Hollinwood draws stumps

Cricket:

THE Saddleworth and District Cricket League has agreed to Hollinwood's request to suspend its membership for the new season.

Lime Lane officials blamed a lack of players - and admitted those who remained weren’t up to first-XI standard.

Club committee member Eddie Hardaker said the club had no choice even though the new season is still more than two months away: "We simply haven't got the players. We've got 16 in the seconds but they are only a mid-table team at that level.

"To pit those players against first XIs week-in, week-out would dishearten them. That could be the case anyway because they just want to play cricket. But we felt this was the best thing to do.

“Fayaz Khan, the second-team captain who did a great job last season, is very upset. It’s sad. We've kept going for the last few years with patched-up sides but we can't see a way through this season."

The club is hoping to return to the league in 2016.

The Saddleworth League is "disappointed" at Hollinwood's withdrawal, but hopes the club can regroup for next year.

The drop-out leaves league officials with a dilemma - either to stick to the original fixture list and April 19 start-date, or to recast the calendar and begin a week later. Some clubs want to retain the status quo because they have made arrangements based on it.



Interested in joining Hollinwood Cricket Club? Contact Eddie Hardaker on (0161) 633 8219.