WITH the Bridging Finance Solutions LDCC Premier League now firmly into the second half of the season, each game is becoming crucial for those teams striving to be champions.
None more so, than at Leigh Cricket Club’s Beech Road ground this weekend, where the second-placed home side take on third placed New Brighton, with both captains knowing a win is vital if they are to keep up the pressure on leaders Ormskirk.
“There are a number of sides who could still have a say in the destination of the league,” agreed Leigh skipper David Dove.
“New Brighton had a disappointing start but they are coming right back into it with momentum and confidence; Bootle have the experience and the great history which always makes them a threat; Northern are always a difficult team to beat and Ormskirk are there on merit.”
The fact that Dove can count his Leigh side among these illustrious names just shows what an excellent season the team from just outside Wigan are having.
“There are so many good sides in the league that to have got to last week’s game still unbeaten was a fantastic achievement for us,” said Dove, referring to his side’s first defeat of the season to Northern.
“To be fair I don’t think we should dwell on a single match and one loss does not concern me too much. It is how we bounce back that is important.”
Just four years ago, Leigh finished bottom of the Premier League, a disaster that provoked a period of serious rebuilding and soul-searching at the club. Cutbacks followed and the decision was made to invest in junior cricket and ground improvements, rather than expensive foreign professionals.
This policy is now paying off with players like Matty McKiernan, Joe Davies and Richard Dempster all coming through the ranks, with McKiernan especially, impressing many observers.
“The wickets that we play on in the Liverpool Competition and the factor of timed cricket, demands that you have decent spinners and in Matty McKiernan and Michael Baer we have had two key players,” said Dove.
“It has been great as captain to be able to chuck them the ball and know that something usually happens.”
Another player who Dove has been fortunate to call on this season is Lancashire batsman Karl Brown, who in-between playing 11 Championship games for his county, has squeezed in three matches for his local club.
“We signed Karl in the knowledge that depending on how he did at Lancashire we might not see much of him and we are delighted as a club that he has done so well,” said Dove.
“We see it as a real bonus when he plays for us and he is really keen when he does. He helps the club, supports us where he can and I think that if we lose more players moving up to County level we are doing something right as a club.”
As the league run-in gathers pace, Dove is confident there will be plenty more opportunities for his side to keep winning.
“We are all very excited about the progress we have made but we have enough experience to know that putting three or four wins together makes a massive difference.”
FIXTURES: Premier League Bootle v Northern, h v New Brighton, Lytham v Hightown, Newton-le-Willows v Northop Hall, Ormskirk v Highfield, Rainford v Colwyn Bay.
First Division Liverpool v Formby, Maghull v Rainhill, Prestatyn v Sefton Park, St Helens Recs v Alder, Southport and Birkdale v Wigan, Wallasey v Orrell Red Triangle
Second Division Burscough v Ainsdale, Fleetwood Hesketh v Caldy, Skelmersdale v Birkenhead St Mary’s, Sutton v Southport Trinity, Wavertree v St Helens.
