Senior Season Review 2023
As the nights draw in and the rain knocks menacingly on the window, get yourself a cup of Horlicks and settle in for a breezy foray through the fortunes of our four senior teams during the 2023 season.
First Team
2023 saw a new era for the 1st XI as Ryan Fitton replaced Stefan Fielding as Skipper, with Stefan remaining in the ranks.
The new era got off to a fine start with Bury and Saddleworth defeated to make it two wins from the first two completed games, Skipper Ryan and Danny in particularly strong form with the ball.
The early season pitches were relatively hard work given the awful weather and defeats to Woodhouses and Edenfield slowed the early momentum.
June and July were set-up to be crucial months that would define the season and the 1st XI responded admirably, winning 7 on the bounce to go from middle table obscurity to firmly in the promotion hunt.
The pesky weather returned to haunt us as games versus Dukinfield and Woodhouses were washed out. It left the team needing an unlikely sequence of results at various grounds in the final weeks to achieve promotion and eventually they fell just short.
It’s testament to the players that they maintained the promotion charge right up until the final two games of the season. A couple of results going the other way, and we would be talking about Premier League cricket in 2024.
Ultimately, they finished fourth in the Championship, an improvement on last year, and we all harbour ambitions for another shot at promotion next year.
Second Team
The 2nd XI was also under new management, with Phillip Sunday Rowston stepping up to lead the side.
Much like last season, they set off like a train in the first half of the season.
Shaw were narrowly beaten in a Liam Wright led thriller and top of the shop Springhead were defeated at home. Other convincing wins against Saddleworth and Greenfield left the 2s well in the promotion mix as the key months of July and August beckoned.
However, in the second half of the season holidays and rain took their toll on momentum and there were only 2 further wins, and it was lucky the business had been done in the first half of the season.
Ultimately, they finished 8th in Division 4 East. With a settled side and some more consistent batting performances, there is no reason the side can’t finish in the top half next season.
Third Team
The Third Team, ably led by Sam Smith, struggled to name consistent sides and play consistent games, seeing 7 of their 18 matches abandoned without result.
Weeks 1,2 and 3 of the season were all washed out with games never looking close to being completed. When the action did finally get underway they faced two of the stronger sides in the division (Whalley Range and DSL) and found themselves putting in strong bowling performances but unable to chase down the totals set.
A low-scoring victory at Droylsden got them off the mark before the sun came out at Ashton Ladysmith where Mottram won after posting an imperious 291.
When DSL were beaten in the return fixture it looked like a late season charge may well be possible, but the rain had its’ say once again and cancelled 3 fixtures in a row.
The 3s placed seventh in the GMCL Sunday Division 2 East & Central. As with the Second Team, there is plenty of promise for the Third team in 2024, if they can get a settled side and have a bit of luck with the weather.
Fourth Team
In 2021, the team won one game.
In 2022, the team won eight games.
In 2023, the team had a near perfect league season, losing only two games, finishing as champions!
A good start to the 4s first ever league season was key, and the weather hit pitches were a perfect foil for a strong bowling attack.
Chapel, Broadbottom, High Line and Bredbury were all dismissed for relatively low scores as the 4s won their first 4 games. As the weather improved and the pitches flattened, the batting improved sufficiently to get past Birch Vale before a mid-season break.
New Mills created some real tension in the title race by comfortably defeating us at their ground, but the 4s eventually regained their composure and secured the league title.
This is testament to Sam Bennett and all of those who have played in the Fourth Team. Many of them are juniors, who have come on leaps and bounds.
Women’s Team
Ever year there seems to be one day of the week which is particularly hard hit by the weather. Sadly, for the Women’s Team it was their Gameday on Tuesdays which got absolutely hammered.
Early season form was good with away wins at Old Glossop and New Mills meaning 2 wins from the first 3. Charlesworth and Buxton were the runaway leaders last season and the team targeted these as must win games. Hampered by big gaps between games due to the precipitation situation, both games were lost narrowly. Buxton snook home by just 4 runs.
Only one further league game was possible, a comprehensive dismantling of Hayfield, before attention turned to one-off weekend tournaments.
The side placed 6th in the Derbyshire & Cheshire Softball league, and I’m sure they will come again next year.
Over 40’s
The Over 40s are also largely Tuesday based and so spent a large chunk of their season moving the covers on and off.
Alan Swann continued his crusade to make the Mankad socially acceptable by deploying it in every over he bowled.
The undoubted highlight of the season was an Over 40s v Chairman’s Select XI fixture in which the Over 40s were narrowly beaten by a hastily assembled motley crew of League Chairman, Sunday Cricketers and a Stalybridge based MC.
As ever, after each game there was a feast and a beer shared. Thank you, Alan Swann, for leading and organising the O40’s and to Janis and Justine for the food!
