Cheshire County Cricket League
2013 SEASON NEWSLETTER NO. 22: SEPTEMBER 14
MACCLESFIELD & DIDSBURY GO DOWN
CBH clinch first title
CHESTER Boughton Hall made no mistake in the season’s final game, winning by 77 runs at Oxton to clinch their first ECB Premier League title since entering the League in 1998. It is the club’s first major title since topping the Liverpool Competition in 1994. Another trophy was added on Sunday when the club beat Bootle to lift the Liverpool Echo Cup.
The architect of Saturday’s success was Lancashire all-rounder Jordan Clark who maintained the form which recently helped the club retain the Cheshire Cup, with a fine all-round performance against old Wirral rivals Oxton at Townfield Lane. Clark top-scored with 89 in a modest tally of 179, the next highest scorer after the top four batsmen had been dismissed for single figures being teenager Harry Killoran, with 25 at nine. Sri Lankan paceman Gayan Fernando took 5-49 and Martyn Evans 3-66.
Oxton never looked like matching that score, and despite a spirited unbeaten 41 from Fernando, they were dismissed for 102 in 29 overs, Clark winding up with 5-37 and Alex Kegg 4-45.
Chester thus finish 12 points clear of runners-up Neston, both clubs winning 15 games after the Parkgate men completed a 172 annihilation of Grappenhall. How they must curse the form which temporarily deserted them at Bowdon seven days earlier, their only defeat in the second half of the season.
Skipper David Hurst led the way with a fine 110 aided by Luke Camden, 56 not out in a third wicket stand of 150 which prefaced a bold declaration at 230-5 from 52 overs. Grappenhall, beaten by Chester a week earlier after running up 242-8, were routed for 58, the division’s lowest score of the season, the damage being done by Andy Clarke 4-15 and Ash Davis 3-17.
Hyde third
Hyde finished well clear of their rivals in third after notching up a fourth successive victory, by four wickets at home to Macclesfield, whose relegation they thus ensured. Macc scored 211, Khalid Sawas 74, Scott Kirwin 5-70, Chris Tipper 4-25 and Hyde responded with 212-6, Danny Berry 72 and Kirwin 48, while James Duffy’s unbeaten 41 took him past the magic 1,000.
Alderley Edge maintained their momentum to finish a creditable fourth with a home win over Didsbury, which spelled relegation for them. Emergency opener Jason Whittaker scored 54 and number 10 batsman Chris Cook 52 as Alderley recovered from 122-8 to close on 193-8, Simon Normanton 4-23. Didsbury fell 22 runs short at 170, Nick Anderson and Matt Marfani joint top-scoring with 38, while Whittaker rounded off an outstanding personal season with 3-47.
Nearer the foot of the table, Marple were beaten for the sixth time in their last seven outings and narrowly escape the drop. They were dismissed for 174, Andrew Hall 77, Gary Cash 47, eight of the remaining batsmen being dismissed for single figures. Chris Ashling claimed 4-45 and Gareth Edwards 4-58. Bowdon won comfortably at 222-6, Simon Marshall top-scoring with 81, aided by James McDougall, 39 and Mark Chilton, 31.
Champions for the past three seasons, Nantwich have to be content with a modest ninth place after a winning draw at home to Toft in a match dominated by their Lancashire contractee Liam Livingstone. The young man from Barrow in Furness with a big Red Rose future contributed a fine 117 to Nantwich’s tally of 282-4, helped by Frank Farrington 52, Jonny Kettle 44 and Ray Doyle 43 not out. Toft were indebted for their draw points to Aussie Josh Hancock who carried his bat for 113 in a final tally of 267-9, Henry Hughes 59. Livingstone enjoyed his best bowling spell of 5-30, helped by Ollie Griffiths 3-78 while wicket-keeper Farrington ended a good day with a catch and two stumpings.
Stats: Only one out of 132 fixtures was rained off (Macclesfield v Toft on May 11), while four were abandoned, all on August 17. Almost 85 per cent of games were won/lost with only 20 drawn, both Premiership records. The win/lose percentage was even higher in Divisions 1 and 2.
Top run scorers: Goodwin (CBH) 1,093; Duffy (Hyde) 1,011; Marshall (Bowdon) 994; Evans (Neston) 986.
Wicket-takers: Lomas (Toft) 66; Clarke (Oxton) 65; oFernando (Oxton) 62; Whittaker (Alderley Edge) 60.
CHESHIRE CHAMPIONS. Cheshire clinched the Minor Counties championship when they beat Eastern group winners Cambridgeshire by 129 runs in the play-off at Wisbech . Full story on page 6 and picture on page 10.
SEPTEMBER 14 NEWSLETTER: 2
Urmston back up after 12 months
URMSTON will be back playing Premier League cricket in 2014 after a 12 months absence, following their 10 wickets victory at Sale.
Adam Syddall’s team equalled the record of 15 wins by Division One champions Bramhall when they outplayed Sale at Dane road, dismissing them for 90, then knocking off the runs without loss in 11 overs, Cal Turner 55, Chris Watson 30
Bramhall, meanwhile, looked ‘demob happy’ when they lost by 26 runs on the ground of relegated Bredbury St. Mark’s, sustaining only their third defeat Without a win in 12 games since June 22, Bredbury scored 144, Chris Heppell 5-46, Simon Wilkinson 4-45, then dismissed Bramhall for 118, Chris Wood 5-19.
Cheadle Hulme, who wound up in third place , lost heavily at home to Cheadle. Ewan McCray top-scored with 49 and Adam Wilde 43 as the Grove Park men were dismissed for 168, Sean O’Brien 5-65. Cheadle made light work of that, a 111-runs stand for third wicket between Dan Brown, 69 not out and Marcus Fisher, 50 seeing them home at 169-3.
Hart takes all 10
The best divisional bowling performance of the summer came from Brookands’ A.J. Hart with a return of 12.3-2-43-10 against Widnes at Georges road, but it was to no avail. Hart bowled Widnes out for 117, Sean Moore 40. But Brooklands were sent back for 99, John Grewar 44, Sean Moore enjoying a magnificent 6-39 off 18 lethal overs. Brooklands briefly led the table in June, but won only twice thereafter.
Christleton won by two wickets at fourth-placed Oulton Park, restricting their hosts to 174, Lou Bentley 72, Mark Coulson 4-60, then replying with 175-8, Ifti Naseer 53, Jack Phillips 42, Rick Moore 3-19.
Middlewich beat wooden spoonists Heaton Mersey by four wickets at Haddon Field after posting a modest 171-6, James Cornford 78 not out, Rashid Amid 4-73. ‘Mersey were then all out for 81, Phil Parry 4-21, Stuart Price 3-31. Star Aussie batsman Aaron Ayre signed off with a duck, but still with more runs than any other League batsman (see below). Also departing is long-serving Middlewich (and former League representative XI) scorer Ray Davies, who has put aside his beloved book for a quieter life.
Batting stats: Ayre (Heaton Mersey 1,121; Moore (Oulton Park) 945; De Silva (Christleton) 927; Bentley (Oulton Park) 904. Bowling: oNissen (Cheadle Hulme) 70; Wilkinson (Bramhall) 63; Tharsen (Sale) 52; Kitzinger (Bramhall) 51.
SECOND PROMOTION FOR DAVENHAM
THERE were wild scenes in the gloaming at Bollington after Davenham clinched a thrilling one wicket Division Two victory over their hosts to clinch a second successive promotion. The first was to gain a place in County League a year ago.
Improved Bollington batted positively to post 183-7, Travis Salisbury 39, against accurate bowling from South African Johan Loubser, 5-45 and Dean Jackson, 4-70. Davenham’s reply stuttered to 40-4 and 100-6, before a quality 57 from Ben Gough set the scene for the finale.and tail-enders Loubser, 39 and Jackson, 10, saw them home with seven balls of the season to spare. The ground was invaded by wildly excited Davenham players and followers who carried their triumphant batsmen off shoulder-high. It has been a fine effort by the Butcher’s Stile men in recent weeks; they have wound up with 12 wins and they possess a fine spirit which is sometimes over-egged.
Spare a thought for Bolly, who lose their League status after 10 years and may face a struggle to return unless they their committee can reorganise after the resignation of chairman Gary Wood in mid-season. They might actually have won this match if star bowler Mo Ali had not been taken lame on a winning streak at 5-22, but that’s how it often goes for teams at the bottom.
Stockport Georgians also depart after losing at home to Congleton and finishing bottom. Georgians are wished well for the future – especially their star phoner-inner and scorer Ben Murray. Georgians totalled 195-8, Nick Johnson 66 not out against an attack which featured 10 different bowlers. The Bears replied with 201-4, with a sparkling 100 from Tom Leese, at 16 the youngest player ever to score a 1st XI ton for the club.
Timperley record wins and points
Champions Timperley beat Poynton by five wickets at Stockport road to clinch victory number 18, a League record, as is their haul of 479 points, beating the previous best, coincidentally by Poynton with 452 in 2002. In this game, Poynton were all out for 110, Matt Macquet 5-48, Ian Grindley 3-5 and Timperley topped that with 111-5, Macquet 54 off 31 balls, Jimmy Williams 3-12. Timperley wicket-keeper batsman Pat Ashling has broken the gloves record with 38 victims, beating Steve Hall’s 36 for Cheadle in 2006.
Stockport finished third in the table after a comprehensive seven wickets win at Weaverham, They finished early and held on for news from Bollington before leaving disappointed. Weaverham mustered only 119, John Denley 4-15 including three wickets in one over, then replied with 120-3, Josh Manning 51 not out.
SEPTEMBER 14 NEWSLETTER: 3
Division 2 round-up continued
Warrington’s Aussie paceman Kyle Adams broke the League’ bowling record (90 by Toft’s Ronnie Locke in 1989) when he claimed 4-66 against Tattenhall.to lift his tally to 93. And that followed his divisional record of 87 in 2012. Tattenhall scored 135, Ollie Thompson 45, then dismissed Warrington for 110, Dave Shewring 3-26.
Alvanley finished 10th after a season-long struggle at the lower end of the table. They lost at home to Irby in another nail-biting finish after posting 184-8, Simon Gee 86, Colin Gibson 3-75. Irby, whose form has been improved , scraped home on 185-9, Craig Caswell 51, Andy Williams 45.
Top batting stats: Thompson (Tattenhall) 853; oCornwall (Weaverham) 784; oLamb (Congleton) 763; Ashling (Timperley) 761. Bowling: oAdams (Warrington) 93; oCornwall (Weaverham) 65; Page (Timperley) 63; oLoubser (Davenham) 53.
ECB PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
ALDERLEY EDGE (25 pts.) beat DIDSBURY (won toss, 5pts.) by 23 runs:
Alderley Edge 193-8 (55 overs: J. Whittaker, 54, C. Cook 52, S Normanton 4-73, N Anderson 3-53);
Didsbury 170 (53 overs: N Anderson 38, M. Marfani 38, J. Whittaker 3-87).
BOWDON (25 pts.) beat MARPLE (toss, 4 pts.) by 48 runs:
Bowdon 222-6 (55 overs: S Marshall 81, McDougall 39, M Chilton 31);
Marple 174 ( overs: A Hall 77, G Cash 47, C Ashling 4-45, G Edwards 4-58). This result was not telephoned.
HYDE (toss, 25 pts.) beat MACCLESFIELD (8 pts.) by 4 wickets:
Macclesfield 211 (53 overs: K Sawas 74, J. Ward 34, S. Kirwin 5-70, C. Tipper 4-15);
Hyde 212-6 (42 overs: D Berry 72, S Kirwin 48, J Duffy 41no, R Porter 3-67).
NANTWICH (toss, 15 pts.) drew with TOFT (6 pts.)
Nantwich 282-4 (55 overs: L Livingstone 117, F Farrington 51, J Kettle 44, R Doyle 43no);
Toft 267-9 (55 overs: J Hancock 113no, H Hughes 59, L Livingstone 5-30, O. Griffiths 3-81).
NESTON (25 pts.) beat GRAPPENHALL (toss, 2 pts.) by 172 runs:
Neston 230-5 dec. (52 overs: D Hurst 110, L. Camden 56no, J Smith 34);
Grappenhall 58 (25 overs:: A Clarke 4-15, H. Davis 3-17).
OXTON (toss, 4 pts.) lost to CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL (25 pts.) by 77 runs:
Chester 179 (54 overs: J Clark 89, G Fernando 5-49, M. Evans 3-66);
Oxton 102 (29 overs: G Fernando 41no, J Clark 5-37, A Kegg 4-45). This result was not telephoned.
DIVISION ONE
BREDBURY ST. MARK’S (won toss, 25 pts.) beat BRAMHALL (5 pts.) by 26 runs:
Bredbury 144 (45 overs: M Nuttall 31, G Heppell 5-46, S. Wilkinson 4-45);
Bramhall 118 (41 overs: C. Wood 5-29).
BROOKLANDS (toss, 4 pts.) lost to WIDNES (25 pts.) by 18 runs:
Widnes 117 (36 overs: A Graham 32, S Moore 40, A.J. Hart 12.3-2-43-10).
Brooklands 99 ( overs: J Grewar 44, S. Moore 6-39).
CHEADLE HULME (5 pts.) lost to CHEADLE (toss, 25 pts.) by 7 wickets:
Cheadle Hulme 168 (50 overs: E McCray 49, A. Wilde 43, S O’Brien 5-65);
Cheadle 169-3 (41 overs: D Brown 69no, M Fisher 50).
MIDDLEWICH (25 pts.) beat HEATON MERSEY (toss, 2 pts.) by 90 runs:
Middlewich 171-6 (50 overs: J Cornford 78no, N Gill 33, R. Amin 4-73);
Heaton Mersey 81 (35 overs: P. Parry 4-21, S Price 3-31).
OULTON PARK (9 pts.) lost to CHRISTLETON (toss, 25 pts.) by 2 wickets:
Oulton Park 174 (43 overs: L Bentley 72, M Coulson 4-60, I Naseer 3-9);
Christleton 176-8 (39 overs: I Naseer 53, J Phillips 42, R. Moore 3-19).
SALE (0 pts.) lost to URMSTON (toss, 25 pts.) by 10 wickets:
Sale 90 ( overs); Urmston 91-0 (11 overs: C. Turner 55no, C. Watson 30no). This result was not telephoned.
SEPTEMBER 14 NEWSLETTER: 4
DIVISION 2 RESULTS
ALVANLEY (won toss, 10 pts) lost to IRBY (25 pts.) by 1 wicket:
Alvanley 188-8 (50 overs, S. Gee 86, C. Gibson 3-75);
Irby 191-9 (49.5 overs: C Carswell 51, A. Williams 45, S. Charles 3-41, C Charles 3-50).
BOLLINGTON (10 pts.) lost to DAVENHAM (toss, 25 pts.) by 1 wicket:
Bollington 183-7 (50 overs: R Hough 41, T. Salisbury 39, T. Barrass 34, R. Loubser 5-40, D. Jackson 4-65);
Davenham 184-9 (48.5 overs: B. Gough 57, M Ali 5-22, S. Khan 3-45).
STOCKPORT GEORGIANS (toss, 7 pts) lost to CONGLETON (25 pts.) by 6 wickets:
Stockport Georgians 196-8 (50 overs: N Johnson 66no, C. Dodd 34, T. Leese 3-22);
Congleton 201-4 (36 overs: T Leese 100, J Wilshaw 42).
TIMPERLEY (toss, 25 pts.) beat POYNTON (4 pts.) by 5 wickets
Poynton 110 (26 overs: M Macquet 5-48, I. Grindley 3-5);
Timperley 111-5 (20 overs: M Macquet 54, J. Williams 3-12).
WARRINGTON (toss, 5 pts.) lost to TATTENHALL (25 pts.) by 25 runs:
Tattenhall 135 (48 overs: O Thompson 45, K Adams 4-66, M. Adams 3-29);
Warrington 110 (40 overs: M Rudd 40, D. Shewring 3-26).
WEAVERHAM (toss, 3 pts.) lost to STOCKPORT (25 pts.) by 7 wickets:
Weaverham, 119 (48 overs: S Woods 29, J Dunley 4-25, M. Eley 3-41);
Stockport 120-3 (27 overs: J Manning 51).
PICK OF WEEK
ECB Premier League
Batting: c L. Livingstone (Nantwich) 117 v Toft Bowling: c L Livingstone (Nantwich) 5-30 v Toft
First Division
Batting: J. Cornford (Middlewich) 78no v Heaton Mersey. Bowling: A J Hart (Brooklands) 10-43 v Widnes
Second Division
Batting: Tom Leese (Congleton) 100 v Stockport Georgians Bowling: M. Ali (Bollington) 5-22 v Davenham
Busy day for Chairman
LEAGUE chairman David Humpage was a busy man on Saturday. He drove from east to west Cheshire to present the three championship trophies to Timperley (at home to Poynton), Bramhall (at Bredbury), then to Oxton in the Wirral to hand the ECB Premiership Cup and flag to Chester Boughton Hall.
VOTES POUR IN FOR PLAYERS OF YEAR
BALLOT papers for the three divisional Players of the Year have come in from the following 16 clubs: Alderley Edge, Alvanley, Bowdon, Bramhall, Davenham, Didsbury, Heaton Mersey, Hyde, Macclesfield, Marple, Oulton Park, Poynton, Timperley, Toft, Warrington and Weaverham.
ALL clubs are urged to return their completed forms to MTB, preferably by e-mail at If your club has not received a form, please contact soonest.
The awards will be handed out at the League Dinner at The Mere on Friday, October 4.
O 2012 season winners were: Khalid Sawas (Macclesfield, Premier League); Rick Moore (Oulton Park, Division One); oKyle Adams (Warrington, Division Two).
SEPTEMBER 14 NEWSLETTER: 5
THE FINAL TABLES ….. ALL PLAYED 22
ECB PREMIERWTWDRDLDC/ABLBatBowlTotal pts.
(25)(16)(3)(2)(1)(7)
1. CHESTER BOUGH. HALL150210043221436
2. NESTON (8)150211032622424
3. HYDE120124034626383
4. ALDERLEY EDGE110102173123341
5. OXTON1000110103531319
6. GRAPPENHALL 802200107924313
7. BOWDON801200115635298
8. TOFT801012105125294
9. NANTWICH802011105030294
10. MARPLE502110136336233
11.DIDSBURY500110156537230
12.MACCLESFIELD401031137133217
(8) = Neston points deducted for slow over rate.
Champions: CHESTER; runners-up: NESTON Relegated to Division 1: DIDSBURY & MACCLESFIELD.
DIVISION 1
1. BRAMHALL151111033320450
2. URMSTON151001053110433
3. CHEADLE HULME130202053827398
4. OULTON PARK 80223076141315
5. WIDNES902000115527313
6. SALE72410086921311
7. CHEADLE80312085240305
8. CHRISTLETON70402097834301
9. BROOKLANDS901020103632298
10. MIDDLEWICH601050103739234
11.BREDBURY ST. MARK’S400041136231204
12.HEATON MERSEY303010155651192
Champions: and promoted to Premier League: BRAMHALL: runners-up and promoted: URMSTON. Relegated to Division 2: HEATON MERSEY & BREDBURY ST. MARK’S.
DIVISION 2
1. TIMPERLEY180101021015479
2. DAVENHAM120401055131395
3. STOCKPORT131100162214387
4. TATTENHALL130101072821378
5. WARRINGTON120103062129356
6. CONGLETON110200093727345
7. POYNTON101111084131344
8. WEAVERHAM90203085431319
9. IRBY600120135631241
10. ALVANLEY400110165833194
11. BOLLINGTON302020155240175
12. STOCKPORT GEORGIANS112010176542155
Champions and promoted to Division 1: TIMPERLEY: runners-up and promoted: DAVENHAM.
Relegated to TACS Cheshire League: STOCKPORT GEORGIANS & BOLLINGTON
WTB
SEPTEMBER 14 NEWSLETTER: 6
15 SQUAD PLAYERS FROM COUNTY LEAGUE
Cheshire in fifth play-off triumph
CHESHIRE won the Minor Counties championship play-off for the fifth time when they beat Cambridgeshire by 121 runs with a dominating four-day performance at Wisbech from September 8 – 11.
Danny Woods’ team were on top from the moment they won the toss and batted on Sunday, racking up a formidable 372-9 in their statutory 90 overs. The innings was dominated by Oulton Park batsman Rick Moore with an unbeaten 175 (23 fours) enjoying a 156 stand for the third wicket with Khalid Sawas (Macclesfield), 79.
Cambridgeshire were dismissed for 296, 76 behind, on the second day after a 10th wicket stand worth 76 which defied bowlers Woods (York) 5-75 and Jack Williams (Chester) 3-56.
Batting imaginatively, Cheshire piled up their lead in the second innings, scoring at a rate of six an over to amass 303-5 either side of a lengthy rain stoppage on the third afternoon. Nantwich wicket-keeper Jonny Kettle was this time the dominant figure with 143 (16 fours), helped by Warren Goodwin (Chester), 54 and the consistent Lee Dixon, 45.
Left to score 371 to win, the east midlands county were never in with a shout, but with further rain, bad light and dogged batting including another last wicket stand of 46, they held out until the last wicket fell when Scott Kirwin dived to snare Lewis Bruce at slip off Adam Syddall (Urmston) at 250.
Chief wicket-takers this time were Jack Williams with another 3-56 return, Syddall, 3-53 and skipper Woods 2-49, while debutant Andy Clarke of Neston chipped in with a key wicket (1-22).
Credit upon League
Unbeaten in seven games, Cheshire are true champions and the County League can claim much credit for their success, 10 players at Wisbech - and 15 out of 16 who contributed throughout the season - having developed in a quality ECB premiership environment playing on excellent pitches. They have performed outstandingly well as a team under the inspired captaincy of York - and former Hyde - spinner Dan Woods, who has been inspirational. Woods, who has helped York retain the Yorkshire league title, wound up with a remarkable haul of 63 wickets from seven games, a Minor Counties record.
After being presented with the Minor Counties title shield and flag, skipper Woods, who took over from James Duffy in mid-summer, said: “What a way to end a great season. We were poor in the one day games in May, but pulled up our socks in the three-day version . The squad had camaraderie, togetherness and commitment and Duff helped me no end. I’m proud of everyone who wore a Cheshire cap”.