Red-hot Hod fires Moorside to win

CRICKET: 

Good things come in threes, so the saying goes. The same can be said of this year’s Saddleworth League title race.

From being a two-horse affair just weeks ago, with leaders Glodwick and Saddleworth apparently out of reach of the chasing pack, Moorside are now also in with a shout.

Time may well beat Danny Anchor’s side in the end – only half-a-dozen games remain – but they can’t be discounted, especially with Grant Hodnett in such terrific form.

In his latest batting master-class, the professional struck 126 not out – his highest score of the season – in a five-wicket defeat of second-placed Saddleworth at Turf Pit Lane.

It was Hodnett’s 11th unbeaten knock out of 23 league and Tanner Cup games in 2014.

Moorside are 39 points adrift of Glodwick, who suffered a second straight loss with a 76-run mauling at Stayley.

The home side recorded 182 for seven, before Oral Rankine took five for 59 in reducing Nigel Stock’s high-fliers to 106 all out. Glodwick’s lead over Saddleworth is 16 points.

Heyside and Stayley are locked together in fourth place. The former had the 10th-wicket pair of Jimmy Cummins and Carl Newton to thank for a one-wicket victory at home to Wythenshawe.

They added 25 runs after seeing their side reduced to 115 for nine, in reply to the visitors’ total of 136.



RAIN claimed the Moore Cup final between Friarmere and Uppermill for a second time at Slack Lane yesterday.

Not a ball was bowled and the two sides will try again on Sunday (1pm start).