Newtonhurst closing in on Alliance title
Date published: 20 August 2009
NEWTONHURST are within touching distance of the Ashton and Oldham Cricket Alliance title.
With one game to go, they are two points clear of Greengate, with Friends and Radclyffe tucked in behind.
The teams in second, third and fourth can still make a last-gasp surge for glory, but it would require Newtonhurst slipping up at lowly Heyside thirds on Sunday.
They moved two points clear at the top after a maximum-points defeat of Greengate.
Taking first knock, Newtonhurst made 147, which featured 34 from Boone, who retired hurt. A Simpson and V Clark claimed three for 39 and three for 22 respectively.
Buckley (30) and Clark (29) were among the runs in reply, but their collective efforts were in vain as Greengate fell short of their target. Butterworth had excellent figures of five for 27.
Friends are up to third place after they picked up five points against Europa Exiles.
Lawrence was unbeaten on 45 and A Hodgson made 29 in Europa’s total of 152 for six.
Amjad, with 44, set Friends on their way, before an excellent partnership between Rashid (42 not out) and Amin (36 not out) steered them home with seven wickets to spare.
Figures of three for 23 from Daubney helped Radclyffe cut down Foresters for 98.
In reply, Crowther compiled 26 and White was unbeaten on 23 as Radclyffe registered a comfortable seven-wicket success.
There was relief in the St Mary’s HC camp as they recorded their first win of the season at the expense of Heyside thirds.
It looked to be going the home side’s way after they racked up a useful 191.
Hall (38), Winstanley (37) and Lewis (33) made useful contributions, while Ferrington (three for 39) and D Cadman (three for 47) were among the wickets.
Saints, inspired by opener Lawrence’s heroics, were far from daunted by the task.
He and A Cadman (47) shared in a stand of 85. Lawrence then joined forces with Jolly (20), the pair putting on 92 for the second wicket.
Eventually out for 111, Lawrence had done his job and Saints passed the post with five wickets in hand.
