Seven-up for super Ashton

CRICKET: ASHTON boasted a 100 per cent record in bagging the Saddleworth and District Cricket League’s Under-17s title.

The Rayner Lane juniors made it sevens wins out of seven with a nine-wicket defeat of Saddleworth ‘A’.

Saddleworth ‘B’ were thwarted by Moorside in their attempt to finish the season with a first win.

Jamie Holt compiled 53 not out in Saddleworth’s total of 107 for six. But Moorside’s Charlie Price (51) also hit an unbeaten half-century in helping his team to a seven-wicket success.

James Howard of Saddleworth School, has two more challenge games with Lancashire under-14s before heading off to the ECB North Region Under-14 Festival of Cricket at Scarborough.

The festival spans August 19-23. Howard also recently broke into the first XI at Saddleworth, and has impressed with the bat this season. He will be hoping for another fine performance when Lancashire take on Cheshire at Middleton CC tomorrow. The county side then plays Cumbria at Netherfield CC on August 1.

Fellow Saddleworth pupil Nathan Jones (Delph CC) heads off to King College, Taunton, next week with the county’s under-14s development squad.

The local youngsters begin their five-match festival programme with a game against Kent on Monday, before taking on Essex 24 hours later.

They then pitch themselves against Cornwall next Wednesday and complete their programme with games against Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire on Thursday and Friday.