pro Ferreira jets home for op By PETE OLIVER RAWTENSTALL'S South African professional Lloyd Ferreira has returned home for surgery on an elbow injury and won't play in the EW Cartons Lancashire League again this season.

Ferreira, who has scored 439 runs for the Bacup Road club this summer, has been suffering from tennis elbow and the problem flared up after last Sunday's defeat at Enfield.

"He told us when he was waking up that the elbow was very painful. He's been in touch with the people at Western Province and they have recommended he goes home for an operation," said Rawtenstall's league representative Bob Johnson.

"We didn't want to lose him because he's been going great guns and he's very popular at the club. He's pretty sick about it as well but there's nothing you can do."

Ferreira needs to undergo surgery now to have a chance of being fit for the start of the South African domestic season in September and the league sanctioned his departure following the production of a medical certificate.

Rawtenstall will now assess the professional's position for the remainder of the season, but have lined up South African all-rounder Dion Kruis from Central Lancashire League club Walsden for tomorrow's visit of in-form Colne.

And Andrew Payne, a professional in the Saddleworth League and son of Rawtenstall club chairman Brian, will step into the breach for Sunday's trip to bottom-of-the-table Church.

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