
Home comforts are in store for Northop Hall and Chirk
Skipper Ben Slater said: 'We have been training hard during the week. We have been training twice during the week.
'I don't think many other clubs train twice a week. I think it makes it miles easier to get that first win.'
Following on from their opening day defeat at the hands of Ainsdale, it was critical that Northop Hall secured a positive outcome from their meeting versus Norley Hall.
'Paul Jenkins and James Hurlin led the attack well, taking all 10 wickets between them,' added Slater.
Experienced Jenkins finished up with a superb seven for 73 haul and he has claimed 11 wickets in the league since joining up with the club ahead of the campaign.
Asked if it was a case of just throwing the ball to Jenkins for lengthy spells each week, Slater admitted: 'Probably not every game.
'The wicket, when we reviewed it, we looked at their squad and we played to our strengths.
'We knew last year the spinners did well. I lost the toss and they were going really well on 120 for two off 25 overs, and the spinners pulled it back.'
Hall required a good partnership to make the chase a straight-forward one and this was supplied by Jac Kennedy (56) and Matthew Jones (57 not out), who put on 87 for the second wicket.
'Matty Jones and Jac Kennedy starred with the bat,' said Slater. 'They're our two strongest players in terms of the batting.
'I don't like to set targets (for them)! You don't know what sort of wickets you'll play on or the weather.'
Tomorrow's clash with Prescot & Odyssey is something of a revenge mission for Hall.
'We lost to them in the cup, unfortunately,' added Slater.
'But, in the league, I think it will be slightly different, because there's no limitations on the bowlers.'
Northop Hall Seconds are seeking their first victory of the season and they'll be hoping this arrives away to Old Xaverians Seconds tomorrow.
It's been something of a stop-start opening to the Shropshire League campaign for Chirk.
Liam Walker's charges began their season with last month's five-wicket defeat to Wellington Seconds, while they were meant to take on Broseley last time out.
However, the Broseley club has folded and all attention from Chirk now turns to tomorrow's Division One meeting at home to Newport.
Walker, who hopes to have Mark Shaw available tomorrow, said: 'We didn't quite bat to our full potential against Wellington.
'We just needed to bat the overs, really. The boys have been netting well and we're just trying to get everyone out.
'We just need batsmen to bat the overs and be a bit more selfish.'
In Division Seven, Chirk Seconds are on their travels to Harcourt.
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