Cricket: Lancashire Cricket League era begins for Rochdale

Rochdale Cricket President Alistair Bolingbroke and Captain Michael Harling welcome new professional Ed Moore to Rochdale

A new era dawns for Rochdale Cricket Club this weekend when they begin life in the Lancashire League.

After the demise of the Pennine Cricket League, seven ex Central Lancashire League clubs have become part of the Lancashire League’s expansion programme and the organisation is now 24 clubs strong.

Each club plays each other once this summer, the top 12 then forming the premier division for the 2019 season.

Although anticipating some tough games, Rochdale’s new captain Michael Harling is optimistic, he said: ‘’We can’t wait to get going. We’ve got a strong well-balanced team, with a lot of experience and I expect us to be challenging in the top half of the table and in the cup competitions’’

Although Dale Highton, last year’s captain, has left for Middleton, Rochdale have been bolstered by the return of Steve Oddy, who will lead the attack, and opening bowler Chris Hartley, who has joined from Norden.

Rochdale’s new professional is 25-year-old Ed Moore from Port Elizabeth. Moore, a left-handed batsman averages 40 in first class cricket and also bowls off spin.

Rochdale’s opening game is at Lowerhouse on Sunday (1.00pm start).