Tanner final falls victim to weather

HITTING OUT: Heyside's Steven Firth (centre) strikes a four off the bowling of Bamford’s Marlon Black during the league clash on Saturday.

TITLE rivals Bamford Fieldhouse and Heyside will reconvene at Hollin Lane on Sunday after heavy overnight rain washed out yesterday's Tanner Cup final.

Umpires Eddie Bayliss and Clive Senior considered the ground unfit and, with no prospect of it drying out sufficiently anytime soon, they took the decision to switch it to the next free date.

The two teams did manage to finish their vital Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League game on Saturday but only just as, within minutes of Bamford completing a seven-wicket success, the heavens opened above Little Hey Street.

The result lifted reigning champions above Heyside courtesy of more outright wins and, with a match in hand, they are now firm favourites to retain their title.

Only a defiant 78 from Roelof Hugo — the classy South African professional struck six sixes and six fours — enabled the home side to reach 139 all out.

Naved Arif Gondal took five for 61 and Andy Smith-Butler claimed four for 50.

Heyside did not go down without a fight. A brilliant catch from Steven Firth got rid of overseas amateur Lincoln Roberts with only 17 on the board, while Carl Newton and Lee Watkinson bowled well without reward.

But a second-wicket partnership of 101 between Darren Shadford (50) and Paddy McKeown (67 not out) sealed Heyside's fate.

Only two other matches were completed. Moorside overpowered Saddleworth by 10 wickets and Droylsden were seven-wicket winners over Greenfield.

Scores —

Saturday — division one: Greenfield 122 (P Shah 6-32), Droylsden 123-3 (P Shah 50); Friarmere 144 (R Dissanayake 5-27), Shaw 71-6 — rains stopped play; Stayley 219-8 (R Rafiq 79, O Simms 67, I Aslam 6-68), Glodwick 76-6 — rain stopped play; Heyside 139, Bamford Fieldhouse 142-3 (P McKeown 67 not out, D Shadford 50); Saddleworth 140 (I McLean 52), Moorside 142-0 (F Sutherland 95 not out, R Baines 41 not out); Uppermill 216 (Z Khan 141), Austerlands 106-5 — rain stopped play.

Division two: Uppermill 99, Austerlands 101-7 (L Du Feu 52 not out); Bamford Fieldhouse v Heyside — no result; Droylsden 160 (P Sullivan 5-34), Greenfield 106; Moorside 156 (Paul Broadhurst 74), Saddleworth 157-2 (G Pemberton 71); Shaw 143 (C Rawcliffe 6-46), Friarmere 145-3 (K Rawcliffe 77 not out); Stayley 121, Glodwick 122-7.

Sunday — Tanner Cup: Bamford Fieldhouse v Heyside — no play, ground unfit.


WOODHOUSES will have to wait yet another week to play their National Village Cup semi-final after it was postponed for a second time because of rain.

Medlock Road officials got a call at 9am to say the Woodhouse Grange ground was flooded following Saturday night's downpour.

The last four tie will be played on Sunday at a venue to be decided.


DELPH clinched a 10-wicket win inside seven overs after dismissing Shepley for just 54 in premiership one of the Drakes Huddersfield League.