Dawn of new era for local league cricket

A NEW chapter in the history of local league cricket is about to be written.

The Greater Manchester League gets under way on Saturday, with 12 divisions featuring first, second and third XIs.

While the majority of clubs from the Central Lancashire and Saddleworth leagues have combined to form the new Pennine Cricket League, others, with the Lancashire County League and North Manchester League have joined forces to become the GMCL.

Both competitions aim to reinvigorate the local scene with promotion and relegation, as well providing different opposition.

Woodhouses start their GMCL campaign at home to Swinton Moorside, weather permitting. The Bellfield outfit is in Division One, alongside Bamford Fieldhouse, who return to local league cricket three years after being discharged from the Saddleworth League because of “continued flouting of the rules”. Bamford open up at Astley and Tyldesley.

Nick Hardman, who bats No.3 and bowls left-arm spin, is at the helm at Woodhouses. He can call on new overses player Tylor Trenoweth, who is described as an aggressive all-rounder. The South African (22) bats left-handed and bowls right-arm medium pace.

Crucially, Trenoweth has experience of English conditions after spending a couple of seasons in the Shropshire Premier League with St George’s.

Woodhouses have been pitted in a competitive division, and with four promotion places and four teams to go down, they will have to be on their mettle from the start. They are strong in the bowling department, but may lack depth with the bat.

Chris Reeves, who played for Woodhouses last season, has joined GMCL rivals Bury, while Joe Taylor, who was expected to sign, has moved abroad to work.

Droylsden, long-standing former members of the Saddleworth League, open their Division Two season at Radcliffe, while Thornham go to Wythenshawe.

Failsworth Macedonia firsts are in Division Four East, and they head to Thornham seconds.

In Division Five South and East Division, Springhead’s first XI entertain Prestwich thirds and Greenfield’s third team welcome Denton seconds.

The action continues in Sunday North-East Division, with Springhead seconds hitting the road to Denton West thirds and Glodwick thirds away to Failsworth Macedonia seconds.

Royton thirds are also in action as they entertain their Stand counterparts.

Matches in the top three divisions in the GMCL start at 12.30pm on Saturday, while fixtures from Division Three to Division Five South-East begin at 1pm. Sunday’s games get under way at 2pm.