Gills scoop family double

HONOURS: Peter Gill and son, Chris with their Saddleworth and District Cricket League awards.

FATHER and son Peter and Chris Gill are jostling for prime position on the living room mantelpiece.

The Greenfield pair won individual awards in the 2008 Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League season.

Peter (47) picked up the bowling prize, while Chris topped the batting averages in the under-17s division.

The former first XI captain — he guided Greenfield to the division one title in 2000 — Peter was told to give up bowling by his physiotherapist, but battled on to claim 44 wickets at an average of 13.5.

“I snapped my cruciate ligament in my right knee while skiing a couple of years ago and I suffer from cartilage trouble in my other one,” he explained.

“I was advised to pack it in, but I couldn’t do that. I ended up opening the bowling part-way through last season — I was the team’s slow strike bowler.

“It was a case of taking strong painkillers before the game and then having a top up at half-time.”

The highlight of Peter’s summer came in one weekend in July when he claimed six for 81 at home to Shaw and seven for 73 at Stayley.

As first-team wicketkeeper, Chris has played a part in some of those dismissals.

The 16-year-old received his award for his efforts at junior level.

He averaged exactly 110 after scoring 220 runs in five innings to help Greenfield win the under-17s title. He made 50 three times, but then had to retire per competition rules.