|
Secretary's Report for 1987
For the spectator such as me it was the worst season for watching cricket.
I had one good warm and sunny day with a lovely blue sky as depicted by the sentimental writers describing the typical English scene, and believe it or not , it was at Kendal.
Nevertheless what an exciting season 1987 was. Although the weather for watching was poor, the cricket was good and played in a sporting spirit.
I would like to thank all the Clubs and their members, at the grounds I visited during the season for such wonderful friendship and hospitality that has been shown to me.
The First Division mid season was wide open, with the front runners from last season Lancaster and Blackpool struggling.
In fact it took Blackpool nearly to mid season to win their first match.
Morecambe and Kendal were heading the League, but little did we realise that from then on it was going to be the most exciting finish to the Championship ever.
Kendal faded but Morecambe seemed to go from strength to strength.Lancaster started their challenge and Leyland started to move up the League with Fleetwood.
The last match of the season was to be the decider with five points separating the top five clubs.Darwen who were fifith had an outside chance and had to beat Morecambe at Woodhill Lane to tie with Leyland whose game at Preston had been rained off.
The results started to come in and Lancaster had failed at St Annes but Darwen had beaten Morecambe.Everyone was on tenterhooks as no one could obtain the outcome from Netherfield who were playing Fleetwood, the phone was permanently engaged.
Eventually it came through that Fleetwood had failed and therefore we were into a playoff for the Championship.
Unfortunately the playoff was rained off on the following Saturday at Birch Hall and played on Sunday under atrocious conditions.
All credit to both sides who risked life and limb due to the wet conditions in playing this match with Darwen becoming the 1987 League Champions.
Congratulations to Robin Bracewell of Fleetwood who has joined the short list of players making 1000 runs in a season with 1032 runs.Also to Kendal for achieving the Highest Total Innings of 276 for six wickets.
The Matthew Brown Trophy was won by Leyland, beating Morecambe in the Final, and they followed it up by beating Fleetwood in the Final of the Slater Trophy.
What a magnificent season it has been for Leyland who under Ken Snellgrove played positive cricket and just failed to win all three First division titles.
The Second Division Championship was a three horse race between Lancaster, Netherfield and Fleetwood who slipped up in the last few matches.
Congratulations to Lancaster in winning their eleventh Second Division title with Netherfield just one point behind being Runners-up.
The Blackledge Trophy was won by Fleetwood who beat Blackpool in the Final, but went on to lose to Preston in the Final of the Latus Trophy, whcih was one of the most exciting Finals I have watched.
I felt sorry that day for Fleetwood for they were in both First and Second Division Cup finals and lost both.
The Junior Division play-off was between Blackpool, Chorley and Morecambe with some fine cricket from all teams.
Eventually Blackpool were the winners with Morecambe runners-up.
A Northern League Club side failed to win the Lancashire Cup this last season after eight years holding the Trophy, but congratulations to Lancaster who maintained our hold on the Cumbria Cup.
The Inter-League Trophy was also lost this season for we went out in the first round to the Saddleworth League in a ten over match played in torrential rain.
All credit to Anthony Hesketh and his team in attempting to play a game in such atrocious conditions.
I would like to say a big thank you to our Umpires who without fail have umpired to a very high standard and made our League the envy of other leagues in Lancashire for the standard of umpiring.
To all Club Officials who administer the cricket and coaching of Juniors and make it a pleasure to visit their grounds.
Finally to the players who this last season played the game hard but in a very sporting manner throughout the season which showed up in the Fair Play Trophy which was won by Netherfield and in which the lowest team had an average of 92%.
Let us hope the 1988 season will be just as exciting but a little dryer and warmer.
H F Creasy, Hon Secretary
|
