Clubs bask in glory

CAPTAINS of Saddleworth ‘A’ and ‘B’, Thomas Woolley (front, left) and Ellis Helire line up before the under-13s final.

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SHAW and Saddleworth celebrated silverware success as the junior section in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League reached an exciting conclusion.

The Holebottom Clough outfit retained the Leicester Shield after a Callum Jones-inspired win, while Saddleworth ‘A’ denied their ‘B’ team in a last-ball thriller in the under-13s final.

Man-of-the-match Jones produced a stunning display, claiming six wickets for five runs to reduce opponents Uppermill to 52 all out. Captain Michael Bird made 28.

Shaw, who were completing the double after sharing the title with Glodwick, lost five wickets before reaching their target. Bird took three for 29.

The club can reflect on a superb season in the junior competition as the under-13s claimed the league championship. Boasting an unbeaten record, they finished six points ahead of Saddleworth ‘B’.

The runners-up were hoping to make up for their near miss in the cup final.

Saddleworth ‘A’, thanks to a stand of 52 between captain Tom Woolley (26) and Richard Hunsley (26), made 104 from their 20 overs. Edward Crowther was unbeaten on 24, while Joe Boulter bagged three for 16.

The ‘B’ team started their reply in conservative fashion, but a partnership of 30 from Ben Corbett (16) and Ellis Helire (21) in just three overs — they were aided by a succession of dropped catches — put them bang in contention.

And they were slight favourites after Simon Hardy (16) and John Rhodes (11) had taken the score to 97 with one over remaining.

The first ball went to the boundary, but when Michael Habberley held his nerve to bowl Rhodes, everything rested on the last ball.

Needing two to tie the match, Hardy was run out by no more than 18 inches while attempting a second.

Title honours in the under-17s division went to Greenfield for the third consecutive season.

Austerlands, who finished four points adrift in second place, had the consolation of winning the Romida Trophy in front of their home fans.