Saddleworth League: Still all to play for in title race

EVEN the seagulls looked fed up as they trudged across the sodden Bamford Fieldhouse turf.

Yesterday’s wash-out — the 11th match-day out of 22 to be affected by rain in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddledworth and District Cricket League this season — means the two-horse race for the title will go right to the wire.

Bamford were hoping to steal a march on rivals Heyside with victory over Friarmere, but both sets of players were filling their bellies with curry and rice (or chilli) at 2.45pm. Ninety minutes later, they were making their way home with four points each.

It was the perfect result for Heyside who, with an open date, fully expected to face a deficit with two games to go. Instead they sit level with Bamford at the top of the table.

It was doubly frustrating for Friarmere. Their home match against Saddleworth 24 hours earlier was also called off because areas of the West View ground were still too wet after Thursday’s heavy rain.

One game in division one did get under way yesterday, with Shaw 74 for five against Austerlands before the heavens opened.

Heyside moved into a slender on Saturday after they demolished Droylsden by 151 runs in a clash notable for clutch of fine individual displays.

Tony Heaton (61), Dean Watkinson (42) captain Mark Barnes (39) and James Davies (39) steered Heyside to 244. Busy bowlers Michael Schofield and Pervez Shah took six for 104 and four for 101 respectively.

Despite 42 from Gareth Dent, Droylsden were dismissed for just 93 in reply. Lee completed a fine afternoon’s work for the Watkinson family with figures of five for 33.

Bamford did not have it all their way at Glodwick, who restricted the reigning champions to 146 all out.

Andy Barton’s boys were grateful to Marlon Black’s 48, which included three fours and four sixes, while Nigel Stock (five for 68) and Imran Aslam (four for 29) did the damage with the ball.

Glodwick again found it tough going with the bat — they are yet to post a score of 200 runs in a match this season – as they succumbed to 96 all out. Black, after heroics with the bat, took, five for 24.

Moorside cemented third place after a four-wicket win over Greenfield, who made 220 for six at Turf Pit Lane (Nigel Kippax 78 and Peter Ward 56). Richard Baines (73) and Francis Sutherland’s 47 set the home side on their way.

An unbeaten 87 from Oram Simms and Rehan Rafiq’s 53 clinched a nine-wicket success for Stayley against Uppermill, who were bowled out for 147 at Leefields.

Aamir Bashir was 85 not out and, aided by Qasar Riaz’s 77, Hollinwood scored 252 for seven at home to Shaw.

The visitors from Holebottom Clough never posed a threat as Rashid Khan’s six for 45 sent them spiralling to 126 all out.

Saturday — division one: Friarmere v Saddleworth — no play, ground unfit; Heyside 244 (A Heaton 61, D Watkinson 42, M Barnes 39, J Davies 39, M Schofield 6-104, P Shah 4-101; Hollinwood 252-7 (A Bashir 85 not out, Q Riaz 77), Shaw 126 (R Khan 6-45); Greenfield 220-6 (N Kippax 78, P Ward 56, A Durose 4-60), Moorside 226-6 (R Baines 73, F Sutherland 47); Uppermill 147, Stayley 151-1 (O Simms 87 not out, R Rafiq 53).

Division two: Bamford Fieldhouse v Glodwick — no result; Droylsden 82, Heyside 70; Moorside 115, Greenfield 120-9; Friarmere 134, Saddleworth 92 (C Ramadhin 6-19); Shaw 102 (M Walsh 5-22), Hollinwood 105-2; Uppermill 197-9 (M Bird 48 not out), Stayley 36 (M Bird 6-13, including hat-trick).

Sunday — division one: Shaw 74-5 v Austerlands — rain stopped play. No play elsewhere.

Division two: Stayley 107, Hollinwood 108-2; Bamford Fieldhouse 55-9 (C Ramadhin 6-24) v Bamford Fieldhouse — rain stopped play. No play elsewhere.