Denton West had a bitter sweet weekend. After maintaining top spot in Premier 2 on Saturday they were second best in the Derek Kay Cup Final the following day.
A defeat for Denton SL saw them knocked off top spot in Premier 1, but Mottram, with a comprehensive win over Droylsden, still lead Division 1. Welcome wins for Stayley and Flowery Field eased relegation pressure as the season moves into the last six weeks.
Derek Kay Cup Final
Prenier 2 leaders Denton West met Premier 1 leaders Prestwich in the final of the Derek Kay Cup at Bradshaw. West batted first and after a couple of early wickets a fine partnership between sub-pro Akbar ur Rehman and Aaqib Uppal added 113. Rehman, who normally turns out for Walkden ended with 77 and Uppal with 48. West’s progress was halted as they both fell in the 35th over, and despite a couple of useful contributions down the order they totalled 219, which against the high scoring Prestwich team required a fighting performance with the ball.
It wasn’t to be, as an opening stand of 99 between James Warmby and Martin Walters then set the scene for some outstanding hitting from Prestwich sub-pro Shivam Chauhan. The Blackpool man raced to 72 off 33 balls and remained unbeaten as Prestwich won by six wickets with 13 overs to spare. A disappointing day for West but with the Premier 2 title within reach there is plenty to be satisifed with this season.
Denton West 219ao Prestwich 225-4.
Premier 1:
The race for the Premier 1 Division title took another turn with the third leader in as many weeks. Denton SL entered the game heading the table but went down at home to Woodbank. Batting first DSL reached 186ao, probably a little below par, and would have been disappointed after an opening partnership of 91 between Liam Parkinson and Mark Dilnutt, (joint top scorer with 41). Eight wickets then fell for 53 and it was Matt Sonczak, (41) who enabled them to set Woodbank 187 for the win. With Scott Kirwin and pro Neil Hornbuckle taking three wickets each DSL reduced the visitors to 143-7, and looked favourites. However, they took only one more wicket and Woodbank edged home with two balls to spare.
Elsewhere, Glodwick, after a season of struggle, picked up a second notable scalp in two weeks. After beating Clifton the previous week they had a comprehensive victory over Roe Green. The slips by DSL and Roe Green enabled Prestwich, (who scored in excess of 300 for the second consecutive week), to climb to the top. With six weekends left the top four are now separated by only 6 points. DSL face a crucial game this coming Saturday when Prestwich visit Sycamore Park.
Heyside 98ao Moorside 230ao; Egerton 155ao Astley & Tyldesley 158-9; Greenfield 226ao Clifton 227-5; Glodwick 149-5 Roe Green 145ao; Prestwich 341-5 Flixton 205ao; Denton SL 186ao Woodbank 188-8
Premier 2:
Denton West continued their march to the title as they beat Glossop, in a game at North Road, by 57 runs. Middleton pro, James Price standing in for West led the way with 117, and assisted by Aaqib Uppal, (59), they added 154 for the third wicket. West totalled 263ao, with Sam Dyson, (5-43), featuring with the ball for the home team. In the Glossop reply they fell to 91-5, and despite half centuries from both Alex Coates and Joe Moss they fell well short, as Liam Kilburn picked up 4-40. The defeat leaves Glossop in the relegation zone, with Denton West 17 points clear at the top.
Flowery Field had two games over the weekend with differing fortunes. On Saturday they hosted Woodhouses who posted 220-9, (Declan Feakes 5-46). The Flowery reply never got going and it was only 61 runs from the last two weeks that got them to 150ao. A day later it was a different story. Another home game, this time against Monton, who had picked up their first win of the season the previous day. Adam Bardsley, (5-49), starred with the ball as Monton totalled 189ao. Jamie Garde was the mainstay of the Flowery innings. His patient unbeaten 48, (occupying 114 balls), together with an important knock from Nick Eastwood, (30) as the pair put on 77 after they had fallen to 76-4, gave them an important victory. It leaves them in mid-table eight points away from 3rd bottom Glossop.
Glossop 206ao Denton West 263ao; Bradshaw 159-9 Bury 162-9; Monton 289-7 Royton 216ao; Heywood 183-6 Walshaw 68ao; Flowery Field 150ao Woodhouses 220-9; Edgworth 50-3 Stand 49ao; SundayFlowery Field 193-6 Monton 189ao
Championship:
There was a welcome victory for Stayley who visited Heaton, second in the table at the start of the day. Stayley’s innings was interrupted and the game reduced to 38 overs a side. Their total of 203-9 was a challenging target in those circumstances, and they were indebted to Chris Tipper, (48), and Rhys Downend, (48). It was far too many for the home side, as Thiksila de Silva picked up 5-25, and Staley won by 104 runs, (DLS target). Whilst still in the drop zone the win gives Stayley a real chance of escape as it left them level on points with Friarmere and Whalley Range who both lost. Brooksbottom, Shaw and Heaton are in the promotion places.
Elton 200-5 Edenfield 181-9; Uppermill 166-4 Friarmere 164ao; Winton 153-3 Swinton Moorside 149ao; Heaton 101ao Stayley 203-9; Shaw 102-5 Brooksbottom 102ao; Westleigh 172-8 Whalley Range 169ao
Division 1:
Seven days after posting in excess of 400 Droylsden, visiting leaders Mottram, tumbled for 82 in a game which finished very early. Three wickets each for Oliver Andrew, Daniel Brightmore and Ryan Fitton were the key to Droylsden’s undoing, and in reply Fitton made the major contribution finishing with 51 as Mottram won by six wickets. With Stretford going down to Hadfield, Mottram extended their lead at the top to six points and have an 11 point cushion to fourth placed Thornham.
After a poor couple of weeks Dukinfield got back to winning ways and are now third, after a four wicket win at Austerlands. It was Syd de Silva’s day without a doubt. After taking 7-44 as Austerland’s fell for 118 he, (together with Denuwan Dadellage) took Dukinfield to the win. They had fallen to 15-3, but the unbroken partnership of 107, (De Silva 49* and Dadellage 50*), took them home inside 18 overs. De Silva now has 475 runs and 41 wickets and has been a crucial element in Dukinfield’s climb.
Denton enjoyed a more than welcome win after totalling an impressive 291-8 against Oldham. A magnificent fifth wicket partnership of 158 between Alex Beeley, (who finished with an unbeaten 105), and Shahzaib Mazhar, (85), was the feature of the Denton innings. Oldham started well in reply, reaching 117-2 with 33 overs left and the game was in the balance. However, Jamie Walker stepped up and his 6-57 left Oldham 96 short at the end. With Milnrow looking doomed, the race to escape the drop looks a close run thing, with the seven clubs immediately above them separated by only 16 points. Two of those will be relegated.
Hadfield’s impressive seson continued as they saw off title chasing Stretford. Having dismissed the hosts for 147, (Bobby Hirst with 5-42 making it 32 wickets for the season), Hadfield took their time eventually winning by three wickets with 10 balls remaining. Hirst top scored with 38. Hadfield are now in fifth place only seven points adrift of Dukinfield and a strong run in could see them playing in the Championship in 2022.
Golborne 101-4 SW Manchester 99ao; Austerlands 118ao Dukinfield 122-3; Milnrow 184ao Prestwich 2nd XI 215ao; Mottram 86-4 Droylsden 82ao; Denton 291-8 Oldham 195ao; Stretford 147ao Hadfield SA 148-7; Adlington 70ao Thornham 228-8
Division 2A:
Deane & Derby 230-8 Daisy Hill 153ao; Stand 2nd XI 45ao Tottington SJ 160ao; Roe Green 2nd XI 111-2 Irlam 110ao; Hindley SP 225ao Worsley 182-9; Radcliffe 75ao East Lancs PM 43ao
Division 2B:
Micklehurst’s great run continued as they saw off Glodwick 2nd XI with ease, and with Saddleworth’s game against Denton SL 2nd XI being postponed they climbed within 10 points of the leaders. Glodwick were reduced to 93ao as Jake Caudwell led the way with 4-36. It took only 13 overs for them to reach the target. Werneth have had a great run as well, and now stand second and Micklehurst’s hopes of getting in into the title race rest on a crucial game against the Coppice team this coming weekend.
Ashton went down again, after conceding 274-5 to hosts Denton West 2nd XI. There were half centuries for Matt Burton, Jamie Williams and Leighton Derby. Ashton’s reply faltered from the start and they finished well short, losing by 142 runs.
Saddleworth P-P Denton SL 2nd XI; Whalley Range 2nd XI 117-4 Wythenshawe 116ao; Micklehurst 95-4 Glodwick 2nd XI 93ao; Littleborough Lakeside 104ao Werneth 107-2; Springhead 153ao Glossop 2nd XI 223ao; Denton West 2nd XI 274-5 Ashton 132ao
Division 3E:
Hadfield SA 2nd XI 180-7 Newton Heath 143ao; Oldham 2nd XI 207-8 Flowery Field 2nd XI 82ao; Werneth 2nd XI 160-9 Heywood 2nd XI 116ao; Dukinfield 2nd XI 147ao Greenfield 2nd XI 148-8; Friarmere 2nd XI 311-5 Mottram 2nd XI 73ao; Moorside 2nd XI 104-4 Friends United 101ao
Division 4E:
Ashton 2nd XI 92ao Springhead 2nd XI 93-3; Stayley 2nd XI 138ao Denton 2nd XI 141-4; Droylsden 2nd XI P-P Ashton Ladysmith; Failsworth Macedonia 132-6 Saddleworth 2nd XI 131ao: Blackley 125ao Austerlands 2nd XI 127-3
***
This weeks fixtures
Premier 1: Roe Green v Greenfield; Clifton v Egerton; Astley & Tyldesley v Heyside; Woodbank v Heyside; Denton SL v Prestwich; Flixton v Glodwick
Premier 2: Walshaw v Monton; Royton v Bradshaw; Bury v Glossop; Stand v Denton West; Edgworth v Flowery Field; Woodhouses v Heyood; Sunday: Heywood v Glossop
Championship: Stayley v Winton; Swinton Moorside v Uppermill; Friarmere v Elton; Whalley Range v Edenfield; Westleigh v Shaw; Brroksbottom v Heaton; Sunday: Uppermill v Elton; Friarmere v Stayley
Division 1: Prestwich 2nd XI v Stretford; Hadfield SA v Golborne; Thornham v SW Manchester; Oldham v Mottram; Adlington v Milnrow; Austerlands v Denton; Dukinfield v Droylsden
Division 2A: Worsley v Roe Green 2nd XI; Irlam v Stand 2nd XI; Tottington SJ v Deane & Derby; East Lancs PM v Daisy Hill; Elton 2nd XI v Hindley SP
Division 2B: Glossop 2nd XI v Littleborough Lakeside; Werneth v Micklehurst; Glodwick 2nd XI v Whalley Range; Wythenshawe v Saddleworth; Ashton v Denton SL 2nd XI; Denton West 2nd XI v Springhead
Division 3E: Greenfield 2nd XI v Werneth 2nd XI; Heywood 2nd XI v Oldham 2nd XI; Flowery Field 2nd XI v Hadfield SA 2nd XI; Friends United v Newton Heath; Moorside v Newton Heath; Moorside 2nd XI v Friarmere 2nd XI; Mottram 2nd XI v Dukinfield 2nd XI
Division 4E: Droylsden 2nd XI v Stayley 2nd XI; Denton 2nd XI v Ashton 2nd XI; Springhead 2nd XI v Woodhouses 2nd XI; Blackley v Failsworth Macedonia; Saddleworth 2nd XI v Ashton Ladysmith
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