Ton-up Swards has cutting edge

Mike Cassidy’s innings comes to an end.

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WOODHOUSES waltzed to victory over Denton West in the Walkden Cup final after Luke Swards produced a memorable performance.

He recorded the first century of his career and took two wickets.

Woodhouses posted 244 for six before dismissing shell-shocked West for just 89 at Medlock Road.

They were lifting the competition for the first time on home soil, and skipper Mike Cassidy said: “I am absolutely delighted, especially as we have done it in front of our own fans.

“We didn’t make the best of starts to our innings, we were on something like 20 for two.

“But the key to this victory was the way Nick Doyle and Luke Swards batted under immense pressure.

“If they hadn’t done so it could have been a very different story because Denton West had their tails up at that point of the game.

“I feel we showed a real statement of intent as soon as we started fielding. It was a strong performance and a couple of early wickets obviously helped our cause.”

The two sides met 24 hours earlier in the Lees Brewery Lancashire County League division one, with top-of-the-table West winning a rain-affected encounter.

Hosts Woodhouses made 143 for eight but due to the reduced overs, the visitors’ 114 for three was enough to earn the victory.

Cassidy feels his team responded well after the defeat.

He said: “Naturally it was disappointing to lose the league game and we have done well to bounce back so soon.”

It could all have been so different yesterday. Cassidy went for a duck in the fourth over, caught at square leg by Andy O’Brien, before Josh Tolley — who has been scoring runs for fun of late — succumbed lbw in the seventh, at the hands of Josh Garde.

Jimmy Clarke’s 35 steadied the ship slightly, but he was undone by a yorker from Jordan Williams.

Doyle and Swards then took control of proceedings. For a teenager Doyle looked so composed and he mustered a classy 38 before being clean bowled by Garde.

Swards’ century comprised of three sixes and 10 fours, before going on to make a superb 131.

Gareth Tuson’s 12 and four from Nick Hardman made up the rest, as Manzoor Ellahi went for a duck.

Swards had the home crowd buzzing when he claimed Lee Dale’s wicket in the third over, wicketkeeper Tolley gratefully accepting the ball from a wicked delivery.

Cassidy caught John McAllister from Sam Sweeney’s sizzler in the fourth over, leaving West on four for two.

When Chris Reeve dropped a wild Mike Berry shot it looked like a reprieve for West.

But Swards claimed Berry’s wicket soon after, caught by Tuson, and when Sweeney bowled Scott Kerwin West were stranded on 17 for four.

O’Brien led the resistance with three quickfire boundaries off Ashley Prescott, and captain Paul Turner pitched in with a six off Ellahi’s first delivery as West fought back to 71 for four by the 20th over.

But O’Brien was caught behind off Prescott for 31 and newcomer John Foreman went the same way to Ellahi for a duck.

Hardman’s first ball of the game claimed the wicket of Turner.

Cassidy got in on the act, outfoxing Jordan Williams, whose hurried shot was collected by Sweeney to make it 88 for seven.

Garde was caught by Ellahi from Hardman and it was game over when Jamie Williams saw his flick from the same bowler caught behind.