Lord’s one step away

WOODHOUSES Cricket Club are putting their final preparations in place for the biggest game in their 100-year history.

Victory at home against holders Woodhouse Grange on Sunday in the National Village Cup would seal a first-ever appearance at Lord’s.

Medlock Road officials are praying for blues skies as 750 people are expected to attend the eagerly-awaited semi-final tie (start 2pm).

And Woodhouses are banking on their own supporters to spur them on and clinch a place at the home of cricket on Monday, September 8.

Twice winners of the competition in 1995 and 2007, Grange are favourites to make it a treble, but Woodhouses player Alan Starmer hopes they will have a surprise in store for the visitors from York.

The batsman said: “There were 650 people here for the quarter-final against Shipley Hall and we’re expecting even more on Sunday.

“The whole club is buzzing. The cup has caught the imagination of everyone and I’m sure the ground will be packed out again.

“On previous form in the competition, Grange are expected to go through, but being at home is an advantage and the crowd could prove a great leveller.”

Not only do the two teams virtually share the same name, they both reached the last-eight in identical circumstances . . . they won through on superior run-rates after tieing with their opponents.

In Grange’s case, they took a wicket off the last delivery of the innings to deny Castle Eden a place in the semi-final after both sides were bowled out for 165.

Starmer added: “One or two people have commented ‘so and so’s looks a good player and he’s scored some runs lately’, but to be honest we haven’t taken a deal of notice of it.

“We know they’ve lost a couple of games recently, but that’s about it.

“Sometimes you can get too involved in reputations. You finish up playing differently rather than sticking to what has worked before.”

Starmer’s participation is in the lap of the Gods as he is struggling to overcome an Achilles tendon injury.

But Chris Atherton, younger brother of former England captain Mike Atherton, is back from holiday.

Iain McQueen is also available. A student at Manchester University, the talented all-rounder and top fielder is back home in Essex enjoying his summer break, but will be making the journey north for Sunday’s showdown.




WOODHOUSES play host to Prestwich in the Lancashire County League tomorrow.






DELPH warm up for this weekend’s Romida Sykes Cup showdown with a trip to lowly Shelley in premiership one of the Drakes Huddersfield League tomorrow.



Grant Jones’ side will be looking to give their title hopes a boost before they meet Barkisland in Sunday’s final at Honley.

Both matches start at 1.30pm.