IT was defeat at the double for Stand at the weekend as they went down to a 126-run defeat to Royton on Saturday and a four-wicket reverse at the hands of Rochdale 24 hours later.

Stand travelled to Royton on Saturday looking for their second win of the season.

The hosts batted first and after a shaky start began to dominate proceedings with a third wicket partnership of 194 between opener Warren Teall, who hit 118, and professional Siddiqui with an unbeaten 108.

The home side eventually amassed 295 off 50 overs for the loss of four wickets.

Pick of the Stand bowling was professional Martin Hegg, who took two for 53 from 12 overs, with good support from Warren, who took one for 40 from 12.

As in previous matches, Stand faced an uphill struggle, losing wickets at regular intervals.

The only three batsmen who offered token resistance were Dave Taylor, with 21, Dave Airey, 40 not out, and Josh McLean, who played his way to a fine 57.

The Stand innings closed on 169 for nine off 50 overs, some way short of their target.

On Sunday Stand took on high-flying Rochdale in an entertaining match at Hamilton Road.

Stand were without contracted professional Martin Hegg due to injury and called on the services of Shahid Anwaz from the Ribblesdale League with Chris Warren becoming captain for the day.

The home side won the toss and elected to bat. Some tight early bowling frorm the Rochdale openers stunted Stand's progress. The only three batsmen to reach double figures were professional Anwaz with 23, Rick Watson, 18 and Josh McLean, who was left stranded on 43 not out loooking in fine form.

The highlight of the Stand innings was a straight six by McLean off Mo Bux's bowling. Neil Avery finished with five for 37, including a hat-trick.

Stand's cause wasn't helped by three dubious umpiring decisions, at times leaving the crowd in disbelief. As a result the innings closed prematurely on 124 from 45 overs.

The Rochdale innings began steadily until the introduction of Warren into the attack produced the first wicket with the score on 43.

Rochdale's professional, Dirkie De Vos, quickly followed for 10, along with three more cheap wickets, courtesy of Warren, leaving Rochdale on the ropes at 83 for five.

A sixth wicket partnership steered Rochdale home, but it wasn't without a number of tense moments for the away side.

Warren finished with six for 37, a quite superb spell of bowling. The other bowlers all played their parts without taking any wickets, which in part was due to harsh umpiring and not a great deal of luck.

Stand did themselves proud and Rochdale knew they had been in a game.

Tomorrow Stand travel to Littleborough.

RADCLIFFE enjoyed a thrilling two-wicket victory over arch rivals Middleton at the Racecourse on Sunday.

Set a total of 157 after Middleton were bowled out for 156, Radcliffe always looked likely to avenge last season's Wood Cup final defeat at the hands of the Moonrakers.

Professional Steve Dearden helped himself to a five-wicket haul and Man of the Match Nick Kennedy chipped in with four more before Radcliffe crept home with two balls to spare after losing an over due to their slow bowling rate in the Middleton innings.

When Radcliffe replied, Kennedy top scored with 32, closely followed by skipper Graeme Simpson with 31, while Damion Keegan and Jon Macauley both added 26 runs apiece.

They were the mainstays of the Radcliffe innings as Middleton skipper Lee Wolstenholme attempted a one-man demolition job, taking seven for 57 as he strove to keep the Radcliffe batsmen at bay.

On Saturday Radcliffe visit East Lancs of the Lancashire League in the Inter League Challenge Trophy semi-final. The club are organising a coach for those members wishing to travel. A list will be posted in the club house.

Radcliffe's second eleven were beaten by 34 runs by Middleton. R Halliwell took five for 36 as Middleton made 197-8 and R Farnworth hit 63 in radcliffe's reply of 163 for nine.

The Radcliffe third eleven suffered a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Littleborough on Saturday. A Gorsi hit an unbeaten 74 in Radcliffe's total of 171 for six, but Littleborough reached 172 for four, despite I Hayes taking three for 39.

IT was a case of after the Lord Mayor's Show for Unsworth at the weekend after their Wood Cup quarter-final victory.

They suffered a six wicket defeat at Littleborough on Saturday and lost out by 13 runs against Royton at Pole Lane on Sunday.

Against League leaders Littleborough Unsworth won the toss and batted. Facing some tight bowling, only overseas amateur Nathan Webb scored reasonably as Littleborough professional Lee Carseldine took five early wickets and reduced Unsworth to 66 for seven.

Two stands of 31 each from Barlow and Sohail and Sohail and Levy brought some respectability, but 133 was an entirely inadequate total and Littleborough knocked off the required runs in 26 overs with Carseldine making 60, including 11 fours.

Unsworth managed to cut back on the extras, bowling just two wides, which was something of an improvement.

On Sunday Royton won the toss and batted on a dry wicket and after 17 overs the opening partnership had 78 runs on the board.

Some close to the wicket catching and slow out fielding where fielders did not attack the ball coming towards them made the batsmen's task somewhat easier.

A total of 206 seemed reasonable compared with the pace of the earlier runs. It was only in the tenth over when 42 runs had already been scored that Alan Howarth came on and only one run was scored off his first over, restoring some semblance of order.

As Unsworth lost by 13 runs and only had 47 overs batting, due to the slow over rate, it can safely be considered that 29 extras played a very prominent part in the final outcome of the game.

So far this season Unsworth have conceded nearly 300 runs under the extras column.