Central Lancs league

MONTON and Weaste finished rock bottom of the Lake Garage Central Lancashire League in controversial circumstances last year.

But the Eccles area club will have their sights firmly fixed on the top when the season finally starts on Sunday - the orginal opening day was postponed - after considerably strengthening during the winter.

Cricket chairman Jeff Williams said: "I'll be extremely disappointed if we are not challenging."

Monton were around halfway through the 2007 season, looking good for a third successive top five finish since joining the league in 2005.

But they had most of their points deducted when overseas amateur Roelof van der Merwe was ruled to have turned out while ineligible - having been deemed to have played first-class cricket in South Africa the previous winter.

That flattened the Welbeck Road club, and Williams recalled: "From then on the lads were just going through the motions, seeing the games out."

But Monton now look stronger than ever with a new Australian professional in Brendan Nash, the all-rounder from Queensland who is a former paid man at Werneth, and Indian overseas amateur Gourav Sharma, who was at Droylsden last year.

Opening bowler Andy Taylor and all-rounder Craig Duxbury - both previously at Lancashire County League champions Prestwich, where the latter was professional for eight years, bolster the amateur strength.

Derby and Cheshire League

ROMILEY envisage exciting times ahead when they return to the top flight of the Peak Sports Derbyshire and Cheshire League for the first time since they rejoined the set-up in 2000.

The Stockport area club romped to the Division Two title in 2007, and face a trip to Hawk Green on Saturday in the delayed opening round of matches - after last weekend's proposed start was postponed because clubs were having difficulties in getting their grounds ready.

"These are good times for Romiley," admitted chairman Mick Rowe, "but consolidation will be my advice to the boys."

Romiley were founder members of the League and, apart from a brief spell in the Lancashire and Cheshire League, have been there ever since.

And now, after a period of uncertainty, the club whose ground is on Birchvale Drive are clearly moving forward.

The old pavilion was sold for new housing, and the new clubhouse opened in 2004 has other clubs looking on enviously.

"It is known as the `Romiley Hilton' in the League," said Mick.

"Selling off the land left us in a comfortable financial position.

"Our first team is a young side, and our priority will be to consolidate in Division One."

All-rounder Eddie Nickson is again first team captain, and he will be backed-up by the likes of opening bat Danny Leach and strike bowler Alex Barber.

Romiley's big local rivals are Compstall who will be looking to get their hands on the title again after tieing with Hayfield, who took the crown on the most number of outright victories.

Lancs County League

YOU can't blame Mark Dyson for hoping that 2008 could be a season to remember at club and inter-league level.

Mark is captain of Hyde-based club Flowery Field, who will start their challenge for the League title on Saturday.

And he is also skipper of the League's representative side defending their J W Lees Lancashire Inter League Trophy, which they lifted with a final defeat of the Manchester Assoc- iation last year.

But it is on the club front that Mark has real cause for optimism, with Flowery making three significant signings.

Andrew Gleave returns to the club as professional after two years as paid man at Dukinfield. And that allows Damien Eyre, the League's top left-arm spin bowler, to revert to the amateur ranks.

James Scott, who was the League's top amateur run scorer in 2007, has been recruited from Thornham, and Matthew Hawley joins from Denton St Lawrence.

It gives Flowery their most powerful look since joining the League in 2004 after resigning from the Saddleworth League as champions.

Mark said: "We do look quite a bit stronger and are aiming for at least a top four spot, which would get us into the Lancashire Cup, something that we aspire to every year.

"Damien Eyre has completely led the bowling attack for the last two years. But hopefully, by bringing Andew Gleave back as professional, Damien will not have bowl the same number of overs but still take plenty of wickets."

Bolton League

THREE players who have represented the West Indies at inter- national level are set to light up the new Anthony Axford Bolton League season which starts on Saturday.

Brenton Parchment will be in his fourth year at Farnworth after making his Test debut against South Africa during the winter and featuring in seven one-day internationals.

Kieron Pollard is an exciting new capture for Kearsley. The 20-year-old all-rounder from Trinidad is regarded as one of the most promising young talents in the Caribbean, and has already played in a one-day international for his country.

And back at Westhoughton for a second spell after a stint in 2003 is Dwayne Smith, still only 25 but who seems to have been around a long time after bursting on to the Test scene with a century on his debut at Newlands in South Africa in January, 2004.

The all-rounder from Barbados returns in place of Sulieman Benn, the left-arm spinner who was originally earmarked but who has earned a place in the current West Indies squad.

Farnworth have lost last year's captain, Chris Barrow, who has gone back to join his brother Tim at neighbouring Social Circle.

But that has been offset by the major capture of David White, who had been professional at Horwich for eight years. And underlining his all-round ability is the fact that he is one of only two players ever to take 1,000 wickets and score 10,000 runs in the Bolton League - the other was Duncan Worsley.