RAIN AGAIN

The start of September and match day 23 was totally washed out, two points for each team.

WOODHOUSES STAY TOP AFTER 9 POINT WEEKEND

The penultimate Saturday of the season saw Woodhouses put paid to Prestwich’s title aspirations with a comprehensive win at the Heys. Craig Duxbury took 6-47, but it was Daniel Britton who was the only player on the day to come to terms with the wicket as he scored his maiden ton, 105 not out in a total of 171-9d. James Clarke was the next highest scorer with 18. Three early wickets for Darryl Sloan and three for John Seeary had Prestwich in disarray and their last wicket fell with the score on 74 (Steve Orrell 25).

D.S.L. was the scene for history when Damien Eyre became the first player in the Lancashire County League to take five wickets or more in an innings 100 times. His 7-37 was off 23.4 overs and it was only 29 from Dave Morrell that lifted the Saints to 107. Cometh the hour and it was Jason Bennett who again came to D.S.L.’s rescue with 9-23 as Flowery Field were bowled out for just 60 (Mark Dyson 23) to stay in second place, five points behind Woodhouses.

Denton West moved to within four points of Prestwich in a close encounter at Woodbank. The home side scored 197-9d with Neil Ridehaugh scoring 73 not out and John Powers 5-62 being his first “five for” for West 1st XI. Glenn Bullock top scored with 53 and Andy O’Brien was unbeaten on 37 as West reached 198-9 (Z. Quereshi 3-71).

Dukinfield moved up a place to fifth with Andrew Gleave scoring his first ton (102*) against Cheetham Hill in a total of 241-3d. Paul Turner followed his 52 with figures of 5-6 as Cheetham Hill were dismissed for 103 (I.J. Alleyne 44).

Denton dropped to sixth when Will Hargreaves 6-34 bowled them out for 137 (Imran Mirza 47). Martyn Knight scored 72 (his maiden fifty) and David Toft an unbeaten 41 as Glossop won by nine wickets, putting 118 on for the first wicket.

Stand jumped three places to get back in the top half of the table. They bowled Irlam out for 154 (Saj Ahmed 63) with Jack Ritchie’s 5-29 being his first 5 for. In reply Stand scored 155-7, David Taylor scoring 41 and Rick Blackman taking 4-56. This completed the double for Stand over Irlam.

Thornham moved up to within a point of Roe Green after collecting four points at Greenleach Lane. Paul Green was unbeaten on 83 as Roe Green scored 200-7d (A. Graham 6-73). Graham then scored 46, with Danny Scott and Ian Gilbertson unbeaten on 46 and 21 respectively as Thornham recovered from 85-6, 161-7 and 162-8 to win by two wickets. (Julian Bentley 4-75).