Chairman's Report - 1995

Ray Taylor (March 1996)

As a contrast to the 1994 season, 1995 was mainly disappointing for our inter-league sides.

In the first round of the Under-18 Manchester Evening News Knockout, the Bolton League had the Saddleworth League in deep trouble on 8 for 2 from seven overs, in response to our 196 for 8 in 45 overs, when rain caused the match to be abandoned. The match was then lost after both teams bowled at the stumps, with the Saddleworth team hitting them first.

A depleted Under 15 team won the first round of the Michael Roche Trophy against the Saddleworth League by ten wickets, after Altaf Khan with 6 for 4 and Anthony Baker, 3 for 9 had dismissed our opponents for just 27.

In the semi-final against Merseyside Youth Cricket, however, the Bolton League were dismissed for 135, a total overtaken with the loss of five wickets. At the end of the season, in the annual Derek Slater Trophy match against the Bolton Association, the League were beaten for the first time after appearing to be coasting to victory at 120 for 2, chasing 157.

The Under 13s had the most successful season, retaining the Gerrard Trophy, after beating the Association by two matches to one. There were also victories against the Saddleworth League and Lancs County League in friendlies.

The Under 18s Championship was won by Egerton, who held off strong challenges from Farnworth Social Circle and runners-up Famworth.. Egerton won ten out of the 13 matches, and the team included half a dozen players with first team experience, including skipper Paul Jackson. Egerton were beaten by Farnworth S.C. in the Jake Tatlock Cup Final in a repeat of last year's final. Man of the Match Matthew Parkinson also became one of only a handful of players to hit a double-century in a third team match.

In the Under 15s, for the second season in succession a team achieved "The Double" with Westhoughton winning every match. In the* league they were threatened with defeat only once, but found things a little more difficult in the Mervyn Porter Cup, with Horwich running them close in the second round and then Heaton taking them to the very last ball in the final. Westhoughton batted first, and made 135 for 6 in their 25 overs.

Richard Sellars was top scorer with 45. Heaton finished five runs adrift, with Man of the Match Shez Arif 69 not out. Runners-up in the league were Farnworth S.C., whose assault on the championship was hampered by two ties! Star team of the season were undoubtedly Astley Bridge Under 13s, whose Lancashire and National cup feats have been covered earlier in the Handbook. Almost inevitably for such a strong team they won all their League and Cup matches with ease - even when vital members of the team were absent. William Halton was awarded the Man-of-the-Match prize in the Harrison Cup Final, against Egerton.

Leaving a gap in the Under 18 fixtures during exam time proved to be a partial success, although at times certain clubs were still unable to complete all their fixtures.Horwich became only the second team to drop out of the competition and the League Committee made it quite clear that this was not satisfactory.

As usual a number of Bolton League junior players represented the County, at various age levels. Under 19; Charles Dagnall (Horwich), Nick Holt (Heaton) and Scott Richardson (Tonge). Under 16; Matthew Cuff (Egerton), Robbie Edmundson (Bradshaw), Christian Walsh (Farnworth S.C.) and Paul Whitelegge (Tonge). Under 15; Bobby Horrocks (Greenmount) Philip McDermott (Eagley) and Richard Sellars (Westhoughton). Under 14s, Paul Atherton (Westhoughton). Under 13s; Chris Barrow (Farnworth S.C.), Chris Evans (Astley Bridge) and Darren Whittle (Kearsley).

Finally, a few words of thanks - Secretary, John Roberts, who at the League Dinner was presented with the Hubert Pendlebury award for outstanding service to the League, Treasurer Bob Brabin, and section secretaries Colin Davies, Jeff Small and John Hutchinson. Their tasks would be made much easier if match cards were submitted on time and we could receive greater coverage in the local press.

Once again the Junior Presentation was a success and thanks is due to John Roberts, May Barlow at Little Lever, Roy Stafford for the ticket distribution and P.J.P. for sponsoring the programmes. Unfortunately this year two individual trophies were not presented due to the inaccuracies in the claims submitted.