RADCLIFFE’S cricketers have gone from zero to hero in the space of just 12 months – and skipper Mark Robinson is now planning an assault on the Central Lancashire League pacemakers.

Rewind to last summer and the Racecourse side were in the midst of an 18-match losing streak, but, now, after Saturday’s crushing 90-run defeat of Monton and Weaste, they are third in the table and well positioned to challenge the likes of Norden, Littleborough and Milnrow.

It is an amazing turnaround for a group of players who were at the club last season and Robinson, the man driving the success, is looking to ruffle a few feathers at the top of the league.

“Talking about winning the league may be a step too far, but we certainly belong at the top end and the belief is now there to compete with the very best teams,” said Robinson.

“There is nobody to fear now because we are establishing ourselves as a team worthy of a place in the top three or four.

“In the early part of the season we might have been a bit lax with our fielding and, occasionally, our batting, but we have put it all together now and we are getting the results.

“The team spirit is good and everyone is working hard. We believe we can bowl anybody out. We have taken 10 wickets in each of our seven victories so far this season – and it is then just a case of putting a score on the board, at which we have been quite successful.”

Radcliffe’s success has been a real team effort, but the performances of professional Anwar Ul Haq have been particularly pleasing.

“I keep wicket to Anwar and I think he is the best spinner in the league, if not the best bowler,” said Robinson.

“It is his second season as our pro and I think he understands the role a bit better and he is taking lots of wickets. He has chipped in with a few fifties too.

“He helps us put teams under pressure with the ball, as does Michael Burns.

“Burnsy could only bowl seven overs in a row last season, because of his age, but now we have the option of keeping him on if he is bowling well and he picked up another four wickets on Saturday.

“Everyone is a year older and wiser and the momentum we are getting from winning means we go into games expecting to come out on top.”

Radcliffe, who also beat Unsworth in a CLL Twenty20 clash on Friday, visit Walsden on Saturday.

The second team arrested a poor run of form with a 105-run hammering of Monton. Matthew Wright (53), Liam Franklin (33) and Gaz Nicholson (33) were all in the runs. The thirds were also in winning form, beating Oldham by four wickets.