murray smith cheshire county league preview

WINNINGTON Park will be confident of challenging for promotion to County League Division One again after their good start whittled out last year.

However, they will be on their guard against the determination of last year's relegated teams to bounce straight back up.

Vice captain Mike Johns said: "We are quite confident we are going to feature again, but it will be harder with Widnes and Poynton coming down. They have won leagues in the past and have that attraction for big players."

Matthew Cranny will be Park's third successive Australian player from Manley, following in the footsteps of Peter Procopis, who topped the league's batting averages in 1999, and last year's leading wicket-taker Adam Parkinson, who has moved to London.

Johns added: "Manley is a good club to have links with because they play at the the top grade in Australia.

"Matthew is a very good batsman and wicketkeeper, but we're not using him as a keeper, we're keeping faith with young Eoin Welch."

Cranny will arrive on Friday, the night before the season starts with a visit to Cheadle. Park's second league game is at Widnes a week later.

Stewart Woodcock has returned to the fold after a year out and Nigel Hart is also likely to figure after moving back to the area. Stuart Hayes will continue to captain the side.