Battle for last LCB Cup place goes to the wire

CRICKET: SHAW and Droylsden, from the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League, look set to slug it out for the final qualifying place in next season’s LCB Cup.

Double-winners Bamford Fieldhouse and Heyside were already in the hat for the first round draw, while Glodwick and Uppermill, who are in a tie for third, made sure with victories yesterday.

It leaves one place to be filled, with Shaw and Droylsden, who are separated by seven points in fifth and sixth respectively, in contention with a game to go.

Moorside can still spoil the party, but it would require a freak set of results for the Turf Pit Lane outfit to sneak into the final qualifying place.

Shaw, thanks to Rick Harrington’s superb 107 and 62 from captain Andy Young, scored 257 for nine at Stayley, who were limited to 132. Steve Bird made 49.

Gareth Dent and professional David Lees were to the fore in Droylsden’s seven-wicket defeat of Austerlands at Thorpe Lane.

Dent hit 58 and Lees was unbeaten on 45 in reply to the home side’s total of 215.

Uppermill, inspired by a century from Andy McVeigh, clinched a top-five finish with an excellent win over Heyside at Leefields.

South African paid man Roelof Hugo, with 94 not out, led the way for the visitors, who accumulated 229 for six from their 45 overs. Skipper Nick Campbell weighed in with 54.

McVeigh responded with an unbeaten 102 for the losing Tanner Cup finalists, and he had good support from Michael Brooks (55) in a six-wicket success.

Glodwick qualified for the LCB Cup for the first time with an emphatic seven-wicket defeat of Saddleworth, who were dismissed for 114 at Warren Lane.

Imran Aslam was the star of the show. The Pakistani pro claimed seven for 36 and scored a rapid 34 in 10 balls.

Figures of five for 34 from Greenfield bowler Dominic Gill helped restrict Friarmere to 158 for nine at West View.

Jonathan Ainley’s side reached their target with three wickets to spare thanks to 67 from Adam Hayes.

Champions Bamford Fieldhouse overcame Moorside by six wickets in a game marred by an alleged incident concerning a player from each side. See Back Page for details.