WESTHOUGHTON captain Rob Houghton described dismantling Northern League challengers Leyland by 116 runs in Sunday’s ECB National Club Championship first round as “a great scalp”.

The Howfeners skittled their visitors for just 58 at St George’s Oval having posted 174-5 from their 40 overs to set up a second-round away clash at Prestwich next month.

It was also the perfect riposte to Saturday’s Peter Stafford Trophy defeat against Bradshaw.

Westhoughton’s batting was underpinned by Jordan Higham and Kieran Edwards, who posted 44 and 55 and shared 81 for the fourth wicket to advance from 44-3.

“It was a bit moist early doors, so they stuck us in,” said Houghton. “But it was a good performance.

“It did a bit early on and Jordan and Kieran batted really well. Kieran got 88 on Saturday and has had a good weekend with the bat, especially given he’s classed as an opening bowler.

“He’s a proper batter. He plays some serious shots, which he did Saturday. But Sunday was a really well-executed innings. Like I said, it was quite difficult early on, so he was really patient before laying it on later on.”

With the ball, last season’s Hamer Cup winners were led by a maiden first-team five-wicket haul for seamer Simon Ashcroft (5-22 from eight overs) having come on first change. Edwards also took a wicket with the new ball added to two for Rob Brown.

“Simon bowled well. There were some good catches taken off him,” said Houghton. “Kieron, Rob and Simon, they all bowled really well.

“Simon has only recently come into the first-team set-up. He’s been with us for six or seven years in the seconds. But this season he’s going to get more opportunities in the firsts.

“He played at the back end of last season and in the Hamer Cup final. This year is his opportunity to really give it a go.”

Houghton went on: “Leyland are a good side, and I’ve no doubt they’ll do well in the Northern League. But we played some good cricket. It’s a great scalp. Without wanting to sound big-headed, it was convincing.

“Leyland’s captain (Ian Farrington) split the webbing in his hand, and that’s why they only lost nine wickets. But we’ve done our job. We batted well to get a decent score, especially with the lack of friendlies. Everyone is still a bit rusty.”

And in terms of the National Club Championship and where it lies on Westhoughton’s landscape for 2018, Houghton added: “It’s not the top of our priority list, I’ll be honest.

“The League and Hamer Cup are above it. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to take it seriously. We’re not turning up as a token gesture.

“Our aim is to just keep winning games and not worry too much about it. We’re the holders of the Hamer Cup, we’d love to retain that, and we want to be competitive in the league.

“We’re not looking at it too deeply, though. I don’t want to put too much pressure on the lads.”