Chairman's Report - 1993

Ray Taylor (March 1994)

For the third consecutive year our under-18 team was defeated in the first round of the Manchester Evening News Inter-League K.O. However, in mitigation, the team was once again depleted, with many of our best cricketers playing for their clubs on the day. The Bolton Association batted first, making 193 for 9 in their 40 overs. Our best bowlers were Stephen Hall who took 2-34 from ten overs, and Craig Wardle with 3-36 from eight. In reply we managed a very disappointing 97 all out, with only David Parkinson scoring in excess of twenty.

Conversely Jeff Small's under- 15 team had an excellent season, winning all their matches and the Michael Roche Inter-League Trophy. Following comfortable victories against Wigan and District and South Manchester, they achieved a 3-1 win when adverse weather led to the match being decided by both teams bowling at the stumps. The League faced Lancashire Colts in the final at Little Lever.

The League batted first and lost a wicket off the first ball. Paul Stafford, who had made vital runs in the earlier games, hit a quick 34 to start the recovery, and Rick Parker top-scored with 41 from a similar number of deliveries. The later batsmen all chipped in as 96 runs were taken from the last 16 overs, leaving us 187-9 at the 40th over.

By the time Stuart Hornby had finished his opening spell of eight overs, the contest was almost over with the Colts 27-3 with only 24 overs remaining. Hornby's figures were 3 for 8 with four of these coming from an edge through slips. Skipper Matthew Parkinson also took three wickets and Darren Preston a couple as the Colts innings ended on 84.

The League finished the season on a successful note, winning the inaugural Derek Slater Memorial Trophy against The Bolton Association by almost 100 runs thanks to a rapid 68 from opening batsman Paul Stafford and an undefeated 49 from Paul Radcliffe. Andy Thomasson took 4 for 10 from three overs and Raquesh Patel for 3 for 26 as the Association were bowled out for 106, 94 short of their target.

The Under-13 inter-league team had a far more even season. Their record against the Bolton Association was one victory, one defeat and one game rained off, leaving the two leagues to share. the Teddy Gerrard Trophy. Thanks is given to all clubs who hosted the junior inter-league matches and Tom Gray (Bolton) Ltd who sponsored the Under-15 team.

The Third team championship was won for the second consecutive season by Heaton who were skippered by Stephen Hall. Runners-up were Farnworth SC who finished five points adrift.

Egerton won the Jake Tatlock final beating Horwich by 4 wickets. Horwich batting first must have been disappointed with their total, but the early Egerton batsmen made a very poor start leaving Man-of-the-Match Stuart Homby and Nigel Barlow to pull the game round with a 7th wicket partnership of 41.

Tonge won the Under-15 championship by just one point from Westhoughton. In the Mervyn Porter Cup Final against Farnworth SC they appeared to be heading for the 'double' as with five overs remaining and only two wickets down they required just 24 for victory. However leading scorer Raquesh Patel was run out for 46 and Tonge were unable to hit the seven runs required from the final over. Man-of-the-Match was Circle's Gareth Gormley who hit 63 and bowled some tidy overs at the conclusion of the Tonge. innings.

In the Under-13s Westhoughton did manage to win both League and Cup, but only after a couple of scares in each. In the League, with just three games remaining, Farnworth SC defeated them and drew level at the top of the table, but then lost their next game as Westhoughton stayed undefeated.

In the Harrison Cup Final twenty runs from Man-of-the-Match Alex Connah put Westhoughton in a commanding position, but the Horwich last pair began to attack the bowling until just four runs were required from the final delivery. However they were unable to reach the boundary leaving Westhoughton the first 'double' winners since 1985.

Three Under-13 players equalled or broke records. Bob Horrocks of Greenmount smashed 80 runs in his four overs, Chris Sutcliffe of Heaton took 7 wickets for 3 runs and Philip McDermott of Eagley equalled Philip Neville's record by playing for all five of his club's teams in one season.

Thanks once again to all League Junior officials, especially Connie Cooper who retired as Treasurer last year, and to all team managers, coaches and club groundsmen. Congratulations to Heaton and Astley Bridge who reached the Lancashire quarter-finals of the N.C.A. knock-out competitions at Under-15 and Under-13 levels respectively.

The following Bolton League players represented Lancashire at various age-levels.

Under-19: Craig Duxtury (Kearsley) and Craig Wardle (Tonge).

Under-16: Keith Webb (Greenmount).

Under-15: Stuart Hornby and Paul Stafford (Egerton), and Matthew Parkinson (Farnworth SC).

Under-14: Robbie Edmundson (Bradshaw).

Under-13: Bobby Horrocks (Greenmount) and Jonathan West (Heaton).

Under-11: Christopher Barrow (Farnworth SC).