Chorley targeting success in shortened cricket season

The Covid-19 pandemic has meant the usual Northern League and Palace Shield campaigns have had to be cancelled.

But with the Government giving the go-ahead for cricket to return in some form, the two leagues have joined forces to formulate a plan so that there will be a competitive element over the final two months of the summer.

Clubs from the Northern League and Moore and Smalley Palace Shield are staging a localised round-robin tournament which will run until September.

It will be a 40-over competition, with teams divided into four groups. Once the initial group games are played, clubs will then form three new groups depending on the positions they finished.

After that second group stage there will be semi-finals and a final played, with the final due to be played on September 19.

Chorley take on Penwortham at Middleforth Green in their opening fixture on Saturday and chairman Peter Mockett insists his players will be going out to end the summer on a high.

Mockett said: “Now that it has been formulated as a proper league competition with these group games and backed up by a cup situation, I think the players are taking it seriously.

“I’ve heard there are some clubs where the senior players are not that keen to play this format, but that’s their choice.

“All I can say that at our place we have not had any of that and the lads are keen to play. We are not short of players to pick from and I think that shows the enthusiasm to play and do well.”

A trip to Palace Shield outfit Penwortham is a little bit of a step in the unknown for Northern League clubs like Chorley, but Mockett insists his men will not be taking their opponents lightly.

“It’s not a game to be taken lightly just because we are playing a Palace Shield team,” said Mockett. “There won’t be any disrespect because we know the team which have been promoted from the Palace Shield to the Northern League over the last few seasons , they have done well. So we certainly won’t be taking Penwortham lightly.”

Elsewhere in their group Euxton are at home to Vernon Carus, and reigning Northern League champions Leyland welcome Eccleston to Fox Lane.

In the other groups on Saturday, Longridge host Preston, with Garstang hosting Kirkham and Wesham. Great Eccleston entertain Fulwood and Broughton.

Thornton Cleveleys have a home tie with Fleetwood and Blackpool and St Annes meet at Stanley Park. Lancaster face Netherfield and Morecambe have a trip to Kendal.