Well, another season done!

On Monday gone, Groundsman Ashley was putting to bed the 2022 season, under a three-tonne blanket made of loam. (Thank you to the helpers, you spread your load excellently).

For the Saturday sides, it was a case of job done, with both the First & Second teams retaining their status in the Championship and Third Division respectively. For both sides perhaps, it may have been a case of what might have been, with plenty of promise of more, in spells throughout the season.

For the First Team, it represents a real achievement to finish 7th out of 12 teams, in what was a real step up in quality from 2021. Hampered by visa related delays with the Home Office for the club’s first ever professional, Tafadzwa Tsiga, it meant tackling half of the season without him. Once everyone found their feet however, the results came, and safety was secured with a win against Stretford on the penultimate weekend of the season. 10 wins, 12 defeats. 22 games… no rain offs! Certainly not something that has happened in recent memory.

Once the Second Team found their feet in April, a hot streak of 6 wins followed, before blowing hot and cold for the remainder of the season. An original task of avoiding the bottom four was ultimately achieved, finishing 8th of 12 teams. In the end, the relegation goal posts were moved and only one team went down. A league restructure will mean some new teams next year, and perhaps a new division name, but it will be the same good standard of cricket once more.

The Third Team had a disjointed season in their regionalised league, stopping and starting, 3 weeks on, 3 weeks off, and some poor weather too. Finishing 4th from 6 in Sunday Central, 5 wins and 5 draws. Next season will see the side enter the Sunday pyramid, the next stage in development for the thirds, and see them with a fixture on most Sundays throughout the season. They did provide a hungover yet raucous patio with an absolutely thrilling end to the season, taking their final game in the damp and gloom going to the final over, before sealing a great win.

The Fourth Team have been a revelation, playing whenever the Skipper could squeeze in a fixture, often in deepest Cheshire. To win 8 of their 16 games was a superb result compared with their 1 win in 2021. The progression of junior cricketers into the Third Team has been brilliant, and has shown what the Fourth’s is there to do, providing a clear pathway. From next season, the Fourth Team will take a place in the Derbyshire & Cheshire Development League, playing competitive cricket for the first time, travelling to meet some old friends too.

Winter Training

In the most efficent thing we've ever done, we've already booked winter training sessions!

Sessions will start on Thursday 12th January at Total Cricket in Ashton, running 19:00 while 20:00 every week until 6th April.

Members - Free

Non-Members - £5