THREE weeks ago I devoted much of this column to the problems surrounding the glut of fixtures caused by the various knockout competitions in which our clubs and inter-league side take part. Well, folks, you ain't heard nothin' yet!
Sunday, September 9, is the date of the Lyddon Trophy Finals to be held, as always, at Little Lever. It's also the date of the Jake Tatlock Final and, wouldn't you know it, Little Lever's third Team have won through to it and are drawn at home against Westhoughton.
The same Sunday is the date fixed by the LCB for their final of the Thwaites Lancs KO competition at Old Trafford, in which Tonge have reached the semi-final stage. (They are also, incidentally, still involved in the Lyddon Trophy). And, if all that isn't enough, the only occasion on which the MEN Inter-League Final had to be re-arranged, back in 1992, it was re-scheduled for the second Sunday in September, which, this year, falls on, you've guessed it, September 9!
So, just to recap, between tomorrow and whenever, we still have to play five domestic Finals, the MEN final, one outstanding league game between Kearsley and Westhoughton, the LCB final which, hopefully, will feature Tonge, the Under-11 Festival at Walkden, the Under-18 North v South play-off, and the Lyddon Trophy finals.
Might I suggest that you all pray, as you've never prayed in your life before, for a period of fine weather, starting with tomorrow. (As I write, it's pouring down. I've just arrived home from the second of the two Reebok friendlies against the Spanish sides. And we think WE'VE got problems!)
At least the cup semi-final defeat of Egerton at Eagley last Sunday means that Little Lever won't have a Hamer Cup Final to worry about in addition to their problems already mentioned. That will now go ahead at Egerton a week tomorrow as originally planned.
Eagley's semi-final victory was a personal triumph for Shahid Mahboob, whose 7 for 67 and joint top score of 32 played a major role in setting up the final meeting between his previous and present clubs. Mabs now has a seasonal total of 74 wickets, and requires only seven more to break Jack Rogerson's 57-year-old amateur club record.
Martin Seddon, too, contributed more than his fair share to the success. His 32 in Eagley's mid-order showed commendable composure, and went a long way towards ensuring a difficult target for Egerton's brittle batting order, but it was his 2 for 35 from 10 overs and, in particular, his dismissal of deputy pro Callaghan, that finally settled the outcome.
With nine batsmen able to supply only 35 runs to the general cause, far too much rested on the shoulders of Mike Ward and the professional, and once their 68-run partnership was broken, the game was up.
It's perhaps worth remembering that, after nine games had been played, Egerton were sitting quite happily in third place in the table, only having been beaten once. Since then they haven't won a single league match, a set of circumstances which may or may not reflect the off-the-field problems which have weighed so heavily on the club.
Eagley, on the other hand, are currently enjoying themselves. The first team are playing good cricket in mid-table respectability, the 2nd XI are healthily situated in third place, and now both sides have reached their respective cup finals.
In Sunday's Birtwistle Cup semi-final, Eagley's 252 proved far too many for Egerton, 177 too many to be precise. Ian Wilcox and Brent Richards each hit a half-century, and it's that kind of experience that Eagley will be banking on in tomorrow's final in which they take on Heaton, semi-final winners over Tonge by just one run.
Eagley will be looking for a fourth success in the competition, while holders, Heaton, who have ground advantage, will be hoping to win the trophy for the fifth time in the last eight seasons.
The likely outcome of next week's Hamer Cup Final is not easy to forecast. The League table tells us that Westhoughton are favourites, and yet only last Saturday Eagley held the upper hand at the end of the rain-affected draw.
History tells us that Westhoughton have the best record of all the League's clubs when it comes to reaching Hamer finals, something they've managed 18 times, or once every four years since the League was formed. It's when they-get there that the trouble starts! Only five of those finals have been won, whereas Eagley have won all their last three, each of them against a team higher in the table.
Steve Parker and Tim Wallwork, however, won't be interested in history, and quite right too. It's all down to what happens on the day, when a dropped catch here, an unplayable delivery there, or a silly run-out can alter things irretrievably.
The game is given an extra piquancy, too, by the appearance of White and Mahboob, either of whom could have an influence on the result, and both of whom have recently given a whole new meaning to the expression "changing rooms"!
The only previous final meeting between the two clubs provided a game about which I could, if pressed, write two or three pages! Westhoughton 156 - Eagley 104 for 6 with 36 balls to go -- Paul Rimmer -- four x 6s and six x 4s -- Eagley home with five balls to spare!
Of all their eight final defeats, that one must have been the hardest for Westhoughton to take, but take it they did with good grace, at least on the face of things!
And my contributions to the triumph? Went in with the scores level, never faced a ball, nought not out. But, for the first and last time in my life, thanks to Paul Rimmer, I was able to run off a cup final field waving my bat in the air. Happy days!
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article