MID-TABLE Astley Bridge will glimpse the contrasting qualities of the bottomof- the-league Tonge and table-toppers Greenmount at the weekend.

The Sharples Park outfit make the short trip to Castle Hill tomorrow in a bid avenge their home defeat to Tonge in May before entertaining runaway leaders Greenmount – who have lost their last two matches – on Sunday.

But Astley Bridge chairman Ron Fallows is refusing to take neighbours Tonge lightly as his side aim to improve on their record of nine wins and nine defeats in the season so far.

“It’s not as straightforward as you might think,” he said. “Tonge beat us earlier in the season and, if we go into the game thinking we will beat them, we could come a cropper.”

The form book could be equally unreliable the following day when Greenmount visit the Bridge.

After winning the Hamer Cup and reaching the Lancashire Knockout final, in which they will face Walkden at Old Trafford on September 11, they have now lost their last two league games.

“Greenmount have shown the consistency you need to be successful,”

he said, pointing to the Bury side’s bowler Mark Stewart and captain as a model player.

“It will be very interesting to face them after they have lost two matches. We might be able to capitalise on some nerves.”

Opening batsman Andy Northrop captains the side, but it is his brother and batting partner Rick who has been hitting most of the runs to stand seventh in the Bolton League batting averages on 44 while professional Himesh Silva has taken 62 wickets.

Team-mate Amal Dalugoda is set to undergo an operation soon for an injury on his knee which has hampered his batting and his bowling.

Fallows also points to 20-year-old university student and strikebowler David Cryer, all rounder Callum Clarke and bowler Matthew Farnworth as cricketers that prove Astley Bridge have a bright future.

Meanwhile, a junior coaching camp is being run at Sharples Park for seven to 15-yearolds from Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm, next week run by club pro Silva, Tonge pro Syd De Silva and Egerton’s stand-in professional.

Anyone interested in participating should contact Fallows on 07801 343062.