Young guns ready to roll

FINAL COUNTDOWN: Matthew Smith (left), Matthew Hodson, Liam Mason and Liam Brown.

CRICKET WOOD CUP:

ROYTON Cricket Club’s investment in youth is paying rich dividends.

The Paddock club has arguably the strongest junior section in the Lake Garage CLL with Tuesday nights at the ground attracting scores of youngsters.

And four of the players who have come through the Royton ranks will feature in Sunday’s John Willie Lees Wood Cup final.

Matthew Smith and Matthew Hodson opened the bowling for Royton in the semi-final against Walsden and did a sterling job.

And opening batsman Liam Mason and all-rounder Liam Brown have been equally-effective and deserving of their place in the first team.

Royton skipper Alan Durose believes all four have come on in leaps and bounds this season.

He said: “They may be young, but they are very mature out on the field and have bought in to what I have been trying to get across to them.”

Smith has taken vital wickets this season, while Hodson — a fiery character, but genuinely quick — claimed three top-order victims against Walsden to effectively end the semi-final as a contest.

One of those to fall was professional Ghulam Bodi, bowled first ball by a an absolute corker.

Durose said: “He is well capable of getting out top batsman and the same can be said of Matthew Smith.”

Mason — “a very disciplined opener”, according to Durose — and Brown, a bowler with many variations, are also key components of a line-up which plays as a team.

And if they can handle any nerves and perform as they have done in previous rounds, Royton’s four young guns will not let anyone down on Sunday.