CHURCH bowler Andy Bentley feels like he is still waiting for the Lancashire League season to start.
The new campaign is now three weekends old but the 25-year-old admits he and his Church team-mates have not got into the swing of things due to the late arrival of their professional.
Highly-rated New Zealander Luke Woodcock is caught up in the new visa red tape which has hampered a lot of professionals this season and they have no idea when he will arrive.
They have been reliant on sub pros in their four games so far and have called on their ex-player Mark Aspin to act as the paid man as sub professionals have become a much-sought after luxury, especially on Saturdays.
"It has been so frustrating. I think we have done well to get two wins out of four without a pro as it is just so difficult and it doesn’t feel like the season has started," said Bentley.
"All winter you wonder which pro you will get and look forward to him arriving so it is all so disappointing at the moment.
"It is such a shame as such a lot of hard work has been done by the people behind the scenes here to get him here.
"We have sent everything over that he needs for the visa and it is in the hands of the Embassy now.
"I think we need a visa from Canberra and we are just waiting to hear from them.
"Other clubs are struggling too but theirs are beginning to come over - we just hope ours comes soon."
They have been grateful to Aspin, a former paid man, who retired from the game a few years back and has been coach at Church and Salesbury since then.
"I suppose we are lucky that Mark stepped in although I am not sure how keen he was!" said Bentley.
"He is a club man though and Mark has helped us in games he has played. He has stuck around and done what he had to do.
"He is good in the field too so it has worked out quite well with his experience. He is a reluctant professional but we are grateful to him."
Bentley, who made his Lancashire League debut at 15 for Church, has been hitting the highs with over 50 wickets in the last two seasons but admits he is struggling a bit in this campaign - with four to his name.
"I have been going for plenty and, without a professional, am getting plenty of bowling in.
"But I need to start picking it up now and working hard and hopefully, when the pro arrives, we will all get the lift we need."
Bentley tips rival Hyndburn clubs Enfield and current champions Accrington to last the pace at the top end of the table as the season progresses.
"We played Enfield and that’s the only game this season where we have never got anywhere near and didn’t really compete. They have a top battling line-up and when Gary Brent plays, a top pro.
"But Accrington will be really strong again too.
"For us, we just want to win more than we did last season. We finished 10th last season and we would like to finish higher up.
"And hopefully when the pro arrives we can step it up.
"I have been talking to players who know Luke and they really rate him. They say he will get runs and wickets for us and I know he is looking forward to getting here. It is just so frustrating."
Church saw off East Lancs at the weekend with Adam Greenwood’s half century proving vital as they won with just four balls left.
Their Sunday game against Rawtenstall fell victim to the weather.
ENFIELD moved up to third in the table after a double win weekend.
Simon O’Loughlin took 4-69 while Andy Barker’s 36 was the top score against Rawtenstall on Saturday.
And veteran Barker, who passed 10,000 runs in his career recently, added to his tally with an unbeaten 73 to see off Burnley on Sunday.
Opener Mas Ahmed made 67 in their eight wicket win as the older players showed the way forward.
ACCRINGTON are fifth after their Saturday victory over Bacup. They were chasing a reduced target of 74 with pro Roy Silva’s 31 doing the business.
The Sri Lankan followed it up with 54 the next day against Haslingden but the rain stopped play.
RISHTON lost their third game of the season despite a strong show from their pro Aaron Heal.
The Australian took 5-68 and then scored 70 but it wasn’t enough as Burnley won by 16 runs on Saturday. The weather ended their game on Sunday too against Todmorden.
