Cheshire Senior League Cricket - 2006

CHESHIRE  SENIOR  LEAGUE  CRICKET – 2006

1.  INTRODUCTION

 

The Cheshire Clubs’ Cricket Committee was formed by the Cheshire County Board to look after Senior Recreational Cricket in Cheshire.  Under its auspices the three main independent Cheshire based leagues, the Cheshire County Cricket League, the Cheshire Cricket League and the Cheshire Cricket Alliance, linked together in 2000 to form the Cheshire Integrated League Structure, while each body is administered separately by its own Officers. The 2006 season was the seventh year in which the system had been operational. Each season promotion and relegation has taken place between the nine 1st XI Divisions, including between the Cheshire County League and the Cheshire Cricket League and between the Cheshire Cricket League and the Cheshire Cricket Alliance. Two clubs have been promoted and relegated between each adjacent pair of divisions, except when clubs have entered or withdrawn from the Structure, leaving the number of teams in each division to be adjusted, or once in 2005, when a club which had earned promotion to the league above, was not considered to have had facilities, which were acceptable to what would have been their new league.

 

Of the 130 affiliated Cheshire Clubs, 102 play in the Integrated League Structure and the Committee would like to acknowledge the continued work and co-operation of the three leagues in ensuring the smooth running of the System. The Cheshire Alliance deserves a special mention for accepting and dealing with the problems caused by the continually varying number of clubs within the System. The large majority of the other 28 Cheshire affiliated clubs play in cross-border leagues.

 

To give an accurate a picture of Cheshire Club cricket as a possible, this report is not only on the Cheshire Integrated League Structure, but on how Cheshire clubs performed in these cross-border leagues and for the first time contains news of Womens’ league cricket in Cheshire.

2.        CHESHIRE INTEGRATED STRUCTURE - 2006

The following sections show the final league tables for the 2006 season and list alphabetically the clubs, which will be in each division for the 2007 Season.

2.1     CD Bramall Trucks Cheshire County Cricket League

The following tables show the final positions attained by the Clubs in each division of the Cheshire County Cricket League in the 2006 Season.

2.1.1   ECB Premier League

The early leaders in the Premier League table in 2006 were Bowdon, who took maximum points from their first three matches, with newly promoted Birkenhead Park in second place, ahead of Hyde and Oulton Park. By the end of May, Bowdon were 17 points clear of Hyde, Widnes moving up to third place as Birkenhead Park dropped down the table. Bowdon then lost their next three games and Hyde took over top position with Widnes close behind them. Oulton Park, the 2005 Champions had however begun a run of eight wins in nine matches, which took them from fourth to first by the end of July. Hyde were still just 7 points behind them and the Championship was beginning to become a two horse race as the remaining teams dropped back. The position remained the same by mid-August, following the cancellation of Oulton Park’s visit to Hyde and two further wins for the leaders stretched the gap to 19 points when Hyde drew at home to Bramhall on the penultimate Saturday of the season. A final win, their sixteenth, for Oulton Park on the final day of the season, saw them retain the Premiership League title and finish the season unbeaten. Hyde ended 31 points behind them as runners-up and had also had a fine season with just one defeat.

 

In the early weeks of the season, newly promoted Bramhall, with Toft and Oxton formed the bottom three clubs in the table and so it remained until early July. Then two wins for Toft moved them up into mid-table and Birkenhead Park dropped down to tenth position. These three remained in the relegation zone until the end of the season, Bramhall replaced Birkenhead Park in tenth place and drew slowly away over the last quarter to avoid relegation, despite a win for Birkenhead Park over Bowdon on the last day of the season.

In the League 1st XI Twenty/20 Knockout three out of the four teams to play on finals day were from the Premier League. Alderley Edge played very well to defeat Hyde in the semi-finals, while Oxton beat Mobberley from Division 2.

Alderley Edge then became worthy winners of the Fred Graham Trophy with a comfortable win over Oxton. 

Oulton Park also retained the Cheshire Cup but were given a real fright in the final by Hyde, being reduced to 52-6 before recovering to score 212-8 to win by two wickets. The beaten semi-finalists were Neston and Poynton from Division 1, who lost to Hyde and Oulton Park, repectively

2.1.2   Division 1

Chester Boughton Hall, newly demoted from the Premier League and Urmston, who narrowly missed promotion to that League in 2005, set the pace at the top of Division 1, each winning their first three matches. By the end of May Urmston had a 13 point lead over Chester, with Poynton also relegated in 2005, twenty points further back. Chester Boughton Hall then won five of their next six games to go 14 points ahead of Urmston by mid-season, Poynton remaining third. These three teams remained clear of the rest for the remainder of the season, but Poynton were unable to close the gap on the other two. Urmston went ahead temporarily in late July, before Chester re-established a lead. Both were promoted with one match left to play and Chester Boughton Hall won for the fifteenth time on the last Saturday to clinch the title by 39 points and ensure a quick return to the Premier League.

 

Heaton Mersey and Alsager started the season slowly and filled the two bottom places in early May. While both escaped to finish in mid-table, Winnington Park and Cheadle Hulme dropped down to finish in the relegation places, while the two teams promoted to Division 1 for 2007, Timperley and Bollington, finished just above the relegation zone.

2.1.3   Division 2

In Division 2 Sale started the season with five wins in their first six fixtures, storming into a clear lead, but by late May Upton, who had been relegated to Division 2 in 2005 were closing up in pursuit. In mid-June the top six teams were covered by 14 points, Sale leading with Bredbury St Marks and Upton their closest challengers. Bredbury took the lead half way through the season, 15 points ahead of Upton and these two stayed in the promotion places for the rest of the season, without being able to pull away from the chasing pack. With four matches to play Bredbury St Marks held a narrow 5 point lead, then after the penultimate Saturday, Upton had a 10 point advantage with both teams sure of promotion. Each lost their remaining fixture away from home, with Upton performing the better and claiming the Division 2 title by a margin of 21 points.    

 

The other side relegated to Division 2 in 2005, Warrington, started the season in the bottom three with Congleton and Burnage, but by early June an improvement in form saw them move up the table to be replaced by Brooklands. By early July Malpas, promoted from the Cheshire Cricket League in 2005, had displaced Burnage in tenth position and then as Congleton put together a good run of results, dropped into the relegation places, while Brooklands, a founder member of the League, became isolated at the foot of the table. This was how the season finished with Malpas returning to the Cheshire Cricket League after a single season, accompanied by Brooklands.

In the League 1st XI Twenty/20 Knockout, Mobberley had belied their League position by reaching the semi-finals, before being beaten by premier league side Oxton. Upton and Brooklands contested one semi-final of the Cheshire Shield, Upton winning, but then losing to Hale Barns in the final.      

2.1.4    Cheshire County Cricket League - 2007

Promotion and relegation of two teams between each of the three divisions of the Cheshire County League and between the Cheshire County League and the Cheshire Cricket League, means that the composition of the three divisions of the Cheshire County League in 2007 will be:-

 

          Cheshire Premier League                                        Division 1                                                            Division 2

    1. Alderley Edge                                                      1. Alsager                                                             1. Burnage

    2. Bowdon                                                               2. Birkenhead Park                                              2. Cheadle Hulme

    3. Bramhall                                                             3. Bollington                                                        3. Congleton

    4. Chester Boughton Hall                                       4. Bredbury St Marks                                           4. Grappenhall

    5. Christleton                                                          5. Cheadle                                                            5. Hale Barns

    6. Hyde                                                                   6. Didsbury                                                          6. Irby

    7. Nantwich                                                            7. Heaton Mersey                                                 7. Middlewich

    8. Neston                                                                8. Macclesfield                                                     8. Mobberley

    9. Oulton Park                                                       9. Oxton                                                               9.  Sale

  10. Toft                                                                  10. Poynton                                                          10. Tattenhall

  11. Urmston                                                           11. Timperley                                                       11. Warrington

  12. Widnes                                                             12. Upton                                                             12. Winnington Park

2.2  Meller Braggins Cheshire Cricket League

 

The following tables show the final positions of the clubs in each division of the Cheshire Cricket League in 2006.

2.2.1.   Division 1

Tattenhall relegated from the Cheshire County League in 2005, took an early lead in Division 1 with three wins from their first four matches, with the newly promoted teams, Cholmondeley and Alvanley, in pursuit. By early June Tattenhall had only one more victory, but were still leading from Runcorn, and Hale Barns were also in the leading pack of five teams covered by just 14 points. A run of four consecutive wins then took Tatenhall thirty points clear by mid-season, with Hale Barns in second place and the rest falling back. Tatttenhall kept their advantage over Hale Barns and in early August, Davenham moved into second place. Davenham then dropped out of the picture again and with one match left to play both Tattenhall and Hale Barns were sure of promotion. Both won their final matches with Tattenhall finishing as Champions by a margin of 23 points. After these two, the next eight teams finished in a tight bunch within a range of fifty points and of those Stockport Georgians finished third for the second season in a row. Thus Tattenhall will return to the Cheshire County League for 2007 after just one season in Division 1.

 

The bottom three sides after four weeks of the season were Prestbury, the 2005 Champions, Marple and Weaverham, all without a win. The latter two still filled the bottom places with a third of the season gone, Prestbury and Wilmslow being just above them. Marple claimed three wins in early July to break away from the relegation zone, with Oakmere dropping down to tenth place, just ahead of Weaverham and Wilmslow. Wilmslow were being left behind at the bottom of the table by the following month, with Runcorn and Prestbury just clear of the bottom two. Those two clubs claimed wins in the next few weeks, which meant that Weaverham and Wilmslow were both relegated before the final Saturday. Weaverham won their final match to finish 49 points ahead of Wilmslow.  

 

Strangely in 2006, not one team from Division 1 reached even the semi-finals of the League 1st XI Twenty/20 Competition. However outside the League Hale Barns did well in the Cheshire Shield and beat Old Parkonians from Division 3 in the semi-final. They hosted the final against Upton and won an exciting low scoring match by seven runs.

2.2.2.   Division 2

Lymm Oughtrington Park showed good early season form in Division 2 going top of the table with three wins in four games, ahead of Pott Shrigley and Ashton-on-Mersey, who had been promoted from Division 3 at the end of 2005. With a third of the season gone Lymm were equal third with Ashley, behind Pott Shrigley and Ashton-on-Mersey. By early July, Ashley had taken over at the top with Ashton-on-Mersey dropping to second, closely followed by Pott Shrigley. However Ashley then dropped back, Ashton-on-Mersey taking over at the head of the table, followed by Pott Shrigley with Winsford moving up to third. A win over Pott Shrigley on the penultimate Saturday of the season, clinched the Division 2 title for Ashton-on-Mersey, while Ashley recovered with a couple of wins in the closing weeks to take the second promotion place. Thus Ashton-on-Mersey and Ashley both gained promotion for the second year in a row.

Both sides relegated from Division 1 in 2005, Mere and Barrow, began the season slowly and with Barnton and Wirral just below them filled the bottom four places in mid-May. By early July Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge had dropped down through the table to tenth and Mere and Barrow had both pulled up into the middle of the division. August found Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge losing contact at the bottom of the table, while Wirral tried unsuccessfully to catch up with Bowdon Vale who were now tenth. By the last Saturday, Wirral still had a chance to avoid relegation and a good win over Barnton would have put them in with a chance had Bowdon Vale not responded with a win over Mere, to ensure their Division 2 status for another year. Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge finished tailed off almost seventy points behind Wirral at the foot of the table

 

Two teams from Division 2 won through to the semi-finals of the League 1st XI Twenty/20 Competition. Of these Lymm Oughtrington Park lost their match against Over Peover from Division 3, while Mere beat Castrol, also from Division 3. Mere therefore went through to play Over Peover in the final at Davenham, when the leaders of Division 3 won by 22 runs.

2.2.3   Division 3

Chelford promoted from the Cheshire Alliance in 2005, went straight to the head of Division 3 by mid-May, closely followed by Old Parkonians and Stretton. However Chelford and Stretton then dropped back and by early June, Old Parkonians had gone top followed by Castrol, Alderley Park and Over Peover. Over Peover and Offerton then each had a turn at the top, before by late July, Offerton, Over Peover, Alderley Park and Chelford were bunched within 19 points of each other. With four weeks to go, Over Peover led by 6 points from Chelford, with Northwich, the other newly promoted side showing briefly in third place. On the penultimate Saturday, Over Peover, Offerton, Alderley Park and Chelford all won, putting Over Peover top, 9 points ahead of Offerton, who were a single point ahead of Alderley Park in third place. The final day saw Over Peover ensure the title with a maximum points win over Holmes Chapel, but while Offerton took 22 points from beating Castrol, Alderley Park grabbed 23 points against Lindow and drew level with Offerton on points. Alderley Park then claimed the second promotion place because while both sides had won eleven matches, they had lost only three, to four by Offerton.

 

The bottom three teams early in the season were Port Sunlight, Knutsford and Holmes Chapel, the last having been relegated from Division 2 in 2005. By mid-season they were falling behind the rest, Stretton in eighth position, being some 45 points ahead of Knutsford and Port Sunlight, with Holmes Chapel a further 14 points adrift. Knutsford then won three of their next six matches, while Port Sunlight won two, leaving Holmes Chapel 25 points behind. In the closing weeks Knutsford just managed to stay ahead of Port Sunlight by 8 points, leaving them to be relegated to the Cheshire Alliance with Holmes Chapel for 2007.

Over Peover and Castrol belied their league positions by winning through to the semi-finals of the League 1st XI Twenty/20 Competition and Over Peover went on to win the Competition, to add to their Division 3 title.

 

2.2.4   Meller Braggins Cheshire Cricket League - 2007

Promotion and relegation of two teams between each of the third to seventh divisions of the Cheshire Integrated League Structure, including between the Cheshire County League and the Cheshire Cricket League, and the Cheshire Cricket League and the Cheshire Alliance, means that the composition of the three divisions of the Cheshire Cricket League in 2007 will be:-

 

                Division 1                                                               Division 2                                                            Division 3             

           1. Ashley                                                                 1. Alderley Park                                                    1. Castrol  

           2. Ashton-on-Mersey                                               2. Barnton                                                            2. Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge

           3. Alvanley                                                              3. Barrow                                                              3. Chelford

           4. Brooklands                                                          4. Bowdon Vale                                                    4. Chester County Officers

           5. Cholmondeley                                                      5. Lymm Oughtrington Park                               5. Knutsford             

           6. Davenham                                                            6. Mere                                                                6. Lindow

           7. Malpas                                                                 7. Over Peover                                                     7. Northwich

           8. Marple                                                                 8. Pott Shrigley                                                    8. Offerton

           9. Oakmere                                                              9. Trafford Metrovicks                                         9. Old Parkonians

         10. Prestbury                                                           10. Weaverham                                                     10. Stretton 

         11. Runcorn                                                             11. Wilmslow                                                        11. Wirral

         12. Stockport Georgians                                          12. Winsford                                                         12. Wistaston Village                 

 

 

 

2.3  Cheshire Building Society Cricket Alliance

 

The following tables show the final positions of the clubs in each division of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance in 2006.

2.3.1           Division 1

In the Cheshire Cricket Alliance Division 1, Kingsley, Aston and Wistaston Village each won three of their first four matches of the 2006 season and with Ellesmere Port formed the leading bunch in mid-May. Bunbury then came through to take over the lead in June, but Kingsley and Wistaston were only a few points behind them. Halfway through the season, Kingsley had fallen back and Chester County Officers lead from Wistaston and Woodford. Things were still very tight in early August with four points covering the first three clubs, Wistaston, Woodford and Chester County Officers, while Bunbury were a further six points back in fourth place. With two games to go, Chester had stolen a 9 point lead over Wistaston Village, but they then lost at Kingsley, while Wistaston won at home to Aston and took a four point advantage into the last round of matches. Both teams took twenty points from those games ensuring their promotion to the Cheshire Cricket League for 2007 and leaving Wistaston Village as Champions. Of the two clubs promoted from Division 2 in 2005, Stalybridge St Pauls finished a creditable third, while Hartford was seventh.

 

After four weeks of the season Norbury and Sandbach were bottom of Division 1, without a win between them. There they remained until early August, with Norbury, who were relegated from the Cheshire Cricket League in 2005, being tailed off by some thirty points. Sandbach were then close behind Ellesmere Port and Radbroke Hall and with two weeks of the season left, Ellesmere Port dropped into the relegation zone in place of Sandbach. Two further defeats in their last two fixtures then meant that Ellesmere Port will be relegated to Division 2 in 2007, along with Norbury.

 

Hartford was the only Division 1 team to reach the semi-finals of the Alliance 1st XI Knockout in 2006. There they took on Division 3 opposition in Rylands, newcomers to the League in 2006, and although totalling 151, were beaten by six wickets. The other semi-final was between the Division 2 sides, Disley and Grange, Disley winning comfortably by 8 wickets. In a fine final Rylands batted first making 171-9 in their 40 overs, but Disley responded well winning in an exciting climax by 1 wicket with seven balls to spare.

2.3.2    Division 2

Early season leaders in Division 2 were Appleton and Glazebury, with Frodsham and Disley close on their heels. By mid-June, Disley had a seven point lead with the same four sides still forming the leading group. Glazebury then dropped back and Styal, relegated from Division 1 in 2005, making a brief appearance in the top four by the halfway point of the season. By the beginning of August the title race had become more open, Appleton leading Disley by 22 points, with Frodsham a further 28 points behind in third spot. During the next four weeks, Appleton stretched their lead by a further ten points, while Frodsham closed up to just 9 points behind Disley. The penultimate Saturday saw Disley and Appleton both finish with winning draws, but a maximum points win for Frodsham meant that they moved up to just one point behind Disley. Appleton however had secured the title and promotion. On the final Saturday, Frodsham again took maximum points and although Disley won they could only get 20 points on batting second, thus leaving Frodsham to move into second place and clinch promotion. Disley can however take some consolation from their win in the Alliance 1st XI Cup competition.

 

Eastham and Audlem, the latter newly promoted from Division 3, were the bottom two teams in the table after four weeks and they were still there as the first half of the season ended, some thirty points behind Wilmslow Wayfarers and Saughall above them. Wilmslow Wayfarers’ form then improved and they moved well clear into mid-table, but Eastham and Audlem remained firmly on the bottom until the end of the season and will be relegated to Division 3 next season.

 

	P	Wbf	Wbs	D	Lbf	Lbs	C	Wcn	Lcn	BP	Pen	Pts
Appleton	22	6	5	5	0	1	4	1	0	81	0	376
Frodsham	22	5	6	6	0	1	4	0	0	78	0	343
Disley	22	4	7	5	1	0	5	0	0	74	0	339
Styal	22	4	3	3	3	4	5	0	0	99	0	284
Trinity	22	1	5	3	6	2	5	0	0	100	0	250
Langley	22	2	4	4	5	3	4	0	0	98	0	248
Wilmslow Wayfarers	22	2	4	5	4	3	4	0	0	97	0	247
Grange	22	2	4	6	3	2	5	0	0	82	4	233
Saughall	22	4	0	5	8	2	3	0	0	118	0	233
Glazebury	22	1	4	3	3	6	5	0	0	94	0	224
Audlem	22	0	2	6	7	3	4	0	0	128	0	188
Eastham	22	2	2	3	6	6	2	0	1	85	0	185

 

 

2.3.3    Division 3

There were seven teams in Division 3 for the 2006 season. New comers, Rylands, went top of the table in the early weeks with three wins from their first four matches. Three consecutive maximum point victories then took them 31 points clear of second placed Heaton Mersey Village by early June, with Rostherne third a further 27 points behind. With half the fixtures played the order was still the same, although Rostherne had closed to 14 points behind Heaton Mersey Village. With three games left to play, Rylands had won 13 of their 15 matches and had a 60 point lead, with Heaton Mersey Village again stretching their lead over Rostherne. Rylands duly finished the season as Champions, undefeated and with fourteen wins, while Heaton Mersey Village secured the second promotion place, being 65 points ahead of Rostherne.

 

Mid-May saw Mossley and Capenhurst at the bottom of the Division 3 table and there they remained until early June. However by mid season Mossley had moved up the table with Port Sunlight 3rd dropping down to sixth place. Capenhurst then showed better form and with several wins rose up the table leaving Mossley and Port Sunlight 3rd  again in the bottom two places. These positions were maintained until the end of the season, with Capenhurst finishing fifth, 28 points ahead of Mossley in sixth and Port Sunlight 3rd a further 83 points behind.

 

	P	Wbf	Wbs	D	Lbf	Lbs	C	Wcn	Lcn	BP	Pen	Pts
Rylands	18	6	5	2	0	0	2	3	0	29	0	364
Heaton Mersey Village	18	3	7	1	2	2	2	1	0	49	0	299
Rostherne	18	4	2	2	2	2	4	2	0	39	0	249
Kerridge	18	2	0	0	7	2	4	3	0	63	0	208
Capenhurst	18	0	4	2	3	3	3	2	1	35	0	180
Mossley	18	0	2	1	5	6	3	1	0	72	0	152
Port Sunlight 3rd	18	1	0	2	1	1	2	0	11	34	0	69

         2.3.4   Cheshire Building Society Cricket Alliance - 2007

The structure of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance for the 2007 season will be of five non-regional divisions, four of twelve teams each and a fifth division of 16 teams.  Club 1st XIs will play in Disions 1, 2 and 3, but some of the best 2nd XIs will also play in Division 3. 

Relegation and promotion of two teams, between each of the sixth to ninth divisions of the Cheshire Integrated League Structure, including between the Cheshire Cricket League and the Cheshire Alliance, means that the composition of the first three divisions of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance in 2007 will be as shown below.

           Division 1                                                                  Division 2                                                       Division 3            

           1. Appleton                                                              1. Disley                                                          1. Audlem      

           2. Aston                                                                   2. Ellesmere Port                                             2. Capenhurst

           3. Bunbury                                                               3. Glazebury                                                   3. Eastham     

           4. Frodsham                                                             4. Grange                                                       4. Ellesmere Port 2nd

           5. Hartford                                                               5. Heaton Mersey Village                               5. Haslington  

           6. Holmes Chapel                                                     6. Langley                                                      6. Holmes Chapel 2nd  

           7. Kingsley                                                               7. Norbury                                                      7. Kerridge     

           8. Port Sunlight                                                        8. Rylands                                                      8. Kingsley 2nd

           9. Radbroke Hall                                                      9. Saughall                                                     9. Mossley

         10. Sandbach                                                            10. Styal                                                         10. Port Sunlight 2nd

         11. Stalybridge St Pauls                                            11. Trinity                                                      11. Rostherne

         12. Woodford                                                           12. Wilmslow Wayfarers                                 12. Sandbach 2nd

3.    CROSS BORDER LEAGUES - 2006

The following sections show the final tables in 2006 for each cross border League with Cheshire affiliated clubs as members and list alphabetically the clubs, which will be in each division for the 2007 Season.

 

3.1   Derbyshire & Cheshire Cricket League

There are thirteen Cheshire Affiliated Clubs as members of Derbyshire and Cheshire League. Six of these, Compstall, Hawk Green, Hazel Grove, Newton, Stockport and Tintwistle were in Division 1 in 2006, while Broadbottom, High Lane, Hollingworth, Mellor, Mottram, Romiley and Woodley were in Division 2.

3.1.1    Division 1

Compstall, the holders of the Division 1 Championship, got off to a good start in 2006 and with Hayfield and Birch Vale won the first three matches that they played. Compstall then won a further four consecutive matches and by mid-season had established a 55 point lead over Birch Vale, with Hazel Grove moving up to third place. Compstall maintained their lead, although their form faltered in the last third of the season, losing three matches and they retained the Championship with two rounds of matches left to play. Hayfield then took second place, a single point ahead of Birch Vale, by beating Compstall on the last Saturday of the season.

Of the other Cheshire teams, Tintwistle and Hazel Grove both finished in the top half of the table, while Stockport and Hawk Green were seventh and eighth. Two Derbyshire teams, newly promoted Hadfield St Andrews and Whaley Bridge filled the relegation places for practically the whole of the season. The other promoted team, Newton, were in tenth place for most of the second half of the season and had to fight hard to finish 25 points clear of the relegation zone.

Both Compstall and Stockport reached the semi-finals of the League 1st XI Cup competition, where Compstall were defeated by Birch Vale, while Stockport beat Dove Holes from Division 2. Birch Vale then beat Stockport in the final.

      3.1.2   Division 2

Mottram, relegated to Division 2 in 2005, contested the title chase with new Mills and Old Glossop at the beginning of the 2006 season. At the half way point of the season Mottram had a narrow lead of four points over New Mills, but then Romiley rose to second place as New Mills took over the lead and twelve points covered the top five teams in early August. New Mills then broke clear and with two matches to play Mottram were second 21 points behind. A win on the penultimate Saturday secured them the title as Mottram. Romiley and Old Glossop each won both of their last two matches to finish equal on points in second place. However promotion went to Old Glossop as they had taken more points than Romiley from the two matches between the clubs. Mottram finished a close fourth and High Lane sixth.

 

After four weeks of the season Broadbottom, Buxworth and Mellor were the bottom three sides in Division 2, but by mid-June, Broadbottom had climbed clear to be replaced by Woodley. Early July saw High Lane and Hollingworth in the bottom two places, with Buxworth just above them. High Lane then moved up the table and Mellor dropped down again into tenth place. In the penultimate week Mellor were passed by Charlesworth & Chisworth and remained next to bottom at the end of the season despite a win on the final Saturday which saw them draw level on points with that team. Woodley and Broadbottom finished eighth and ninth, just above Charlesworth, but Hollingworth finished tailed off by some sixty points.

 

	P	W	L	T	A	Pts
New Mills	22	14	3	0	5	334
Old Glossop	22	12	4	0	6	305
Romiley	22	12	3	0	7	305
Mottram	22	12	4	0	6	301
Dove Holes	22	11	7	0	4	280
High Lane	22	8	10	0	4	233
Buxworth	22	7	10	0	5	225
Woodley	22	7	10	0	5	215
Broadbottom	22	5	12	0	5	212
Charlesworth & Chisworth	22	6	11	0	5	208
Mellor	22	6	12	0	4	208
Hollingworth	22	1	15	0	6	148

3.1.3   Derbyshire & Cheshire League – 2007

The promotion and relegation of two teams between Divisions 1 and 2, means that the composition of the two divisions in 2007 will be:-

                                               Division 1                                                             Division 2

                                           1. Birch Vale & Thornsett                                    1. Broadbottom

                                           2. Chapel-en-le-Frith                                            2. Buxworth

                                           3. Compstall                                                        3. Charlesworth & Chisworth

                                           4. Dinting                                                            4. Dove Holes

                                           5. Hawk Green                                                    5. Hadfield St Andrews

                                           6. Hayfield                                                          6. High lane

                                           7. Hazel Grove                                                    7. Hollingworth

                                           8. New Mills                                                        8. Mellor

                                           9. Newton                                                            9. Mottram

                                         10. Old Glossop                                                   10. Romiley

                                         11. Stockport                                                       11. Whaley Bridge

                                         12. Tintwistle                                                        12. Woodley              

3.2   North Staffordshire & South Cheshire League

 

In 2006, after its takeover of the North Staffordshire & District League, the North Staffordshire & South Cheshire League contained five member clubs who were affiliated to Cheshire. The League was played in four divisions, the Premier Division with the Championship Divisions 1 and 2 each had twelve clubs, while the Championship Division 3 had eleven clubs. Following the relegation of Elworth from the Premier Division in 2005, there were no Cheshire based clubs in that division in 2006. The sections below give details of the final positions in the Championship Divisions 1 and 2 in which Cheshire affiliated teams played.

 

 

 3.2.1   Championship Division 1

Three Cheshire affiliated clubs, Crewe, Rode Park & Lawton and Elworth, played in the Championship Division 1 in 2006. Rode Park & Lawton started the season well and were top of the table ahead of Wood Lane at the end of May. Meanwhile Elworth were struggling at the bottom, with Crewe in ninth place. By half way through the season Wood Lane had broken well clear at the top with Rode Park & Lawton in the chasing group in fourth place. Elworth had won four matches in the second quarter and were now seventh with Crewe ninth, just 11 points clear of the relegation zone. Early in August Wood Lane had established a virtually invincible lead with Leycell in second place, while Elworth and Rode Park & Lawton were fifth and sixth, some thirty points behind Leycell. Crewe had improved to be 40 points clear of the relegation zone and went on to win eight matches in the second half of the season, finishing the highest Cheshire club in fifth place, just 24 points behind Hem Heath who were runners-up. Elworth and Rode Park & Lawton finished eighth and ninth, over 20 points above Norton, who with Betley will be relegated to Division 2 in 2007.

 

The later stages of the local cup competitions were fought out mainly by Premier League teams. Stone who later won the Premier League title, won the inaugural league Twenty/20 Competition. Of the six clubs who qualified for the semi-finals, Audley, Burslem, Porthill Park and Stone were from the Premier Division, HemHeath from the Championship Division 1 and Silverdale from Division 2. Stone also won the Staffordshire Cup final, beating Longton in a high scoring final. However they lost to Burslem in the quarter final of the Talbot Cup, Burslem then beating Audley, the Cup winners for the past two years, in the semi-final. Wood Lane from the Championship Division 1, reached the other semi but were then beaten by Knypersley, who went on to beat Burslem in the final by 57 runs.     

 

	P	Wbf	Wbs	Lbf	Lbs	D	A	Bat	Bowl	Pts
Wood Lane	22	9	4	3	1	4	1	32	30	364
Hem Heath	22	1	9	0	4	4	4	27	34	266
Leycett	22	3	6	3	4	3	3	38	27	260
Cheadle, Staffs.	22	2	6	2	3	6	3	41	37	248
Crewe	22	3	5	2	4	6	2	40	32	242
Stafford	22	4	3	6	3	5	1	47	37	242
Kidsgrove	22	5	2	3	3	5	4	44	36	241
Elworth	22	3	4	5	3	5	2	44	38	236
Rode Park & Lawton	22	4	1	5	3	7	2	67	48	233
Sandyford	22	4	1	7	1	7	2	52	48	220
Norton	22	2	3	4	5	7	1	56	43	209
Betley	22	0	2	6	6	7	1	53	54	147

 

 

3.2.2   Championship Division 2

Weston and Haslington were the two Cheshire teams in the Championship Division 2 in 2006. Weston started off the better being fifth in late May, while Haslington were ninth. By early July Haslington had dropped into the bottom two, while Weston was in mid-table. However three wins for Haslington in the next five weeks saw them move just above Weston into seventh place, a position they maintained until the end of the season. Weston finished just 8 points behind them and 34 points clear of the relegation zone. Having been in the top four in the table for the whole of the season, Bignall End and Silverdale finally secured promotion to Division 1, while Blythe and Hanford will be relegated to Division 3, to be replaced by Oakamoor and Eccleshall for 2007.

 

 

	P	Wbf	Wbs	Lbf	Lbs	D	A	Bat	Bowl	Pts
Bignall End	22	10	2	3	2	3	2	33	22	343
Silverdale	22	7	4	3	2	2	3	31	23	313
Caverswall	22	2	10	2	1	6	1	35	29	313
Oulton, Staffs	22	6	3	2	3	6	2	45	37	287
Ashcombe Park	22	4	5	2	2	7	2	49	31	273
Whitmore	22	3	6	1	4	6	2	39	35	268
Haslington	22	3	3	6	2	5	3	47	36	216
Newcastle & Hartshill	22	1	5	5	5	4	2	46	48	216
Weston	22	4	0	8	3	6	1	60	48	208
Meakins	22	1	4	3	5	6	3	58	40	202
Blythe	22	1	2	6	6	4	2	58	48	174
Hanford	22	0	3	6	7	2	3	68	35	160

 

 

3.2.3   North Staffordshire & South Cheshire League – 2007

The promotion and relegation of two teams between each pair of the PremierDivision and the Championship Divisions 1, 2 and 3, means that the composition of the two divisions in 2007, of the two divisions including Cheshire clubs will be:-

 

                                           Championship Division 1                               Championship Division 2

                                           1. Bignall End                                                      1. Ashcombe Park

                                           2. Cheadle                                                            2. Betley

                                           3. Checkley                                                          3. Caverswall

                                           4. Crewe                                                               4. Eccleshall

                                           5. Elworth                                                            5. Haslington

                                           6. Kidsgrove                                                         6. Meakins

                                           7. Knypersley                                                       7. Newcastle & Hartshill

                                           8. Leycett                                                             8. Norton

                                           9. Rode Park & Lawton                                       9. Oakamoor

                                         10. Sandyford                                                      10. Oulton

                                         11. Silverdale                                                       11. Weston

                                         12. Stafford                                                         12. Whitmore

3.3   Liverpool & District Competition

 

Two Cheshire affiliated clubs played in the Liverpool Competition in 2006. These were New Brighton and Wallasey in the Premier League of twelve clubs. The Competition forms the top two divisions of a pyramid, with promotion and relegation, to and from the Merseyside & Southport Cricket Alliance, below them.  

 

 3.4.1   ECB Premier Division

In 2005 Wallasey and New Brighton had finished second and third in the Premier League, but in 2006 they filled the bottom two places in mid-May without a win between them. At the start of June Wallasey had two wins in a row to move from last to tenth in the table, while New Brighton were just 3 points behind them and Maghull a further 5 points back. By the half way point of the season two further wins for Wallasey placed them sixth, while New Brighton were still in the bottom two. Bootle who had led the table all season already had seven wins and a 45 point lead over Fleetwood Hesketh, first of the chasing bunch. While Wallasey remained in mid-table, the beginning of August saw New Brighton drop to last. With three matches to play New Brighton had edged up to tenth, while Bootle clinched the title on the first Saturday in September. Over the last three weeks Wallasey slid down the table to eighth, 5 points ahead of New Brighton after they had won on the penultimate Saturday. Lytham and Sefton finished in the bottom two places, while Colwyn Bay, promoted to the Premier League at the start of the season, took the runners-up spot with a win on the last Saturday.

 

In the Premier League Knockout Cup, Wallasey qualified for the semi-finals, as the best second placed team in a group. There they were defeated by Fleetwood Hesketh, who then beat Bootle in the final. Northern were the other semi-finalist.

 

Bootle however beat Darwen in the final of the Lancashire Cup, while Huyton and Ormskirk were the beaten semi-finalists.

 

	P	W	D	L	NR	Bat	Bowl	Pen	Pts
Bootle	22	15	2	2	3	57	13	0	385
Colwyn Bay	22	10	4	4	4	26	36	0	282
Northern	22	8	2	8	4	56