Cup joy for Friarmere

CRICKET: FRIARMERE under-17s won this year’s Saddleworth League Romida Cup after they defeated Stayley by 73 runs in the final at a sunny Slack Lane.

Having lost the toss, Friarmere were soon in trouble at 18 for two having lost opener Luke Ellis and hero of the semi-final - Richard Simpson - to the accurate seam bowling of Dylan Barlow.

Danny Jones and opener Brad Cunningham set about repairing the early damage with a well-crafted partnership of 51.

Another flurry of wickets fell, the last one being that of Cunningham who had compiled a patient 46.

Friarmere were 103 for eight, but late cameos from Bradley Cruse and Kyle Moore took the score to a respectable 139 all out.

The Stayley innings stared very much the same way, with Jones snaring the wickets of Barlow and Wardle before the score had reached 20.

A third wicket fell soon after when Adam Auty fell, before Stayley captain Nick Woodhead and Georgie Sherwood started rebuilding the innings with a partnership of 35.

The Stayley innings ended when Moore caught Nick Hargreaves at cover point off the bowling of Hatim Javid.

Cunningham was named man of the match, while this success was some consolation for Friarmere who had finished runners-up to Ashton in the league.