’Land of glory

CHAMPIONS. . . Glodwick CC, Luke Parkinson (back row, left) Matt Parkinson, Anees Ur Rehman, Mehmood Ul-Hassan, Shahid Mahmood, Bilal Malik, Jamie Symonds, Mark Whitehead (front, left), Imran Asghar, Nigel Stock (captain), Rehan Rafiq (professional), Franco Lenhardt. Not pictured: Brad Heap, Adam Brown.

CRICKET: ADAM Sunderland ensured Austerlands’ Saddleworth and District Cricket League season ended on a high, with a breathtaking knock against Uppermill.

The Thorpe Lane outfit was on the ropes after being reduced to 188 for eight against a daunting 265.

Austerlands still needed 22 off the last over — but Sunderland rose to the challenge magnificently, striking the first five balls to the boundary and leaving just two to win. Taking guard, Sunderland smashed Peter Roberts for six to finish on 58 not out.

Shaw came agonisingly close to achieving an incredible success at home to Hollinwood.

The match appeared over when Shaw crashed to 39 for seven, chasing a target of 215.

But Paul Clarke added 75 and Tom Needham 61 - only for the Holebottom Clough side to fall short by only four runs.

Champions Glodwick have another reason to celebrate after claiming the Brennand Aggregate Trophy with 916 points against second-placed Saddleworth’s 876.

Whalley Range wrapped-up their inaugural season in the league by winning the John Bacon Cup, awarded to the club with the most combined first and second XI points over the last half-a-dozen games.


UPPERMILL claimed their first Twenty20 Cup with a thrilling one-wicket victory over Glodwick at Leefields, and was plenty of drama on the day.

Last-man Andrew Jones hit the winning runs with one ball to spare, while Glodwick wicketkeeper Jamie Symonds dropped Alex Griffiths - who went on to make a vital 43 in the final.