Cricket: Broad Oak aiming to set up thriller

Jun 23 2009 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SEVEN teams have their unbeaten records on the line tonight in round four of the Romida Twenty/20 Trophy.

Broad Oak and Hoylandswaine are joint leaders of the Haigh Pool, both having won two from two, and both will be expecting to win and move on to 12 points apiece which will set up the final series of games nicely when the two sides play each other to decide the winners of their pool.

Shepley are joint top of the Hirst Pool, but have played a game fewer than Holmfirth and Scholes, and a win tonight against Honley would make them favourites to finish top.

Similarly an Elland win over Paddock would virtually guarantee their qualification for the second round which gets under way on Tuesday, July 7.

In the remaining three Pools, Kirkburton (Rhodes), Slaithwaite (Taylor) and Skelmanthorpe (Watson) are all also sharing top spots in their respective sections, while having played less than their rivals.

Kirkburton can end Lascelles Hall’s involvement in this year’s competition at Riley Lane, while Slaithwaite visit already doomed Meltham (assuming they can raise a side this week) and Skelmanthorpe visit Kexborough.

As with its forerunner – the old Examiner Eights – many sides are having to use a composition of first, second team and juniors, so there are no guarantees when playing evening matches as much depends on what sort of team each club can field.

Tonight’s fixtures are:

Broad Oak v Linthwaite, Hall Bower v Hoylandswaine, Honley v Shepley, Scholes v Thongsbridge, Elland v Paddock, Golcar v Rastrick, Kirkburton v Lascelles Hall, Kirkheaton v Lepton Highlanders, Marsden v Micklehurst, Meltham v Slaithwaite, Emley Clarence v Shelley, Kexborough v Skelmanthorpe.

HAIGH POOL

Broad Oak220008

Hoylandswaine

220008

Linthwaite

210014

Armitage Bridge

310024

Hall Bower

300030

HIRST POOL

Holmfirth

320018

Scholes

320018

Shepley

220008

Honley

200020

Thongsbridge

200020