NORTHOP are making a mockery of their Premier Division points deduction - and team manager Dale Harley wants that to continue at Llandudno tomorrow.

The Flintshire outfit have won three of their four completed matches this season to climb to sixth position, despite starting the campaign on -15 points.

That run of form has seen Northop move to within 23 points of leaders Denbigh with Harley saying: “We’ve had a good start and long may it continue.

“We’ve managed to climb the table with a good run of form and we want to keep winning games.

“There is room for improvement, we know that, so we will keep working hard.”

All-rounders Ammar Mahmood and Tom Blackwell have been key to Northop’s fine form, the duo scoring over 400 runs and taking 15 wickets in four matches.

On Blackwell, Harley said: “Since Tom’s come back from Australia he’s come on leaps and bounds and he was already a very good player.”

Harry Lewis returns to the Northop XI in place of Andrew Oates.

Gresford are looking to make it back-to-back victories as Pwllheli visit Wrexham tomorrow - but captain Daniel Williams isn’t taking anything for granted.

Williams’ side won the derby clash with Brymbo by 148 runs to climb up to ninth in the table.

But Williams, who struck 90 at the top of the order in his side’s 227 for eight, said: “If we play the kind of cricket we did against Brymbo we can definitely win another game, but as always in this league, Pwllheli have got some very good players, especially Morgan Murray-Williams, who always looks a top talent.”

Matt Thompson misses out for Gresford, who see Chris Mullock return.

Brymbo’s derby day defeat means they’ve now lost four out of four in the league this season, but captain James Claybrook is remaining confident in his side’s ability heading into tomorrow’s home clash with Mochdre.

“It’s frustrating after achieving the levels we did last year, but we remain positive,” said Claybrook of his side’s start to the campaign. “But it’s early in the season and we’ve got a good run of fixtures and opportunity to start making up a bit of ground on the rest.”

A midweek Flintshire Knockout success over Northop Hall has given Brymbo a welcome boost, Claybrook adding: “The weather has been good this week and we’ve done well against Mochdre in the past, so if we can get a good score on the board I have every confidence we can get the first win under our belts and get the the ball rolling.”

CJ Craven replaces Dave Blackwell for Brymbo.

Glenn Chambers, fresh from Wales Over-50s action against England, returns to captain Pontblyddyn as they head to St Asaph tomorrow.

“It’s somewhere I’ve not been in a while and it’s one we are looking forward to,” said Chambers of the trip for Pontblyddyn, who are without Mark Neath.

Rock-bottom Connah’s Quay face a daunting trip to in-form Bangor, while leaders Denbigh will be able to put their title credentials to the test tomorrow as they visit reigning champions Menai Bridge.

Other fixtures - Division One: Bethesda v Llanrwst; Carmel and District v Mold; Dolgellau v Conwy; Hawarden Park v Gwersyllt Park; Llay v Abergele; Ruthin v Bersham.

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

Division Three: Abergele 2nds v Carmel 2nds; Connah’s Quay 2nds v Pontblyddyn 2nds; Denbigh 2nds v Mynydd Isa and Maeshafn 2nds; Gwersyllt Park 2nds v Buckley 2nds; Mold 2nds v Hawarden Park 2nds; Pwllheli 2nds v St Asaph 2nds.

Division Four: Caernarfon v Halkyn 2nds; Conwy 2nds v Dolgellau 2nds; Llangollen v Marchwiel and Wrexham 2nds; Llanrwst 2nds v Bethesda 2nds.