Leyland coach keeps it real despite men hitting the front in Northern Premier Cricket league
Leyland head coach Dave Makinson is taking no notice of his team’s recent elevation to the top of the Northern Premier Cricket League Division One table.
After an indifferent start, Karl Cross’ men have really hit form in recent weeks, winning their past three league games.
They have also enjoyed success in the ECB National Knockout Cup – Sunday’s 81-run victory over Prestwich at Fox Lane means they are now through to the last 16 of the competition.
That win felt like deja vu as Leyland had won by the same margin a day earlier against St Annes at home in the league.
Both wins were largely down to fine knocks from professional Sam Oldham and Zak Willox.
The former struck a century on Saturday and a half-century a day later, while Willox did the same but in reverse, reaching three figures on Sunday.
The win over St Annes saw them hit the summit, but they are only 10 points clear of this weekend’s visitors Longridge, who are fifth.
"I am not taking much notice of the league table,” said Makinson.
"It’s very tight. It was very tight league last season and I think it could be even tighter this year.
"Longridge are fifth and they are 10 points behind us so if they beat us this weekend, 12 points for a win, they could go above us.
"But we have been playing well. We had two good wins at the weekend, Sam got a century on Saturday and Zak got one on Sunday. We have had some good wins in the National Knockout, beaten some good team.
"We won our regional final against Prestwich so now we are through to the last 16 where we play Woodlands from Yorkshire at home next month.
"We’ve never really done that well in that competition, I think about 10 years ago we got to this stage but that’s about it. It would be nice to go further.”
Longridge themselves are in fine form and Makinson warned his men to beware of Luke Platt’s men.
"They have got some very destructive players,” he added. “Their pro Matthew de Villiers is a very good player.”
Fixtures;
NPCL Div One: Garstang v Chorley, Kendal v Netherfield, Leyland v Longridge, Settle v Carlisle, St Annes v Blackpool.
NPCL Div Two: Barrow v Lytham, Fleetwood v Fulwood & Broughton, Great Eccleston v Carnforth, Morecambe v Whalley, Penwortham v Thornton Cleveleys, Preston v Euxton.
PS Champ: Burneside v Mawdesley, Fylde v Penrith, Heysham v Garstang 2nds, Netherfield v Torrisholme, Vernon Carus v Eccleston, Westage v Lancaster.