Seconds run to defeat

Woodhourses, from left to right, back: Olivia Sutcliffe (scorer), Geoff Roberts, Nick Doyle, Ryan Sloan, Callum Megram, Ross Zelem, Nick Hardman. Front: Dave Kingham, Phil Sutcliffe, Mike Heppell, Mark Makin (captain), Steve Mayall and John Thorpe.

MIKE HEPPELL’S late-order heroics were in vain as Woodhouses seconds suffered a 24-run defeat against Stand in the Lancashire County League’s Hulme Cup final.

Stubborn resistance from the side’s longest-serving player brought the Medlock Road outfit in sight of their opponents’ 167 for nine.

But when No. 8 Heppell was out for 38, Woodhouses’ hopes of glory were over with nearly five overs of the 50 to go.

Callum Megram had earlier claimed four for 35 in Stand’s innings, while fellow youngsters Ryan Sloan and Nick Hardman claimed two wickets apiece. Captain Mark Akin’s 10 overs cost a miserly 14 runs. He also weighed in with the wicket of Neil Flanagan.

At 43 for one in reply, Woodhouses seemed on on course for victory.

But Phil Sutcliffe (14), Hardman (three) and Steve Mayall (39) departed to put the final back in the balance.

The visitors lost their eighth wicket on 108 and, despite Heppell’s show of defiance, they had to settle for second best.