Ribblesdale League: Fielding heads for pastures new (28 Aug 1998)

28 August 1998

Fielding heads for pastures new

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Jonathan Fielding is looking to sign off in style with a century of wickets after confirming that he is leaving Clitheroe to play for Walshaw in the Bolton Association next season.

The Clitheroe professional needs just one more victim at Whalley tomorrow to become only the second player since the World War II to reach the 100 mark twice.

Fielding is already one of only three players in the post-war era to take 100 wickets in a season, having passed the milestone two years ago.

And he admitted that reaching it again would be a special moment.

"The weather this summer has helped and the ball has turned but I am quite proud of the achievement.

"I am hoping to get 110 or 112 wickets which would put me up there in the top five or six of all time and I would be really pleased about that," he said.

The slow left-armer must have been anticipating a celebratory drink last Saturday but the champagne was put on ice by team-mate Mick Dewhurst.

Fielding explained: "I needed four for the 100 and got the first three but then Mick took the next seven which meant I had to wait. We had a bit of a laugh about it afterwards." Clitheroe, who have won nine straight games, haven't given up hope of pinching the Ribblesdale League title and Fielding is confident of picking up maximum points in their final three games against Whalley, Settle and Blackburn Northern.

But they would need leaders Padiham to lose twice and Fielding stressed a more realistic target is to try and ensure finishing above town rivals Ribblesdale Wanderers.

"We will never live it down otherwise," he added. "After finishing second last year it looks as though we might be second or third this time and it's a bit disappointing not to have won the league or a cup, especially with me leaving.

"But they have a great side down there and if they get a decent pro I am sure they will continue to do well."

Fielding, who plays Minor Counties cricket for Cumberland, has spent four years as the paid man at Chatburn Road but feels the time is right for a change of scene.

"I feel I want to play in a different league against some different players, even if it's just for one or two seasons," he said.

"I have had a great time at Clitheroe and enjoyed myself immensely but I had some offers and the opportunity to play in another league.

"It's about the same standard so it's not a step up but it's just a change of faces and I will always think about coming back to the Ribblesdale League because I have enjoyed it so much." Second-placed Ribblesdale Wanderers, who continue their title challenge at Baxenden, will have prolific batsman Shahid Nawaz back at Church Meadow as professional next season.

Nawaz is currently the leading run-getter in the league with over 1,200 runs in the bag and skipper Terry Braithwaite is delighted to have secured his services for another year.

"After the wet pitches we have had this year, it's frightening to think what will happen if we have some dry wickets," said Braithwaite, who believes his young side will continue to be a force after pushing Padiham all the way this season.

He added: "We said at the start of the season we wanted to finish in the top six and now we are looking at the top four minimum.

"We are not giving up but if Padiham keep winning they will win the title."

Tomorrow's fixtures: Baxenden v Ribblesdale W, Earby v Blackburn N, Edenfield v Oswaldtwistle I, Padiham v Barnoldswick, Read v Great Harwood, Settle v Cherry Tree, Whalley v Clitheroe.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)