Chairman's Report - 1994

Ray Taylor (March 1995)

For our inter-league sides last season was almost entirely successful. The Under 18 team won the Manchester Evening News K.O. beating the Northern League in the final at Heaton C.C. Thanks to an all round contribution from our bowlers, the Northern League were unable to set a stiff target, and Richard Northrop of Astley Bridge was leading scorer in a comfortable run chase. Earlier in the competition the Bolton Association were defeated in the closest match of the three, and in the semi-final a century partnership between Heaton's John Whittle and Nick Holt steered us to victory against the Ribblesdale League.

The Under 15s were the only team to lose a match, the semi-final of the Michael Roche Trophy against the Northern League. However they came back to win the Derek Slater Trophy against the Bolton Association with Bobby Horrocks hitting 73, half the team's total, and Mark Mort taking 5 for 16. The Under 13s won all their games, including the Teddy Gerrard Trophy matches against the Bolton Association. Some of the victories were by very high margins.

The third team championship was won fairly comfortably by Farnworth Social Circle, with Little Lever, Astley Bridge and Westhoughton putting in brief challenges at various stages of the season. Circle went on to complete the "double" with a convincing eight-wicket win against Egerton. The Parkinson brothers David and Matthew both made important contributions with bat and ball.

It has become increasingly apparent in recent years that school exams are taking up more of the junior cricketer's time, especially for those under 18 and under 16. For 1995 we have left a free three week period around exam time in the hope that this will help improve the situation. However, if this does not succeed it may be necessary to adjust the age limit for third team cricket or curtail the number of matches played.

At under 15 level Egerton also achieved the "double" after a championship play-off against Bradshaw, in which Michael Banton slammed a very fast half century which put the match out of Bradshaw's reach with only the first quarter of the game played. In the Mervyn Porter Cup final, Egerton lost both openers cheaply, but an eighty-run second wicket partnership between Andrew Coleman and Matthew Cuff helped them recover to 121 after 25 overs. At 75 for 4 Greenmount were well in the game, but the loss of Bobby Horrocks put an end to their challenge.

Westhoughton beat Farnworth S.C. to the Under 13 championship, and in the Harrison Cup Final came very close to beating the same opponents, until Chris Barrow took two wickets in successive deliveries to put the match beyond Westhoughton's reach. Two Westhoughton players had exceptional seasons, all rounder Alex Cormah, and wicketkeeper / batsman Paul Atherton whose strike rate with the bat of almost twelve runs per over throuqhout the season has only been matched by Greenmount's Gary Neville.

In 1994 many Bolton League juniors represented the County at various levels. Under 18/19: Daniel Parkinson (Famworth S.C.), Stuart Hornby (Egerton), Nick Holt (Heaton), Richard Northrop (Astley Bridge) and Charles Dagnall (Horwich). Under 16: Rakish Patel (Tonge), Stuart Hornby and Paul Stafford (Egerton), Matthew Parkinson (Farnworth S.C.), Chris Morris (Walkden), and Darren Preston (Horwich).

Under 15: Robbie Edmundson (Bradshaw), Bobby Horrocks (Greenmount) and Paul Whitelegge (Little Lever).

Under 13: Alister Warburton (Greenmount), Tim Barrow (Famworth S.C.), Paul Atherton (Westhoughton), and Jonathan West (Heaton).

Under 12: Chris Barrow (Farnworth S.C.).

Finally, thanks to all junior officials, especially Eric Smith who has retired as third team secretary after nine years. His place has been taken by Colin Davies. The main reason so few junior league tables appeared in the local press last year was the lateness of match cards. Please send them promptly.