The League's Under 15's managed by Dave Reddy reached the final of the Michael Roche Inter League Competition before being defeated by the Lancashire County League at Glossop.
In the 1st Round at Walshaw we beat the Bolton Association who was dismissed for 73 with Pip McDonald (Preston) taking 3 for 17, while 44 not out by Jamie Heywood (Lancaster) and Chris Clarke (Darwen) 25 not out ensured victory.
In the semi final against the Palace Shield at Vernon Carus we dismissed the home side for 96 with Pip McDonald and Chris Parkinson (Leyland) both taking 3 wickets. Chris Miller (Kendal) had the outstanding figures of 8-4-4-2. Jamie Heywood 57 not out saw us through to a 7 wicket win.
In the final Lancashire County league made 170 for 8 with Nigel Eastham (Chorley) 3 for 45 and Chris Clarke 3 for 6. We finished on 156 for 8 with 39 from Chris Clarke and 20's from Jamie Heywood, Michael Taylor (Blackpool) and Tod Bamber (Barrow).
Under 18's
In last year's report in the handbook, I stated that I was very much looking forward to another busy inter league season at Under 18 level. Instead of being a knockout competition, the Manchester Evening News Trophy was to be played as a round robin in groups of four and along with the North West Colts Competition; this meant an exceptionally crowded programme for our young players.
The Inter League season commenced on the 6th June at the New Mills Cricket Club, our opponents being the Derbyshire and Cheshire League. In the past we have always considered this game to be a fairly easy two points but on this occasion the opposite was most certainly the case. Admittedly, our eleven was made up of several inexperienced and under age players but at least six of the team have had first division Northern League experience, so they should have been up to the task.
Electing to bat first, our opponents began in a rather sedate fashion, our opening pair of bowlers, James Rafferty (Kendal) and Tom Blundell (Fleetwood) conceding only 23 runs off the bat in the first twelve overs. But a major setback to the team was the injury to our wicketkeeper, James Ellis (Fleetwood) before the start of the game.
Our stand-in keeper conceded far too many byes and that along with an unacceptable number of wides allowed the Derbyshire and Cheshire eleven to reach the astronomically high total of 250 for 6 wickets from their allotted 50 overs. Our reply was nowhere nearly good enough and but for scores in the mid twenties from the Leyland pair, Sean Dunk and Ben Ward, plus an unbeaten 27 by all rounder Rafferty even our meagre score of 141 all out would not have been possible.
A week later on the 13th June, it was hoped that a stronger team would fair better against the Ribblesdale League in game one of the Manchester Evening News Competition.
Great Harwood Cricket Club was the venue and on winning the toss we decided to take first strike on a goodish pitch. A score of 197 for 9 wickets gave the bowlers something to bowl at but an opening stand of 66 from Jack Catterall (Chorley) with 27 and Lewis Edge (Morecambe) 73 gave us hope for a score in excess of 200. Unfortunately, however, the next four batsmen only managed to accumulate 6 runs between them and it was left to James Rafferty (42) again, along with Guarav Dhar (Chorley) with 28 to rescue the situation with a timely sixth wicket stand of 51 precious runs.
It is a shame, by the way, that this game looked like being the last time we were likely to see Lewis Edge at this age group down to the fact that he has been signed by Blackpool Football Club. That's the trouble with these multi-talented sportsmen, they have to make very difficult decisions and with football, these days, decisions are usually made for them. However, I'm sure Lewis will be very successful in this chosen career and I wish him well and look forward to following his progress over the coming years.
Back at Great Harwood, I'm afraid out bowlers were again found wanting, with an average economy rate of nearly 6 an over, the opposition comfortably reached a total of 201 for 6 and we were left still looking for our first success of the season.
Our next North West Colts match was scheduled for three weeks later but due to exams, club calls and players who have part time work on Sundays etc etc, it was impossible to raise an eleven of sufficient quality to compete at this level. In fact, on the Wednesday before the match I had just eight players on my team sheet who wished to play. So our trip to Rainford Cricket Club had to be cancelled and the points handed the Southport and District League. Such a pity.
Game two in the Manchester Evening News Competition saw us away again, this time at Prestwich Cricket Club against the exceptionally strong Lancashire County League. After two rather humiliating defeats our expectations weren't all that high but the team was stronger with Lancashire Cricket Club Academy member, Nick Woods (Chorley) captaining the side.
The home side elected to take first strike on a rather damp pitch and we were quite satisfied to bowl them out in only 44 overs with excellent returns from all our bowlers including 3 for 27 from Bill Smith (Chorley), 2 for 33 from Nick Woods and 2 for 16 by Leyland's Chris Kelly.
One for two, two for two and sixteen for 3 wasn't quite the start to our innings we hoped for but at this stage the diminutive figure of 15 years old Pip McDonald (Preston) walked to the wicket to join his captain. Then followed a passage of cricket that makes running teams such as this so rewarding. A stand of 152 took us within a handful of runs of the required target of 180 and the only sad aspect of it all was that Nick Woods was dismissed just nine runs short of a much deserved century. I'm sure that I can speak for all those who witnessed this memorable victory that they will remember for some time the standing ovation that greeted young McDonald as he left the field after scoring an excellent unbeatable 52. I know that he won't forget it in a hurry.
St.Annes Cricket Club was the venue for game three in the M.E.N series and our victory at Prestwich put us in with a chance of making the final if we managed to beat the Saddleworth League.
Batting first, we ran up the formidable total of 249 for 7 which included an excellent maiden century by Fleetwood's Adam Sharrocks. He was run out for 104 and to be honest, that looked like being the only way they would have him out. Sean Dunk and Ben Ward chipped in with scores in the mid twenties and a quickfire 36 from Andrew Makinson (Leyland Motors) put us well in the driving seat.
The Saddleworth League reply was somewhat limited, which was most probably due to the fact that they had been chasing leather to all corners of the Highbury Road ground for 50 overs - the hottest day in the 2004 summer. Another excellent bowling performance by James Rafferty (4 for 29) along with 4 for 11 by Andrew Makinson who completed a fine all round performance, saw Saddleworth all out for 54.
Progress in to the final depended upon the Lancashire County League beating the Ribblesdale League but unfortunately this was not to be and the Inter League season ended on yet another disappointing note.
So that was it for yet another year. Since then due to the difficulty in turning out under 18 representative sides, it was decided to withdraw from both under 18 competitions. It would seem that struggling to field teams at this age group is not only restricted to the Northern Premier League. The Saddleworth League team arrived at St Annes on the 8th August one man short and we had to lend them our 12th man and since then, several other leagues have withdrawn from competitions for very similar reasons to ourselves. Too much cricket seems to be main reason for this apathy.
The Northern Premier League will continue to field league representative sides but from now on only at Under 15 level. I must put on record how much I have enjoyed the some 20 years that I have been connected with Under 18 inter league cricket and I am extremely proud and thankful for all the good friends that I have made, players, families and officials from the Northern League and from those that have opposed and entertained us.
Special thanks are due to Roger Harrision, Dave Reddy, and the clubs who have hosted inter league games over the years and, of course, the Umpires and Scorers who have so kindly given their services.
To close I should like to remember my good friend, Richard Hadwin who sadly passed away in February after a long illness. Richard ran the Under 18 representative team with me for some five years in the 1990's before moving on to perform a similar role with the Cumbria County League side. He was extremely knowledgeable in cricket matters and our long chats on the boundary at Netherfield Cricket Club and around many other grounds will be sorely missed by me and his many friends.
Clive Henderson
