Lancashire League

MATTHEW Mott hopes an encouraging double-header for himself and the team last weekend will trigger off an improvement in Lowerhouse's fortunes - starting at Todmorden tomorrow.

Like Todmorden, Lowerhouse have just one Lancashire League win to their name this season, although they have lost only twice in seven outings.

However, a cup win over Royton coupled with a brave bid to beat Bacup suggests that the Burnley club could be turning the corner.

And Mott proved he is getting into form with an unbeaten 62 on Saturday followed up by his second century of the season 24 hours later which left Lowerhouse just two runs adrift of Bacup's total of 190 with two wickets in hand.

"All the good signs are there for Lowerhouse," insisted the Australian left-hander who is on the move from Queensland to Victoria next season.

"We had a good weekend and did everything we said we were going to. We had a good win in the cup game and then did everything right and probably deserved to win against Bacup but didn't get the final nod.

"If we take that into the weekend we will take some beating."

Mott has had a hit and miss start to the summer with a couple of low scores sandwiched between two tons, the first of which set up a win over reigning league champions Haslingden. But last weekend's runs should do him the power of good.

"I struggled a bit on Saturday but just tried to stay there and Chris Bleazard batted very well to take the pressure off me.

"On Sunday I played pretty well and feel confident. The wickets are coming on and with a bit of time in the middle the runs will come.

"It's not ideal when it's wet for batsmen or bowlers and everyone likes to play with the sun on their back.

"Hopefully it will stay fine and with good wickets everyone will be playing on an even playing field."

Mott's first season in the Lancashire League resulted in over 1,000 runs for Church two summers ago.

He had hoped at one point to rejoin the Blackburn Road club but is happy in his new surroundings at Liverpool Road.

"We could not have been set up better and myself and my girlfriend have been made very welcome, although it seems like I'm playing in a different league," he added.

Mott's final remark relates to the rule changes he has encountered on his return. He believes the introduction of draws is having a negative effect on the cricket and that experimentation could have been done at second and third team level.

"You can't fit a three or four-day game into one day," he said.

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