CRICKET - THE boys from Pole Lane had a mixed weekend, knocking Norden out of the Wood Cup on Sunday after losing in the league to Walsden the day before.

"We lost to Walsden when we shouldn't," said skipper Paul Entwistle.

"We were in a strong position with a decent score on the board, but it was a good wicket, it's a fast scoring ground and their pro got their innings off to a flyer."

However, the balance was restored 24 hours later with an impressive cup win.

"It was a cracking game against Norden, a great atmosphere a good crowd," added Entwistle.

"We will did well to restrict them to 210, Taljard's second spell brought 5-11, ripping the heart out of their middle order, and even though Mujtaba got a 100 we felt we did well to restrict to them to 210.

"We then had a superb knock from J.P Hean who batted almost all the way through, hitting 96 and playing shots all around the ground.

"They probably have the best pro in the league Mujtaba, but in the cup you can only bowl 10 overs, which does affect things.

"Now we have this mouth watering semi-final clash at Heywood, a local derby. It will be an intriguing game, with

Alan Badenhorst going back there having pro-ed for them.

With Norden losing their 100 per cent league record to Oldham the day before, many thought visitors Unsworth would suffer a backlash. But they didn't.

With home openers Brierley and Mujtaba putting on 44 for the first wicket, it felt like it was going to be a long day in the field.

But Brierley was run out for 18 and was replaced by Tattersall. He, in tandem with Mujtaba, put on a further 67 before Tattersall fell for 32.

The stage looked set for Norden to build a big lead, but only Mujtaba (100) offered any further resistance as Dion Taljard took 5-26 to bowl the league leaders out for 210, aided an abetted by 30 extras.

The Unsworth reply was brisk, with the first two overs going for 14 runs. Unfortunately Paul Manley - having scored 91 the previous day - could not repeat the feat and was bowled for nine.

Pro Robbie MacQueen joined overseas amateur John Paul Hean and took the score to 54 before the second wicket fell, MacQueen out for 14.

Eighteen runs from Graeme Jones then helped the total along top 85 before he fell to Mujtaba.

With Paul Entwistle, still recovering from injury, going for two (batting at five) and the Unsworth reply looked to be faltering at 85-4.

Enter Alan Badenhorst.

With 37 runs from 47 balls he and Hean took the total to 186 before Mujtaba claimed Badenhorst, still, Unsworth were in sight of their target.

Hean fell one run later for 96 (in 116 balls) but dogged determination from Dion Taljard and some flamboyant stroke play from Jon Wiggans (21 from 24 balls) saw the visitors through to the semi-final with an over to spare.

At Todmorden Road the previous day, Unsworth batted first and opening pair JP Hean and Manley put on 66 from 10 overs before Hean was caught for 13.

He was replaced by MacQueen (38) who shared a stand of 86 before Manley fell on 91 off 88 balls, to leave the score on 152-2. Six runs later MacQueen joined Manley in the pavilion.

Badenhorst hit 10 off 10 balls before being bowled by Walsden pro Shaun Marsh, but the Jones brothers Graeme (37) and Gary (33) helped to raise the Unsworth total to 243-6.

The Walsden reply started off slightly slower than Unsworth with 50 runs coming off the first 11 ovrrs for the loss of Hanson (4), Hooson (41) and pro Marsh (60) pushed ther score to 97 before being bowled.

With the Walsden overseas amateur Blake chipping in 57 runs things were looking good for the home side.

However, a blistering 50 off 32 balls from Bailey saw the home side reach their required target of 244, with 3.2 overs to spare.

This Saturday Unsworth entertain Werneth at Pole Lane.

"It will be quite an evenly matched game," said Entwistle.

"They finished third in the league last year so I'm surprised they're struggling this year in the bottom five, but I feel we have a good chance."