A POOR umpiring decision, spilled catches and a pedestrian run-rate were to leave Stand pointless after clashes with Norden and Crompton, and next-to-bottom in the CLL Table.

On Saturday the club travelled to Norden looking for the first win of the season. The hosts won the toss and elected to field first.

Stand got off to a rather slow start and half-way through the innings had only reached 37-2, thanks to some tight bowling from Norden professional Asif Mujtaba and overseas amateur Shaun Mascarenhas.

The second half of the Stand innings, however, produced almost a 100 runs, giving the Stand bowlers a half decent total of 129-8 to defend.

Sam Warren top scored with 43. There were also useful contributions from John Seedle (23) and Mike Yuill at the death, with a quickfire 26.

In reply Norden got off to a decent start, thanks to opener Asif Mujtaba who played his way to an unbeaten 75 and once again put his side in the driving seat.

But the Norden paid man did receive some help from the umpires, as he was given not out after a blatant edge carried through to wicketkeeper Penchion of the bowling of Sutcliffe.

This was the slice of luck that Stand required to give them any chance in the match, but yet again a bad umpiring decision was to prove costly.

Brierly was the first wicket to fall, brilliantly caught at second slip by Mike Yuill off the bowling of Shah (an opening Partnership of 88).

Shah then removed Mascarenhas without scoring in his next over, and Carl Sutcliffe claimed the wicket of Tattersall shortly after for five, with the score on 102-3.

Paul Carroll then came to the wicket and hit 21 off eight balls to see Norden home. Eddie Shah was pick of the bowlers with 2-38 from 14 overs.

On Sunday Stand hosted Crompton at Hamilton Road, and visiting skipper Mel Whittle won the toss and elected to bat first.

Stand pro John Seedle made two early breakthroughs, removing Glen Rigby caught behind, then Graham caught square of the wicket, with Crompton on 9-2.

Useful knocks from Dawson (26), Whittle (16) and Zulfiqar unbeaten on 18, provided support for professional Saeed Anwar, who played his way to 90, having been dropped on five occasions, the first chance going down with Anwar on 33.

This was to prove the difference between the two sides at the end of the game.

The wicket of Anwar, who was bowled by Carl Sutcliffe, prevented the visitors passing 200 and the Crompton innings closed on 187-6.

Seedle took 3-57 and Eddie Shah was unlucky to finish with only 1-62 from 25 overs.

Stand's run chase got off to another slow start, and losing wickets at regular occasions didn't help to form a partnership capable of reaching the target, and at the half-way stage the home side were struggling on 39-5. Seedle then played his way to a well deserved 47 before being run out, but did manage to build a 57-run partnership with skipper Paul Wilkinson, who made 17 before being caught behind.

Carl Sutcliffe made his way to the wicket with four overs remaining and smashed an unbeaten 26 from 16 balls to leave the Stand reply on 133-8 off the allotted 50 overs, just seven runs short of a batting point.

Bowler Whittle finished with 4-54 and Anwar 3-35.

Sunday sees the club entertain mid-table Walsden, wickets pitched 1.45pm.