LOCAL bragging rights will be up for grabs twice this weekend.
There’s a big Premier Division derby tomorrow as Brymbo play host to Gresford, while the rivals will also be facing each other in the Welsh Cup on Sunday.
It’s Gresford who will have home advantage for the cup tie and skipper Matt Thompson said: “We’ll be sick of the sight of them, or hopefully they’ll be sick of the sight of us!
“We are so familiar with each other.
“We have played them so many times over the years.”
While Gresford remain in the bottom-two, they will go into the match on the back of their first league win of the season.
Joe Benson hit a half-century as Gresford got the better of Bangor by 18 runs after successfully defending 156 for eight last time out and Thompson said: “It was a topsy-turvy game.
“We knew we had around a par score.”
Gresford’s spinners swung things into their side’s favour, while Thompson added: “We did field really well.”
Mikey Wright will make his first Gresford appearance of the season tomorrow.
Brymbo have lofty ambitions this season and they claimed an eight-wicket win at Denbigh last time out, with Richard Deniz bagging five wickets.
Brymbo skipper Dan Parry, who is set to welcome James Claybrook back into the side, said: “As derbies go, it’s not the most hostile.
“Both teams want to win, of course, but that’s where it stops.
“It’s not Galatasarary-Fenerbahçe. We’re not going to be having ‘Welcome to Hell’ banners!
“It’s a good, solid game of cricket.”
There’s a long trek in store for third-placed Northop.
Bart Ryan-Beswick’s side will be aiming to continue their promising campaign as they pay a visit to multiple North Wales champions Menai Bridge.
Bridge are fifth at this stage of the season, two positions below Northop and Ryan-Beswick said: “They’re a good team on their day.
“They’re just going through a transition period, but they will still be dangerous enough.”
Northop go into the clash following a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Llandudno and Ryan-Beswick added: “The lads did brilliantly at the weekend. It was a great knock from Pete Pienaar and Andy Poynton bowled well again.”
A testing weekend is in store for Gwersyllt Park.
Seven days after tackling unbeaten leaders Mochdre, Park must head to second-placed St Asaph tomorrow.
Then, on Sunday, Iroshan De Silva’s charges play host to Connah’s Quay in the Welsh Cup.
Colwyn Bay took on Mochdre yesterday, while Sunday’s remaining tie sees Llandudno away to St Asaph.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division tomorrow, undefeated front-runners Mochdre head to Bangor, while basement side Llandudno play host to Denbigh.
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