Cheshire County League 2016 NEWSLETTER : WEEK 20 – SEPTEMBER 3

WIDNES CHAMPIONS, UPTON UP; URMSTON DOWN; TATTENHALL DOWN; MIDDLEWICH OUT First wash-out since 2007 THE League on Saturday suffered its first complete wash-out due to rain - not a ball bowled - since June 30, 2007. At this late stage of the season due to many logistical complications, there are no plans to re-arrange the programme. It’s been a wet summer, the previous dampest Saturday being on April 30 when 10 games were cancelled or abandoned. Last season, May 2 saw 16 games washed-out. On August 9, 2008 16 games were cancelled and two played, but on June 30, the previous year, all 18 games were cancelled without a ball bowled. With seven points allotted all round and 50 still available from the last two fixtures on September 10 and 17, the main ECB Premier League upshot is that Urmston are relegated back to the First Division whence they came so spectacularly on the last day of the 2015 campaign. Macclesfield remain marginal favourites to go down with them, but the clubs immediately above - Nantwich, Neston and Timperley - are all in danger and Macc are due to host Nantwich on the last day. At the top of the table, Alderley Edge’s difficult game at Chester Boghton Hall was off which means that, with a lead of 23 points over Bowdon, they still have some way to go before claiming their first Premiership title since 2008. Especially as their last two fixtures are tough ones: home to Hyde and away to closest challengers Bowdon. Hyde’s inability to get on the field at home to Nantwich means they have virtually no chance of completing a hat- trick of titles. Division One favourites IN Division One, pacemakers Didsbury and Grappenhall improved their chances of joint promotion through not playing. Grappers lead Oulton Park – who suffered their first cancelled game at home to Bollington - by 32 points with Didsbury three points better off. With only one win in 20 attempts, wooden spoonists Taqttenhall cannot now escape relegation, being 62 points adrift of Warrington, in 10th. Cheadle Hulme remain with a slight chance of escaping at the expense of Warrington.

Widnes - and Upton - cannot be caught PLAUDITS to Widnes on clinching the Division Two title. Their game at Barrow was cancelled, leaving them 52 points clear of Upton with two to play. Upton, however, are now certain of the second promotion place. At the foot of the League table, Middlewich lose their League place for the first time since 2000. After a torrid season following the loss of key players, they have won only one game and trail 11th placed Congleton by 55 points. It’s between Congleton and Mobberley for the second relegation spot.

CHESHIRE CUP FINAL OFF FOR WEEK SUNDAY’S Cheshire Cup final between Hyde and Elworth at Werneth Low was postponed due to the pitch and outfield not recovering from heavy rain the previous day. Rather than opt for a later start and reduced overs, the organisers and clubs agreed to re-assign the match for next Sunday, September 11 starting at 12 noon For the record: North Staffs and South Cheshire League club Elworth have won the trophy only once, in 1984, while Hyde were county champions in 2008 and 2011.

SEPTEMBER 3 NEWSLETTER: p2

SATURDAY’S SAD STORY ………

ECB Premier League At South Downs Road: BOWDON (7 pts.) v TIMPERLREY (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

At Kingsway: CHEADLE (7 pts.) v BRAMHALL (7 pts.) Match cancelled.

At Boughton Hall Avenue: CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL (7 pts.) v ALDERLEY EDGE (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

At Werneth Low: HYDE (7 pts.) v NANTWICH (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

At Victoria Road MACCLESFIELD (7 pts.) v NESTON (7 pts.) Match cancelled.

At Booth’s Park: TOFT (won toss, 7 pts.) v URMSTON (7 pts.) Match cancelled.

Division 1 At Butcher’s Stile: DAVENHAM (7 pts.) v GRAPPENHALL (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

At Wilmslow Road: DIDSBURY (7 pts.) v CHEADLE HULME (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

At Pinfold Lane: OULTON PARK (7 pts.) v BOLLINGTON (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

At Dane Road: SALE (7 pts.) v MARPLE (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

At Warrington sports club: WARRINGTON (7 pts.) v TATTENHALL (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

At Wallerscote road: WEAVERHAM (7 pts.) v OXTON (7 pts.): Match cancelled

SEPTEMBER 3 NEWSLETTER: p3 Saturday’s ‘results’ continued …

Division 2: At Frodsham Road: ALVANLEY (7 pts.) v MOBBERLEY (7 pts.): Match cancelled

At The Croft: BARROW (7 pts.) v WIDNES (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

At Brooklands sports club: BROOKLANDS v NORTHWICH Match cancelled.

At Little Heath: CHRISTLETON (7 pts.) v CONGLETON (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

At Upcast Lane: LINDOW (7 pts.) v MIDDLEWICH (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

At Old Greasby road: UPTON (7 pts.) v STOCKPORT (7 pts.): Match cancelled.

Congleton Twos win THE Second XI Division 2 game between Congleton and Christleton at Booth Street was the only one completed on Saturday. Scores: Christleton 98; Congleton 101-2. The 2nd XI Division 1 game at Cale Green between Stockport and Upton lasted 10 overs with Stockport reaching 26- 1 when the rain descended

Leading performers at end of August (o = overseas player) ECB Premier League batting: Rick Moore (Chester) 910 runs; Warren Godwin (Chester) 829; oMorgan Clark (Toft) 710. Bowling: Chris Ashling (Bowdon) 57 ; oLouis Cameron (Nantwich) 48; oWill Walker (Hyde) 44.

Division 1 batting: Dan Leech (Oulton Park) 744; runs; Martyn East (Oulton Park) 705; oBrooke Guest (Sale) 662. Bowling: oSam Blandford (Oulton Park) 58 wickets; oWilden Cornwall (Weaverham) 53; Simon Normanton (Didsbury) 39.

Division 2 batting: Sam Stoneley (Northwich) 613 runs; Atif Barjwa (Christleton) 613; oMarcus Fourie (Widnes) 561. Bowling: A.J. Hart (Brooklands) 41 wickets; Iro De Silva (Barrow) 40; oSean Gribben (Stockport) 39.

SEPTEMBER 3 NEWSLETTER: p4

Up-dated tables at Week 20

ECB PREMIER P W T WD RD LD C/AB L BAT BOWL PTS. LEAGUE (25) (16) (3) (2) (1) (7)

ALDERLEY EDGE 20 12 0 0 1 0 5 2 9 9 355 BOWDON 20 11 0 0 0 0 6 3 8 7 332 HYDE 20 9 0 2 1 0 5 3 23 21 312 CHESTER BO. HALL 20 9 0 0 2 3 3 3 33 15 301 CHEADLE 20 7 0 1 0 0 6 6 17 12 249 *TOFT 20 5 0 2 1 1 5 6 43 25 244 BRAMHALL 20 5 0 1 1 2 7 4 41 20 238 **TIMPERLEY 20 5 0 0 0 0 5 10 39 14 227 NESTON 20 5 0 1 1 1 4 8 39 27 225 NANTWICH 20 4 0 2 2 0 2 10 53 34 211 *MACCLESFIELD 20 3 1 0 1 1 7 7 38 17 205 URMSTON 20 2 0 0 0 0 4 14 24 34 136 rel * Macclesfield, Timperley (2) & Toft records includes 7 points gained from defeats in games of under 80 overs (reg. 7f)

DIVISION 1 P W WD RD LD C/AB L BAT BOWL POINTS DIDSBURY 20 11 1 1 0 2 5 38 20 352 GRAPPENHALL 20 12 0 0 0 4 4 13 8 349 *OULTON PARK 20 9 1 2 1 1 6 44 25 317 WEAVERHAM 20 10 0 0 0 4 6 26 9 313 SALE 20 9 2 0 0 4 5 36 11 306 **BOLLINGTON 20 7 0 1 2 4 6 25 17 263 MARPLE 20 7 0 0 1 7 5 24 13 262 *DAVENHAM 20 5 1 1 2 4 7 39 35 233 OXTON 20 5 3 0 1 4 7 38 27 228 *WARRINGTON 20 3 1 1 2 4 9 41 30 188 CHEADLE HULME 20 3 2 0 2 5 8 35 17 170 *TATTENHALL 20 1 1 0 1 3 14 32 27 126 rel *Bollington (2), Davenham, Oulton Park, Tattenhall & Warrington records include 7 points gained from defeats in games of under 80 overs (reg. 7f).

DIVISION 2 P W WD RD LD C/AB L BAT BOWL POINTS WIDNES 20 13 1 1 1 3 1 26 9 387 champs UPTON 20 11 1 2 0 2 4 16 15 332 prom *STOCKPORT 20 7 3 0 0 4 6 35 21 268 BROOKLANDS 20 8 0 0 2 4 6 12 23 265 *CHRISTLETON 20 7 0 0 1 3 9 23 19 244 BARROW 20 5 3 0 0 5 7 46 28 243 ALVANLEY 20 6 1 0 1 4 8 33 26 235 NORTHWICH 20 5 3 1 3 3 5 51 30 241 *LINDOW 20 6 1 2 0 3 8 27 18 230 *MOBBERLEY (-6) 20 3 3 0 1 6 7 50 22 203 CONGLETON 20 4 0 0 4 6 6 21 20 187 *MIDDLEWICH 20 1 0 0 3 6 10 38 17 132 rel Mobberley 6 points deducted for slow over rate *Christleton, Lindow, Middlewich, Mobberley and Stockport records include 7 points gained from defeats in games of under 80 overs (reg. 7 f).

AUGUST 27 NEWSLETTER: p5

LEAGUE FIXTURES & UMPIRES FOR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 …..week 21

ECB Premier League (12 noon)

ALDERLEY EDGE V HYDE Alistair Davies & Trevor Burnett BRAMHJALL V CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL David Gane & Ged Kinsey MACCLESFIELD v TIMPERLEY Graham Harris & David Tate NANTWICH V BOWDON Phil Prince & Steve Walton NESTON V TOFT Dion Kelly & Mark Turner URMSTON V CHEADLE Barrie Burns & Martin Roberts

Division One (12.30 p.m.)

BOLLINGTON V SALE Paul Herring & Ray Prescott DAVENHAM V CHEADLE HULME Jon Hacking & Garry Hambleton GRAPPENHALL V WEAVERHAM Ian Greensmith & John Potts DIDSBURY V MARPLE Darrin Clark & Ankit Jain OXTON V WARRINGTON Steve Duckers & Graham Pugh TATTENHALL V OULTON PARK Ken Rothwell & Gary Zimmer

Division Two (12.30 p.m.)

CONGLETON V BROOKLANDS Nigel Simms & Ian Wilson MIDDLEWICH V CHRISTLETON Brian Coneeny & John Lowe MOBBERLEY V UPTON Brian Boys & James Emmerson NORTHWICH V ALVANLEY Peter Davies & David Williams STOCKPORT V BARROW Simon Smith & John Williams WIDNES V LINDOW Duncan Anderson (tel. 07775 632 507) & Chris Rigg

All umpiring appointments are made and notified by Geoff Young

Chester win Liverpool Echo Cup for ninth time ONCE deadly rivals in the Liverpool Competition, Chester Boughton Hall and Bootle drew a large crowd to Filkins Lane on Sunday for the Liverpool Echo T20 Cup final, Chester winning the trophy for the ninth time, by a four wickets margin. On an afternoon of perfect weather, which contrasted sharply with that of 24 hours earlier, Bootle batted poorly – apart from 45 by the evergreen David Snellgrove - and mustered a meagre 131-6. The wickets were shared with Ross Dixon’s 1-16 the most economical. Chester began their reply well with Ollie Law hitting a vigorous 32, Warren Goodwin 27 and skipper Lee Dixon 20. Left-arm spinner Greg Butterworth was then introduced and just missed a hat-trick before Ross Dixon came in to calm the situation and play a brief, unbeaten innings to steer his team home at 133-6 with eight balls to spare. The trophy and medals for both teams were presented by Echo cricket writer Paul Edwards, who had a special word of praise for the junior Dixon as Man of the Match. What he did not mention was that the Chester all-rounder had broken into arduous final accountancy exams in order to play. Just as well he did. O Seven days earlier, Chester had beaten Wallasey in the semi-final after a super over. SEPTEMBER 3 NEWSLETTER: p6

Bramhall in National t20 finals @ Derby BRAMHALL are all geared up to play in the NatWest Club T20 National Finals on the Derbyshire county ground on Tuesday this week The draw for the semi-finals has resulted in the Cheshire County League representatives taking on Derbyshire Premier League leaders Sandiacre Town in the first semi-final at 11.15 a.m. Tunbridge Wells (Kent League) meet Norfolk-based Swardestone (East Anglian Premier) in the second semi-final at 2.45 p.m. The final will be played entirely under floodlights starting at 6.30 p.m. Sky will be televising the event, probably not live. The 14-strong Bramhall squad is: Nick Cantello (captain), Danny Lamb, Matt Hughes, Sam Johnson (-keeper) Chris Sanders, Luke Littlewood, Simon Wilkinson, Ifti Naseer, Ashley West, Ruaridh Patel, James Crisall, Adam Wilde, Rupes Kitzinger, Andy Reynolds.

UK FAST LEAGUE HAD BLANK DAY, TOO NO games were played in the First Division of the UKFast Cheshire League on Saturday due to rain, leaving the top two places occupied by Romiley and Bredbury St. Mark’s unchanged. There are two weeks of the season remaining. One game was played in Division Two, Haslington beating Prestbury by three wickets to keep second place.

SATURDAY’S CANCELLED GAMES (7 points all round) Barnton - Stockport Georgians Bredbury - Hale Barns Disley - Ashton on Mersey Heaton Mersey - Runcorn Lymm - Irby Romiley - Poynton

PLACINGS INCLUDING SEPTEMBER 3: 1. Romiley 342 points; 2. Bredbury 334; 3. Barnton 308; 4. Ashton on Mersey 307; 5. Disley 269; 6. Hale Barns 250; 7. Lymm 249; 8. Runcorn 223; 9. Stockport Georogians 227; 10. Irby 150; 11. Poynton 146; 12. Heaton Mersey 126. Division 2 leaders: 1. Port Sunlight 336; 2. Haslington 296; 3. Winnington Park 283. Division 3: 1. Wilmslow 340; 2. Bunbury 318; 3. Appleton 298.

DIVISION 1 FIXTURES ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 (1 p.m.) Ashton on Mersey v Romiley; Hale Barns v Barnton; Irby v Heaton Mersey; Poynton v Bredbury St. Mark’s; Runcorn v Disley; Stockport Georgians v Lymm Oughtrington Park.

O In the League’s T20 Finals Day at Haslington on Sunday, Romiley won the 1st XI honours and Heaton Mersey the 2nd XI. Information provided by George Coull.

Sale retain Salford U16 cup SALE retained the Salford Youth Cricket Association Under 16 Cup when they won by eight wickets in the final at Winton. Winton were restricted to 95-6 and Sale replied with 98-2 after a rapid start given them by Tom Gill, who later retired at 50, and Dan Newton. The Sale squad which included Cheshire Girls player Georgie Gill was: Joe Cannon (captain), Max Tait, James Layton, Adam Holland, Dan Newton, Tom Gill, Gabe Smith, Georgie Gill, Zikria Nadeem, Sam Battersby, Nathan D’Cunha. Sale press officer Rob Moore says this victory highlights the quality of the club’s junior talent with 100 boys and girls playing regularly in 10 teams from ages 9-18. O Sale overseas batsman Brooke Guest has been a regular member of the 2nd XI this season SEPTEMBER 3 NEWSLETTER: p7

Neston retain Over Forties trophy NESTON became the first club to retain the Over Forties knock-out trophy when they beat 2014 champions Toft by 13 runs in the final, played in brilliant sunshine at Warrington Sports Club on August Bank Holiday Monday. Neston have now won the Forties’ top honour three times in its present play-off form, having first done so in 2009. The final was a low-scoring affair, Neston totalling a modest 110-6 against tight bowling, notably from Nigel Muirhead, whose off-spinners earned him 3-25, while Steve Egerton top-scored with 28 as Neston struggled to find the boundary. Toft made a rapid start, with club, though not team, captain Toby Drummond hammering a succession of boundaries off David Wright (0-36 off four overs). But when he was obliged to retire for a well-played 34, his colleagues failed to force the pace against improved bowling. When Georgege Burden pulled off the Champagne Moment of an outfield catch, they were doomed to fall short, closing on 97-8. Tournament organiser Mike Talbot-Butler praised all four teams who had made it to finals day after winning their groups, then coming through the quarter-finals He also thanked umpires Graham Pugh and Graham Cookson who had stood in the final, also Ged Kinsey and Jon Hacking. The work of groundsman Paul Agar and club liaison workers Ian Buttress and John Gibbon was also referenced. The trophy was presented by League President John Bygate. O Warrington report that more than £1,000 was taken over the bar after the match.

FINAL SCORE CARD NESTON C Hackett c Ward v Muirhead 17 S. Egerton b Muirhead 28 B. Donellan b J Sheldon 0 G Burdon lbw Muirhead 2 B. Cooper c Ward b C Sheldon 11 G Rickman c Kenyon b Hind 0 J. Brown 13 J Hopkins not out 22 Extras 9 Total (for 6 wickets, 20 overs) 110 Did not bat: D. Hurst, D Wright, B. Beaver. Toft bowling: Murray 3-0-21-0; Muirhead 4-1-25-3; J, Sheldon 4-0-17-1; C Sheldon 4-0-12-1; Hind 3-0-15-1 Drummond 2-0-17-0 TOFT T. Drummond retired 34 S. Storrow lbw Brown 11 I. Bishop c Cooper b Hackett 0 N. Muirhead c & b Rickman 9 C. Sheldon c & b Rickman 7 J. Sheldon run out 7 P Townsend not out 10 D. Ward c Burdon Brown 0 P. Kenyon b Wright 3 C. Murray c & b Burdon 5 A. Hind not out 0 Extra 1 Total (for 8 wickets, 20 overs) 97 Neston bowling: Wright 4-0-36-1; Hackett 4-1-11-1; Brown 4-0-11-2; Rickman 4-0-16-2; Burdon 4-0-22-1.

SEMI-FINALS Neston 128-8 (Hackett 30, Cooper 29, Donellan 22, Beckley 4-14) beat Cheadle Hulme 116-5 (Dearden 34, Unsworth 23, Dare 22) by 12 runs. Bollington Veterans 148-8 (Heap 35, Spray 30, Tarr 28, Hind 2-17) lost to Toft 150-3 (Drummond 30, Muirhead 28). by 7 wickets. SEPTEMBER 3 NEWSLETTER: p8

Cheshire reach Over 60s final CHESHIRE pulled off their finest victory of the season when they won by six wickets against Surrey on a boiling hot day at Banstead on Tuesday last week in the semi-final of the National Over 60s championship. They will now meet Kent in the final at Lutterworth CC in the midlands on Tuesday this week (12 noon). Semi-final scores: Surrey 238-5; Cheshire 240-4 (Paul Mitchell 72, Bernie Bishop 54 not out, Chris Lees 44 not out). HOLDERS OUT National title holders Cheshire 2nd XI lost by six wickets against Sussex at Chester in their semi-final, also played last Tuesday. Cheshire totalled 231-8 (Rob Ashley 58, Ian Brown 43) and Sussex replied with 233-4, Ken Smith 2-43.

UMPIRES’ MEETING THE Cheshire County League Umpires & Scorers Association are to hold their end of season meeting at Sale on Wednesday, September 21. A feature will be a talk by James Emmerson on ‘Scoring with the Media”.

CHESHIRE GOLF DAY CHESHIRE County Cricket Club are holding a Golf Day at Styal Golf Club, near Wilmslow on Friday, September 30 starting at 1.30 p.m. The event is for teams of four with an entry fee of £100 and is open all, with some handsome prizes available. For further information contact Peter Babbage on 0161 612 8213 (h); 07794 805 298 (mobile) or David Bailey 07889 774 218 or by e-mail on [email protected]

DEARDEN CONTRACT HYDE and Cheshire batsman Harry Dearden has been granted a contract by Leicestershire for 2017. Dearden has been a regular in the club, county and Leicestershire 2nd XI teams this season.

Dinner - time approaches ALL clubs have been asked to display an official poster reminding them of the date of the 42nd annual Presentation Dinner at The Mere (Mere Golf & Country Club) on Friday, October 7. Former England selection chairman Geoff Miller will be the speaker, backed by a comedian. Club numbers this year need to be sent to Dinner co-ordinator Geoff Wellsteed, who issues a reminder that full members must, by rule, take at least three tickets. Prices are unchanged at £30 and £28 for under 18s.

Hon. Sec. plans book on Cheshire cricket pavilions LEAGUE secretary Geoff Wellsteed is planning an ambitious new book entitled ‘Pavilions in Splendour’ in which he will endeavour to carry a picture of every cricket pavilion in the county, possibly numbering 150. He will combine his illustrations with brief histories of each club and anecdotes about leading players. His compass will include the pre-1974 county boundaries and Cheshire-based clubs outside the present pyramid, plus schools cricket. Geoff expects the A4 size, full colour publication, to be published in late 2017. Geoff, who has previously published a well received book on public house names, can be contacted to offer assistance by e-mail at [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 3 NEWSLETTER: p9

Visit League websites ….

THE website cheshirecountycl.play-cricket.com monitored by Darren Sutcliffe takes all 1st XI and Over 40s results with brief match details, which should be posted by 10 p.m. Full scoreboards MUST be posted by 12 noon the following day. Some clubs are persistently not abiding by this regulation which results in lack of information for viewers and for the Newsletter.

THE League’s Pitchero website administered by Richard Fennah, which contains pictures and documents including all issues of the Newsletter, can be located at: www.cheshirecountycl.org.uk THE weekly Newsletter will normally be available on Monday mornings to the Press, League Officers, members of the Cricket Committee and individual subscribers who have made personal requests. Despatch to the latter was 24 hours last week due to time pressures.

[email protected] Monday, September 5