Wombourne ready for testing month
Runaway division three leaders Wombourne are geared up for a testing month as the holiday season starts to take its toll.
Runaway division three leaders Wombourne are geared up for a testing month as the holiday season starts to take its toll.
The club's strength in depth is set to be put to the test with various players absent.
Skipper Liam Hughes and batsman Joel Tratt are both unavailable for Saturday's game at Coleshill, as Wombourne seek to extend their commanding 42-point advantage at the top of the table.
Vice captain Karl Quiney will take charge at the weekend.
He said: "We have a few players missing over the next month. We need to pull together and get through the next few weeks and hopefully keep
ourselves in a strong position at the top."
Wombourne go into the clash in confident mood after a crushing 130-run victory over Studley on home soil last weekend.
Alex Hughes and Dale Quiney shared top billing. Hughes struck a superb century, gaining good support from Matt Branch (81 not out) as the home side recovered from 40-3 to post 263-6.
Quiney then ripped through the Studley line-up with a devastating spell of fast bowling, that brought him figures of 7-67 as the visitors were dismissed for 133.
Fordhouses captain Russell Thompson is urging his side to keep the faith as they look to climb away from the drop zone.
Thompson's men have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks to climb of the foot of the table.
The skipper was pleased to see his side dig themselves out of a real hole to gain some reward against Oswestry last Saturday.
Fordhouses were 9-5 chasing 181, but held on to escape with a losing draw, finishing on 139-9, thanks to a defiant 63 from Alan Chapman and 24 from Mike Mandzuk.
He said: "It was a losing draw, but it felt like a morale victory after being 9-5.
"I was pleased with the way we dug in and at least we managed to pick up a few points.
"I think we are getting better and we have shown signs of improvement to pull ourselves away from the bottom of the table.
"We just need to have more belief. The ability is there and the team is good enough to stay up."
Lichfield's promotion hopes suffered a slight jolt as they were undone by a familiar foe at Whitchurch.
Adam Braddock's men suffered a six wicket reverse after being put to the sword by Whitchurch pro Maz Hasnain.
Hasnain plundered an unbeaten 86 as the home side overhauled Lichfield's 146.
Braddock said: "I think there pro averages about 300 against us. It's not the first time we have been on the receiving end.
"We had one of those days with the bat were everything we seemed to nick everything we played at. Then he came in and smashed us about."
Braddock will recall spinner Alan Blank for Saturday's clash with Fordhouses.
