North Wales Cricket League
Brymbo skipper James Claybrook is backing his team to make it five wins in a row when they host Llandudno in a clash of North Wales League Premier Division high flyers tomorrow (1pm).
The Steelmen moved up to second in the table following last weekend's impressive victory at Pwllheli, while Tudno edged into third after a great win over St Asaph.
Claybrook misses tomorrow's tussle as he is on holiday, so Daniel Purdie will lead the side in his absence.
However, the captain believes his team is more than capable of putting in a big performance without him.
"We're playing good cricket at the moment and have won four matches in a row," said Claybrook.
"We lost at Llandudno earlier in the season, so will be going all out for revenge on Saturday.
"They're a very good side, but we're in good form ourselves so it should be a great match."
He added: "(Leaders) Menai Bridge are well ahead of everyone at the moment, but all we can do is take things one game at a time and keep looking to improve and hopefully close the gap."
Claybrook believes the fact his team are now producing a better all-round game week in, week out compared to earlier in the campaign is key to their recent success.
"We had a few problems with the batting early doors, but that's improved now," he said. "We've bowled well all season, so we're getting nearer and nearer to where we want to be. To be in second place reflects well on how we've continued to improve our performances."
Undefeated Menai Bridge will look to make it 13 without loss when they welcome Gresford to Tyn-y-Caeau.
Dion Holden's side are 32 points clear at the summit and showing no signs of flagging with the season just past the midway stage.
Champions Bangor look to have turned around their recent dip in form and will target a third straight win when Northop visit Ty Newydd.
Two teams in the bottom three clash at Central Park where Connah's Quay entertain basement boys Chirk, who are still seeking a first win of the summer.
Pwllheli will look to bounce back from last weekend's disappointing home loss to Brymbo when they greet lowly Hawarden Park at Parc Bodegroes.
St Asaph's fine first half of the season hit the buffers last weekend when they were whipped 15-0 at Llandudno.
Tomorrow will see the Saints take on Denbigh in a local derby at Elwy Park Grove.
Will Ryan's side will be well aware they are facing one of the division's most dangerous teams who can beat anyone on their day.
Liverpool Cricket Competition
Colwyn Bay welcome back skipper Sion Morris and all-rounder Will Higginson for tomorrow's ultra tough home clash with Liverpool Competition 1st XI ECB Premier League leaders Ormskirk.
Bay are without a win in six league outings and currently lie in a precarious third-from-bottom position in the top division.
Morris' men were thrashed by 195 runs at Ormskirk on the opening day of the campaign and will start second favourites tomorrow.
"It’ll be a tough test for us against Ormskirk as it always is," said the captain. "We’ll be going all out for a victory and trying to play as positively and fearlessly as possible."
Despite that six-game winless streak, Bay have drawn three of those matches and were beaten only narrowly at Leigh last weekend.
While Morris and Higginson return tomorrow, regular Michael Littler is away on holiday and Josh Grant returns to the seconds.
In the 1st XI First Division, Prestatyn welcome Newton-le-Willows to Beach Close.
The North Wales side's recent fine run came to an end when they lost at Fleetwood Hesketh last Saturday, but they remain a more than respectable fourth in the standings.
Northop Hall, current leaders of the 1st XI Second Division, will have winning on their minds when they play host to struggling Hightown St Mary's at Smithy Lane.
The Flintshire outfit won comfortably away to Hightown on the first day of the campaign and will fancy their chances of completing a double over the Liverpool club.
With a 47-point cushion at the 2nd XI First Division peak, Colwyn Bay seconds are sitting very pretty.
Tomorrow sees the Bay travel to mid-table Rainford, whom they beat by 21 runs in a low-scoring contest at Penrhyn Avenue back in April.
FIXTURES
Saturday
Liverpool Competition
1st XI ECB Premier League: Colwyn Bay v Ormskirk.
1st XI First Division: Prestatyn v Newton-le-Willows.
1st XI Second Division: Northop Hall v Hightown St Mary's.
2nd XI First Division: Rainford v Colwyn Bay, Spring View v Northop Hall.
2nd XI Second Division: Burscough v Prestatyn.
North Wales League
1st XI Premier Division: Bangor v Northop, Brymbo v Llandudno, Connah's Quay v Chirk, Menai Bridge v Gresford, Pwllheli v Hawarden Park, St Asaph v Denbigh.
1st XI First Division: Bersham v Conwy, Llanrwst v Mochdre, Llay Welfare v Dolgellau, Mold v Bethesda, Pontblyddyn v Abergele.
1st XI Second Division: Corwen v Gwersyllt Park, Llangollen v Halkyn, Marchwiel and Wrexham v Buckley, Mynydd Isa v Carmel & District, Ruthin v Bodedern.
2nd XI Premier Division: Buckley v Pontblyddyn, Carmel & District v Brymbo, Gresford v Menai Bridge, Hawarden Park v Bangor, Mochdre v Llay Welfare, Northop v Bangor.
2nd XI West Division: Caernarfon v Bethesda, Dolgellau v Pwllheli, Llandudno v St Asaph.
2nd XI East Division: Chirk v Mold, Gwersyllt Park v Rhewl, Halkyn v Castell Alun.
Sunday
North Wales League
Sunday 3rd XI Division: Brymbo v Mochdre, Buckley v Menai Bridge, Carmel & District v Llandudno, Northop v Mold.
