Lancashire duo hoping to upset odds at Oulton

May 10 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

THE top four pace-makers in The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League’s ECB Premier Division meet in two intriguing clashes today.

Top game is unquestionably at Little Budworth where three-times champions Oulton Park take on Alderley Edge, who have staked out a formidable challenge by signing Lancashire stars Oliver Newby and Simon Marshall as well as pace bowler Jason Whittaker from the Bolton Association.

A former Oulton player, Whittaker has taken 11 wickets in three games and his new club must be odds on to retain their unbeaten start.

Meanwhile, Neston meet old rivals Bowdon at Parkgate fresh from their triumph at Heaton Mersey where the feature was a sparkling second wicket partnership worth 203 between Aussie Jack Smith (132) and star teenager David Hurst (97). Bowdon’s 100 per cent record this season is largely down to their Minor Counties pacemen Rupert Kitzinger (Dorset) and Adam Syddall (Cheshire), but star summer signing Carl Hay, the record Liverpool Competition run scorer, has yet to top 50. To-day is an ideal opportunity to show his old Northern qualities.

Widnes are one of four clubs yet to win, although if 20-year-old seam bowler Danny Moore can reproduce the form which decimated the Bowdon batting last week-end (8-37 in a losing cause) their season should soon get under way. Widnes entertain Nantwich, who possess a high-performing Queenslander Glen Batticiotto who slammed an unbeaten 151 not out at Toft last week-end.

Licking their wounds after being decimated by Alderley Edge, Chester Boughton Hall take on wooden spoonists Heaton Mersey at Filkins Lane, while Macclesfield host Toft and Hyde play Urmston.

It’s top v bottom in Division One where surprise packet Warrington take on a Birkenhead Park side still seeking a quality Overseas player after being let down by a planned close season signing.

TODAY ECB Premier Division (1pm): Chester Boughton Hall v Heaton Mersey; Hyde v Urmston; Macclesfield v Toft; Neston v Bowdon; Oulton Park v Alderley Edge; Widnes v Nantwich. Division 1 (1.30pm): Bollington v Cheadle; Cheadle Hulme v Bramhall; Christleton v Didsbury; Oxton v Timperley; Poynton v Upton; Warrington v Birkenhead Park. Division 2 (1.30pm): Bredbury v Sale; Burnage v Middlewich; Hale Barns v Marple; Irby v Grappenhall; Stockport Georgians v Mobberley; Winnington Park v Tattenhall.

TOMORROW: Minor Counties Cup third group game (at Great Tew, 11am): Oxfordshire v Cheshire. Fred Graham Twenty20 Trophy 1st round (3pm): Bollington v Stockport Georgians. Cheshire Cup 1st round (1.30 pm): Brooklands v Winnington Park; Hale Barns v Parkfield Liscard; Malpas v Stockport; Middlewich v Congleton; Old Parkonians v Grappehall; Sale v Caldy. Cockspur Cup (1 p.m.); Hyde v Huyton; Leyland v Chester; Urmston v Elton; Chorley v Widnes; Alderley Edge v Kearsley.