League Cricket: Holders bow out in Heavy Wollen Cup (19 May 1999)

19 May 1999

League Cricket: Holders bow out in Heavy Wollen Cup

Andrew Collomosse

The Heavy Woollen Cup is believed to be the oldest knockout competition in the world so there have inevitably been plenty of surprise results since its inception 116 years ago.

Even so, the defeat of three strongly-fancied sides caused quite a stir in the competition's catchment area within a 15-mile radius of Batley Town Hall.

The holders, Spen Victoria of the Bradford League, were outplayed by Central Yorkshire League side Birstall, for whom Chris Hosley and Eric Austin shared a third-wicket stand of 166 before Paul Blakeley, with eight for 21 in 16 overs, bowled out the holders for 143.

Another CYL side, Woodlands, surprised Huddersfield League champions Meltham by 30 runs, Phil Waker taking eight for 66, while Derbyshire all-rounder Glen Roberts hit 140 and took four for six as Slaithwaite of the Huddersfield League defeated CYL champions Gomersal by 108 runs.

Across the Pennines, there was a close shave for Lancashire KO Trophy holders Westhoughton of the Bolton League, who scraped through against Northern League rivals Leyland Daf on a wicket count.

Liverpool Competition challengers Bootle, runners-up for the last two years, were beaten by Greenmount of the Bolton League, for whom professional Craig Norris hit 57, and Northern League knock-out specialists Chorley crashed to a 91-run defeat against Liverpool side Sefton Park.

Elsewhere, there was a welcome home victory for Accrington in the Lancashire League, their first for two years. New Zealand professional Mark Bailey played a major role in their win over Rishton with 87, five for 39 and five catches.

The prolific Shahid Nawaz hit another century, including four sixes and eight fours, as Ribblesdale Wanderers moved ahead in the Ribblesdale League with a 29-run win over Oswaldtwistle Immanuel and the weekend's top score in the Bradford League came from Yeadon's Neil Elvidge, 153 out of 262 for four against Manningham Mills.

Consett's six-wicket win over Sacriston in the Tyneside Senior League was very much a family affair with teenager Gary Hodgson claiming six for 29 and his father Gordon hitting a vital 40 while Heyside's Melbourne Austin claimed his fourth six-wicket haul of the season in the Saddleworth League, six for 12 against Flowery Field.

Other fine returns included seven for 17 from Wayne Harper for Lostock in the Bolton Association.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)