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Blight undecided on Crimble return

Ahmer Khokhar
9/10/2008

HEYWOOD'S overseas amateur Royce Blight is weighing up his options over a return to the Central Lancashire League champions and Wood Cup runners-up next summer.

The 22-year-old Australian right-hander finished this season as the third highest run-scorer in the CLL – only Walsden’s James Rawlinson and Littleborough’s Rudi Keiser scored more runs – and his 716 runs at 37.68 also earned him third spot on the CLL batting averages.

But Blight, who has returned to his native Western Australia for the start of the domestic season with the Midland-Guildford club in Perth, believes Heywood could complete the CLL and Wood Cup double without him in 2009.

The stylish right-hander has decided to delay a decision about his availability for a fourth season in the CLL until Christmas at the earliest.

"It was fantastic to be a part of a very successful Heywood team and with a bit of luck we could have beaten Monton in the Wood Cup Final to add to our CLL trophy," Blight told the Advertiser.

"I’m not sure if I’m going back next season because it’s difficult to take four or five months off work every year and come home hoping to be in the same job.

"I’ve enjoyed every minute of my three seasons with Heywood in 2005, 2006, and 2008, and was pleased to score a few runs this year although it was disappointing to miss out on a hundred.

"Hopefully if I go back next year I can score more hundreds and help the team to win more trophies."

Looking ahead to next year Blight identified two areas of weakness which he believes need addressing to raise the bar in Heywood’s performance levels.

"There were times we were bowled out cheaply because nobody stepped up to support Bobby Cross, (Sri Lankan pro) Ruvin Peiris or myself in the middle order," Blight said. "We also dropped a lot of catches in the second half of the season so there is plenty of room for improvement.

"But most of the players had outstanding seasons. Bobby Cross is the best skipper any team could have and Tom Hardman has got a big future ahead of him as a batsman. I was also impressed with Stephen Cheetham’s fast bowling and I wasn’t surprised when Lancashire awarded him a county contract."

Blight is determined to maintain his CLL form in Australia this winter.

"I want to be consistent in every game," he said.