UNSWORTH set up a mouthwatering Wood Cup quarter-final clash with neighbours Radcliffe at Pole Lane on Sunday June 2 after a marathon four-day game against Milnrow in the first round.

Rain forced the prolonged saga, which stretched between Sunday and Wednesday this week, and Unsworth had to do without their Sri Lankan professional Pasan Wanansinghe on the final night.

He had to travel down to Cardiff to link up with his fellow countrymen as they prepared for the tour match against Glamorgan, which began in the Welsh capital yesterday.

Wanansinghe did his bit, picking up two wickets as Milnrow were bowled out for 195, their best effort with the bat coming from Australian professional Clinton Perren, who hit 63 before being trapped leg before wicket by Alan Howarth.

Skipper Paul Entwistle laid a solid foundation with 55 when he opened the Unsowrth reply. Their were other fine contributions with the bat from Wanasinghe, who hit 51 before dashing down to South Wales and 39 from man of the match Manley.

Unsworth crept home with just over an over and six wickets to spare and now face a race against time to get their wicket back into decent condition for tomorrow's home game with Walsden. They travel to Radcliffe for a league game on Sunday.

STAND were put to the sword in the first round of the Wood Cup as they fell to a comprehensive 167-run defeat at Oldham.

The visitors won the toss and put Oldham in to bat and looked to be heading for a shock victory when they skittled out three of the early home order for just 35 runs.

Chris McDonnell and Oldham's South African professional Gerhardus Liebenberg then put together what proved to be a decisive 128-run partnership for the fourth wicket. McDonnell finished with 69 and Liebenberg was unbeaten on 104.

Quickfire contributions from Moore with 23 and Smith, who hit 44, helped Oldham reach their total of 280.

Best with the ball for Stand was Paul Duerden who took three wickets for 56 runs.

In reply, Stand lost three early wickets for just 24 runs. Martin Hegg with 29 and Dave Airey, 32, added 50 for the fourth wicket, but Stand lost wickets at regular intervals and finished on 113 not out.

This weekend Stand travel to Werneth and host neighbours Radcliffe at Hamilton Road.

RADCLIFFE stormed into the second round of the Wood Cup after a thoroughly convincing 102-run victory over jaded giants Littleborough at the Racecourse.

The match was finally completed on Monday night after rain stopped play on Sunday with Littleborough on 52 for five off 24 overs chasing Radcliffe's total of 193 for five.

Bruce Cruse led the runs charge with a magnificent unbeaten 73. He was ably backed up by opener Travis Birt, who hit 21, and Nick Kennedy with 34 as Radcliffe steadily amassed their total.

Stuart Kelley was best with the ball, taking three for 30 as Littleborough were kept well in check. Steve Holt also had impressive figures of two wickets for five runs off his five overs as the visitors capitulated and were bowled out for 91.

Saturday's home league fixture against Oldham was washed out with both sides receiving two points.