Tanner Cup off...again

THE clock says 9.45pm on Sunday and, for the umpteenth time this season, I find myself writing about the Saddleworth and District Cricket League’s Tanner Cup final between Bamford Fieldhouse and Heyside.

And before anybody believes a miracle has happened, it was off . . . again.

Incessant rain left a large section of the Hollin Lane ground under water.

Umpires Trevor Harrison and Peter Lilley were called to the watery scene on Friday, 24 hours before play was due to get under way, and instantly postponed the final for the third time.

It has been rescheduled for Saturday, with a noon start.

Mr Harrison said: “I just hope we can get some decent weather in the next couple of days, otherwise it could be under threat again.

“Both teams are desperate to play and it’s a sickener for them, but the water table is so high that any appreciable rain just sits on the surface.”

If there is no play on Saturday, the two teams will try again on September 20 (start 11.30am) — a week after the season is due to end.

Yesterday’s fixtures in divisions one and two were wiped out which means, with one game to go, Bamford and Heyside remain locked together at the top of the table.

If they finish level on points, Bamford will be crowned champions by virtue of more outright wins.

Say a little prayer for Friarmere at Droylsden next weekend. The West View outfit are hoping to avoid an eighth consecutive draw because of rain!




HEYWOOD clinched the Lake Garage CLL title yesterday without bowling a ball.



The only game to start was at Norden, who made 88 for two against Unsworth before rain had the final say.

Saturday’s entire programme was rained off without a ball being bowled at any of the eight venues, emulating the events of the previous Sunday.

Heywood went into the weekend six points clear of Oldham, with Crompton and Norden a further two points away in joint third.

With only next Sunday’s fixtures remaining, they cannot be caught.

Oldham will finish runners-up if they win at Radcliffe, while Crompton (home to Littleborough) and Norden (at Middleton) are also in the running for second place.