BIRSTALL start a crucial four-week period – which will make or break their season– when third-placed Townville are the visitors to Leeds Road in the Central Yorkshire League Premier Division on Saturday (start 1pm) writes Andrew Hunt.
Last week’s derby success at Batley saw Birstall move within eight points of leaders Methley, despite being back in fifth place. Birstall also meet second-placed Wrenthorpe and Methley before the end of July.
Captain John Carruthers said: “We are
playing some good cricket at the moment but we know the next few weeks will make or break our season with the top sides all to play.”
Birstall also play their Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy quarter-final at Woodhouse Grange this Sunday (1pm).
Batley slipped to seventh following their defeat to Birstall, although they earned high praise after reaching 288-8 in reply to 327-7 in what was a cracking game.
Carruthers added: “It was a highly entertaining game on a screaming wicket, with plenty of runs scored. Batley seem to be taking things a lot more professionally, they were very organised and look a very good side.”
Tariq Hussain’s side entertain Liversedge on Saturday, with the sides locked on 39 points.
Woodkirk will be looking to bounce back from their defeat at Hunslet Nelson when they welcome in-form Moorlands to Leeds Road in Division One.
Woodkirk have slipped to sixth, one place and three points behind Moorlands, but Garry Dawber’s men will be aiming to complete a league double over their Mirfield rivals having won by 44 runs on the opening day of the season.
Hanging Heaton face an up hill struggle to avoid relegation from Bradford League Division One in the second half of the season.
Last week’s 11th defeat of the campaign, to Baildon, leaves the Bennett Lane side 44 points adrift of safety ahead of Saturday’s trip to Pudsey St Lawrence (1.30pm).
A further blow for Heaton is that they will be without pace bowlers Nick Summerscales and David Stiff for the rest of the season after they missed last Saturday’s deadline to play.
Stiff, who has not featured for the club after signing for Somerset in April, will now not be allowed to play for any remaining games.
The consistent Summerscales has missed the first half of the season with a knee injury.
If he manages to regain fitness before September, Heaton would need special dispensation for him to play but it is highly unlikely that it would be granted.
Heaton’s second team moved second in their section with victory over Baildon last Saturday.
It is a big weekend for Heaton as they entertain champions East Bierley on Saturday and then host Woodlands in the semi-final of the Crowther Cup on Sunday (start 1pm).
