MILNROW face a tough one today when they entertain Heywood who won the John Willie Lees Wood Cup for the third season on the bounce last weekend.

The Ladyhouse lads go into the match without skipper Nigel Doyle.

He is actually named in the second team, but the fact is he has been on holiday and is unlikely to figure at all.

Doyle is named to return to the first team for tomorrow’s match at Walsden when professional Karl Brown will be absent due to playing for England under 19s.

The deputy pro will be Steven John Mullaney who is in his first season as a full Lancashire player after coming through from the Academy ranks at Old Trafford.

Mullaney bats right-handed and is described as a medium pace right-arm bowler.

Leaders Rochdale, who have seen their advantage at the top cut to 11 points, travel to play Clifton today and entertain beaten Wood Cup finalists Unsworth tomorrow.

They need the points to keep fending off a growing challenge from Norden whose overseas amateur Hamid Hassan has enjoyed a good spell in recent weeks and is now almost up with Rochdale’s Steve Oddy in the leading amateur wicket-taker list.

Norden travel to Middleton today without Phil Collinson who will be on groundsman duty at Spotland, bowler Irfan Rana, and Simon Egerton.

In come Ali Raza, Toby Cockayne and former Middleton player John Fawkes.

Rana returns for tomorrow's home clash against Crompton when Simon North will be unavailable.

Littleborough travel to play Monton and Weaste today on the back of last weekend's home win over Oldham.

Boro should claim another win tomorrow when they meet lowly Ashton at Hare Hill.

Today: Ashton v Oldham; Clifton v Rochdale; Crompton v Radcliffe; Middleton v Norden; Milnrow v Heywood; Monton and Weaste v Littleborough; Unsworth v Royton; Werneth v Walsden.

Tomorrow: Heywood v Werneth; Littleborough v Ashton; Norden v Crompton; Oldham v Monton and Weaste; Radcliffe v Middleton; Rochdale v Unsworth; Royton v Clifton; Walsden v Milnrow.