2006 WINNERS

Woodbank’s Neil Ridehaugh with 1,005 runs at a record average of 71.79, with ten fifties, won the league batting averages. D.S.L.’s Steve Dublin was second again with 697 runs at 43.56. Bhatiya Perera (Glossop) won the pro’s batting with 1,089 runs at 60.50. Paul Green (1,008) and Robin Morris (1,110) exceeded a thousand runs with Craig Duxbury 35 short.

Andy Bradley’s dodgy knees means that he is stepping down to become 2nd XI captain in 2007, but that didn’t stop him signing off with 33 wickets at 13.27 to win the 1st XI bowling averages. Rick Blackman (Irlam) had most amateur wickets (61) with six “five fors” and was voted Players Player of the Year by his 1st XI peers. Jason Bennett’s 100 wickets won the pro’s bowling at an average of 11.15. Damien Eyre (90) and John Seeary (88) were close behind him.

Glossop’s captain Adam Wilson held onto the most catches to win the fielding award and Tim Standing won the wicket keeping for the seventh time in the thirteen years of the league.

The aggregate trophies for most amateur runs, wickets and six hits by players in league matches were won by Neil Ridehaugh (960), Bobby Cheetham (62) and Steve Dublin (50) respectively.

With the Champions being ineligible for the Last Six Competition, Woodhouses won it for the first time with 21 points, 2 ahead of Glossop.

Prestwich 2nd XI won their championship, nine points ahead of Denton, and they had five batsmen qualifying for the averages together with three bowlers. Their opening bowler Phil Kyle was voted 2nd XI’s Player’s Player of the Year, and he won the bowling averages with 62 wickets at 9.77. Alec McClure of Thornham won the batting averages with 880 runs at 67.69. Dave Parry (Denton) again won the fielding prize with 18 catches and Prestwich’s Gareth Barnes had most wicket keeping victims with 43 including 11 stumpings.

The Hulme Trophy final at Prestwich saw the home side lose a cup tie for the first time since 2001 and fail in their bid to win a fifth cup on the trot. Man of the Match Mark Wood, the Dukinfield aptain took 5-32 as Prestwich scored 187 and Dukinfield got home with two wickets left. In previous rounds they had defeated Irlam, Denton West and Glossop, the Semi-final against the latter producing a nail biter as Glossop closed on 271-9 in reply to the visitors 271-7d, Dukinfield going through to the final on losing less wickets.

Flowery Field won the Last Six competition for 2nd teams with Denton runners-up three points adrift.

Prestwich C.C. retained the T. Saville-Whittle Bowl with 174 points, 16 ahead of Denton. Walkden Cup winners and League runners-up Woodhouses 1st XI were voted Team of the Year for the first time.

The Senior League representative XI lost for the first time to the Central Lancashire League in the first round M.E.N. match at Walsden. Batting first after winning the toss on a very hot day, the home side scored a huge 350-6 from their 45 overs. Bobby Cross (133) and captain Mark Hooson (117) put 214 on for the first wicket and the most successful LCL bowlers with two wickets each were Glen Middleton and Mark Stringer. Barry Williams (74) and captain Andrew Dyson (46) responded with an opening stand of 112 but despite 36* from Jason Stringer, the LCL innings closed on 245-9.

In the Colts Competition, the League team won their first two group matches against the CLL and the Saddleworth League before losing to the Ribblesdale League. After scoring only 127 against the CLL t Roe Green, the bowlers got to work to give a seven run win and at Austerlands, they bowled out the Saddleworth League for 85 before completing a nine wicket win. Team Manager Gary O’Brien suffered the first loss in the last group match and the team failed to qualify for the final on run rate, the CLL progressing.

John Harwick’s U-15’s got to the semi-final of the Michael Roche Trophy and Geoff Yates’ U-13’s got to the Final of the Peaks Sports Trophy before losing to the Bolton League.

2007 is the 14th year the League has enjoyed the sponsorship of J.W. Lees and we are once again most grateful for their contribution. Although the majority of clubs enjoy J.W. Lees beers, others who may be considering a change are asked to contact Dean Redfearn on 0161 643 2487.

Thanks to the League Officials and Management Committee for helping to keep the League on the right lines.

This concludes my 20th season as League Secretary and my 14th report for the Lancashire County League.

R.I. Hinchliffe
(Hon. Secretary)

December 2006