Heyside skipper targets more title glory

RYAN Barnes wants Heyside to embark on a period of domination in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

The 27 year old, who took over as captain after Ben Holt was banned earlier in the season, believes the lads from Little Hey Street are capable of building on this year’s success.

They were handed the Division One title this week after Bamford Fieldhouse were deducted 68 points for non-payment of fines and forfeits.

Heyside won the league on three consecutive occasions in the 1990s, and Barnes is challenging his players to repeat the feat.

He said: “The lads are chuffed to bits and have worked hard for it. It is a super achievement.

“What we’ve got to do now is replicate it next year and try to do what the Heyside teams of the ’90s did by winning it again and again.

“With a few new recruits, hopefully, we can press on and with Bamford out of the picture, we are genuine title contenders.”

Heyside ended the season in third place, but were promoted to runners-up ahead of Glodwick after league officials adjusted the points’ tally of both teams.

Then, following news of Bamford’s massive points deduction, they found themselves crowned as champions for the first time since 1995.

Barnes, who also lifted the Twenty20 Trophy last month, went on: “It is a strange feeling, winning it by default, but it would be silly not to take it. Part of me wishes that we could have won it the right way, but there is also a sense of relief because we should have wrapped it up weeks ago.”