Good young players will get their chance

ORMSKIRK maintained the pressure on L&DCC leaders Northern last weekend thanks to some late-order magic from captain Nicky Caunce.

Caunce’s side recorded a narrow three-wicket victory over Rainford to keep the pace with their rivals, who remain 36 points clear at the top.

Caunce arrived at the crease with Ormskirk still trailing by 46 runs but, alongside Luke Platt who hit a steady 28, the captain smashed 38 runs from 20 balls to drag his side to victory.

Ormskirk face Northern in two weekends time.

Despite challenging to retain their title, Caunce has hailed the club’s philosophy of promoting from within and giving top-performing second-teamers an opportunity to ply their trade in the first team. “We stick to our principles. “If there’s people in the second team scoring heavily it’s not like we pick a certain side and it’s that side every week and nobody else can get into the team,” Caunce said. “That’s not what we’re about. “We like to give our youngsters a go. “If they’re ready and they’re good enough they’ll get a chance and I think over this season we’ve given opportunities.

“Alex Rankin was too good for the second team last season and he’s come in this year and scored over 500 runs scoring between three and six. He’s done really well and is a big player in our cup team too.

“Luke Platt scored heavily in the second team and got a chance in the firstteam and has scored a few fifties so he’s done really well.

“It’s good to see the youngsters and people from the teams below doing well.

“It’s not like ‘oh I’m too good for the second team I should be in the first team’. “Everyone sticks together. “Everyone pretty much does their job and knows if they do they’ll be in the first team and they’ll get a chance.

At other clubs it seems to be if you do well you’re not going to get a chance.”