Rochdale up against record breaker

THE JW Lees Pennine Cricket League goes into week two with a double round of fixtures.

Perhaps the most intriguing one comes today when Rochdale travel to play Walsden who will have Kelly Smuts as deputy professional.

Smuts set all sorts of records last weekend with his score of 200 plus for Todmorden against Enfield.

He stands in for injured pro Umesh Karunaratne.

The reigning champions opened their programme with a defeat at Norden last weekend, so they will be keen to get their first points of the season on the board.

Rochdale opened with a comfortable home win over Stayley, Ollie Makin starring with both bat and ball following his move to Redbrook from Norden.

Norden go to Austerlands today hoping for better luck than last year when the fixture was abandoned without a ball bowled due to the weather.

The Stags are back home tomorrow for the visit of Crompton who, on paper, look to be one of the sronger teams in the Premiership this season.

Littleborough face a tough task at Heyside today, then entertain Saddleworth tomorrow.

To say Boro have lost so many players from last season they did very well in beating Glodwick at Hare Hill last weekend, led by evergreen Clinton Perren who hit 90.

Milnrow visit Friarmere today and entertain Ashton tomorrow.

It could prove a fruitful weekend for the Ladyhouse lads, now led by skipper Lee Crabtree and the vastly experienced professional Saeed Anwar jnr.

Ashton were bounced by Middleton last weekend, former Norden player Michael Pritchard taking a career best seven for seven.

Austerlands v Norden; Crompton v Monton and Weaste; Glodwick v Greenfield; Heyside v Littleborough; Saddleworth v Stayley; Walsden v Rochdale.

Ashton v Micklehurst; Friarmere v Milnrow; Oldham v Royton; Shaw v Moorside; Uppermill v Hollinwood; Werneth v Middleton.

Greenfield v Oldham; Littleborough v Glodwick; Milnrow v Walsden; Monton and Weaste v Crompton; Norden v Werneth; Rochdale v Friarmere.

Hollinwood v Shaw; Micklehurst v Werneth; Middleton v Uppermill; Milnrow v Ashton; Moorside v Oldham; Royton v Friarmere.

Crompton v Norden; Friarmere v Milnrow; Glodwick v Monton and Weaste; Oldham v Littleborough; Walsden v Greenfield; Werneth v Rochdale.