Top Ten League Teams of the Year

TEN TEAMS OF THE YEAR

WALLASEY (Liverpool Competition) The Liverpool Competition side became the first club to retain the Quinn Foden Cheshire Cup when they beat Comp rivals New Brighton in the final on their own ground in September. The last two Chehire County sides, Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall, were knocked out in the semi-finals to produce an all-Liverpool contest. The final was not quite as close as last year's last ball six to win; this time there were three balls to spare.

ROCHDALE (Central Lancashire League) Rochdale's strength in depth was demonstrated as they dominated the Central Lancashire League at all levels; only the Wood Cup eluded them. With the 1st and 2nd XIs as League Champions and the 2nd XI cup winners, they also took home the Aggregate Trophy. Needing to win the last match of the season, They did so in style, beating Oldham by nine wickets to clinch the title by one point from Littleborough.

TONGE (Bolton League) The Bolton League season finished just as it had in 1998, Tonge again edging Westhoughton into second place. Again professional spinner Iqbal Sikander took over 100 wickets, finishing with 120 and opening partner, paceman Ian Taylor, taking 79 wickets. Simon Anderton's team have now won the title four years in succession; who would bet against five in a row?

MONTON & WEASTE (Manchester Association) Following the sad demise of Weaste in the winter of 1997/98, the nucleus of what had once been a strong club moved across Salford and joined forces with Monton. A change of name for this season heralded a change of fortune as the club progressed through the rounds of the L.C.B.Cup to the semi-finals. Although in the first half of the season M&W missed out on the President's Trophy, level points but one fewer win than Wythenshawe, they made no mistake in the second half to win the Stockton Trophy. Naveed Din was the backbone of the side with 1000 runs and 70 wickets but there was strong support from brother Nafees, Maz Saeed, Jason Maddox, Chris Higgs and former Weaste stalwarts Brian Hammond, Ray Hulme and Keith Livesley.

GLOSSOP (Lancashire County League) Derbyshire side Glossop maintained an uncanny tradition in the Lancashire County League by retaining their title. Denton were champions in 1994 and 1995, Denton West in 1996 and 1997, and now Glossop in 1998 and 1999. Glossop's success was founded on a strong batting line-up, including John Stocks, Chris Rowbottom, Jon Mays and Greg Harwick, and backed up by the bowling of Andrew Dyson, Damian Eyre and Peter Hemmings.

NELSON (Lancashire League) Roger Harper, the West Indian all-rounder, was once again instrumental in Nelson winning the Lancashire League. His 105 wickets and 895 runs led Nelson to victory 21 times in the 26 match programme. Although the professional did the lion's share of the bowling, he received excellent support from Paul Geraghty, Duncan Spencer and Craig Walton, who all topped 500 runs for the season.

OCKBROOK & BORROWASH (Derbyshire Premier League) Dave Hallack's side were picked as one of our Teams of the Year last season, having won the Derbyshire County League and Cup. Their success continued with the formation of the Derbyshire Premier League, becoming inaugural champions. And they won the Derbyshire Building Society cup, The Jackson Cup and the Butterley Cup as well to complete a Cup Treble.

PADIHAM (Ribblesdale League) Another tight finish to the season saw Padiham retain their Ribblesdale League title by just two points. It's often said that to retain a championship is harder than winning it the first time, and Padiham would not disagree with that statement. Lancashire batsman Mark Harvey took advantage of his limited county opportunities to score over 1000 runs as professional for his club and retiring allrounder Stephen Gee signed off with another championship medal.

BIRKENHEAD SCHOOL A final at Headingley was Birkenhead's reward for their progress in the National Under 13 Calypso Cup. Over 1200 schools entered the competition, which demonstrates that cricket at secondary school level isn't quite as extinct as some would contend. Birkenhead's opponents in the final were Millfield from Somerset, a famous school with a glowing sporting reputation. Skipper Simon Stokes led the way with a superb 107 in his side's 199-7 in 35 overs, a target Millfield chased confidently. Tight bowling and fielding kept Birkenhead in front and Millfield's innings closed four runs short.

MACCLESFIELD (Cheshire County League) Macclesfield came from just making the cut at the end of last season, when the top 12 sides came to form the new Premier League, to finishing on top of the pile at the end of this season. Simon Ackerley's side, though leaning heavily on Aussie Ian Wrigglesworth who took 70 wickets and scored 1200 runs, had the experience of players such as Stewart Garnett and Steve Moores to guide them home. Having won the league, the Double was completed the next day by winning the Fred Graham Cup, beating league runners-up Oxton.