By Peter Stafford (March 2009) Back
In most of the reviews of the previous 12 months published around the turn of the year, the writers generally tended to put 2008 down as having, been a 'Bad Year'. Try telling that to the players and devotees of Walkden Cricket Club, who enjoyed the most successful season by any one club in the League's history, as Mike Bennison and his team‑mates hauled in a unique treble in terms of major trophies.
The Hamer Cup was the first to appear in the Walkden cabinet in early August, the league title was clinched a month or so later when main rivals Egerton were beaten at Longworth Road, and the hat‑trick was achieved on the last day of the season at St. Annes when the Lancashire K.O.Cup was won by the dub for the third time. And, lest we should forget, at the League Presentation in November, the Walkden side was awarded the Ken Worrall Sportsmanship Trophy, their on‑the‑field behaviour having matched their proven ability with bat and ball.
Whilst they began the season as favourites for the championship in most peoples' minds, they didn't have things their own way for the first few weeks. Egerton started their campaign like an express train, and, at the halfway stage were 17 points ahead of Greenmount, their closest rivals. That run had included a huge win at Walkden during which Stuart Hornby and Sanjith Fernando shared a second‑wicket stand of 168 and a joint seven wickets during the home side's innings. But the real turnaround occurred over the fourth weekend in August, when Egerton were defeated by both Horwich and Famworth, whilst wins for Walkden over Kearsley and Astley Bridge set them on course for the league double.
The following weekend saw Walkden home and dry with wins at Egerton and Heaton. Thus Egerton's ambitions of a first‑ever championship had to be postponed for at least another 12 months, whilst Walkden travelled to St. Annes searching for, and landing, their third trophy in a game described in more detail later in the article. It was their 36th match of the season, of which they won 26 and were beaten on only three occasions.
The reason for their triple triumph was, as ever, shared responsibility, together with the depth in batting that has existed in each of their recent successful seasons. Bennison, Dave Smith, Liam Jackson and professional Praveen Gupta shared over 2,000 runs, whilst Stephen Davies, John Fearick, Steve Higson and Sam Reidy each played match‑winning innings from time to time. The bulk of the bowling was in the hands of Dave Smith, who came very close to winning the League Bowling Prize for the third time, Gupta, Dave Jones, Jackson and Fearick, who between them took almost 200 wickets, all at a decent average. Andy Kay's 48 victims behind the wicket broke his own dub record and assured him of the league prize.
Egerton and Greenmount, who ended the season as joint runners‑up, enjoyed some excellent performances at both team and individual level. Egerton perhaps depended a little too heavily on two players, Stuart Hornby and Fernando. Between them, the pair hit 1,920 runs and captured over a hundred wickets, and they were rightly adjudged Amateur and Professional Players‑of‑the‑Year. Matt Cuff and Tom Fairclough backed them up with the ball, combining to take 64 wickets, but no other batsman managed to average 20 plus.
Greenmount's Ashar Zaidi, with 884 runs and 78 wickets, must have pushed Fernando hard for the Professionals' Prize. Their bowling resources, however, were severely strained by Mark Stewart's back injury, which led to him bowling less than half his normal quota of overs and, as a consequence, taking less than half his usual wicket‑tally. Adil Baig's 40 wickets helped fill that particular gap, and John Ashworth's 521 runs helped cover the loss of Andy Kerr, the League's 2007 Player‑of‑the‑Year. Rilwan Hussain, Baig, Anthony Harris, Andy Bowker, Martin Kay and Simon Woolford each chipped in from time to time, but Kerr's 1,248 runs from the previous season were sadly missed.
Elsewhere, on the professional front, Horwich's Deeraj Jadhav was, as ever, a pleasure to watch. His 939 runs came at an average of 85 while Muzumdar, Dwayne Smith and Burton De Wett each made telling contributions to their sides' batting.
Kearsley's David Morris won the League Batting Prize and also that for the Highest Individual Score, whilst the bowling awards were dominated by the Eagley pair of Steve Foster and Phil Ingram, who took, between them 110 wickets. Ingram won the Bowling Prize together with that for the Best Bowling Performance, whilst Foster took the Bowler of the Season award.
Another feat more than worthy of mention was that achieved in May by Bradshaw's Muzumdar and Chris Evans who, opening the batting against Horwich, created a new partnership record of 317, the highest stand in any game in the League's history.
Each of the six Hamer Cup first round ties was won by the side batting first, and spectators' hands were continually digging into their pockets as the clubs involved averaged 223 per innings. Horwich's 347 for 3 led the way, with Jadhav's unbeaten 164 well backed‑up by Reynard (86) and Watson (62). Bradshaw, unsurprisingly, had no real answer, and Gary Garner 's 69 not out was the only innings of any real substance.
The narrowest victory came at Egerton, where the home side's 232 for 8 proved to be just one run superior to Astley Bridge's reply. Stuart Hornby, Fernando, Dalugoda and Liyanage all hit half‑centuries in the tie, which was almost rivalled in its dose finish by that in which Farnworth Social Circle came out on top by 14 runs against Little Lever. Circle's 261 for 7 was a genuine team effort to which six batsmen plus Mr.Extras made noteworthy contributions, whilst for Little Lever Anthony Hiltons 72, Lee Baldwin's 60, and Mark Martin's 47 almost, but not quite, proved enough for victory.
Westhoughton provided the day's biggest win, when 52 from Neil Bannister and an unbroken 7th wicket stand between Rick Parker (47) and Mark Atherton (72) took them to 226 for 6. Surprisingly, Greenmount fell by the wayside and were fairly summarily dismissed for 120. Eagley, at home to Walkden, were undone by a typically good all‑round performance from Dave Smith, who hit 60 and took four cheap wickets. For Eagley, chasing 236, only Mark Warrens 54 made much impression, and they ended the game on 200 for 9. Steve Foster, as he did so frequently in 2008, turned in the day's best bowling figures, with 6 for 67 from his 17 overs.
In the final game, that at Castle Hill between Tonge and Kearsley, the visitors never really threatened Tonge's 243 for 7, which featured a fine 99 from Simon Anderton. Ian Taylor's 5 for 41 ensured his side's place in Round Two, with a late 44 from No. 10 Chris Sainsbury showing his teammates what might have been.
The 2nd Round produced only one close fetish which, appropriately, came in the Farnworth derby at Piggott Park, from where visitors Farnworth returned home with an 11‑run win. It was basically a Tale of Two Pro's. Farnworth's main run‑scorer was Farhat with 82, and he was aided and abetted by middle‑order batsmen Jonathan Davies (42) and Lee Childs, who hit 44. In Circle's reply Shantha Kalavitigoda produced his innings of the season, hitting 138 as his side struggled to chase down the required target of 235. In the end they finished 11 runs short, as main man Farhat added 8 for 76 to his 82 runs.
Westhoughton had an unbeaten 2nd wicket stand between Adam Coates (59) and Ian Pilkington (43) to thank for their 9‑wicket win at Horwich. The home side never recovered from Jadhav being run out for 64, finally capitulating for 114. Eventual winners Walkden cruised through at home to Heaton, their 285 for 9 proving 114 too many for the visitors. Liam Jackson's 74 was well supported by five of his fellow batsmen, along with the ubiquitous Mr. Extras, who contributed 46! Peter Halliday's 54 was the only real item of note in Heaton's reply of 171, and yet again David Smith had the final say with 5 for 41.
The other finalists‑to‑be, Tonge, went through at Egerton's expense with all‑out scores of 182 and 100 fairly reflecting the difference between the two sides on the day. Although Tom Fairclough could count himself unlucky to end up on the losing side after having taken three cheap wickets and hit 25, Tonge's wicket‑keeper Danny Partington, with 43 and four victims, was man of the match, whilst Ian Taylor would have enjoyed his 3 for 23 from 10 overs against his former team‑mates.
The two semi‑finals were badly hit by the weather, especially the Tonge/Farnworth tie, for which re‑arrangements seemed to be made almost on a daily basis! Eventually the game got under way, and Tonge emerged triumphant by 34 runs, having Alex Rodzoch (68) and the two Partingtons (a joint 94) to thank for their total of 204 for 8. It appeared to be a target well Within Farnworth's reach, but, when Axford, Rayment, Childs and perhaps most importantly, Parchment, had been dismissed by Street and Weththasinghe for a joint 26, Tonge had become firm favourites. Davies and Groves fought hard in middle order, but when Ian Taylor had last man Lee Sutton caught behind, Farnworth were still 34 runs short.
Over at Walkden, visitors Westhoughton had Dwayne Smith (60) and Rick Parker (66) to thank for a final all‑out total of 197, and when the home side were tottering on 127 for 6, Steve Parker's side appeared to have things well wrapped up. But Liam Jackson was still there, and a very quick 32 from Dale Jones put his side back in the driving seat. To see Mike Bennison emerging at Number 9 wouldn't have given Westhoughton much encouragement, and, sure enough, Jackson and the skipper saw their side home in the final over of the tie, Jackson finishing undefeated on 58.
Like the semi‑final, the Final went almost down to the wire, and it's probably safe to say that, of their three major trophies, this was, in the end, the hardest won. Batting first, Tonge made a poor start, losing their first four wickets fairly cheaply, and it was down to the Rodzoch brothers to keep them in the game. This they did, with each of them reaching the 30's, before a joint 80 runs from Ian Taylor and Adam Street saw their side up to a respectable 188 all out, a figure that, at one point, had looked to be a million miles away. Street hit 44 which, combined with his four wickets after tea, could, on another day, have taken a Man‑of‑the‑Match award.
After Bennison had gone early in Walkden's reply, Gupta (53) and Steve Higson (61) embarked upon what, at the end of the day, was to prove a match‑winning stand. However, the game fell back into the melting‑pot as five wickets fell comparatively cheaply, and Walkden had cause to be grateful for an important 26 from Sam Reidy, along with the calm assurance of Stephen Davies who, coming in at Number 7, showed his experience as he guided his side home with seven balls to spare.
Steve Higson was rightly adjudged Man‑of‑the‑Match for his controlled and match‑winning 61, and Walkden had reached stage one of their trophy hat‑trick. The Greenmount club were rightly congratulated for their handling of the day which, save for the unwelcome antics of a few spectators, had been an enjoyable one from start to finish.
The J.W.Lees Inter‑League competition was a story of undiluted success for the Bolton League. In Round One an eagerly anticipated tie against the Bolton Association at Adlington became something of a one‑sided affair after the home side had been restricted to 126 for 8 from their 45 overs.
Eagley's Steve Foster produced the best figures, taking 3 for 24 from his nine overs. It was to be the start of an incredible run in the competition for Foster. In the three ties played, his final record of 27‑9‑48‑7 was almost unbelievable, and a huge factor in the League's success. The visitors passed the Association's total with some ease, thanks largely to a fine 2nd wicket partnership between Gary Garner (43) and Luke Perry, whose undefeated 50 ensured him of the first of two inter‑league Man‑of‑the‑Match awards, both against the Association.
The League's second outing resulted in an even more emphatic success against the Ribblesdale League in the semi‑final played at Heaton. An impressive opening stand of 68 between the Westhoughton pair Bannister and Pilkington got the side away to a great start, and further runs from Garner, Danny Guest and Phil Ingram resulted in a final total of 204 for 9.
Each of the League's bowlers took wickets as the visitors collapsed horribly to 39 for 5 and, despite a decent 9th wicket stand between Rishton and Jamil, the end came on 96 all out. Fosters 2 for 11 from his nine overs earned him the Man‑of‑the‑Match trophy.
A journey to Furness for the Final against the North Lancs League was the reward, and whilst the journey itself was something that those of us involved will never forget, it did help to further bind the already excellent team‑spirit in the side which manager Dave Tattersall correctly described as "a club side within a league side".
Batting first, the Bolton team was in trouble at 20 for 3 but yet again a Westhoughton pairing, this time Adam Coates and Neil Bannister, settled in to add 66 for the fourth wicket.. Bannister moved on to 72, which resulted in the Man‑of‑the‑Match award, and whilst a final 176 for 7 didn't provide any guarantees, it turned out to be enough as once again the League's bowlers performed with accuracy and penetration. This time Amil Dalugoda enjoyed the best figures with 3 for 24, and he was so well backed up by Street, Ingram, Foster and skipper Chris Barrow that the home side fell further and further behind the asking rate and were eventually bowled out for 139.
Two weeks later the League side completed its quartet of victories when they enjoyed a second win over the Bolton Association in the annual Axford Trophy match at Tonge. On a day during which the poor weather was always going to play a part, the Association batted first, and after Daisy Hill's Zaidi and Paul Keenan of Atherton had got them away to a solid start with a partnership of 32, Phil Dickinson stepped in to dismiss both openers plus Adlington professional Maqsood. Dickinson finished with a more than commendable 4 for 15, after which Chris Barrow took over, and his four cheap wickets demolished the visitors' middle order. A tenth wicket stand of 35 between Jon Partington and Farooq Butt took the final score up to something approaching respectability at 147, but then tea‑time rain reduced the League's target to 118.
After Bannister and Adam Worrall had been dismissed, Alex Rodzoch joined Luke Perry, and together the pair took their side to the verge of victory before Rodzoch fell for 22. Perry ended the game on 57 not out, thus claiming his second inter‑league Man‑of‑the‑Match award referred to earlier, having helped the League to their eighth win in nine years in this annual event.
The League's profile was raised even higher in September when two of our dubs met in the Lancs K.O.Final at St.Annes. Farnworth Social Circle arrived having disposed of two top Liverpool sides in the quarter and semifinals. In the first of the two games they beat New Brighton with some ease, thanks to unbeaten innings of 61 and 73 from Kalavitigoda and Perry respectively. But it was their semi‑final victory over the powerful Bootle side that sent shock waves around the county. Once again Kalavitigoda hit 61, and Tim Barrow added 63 as Circle reached 221. In the face of an excellent team bowling effort Bootle were never in the hunt, and were bowled out for 128.
Walkden moved into the Final via Penwortham, Greenmount, Ormskirk, Denton West and, in the semi‑final, Winton. The highlight of that run was probably the 320 for 5 which accounted for Ormskirk in Round 3, of which Praveen Gupta hit 102. Batting first in the semi‑final, they had to be content with 152 for 9, after which all five bowlers took wickets with Smith's 4 for 21 the leading figures.
The Final might be said to have been won and lost when Bennison and Gupta put on 139 for Walkden's first wicket. Something of a lull in the scoring rate followed, but then Dave Snuth's 47 from 27 balls upped the tempo and proved to be the first half of a Man‑of‑the‑Match‑winning all‑round performance. 244 for 6 was the final score, and Jon Fearidc struck an important blow early in Circle's reply, when he bowled the dangerous Kalavitigoda for 3. Tim Barrow played well in the middle order, but when he was bowled by Smith for 46 after the Walkden bowler's first five overs had gone for a mere five nuns, the game was effectively over.
Late runs came from Taylor, Lees, Walsh and Bradley, but never enough to change the course of the game, and when the final delivery was sent down, the difference was 51 runs. In his interview given after this, their third trophy win, Mike Bennison said "I told our players in April that if we played well, we'd got chances this season." They're obviously as good listeners as they are players!!
My only real misgiving at the conclusion of a good season of first‑team cricket lay in the fact that, in all, 55 different professionals were used by the 14 clubs. This is clearly an unsatisfactory state of affairs and, hopefully, it won't happen again. At the time of writing five of the nine clubs who have already registered a pro for 2009 have turned to an English‑based player, which may be an answer to the problem. Time will tell.
At 2nd Team level Westhoughton and Kearsley ruled the roost. The Tyldesleys side were league champions, ending the season ten points clear of their Springfield Road rivals, whilst Kearsley overcame Bradshaw in the Birtwistle Cup Final. Skipper James Chadwick inspired his Westhoughton team‑mates, taking 54 wickets and averaging 25 with the bat, whilst Hilton, Wilcox, Brown, Kenny, Ahmed, Houghton, Burrows and Bateson ensured that he never lacked support. For Kearsley Darren Whittle hit more runs than any other of the League's batsmen, while bowlers Mort, Jamieson, Brittell, Thayalan and Whittle himself took 171 wickets between them at a joint average of 12 and under. Paul Gregory's 30 victims were enough to take the League wicket keeping award.
Indoors in January, Rick Northrop's Astley Bridge side won the Anthony Axford Trophy for the first time, thus bringing to an end Walkden and Kearsley's recent domination of the winter event. After Westhoughton, Bradshaw and Kearsley had been beaten in the previous rounds, Bridge came up against Tonge in the Final.
Batting first, the eventual winners hit 167 for 5, this year's competition's highest total. Significant scores came from Northrop, Will Halton, Steve Shepley and Chris McGuiness, with the other two members of the side, David Cryer and Craig Haslam, having made their contributions to the success during the earlier rounds. The Final Man‑of‑the‑Match, however, was Tonge captain, Nigel Partington, whose 78 in a losing total of 126 was the highest individual score of the competition as a whole.
Last year's winners, Kearsley, went on to reach the Northern Final before losing out to Sheffield University just one short step away from the Lord's National Final.
At November's League Presentation, held for the first time, and very successfully, at Farnworth's Masonic Hall, former Chairman Mike Hall was announced as winner of the Hubert Pendlebury Award in recognition of his huge achievements at both Egerton and League level. Unfortunately he couldn't attend for family reasons, and the award was presented to him at the A.G.M. the following month.
The other important award, that to the Junior Player‑of‑the‑Year, went to Famworth Social Circle's highly promising young all‑rounder Andrew Lane.
As ever, our grateful thanks are due to a variety of people, not least, considering the horrendous weather conditions endured during part of the 2008 season, to the clubs' groundsmen, who worked so diligently to get the games played wherever and whenever possible. Also to all club officials, umpires, ladies and junior team managers, and lastly and possibly most importantly, to the Axford family and company, without whom our cricketing lives would be that much more difficult.
And finally, as I have already mentioned at a League Meeting, it is my intention that, for a variety of reasons, after 36 years, this is to be my last League Handbook I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their help over those years, particularly Mike Dudley who, for the past 27 editions, has done all the typesetting and general technology (which as you all know is completely beyond my ken!) with such great efficiency. Thanks also to local photographer extraordinaire Tony Barren who has provided me with so many of the pictures used in recent years. To everyone at all 14 clubs, have a great and reasonably dry 2009.