Andy Dawson has scored quick runs in the seconds
BY STEVE McHUGH: COCK-A-HOOP Heywood face a triple challenge to their unbeaten start to the cricket season this weekend.
They go to Norden on Friday for a difficult opening group match of the John Willie Lees Twenty20 Cup.
On Saturday, Oldham are the visitors to Crimble as Heywood bid to make it six consecutive maximum five-point Central Lancashire League victories.
And on Sunday they visit Bamford Fieldhouse to take on the assembled star-studded side in the second round of the Lancashire Cricket Board KO Cup.
The Twenty20 encounter should prove an entertaining diversion for a side that has swept all before them so far this season, including reaching the quarter-finals of the John Willie Lees Wood Cup last Sunday.
But Heywood showed a couple of years ago that they have the talent to compete in the shortest form of the game, when they lifted the Cup climaxed by a team of all home-grown players winning the final at Clifton.
Chris Kaye and Rob Slawson are unavailable for the trip to Woodhouse Lane, which means a chance for the in-form Andy Dawson in a format that suits his big-hitting game.
It also signals a return to Heywood colours of Curtis Maguire, whose registration has gone through this week. He will drop into the seconds on Sunday as a chance to get himself back into the groove.
Heywood, meanwhile, will start favourites to carry on their CLL run on Saturday, although Oldham are a team capable of springing a surprise just when it is least expected.
Skipper Bobby Cross said: “The Norden game should be a chance for couple of the younger lads who have been so impressive in the second team to have a game at senior level.
“Twenty20 cricket should be a bit of fun for us, whatever the result. Norden will be difficult because they know how to play that form of the game on their ground and have always done well in the competition.
“Bit it would be good if we could go there and win and keep the momentum going.
“Oldham had a big win last Saturday when they beat Radcliffe, and they are going to beat good sides on their day – they do every year.
“We have just got to concentrate on our own game, play properly and improve in the areas where we know that we have got to improve.”
One game where Heywood will start firm second favourites is on Sunday at Bamford Fieldhouse, who will parade a team of big names familiar to most cricket watchers.
Those include ex-England players in Chris Schofield and Warren Hegg, former West Indian Test paceman Marlon Black, ex-Lancashire player Paddy McKeown, former league professionals Melbourne Austin, Martin Smith and J P Lee, plus the current named professional Grant Hodnett, of South Africa.
Added Cross: “It will be a good day out for us. They are expected to win with all those players they have brought in, so, in a way, we can’t really lose.
“Bamford have been assembled to win the Lancashire Cup and the National Cup and as yet they have failed to do so. Each year they don’t win is a major disappointment to them.
“Because of all that, the pressure is on them. But if we manage to nick a couple of wickets here and there you never know what might happen.”
Meanwhile, the senior side is not the only success story at Crimble. The second team gained another four-point win at Crompton, then pulled off an astonishing victory at Clifton in the first round of the Burton Cup.
Heywood made 171-8 but were staring defeat in the face when the home side reached 116-0, although the run rate was creeping up.
Then, in an extraordinary turnaround, the visitors hit back to such effect that Clifton were restricted to 158-9 and their last man was unable to bat owing to injury.
Now Roger Smethurst’s men will be hoping to keep things going at Oldham on Saturday.
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