Chairman's Report - 1996

Ray Taylor (March 1997)

There were contrasting fortunes for our inter-league teams last year, with the Under 13 team losing the Teddy Gerrard Trophy three-match series for the first time, being beaten by the Bolton Association two matches to one.

The Under 18 team won the inaugural Brian Hollows Memorial match, against the Association on Bank Holiday Monday, but then lost to the Northern League in the first round of the MEN Knockout at Horwich CC. There was a half century for Astley Bridge's Rakesh Patel and five wickets for Egerton's Matthew Cuff in the first match.

Most successful of the teams were the Under 15s, who reached the final of the Michael Roche Trophy. In the preliminary round at Egerton CC, Alex Cormah of Westhoughton hit 70 out of our 198 for 5, a total sufficient to earn the side a 66-run victory against the Lancashire Colts. In a low scoring match at Maghull in the first round, the Southport and District League responded to our 124 for 7 with 97. Atherton of Horwich top scored with 42, and Horwich's McKeown took four for 6. In a rain-affected semi-final at Horwich, Paul Atherton led a successful run chase with an unbeaten 69. The final was also hit by the weather, and despite 60 from Atherton the game ended with the Bolton League just two runs short of victory against the Northern League.

In the final match of the season, the Association were beaten by 36 runs in the Derek Slater Trophy. Farnworth SC's Tim Barrow hit a half-century and Atherton demonstrated his all-round ability with three wickets.

In the League, Farnworth SC won the Under 18 league and cup 'double', winning the Jake Tatlock Cup for the third consecutive year at the expense of Westhoughton. In the League, Farnworth won ten out of their 13 matches. Last year's winners Egerton were runners-up.

Under 15 champions were Heaton, who finished the season undefeated in the league. The title was secured at the end of the season when Heaton beat runners-up Farnworth SC. Due to the poor weather, the Mervyn Porter final was eventually played over two days, and after a promising start, Farnworth SC were eventually dismissed for a disappointing 87. After a slow start, the Greenmount chase gained momentum, and they overhauled the FSC total with a handful of deliveries remaining.

Honours were spread very evenly in the Under 13 competitions, with Horwich pipping Astley Bridge to the title by just one point. In the Harrison Cup Final Farnworth CC were fairly comfortable winners against Little Lever.

Away from the Bolton League, Farnworth Social Circle, after winning the Bolton area KO in the Under 15 Sun Life of Canada competition, beat Ulverston in the Lancs quarter-final, followed by St Annes in the semi, and Sefton in the Final. The team then progressed to the North of England finals, only to be beaten by a narrow margin in the semi final by Radcliffe-on-Trent, the Notts winners.

In 1996 many more fixtures were completed, although it is still evident that some clubs are still having problems raising 11 players for all their Under 18 matches. Many solutions to the problems were offered during the year by a consensus could not be reached between clubs on the ideal age groups.

Once again many Bolton League players were selected for Lancashire teams at the various age levels: Under 18, Matthew Parkinson, captain (Farnworth SC) and James Holt (Heaton); Under 17, Robbie Edmundson (Horwich), Matthew Cuff (Egerton) and Christian Walsh (Farnworth SC); Under 16, Richard Sellers (Westhoughton) and Philip McDermott (Eagley); Under 15, Paul Atherton (Westhoughton) and Sean Fairbrother (Horwich); Under 14, Christopher Evans (Astley Bridge) and Christopher Barrow (Farnworth SC); Under 11, Andrew Kerr and Nigel Hallows (Tonge) and Nicholas Woods (Heaton).

Finally, thanks to Jeff Small, Under 13 and then Under 15 Secretary for almost a decade, who has had to step down from his position as a junior official due to work commitments. Jeff always carried out his duties conscientiously, and his inter-league teams were always a credit to the Bolton League.

Please remember that if match cards are not submitted on time we cannot get the necessary coverage of our junior cricket in the Press.