THE only way is up for Northop as they head to Mochdre with the prize of wiping out their 15-point deduction on offer.

Gareth Williams’ Flintshire outfit took a giant stride to cancelling out their punishment for their involvement in the ‘fight’ at St Asaph back at the end of last season, by beating Pontblyddyn by 82 runs.

Barring a 15-0 whitewash, Northop will find themselves in the black and looking to kick-on in what is expected to be an exciting campaign at Flint Road.

Team manager Dale Harley said: “We’ve pretty much wiped off the 15-point deduction and it’s about building on the opening day win over Pontblyddyn now.

“Beating Pontblyddyn has given us a good platform to build on and we will be heading to Mochdre full of confidence.”

Mochdre returned to the top-flight with a bang as they thrashed Connah’s Quay by 213 runs, Matthew Humphreys hitting 185 not out and Alex Davies reaching 102 as the visitors’ posted 448 for three.

“It should be a good game,” added Harley. “They will be confident and we are confident, so it will be entertaining.”

Mark Poynton sits out the final game of his two-match ban for Northop, who are otherwise unchanged.

Pontblyddyn, pictured, might have been on the wrong side of the result at Northop last weekend, but Glenn Chambers is excited about the season ahead.

The Alder Meadow outfit produced a spirited performance without key quartet Chris Moss, Rhys Jones, Mark Neath and Ali Roberts, leaving Chambers confident his side can compete.

“One thing last week did show was that we don’t need to be afraid of anyone,” declared Chambers. “We look like a Premier League team. I think we will be OK.”

Pontblyddyn could be boosted by the return of Jones and Neath for tomorrow’s home clash with Denbigh, who beat Pwllheli by nine wickets.

Chambers added: “We are looking forward to our first home game back in the Premier Division and we will try and put them under pressure.

“They are a good young team trying to do things the right way, like us, and it should be a good game.”

Danny Williams insists Gresford can’t afford to let their standards slip as Llandudno visit tomorrow.

Gresford ran Menai Bridge agonisingly close last weekend, losing by four runs after the reigning champions had posted 323 for seven.

“It was a brilliant game for the neutrals,” said Williams. “It was very pleasing to have come so close to Menai who set such high standards for themselves.

“Like Menai, Llandudno set very high standards for themselves. That means we’ve got to be at our best to win.”

Jack Bunkell replaces Alex Ellwood for Gresford.

Brymbo have “renewed confidence” as they look to forget the frustrations of their opening weekend loss at Bangor.

A depleted Brymbo outfit were skittled for just 51 as they suffered a seven-wicket loss.

Captain James Claybrook said: “It was a tough game to start the season. With it being Easter weekend and us playing in Bangor it made it extremely difficult to get players and put the side out we wanted.

“We were very disappointed in the league making us travel to Bangor on a bank holiday and are equally annoyed at the face we have to travel to Llandudno next Bank Holiday.

“Players were late to the game and we scrambled a side together last minute so positives can be taken. The batting was a bit of a disaster but we showed character in the field, picking up two points.”

On the visit of reigning champions Menai Bridge tomorrow, Claybrook, who has the likes of Dan Parry, Wayne Smith and George Bourne back available, added: “Menai is a good game to bounce back and with regulars returning we have renewed confidence. We turned them over at our place last year and there’s no reason we can’t do it again.”

Elsewhere, St Asaph host Bangor.

Division One: Abergele v Bersham; Bethesda v Ruthin; Gwersyllt Park v Conwy; Hawarden Park v Carmel; Llay Welfare v Dolgellau; Mold v Llanrwst.

Division Two: Bangor 2nds v Gresford 2nds; Halkyn v Corwen; Marchwiel v Llay 2nds; Menai 2nds v Brymbo 2nds; Mynydd Isa and Maeshafn v Buckley; Northop 2nds v Mochdre 2nds.

Division Three: Buckley 2nds v St Asaph 2nds; Carmel 2nds v MI and Maeshafn 2nds; Connah’s Quay 2nds v Hawarden 2nds; Denbigh 2nds v Pontblyddyn 2nds; Pwllheli 2nds v Abergele 2nds.

Division Four: Conwy 2nds v Caernarfon; Llandudno 2nds v Llangollen; Rhewl v Dolgellau 2nds; Ruthin 2nds v Halkyn 2nds.