpires - Andrew Wilson Tel: 01524 68793 Mob: 07747 673815 Albert D'Leny Tel: 01768 776615 Mob: 07979 560044 Blackpool v Netherfield Umpires - John Whiteside Tel: 01253 855518 Mob: 07511 671398 Barry Evans Tel: 01253 729369 Mob: 07971 641433 Barrow v Morecambe Umpires - Peter Harrison Tel: 01524 380719 Mob: 07947 385534 Peter Wright Tel: 01524 414978 Mob: 07895 004995 READERS CUP - DIVIDION 2 Preston v Kendal Umpires - Sam Antcliffe Mob: 07964 577974 Colin Dawber Tel: 01772 457861 Leyland v St Annes Umpires - Jim Briscoe Tel: 01695 733945 Chris Coxhead 01704 513873 Mob: 07513 431222 Chorley v Penrith Umpires - Alf Dunn Tel: 01772 746281 Mob: 07985 633095 Phil Watmough Tel: 01772 615642 Mob: 07980 934329 Morecambe v Barrow Umpires - David Armitage Tel: 01539 730753 Mob: 07714 181439 Brian Nixon Tel: 01768 863938 Mob: 07860 914699

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