Rick delivers his trophy promise

MOORSIDE skipper Rick Harrington told club chiefs at the beginning of the season that his team would win a trophy in 2017, and they delivered the goods in style on Monday at Norden.

The bank holiday sun shone brightly down on the Woodhouse Lane ground as Moorside triumphed in the Tom Hardman Twenty20 Cup, thanks largely to the batting heroics of Namibian professional Gerrie Snyman and the expert guidance of Harrington, who chipped in with three wickets and 30 not out in the final against Littleborough.

WAIT

It's been a long wait for silverware for Moorside's first team.

They last secured glory way back in 2001 when they won the old Saddleworth League title.

Harrington clearly had faith in his fellow players in the Spring, though, as he embarked on a first campaign as skipper after three previous years as a player with the Turf Pit Lane outfit.

He said: "It has been a while for the firsts, but when I took over as captain I sat everyone down and promised them a trophy this season.

"Of course there were a few people around who were very sceptical, but I did have plenty of confidence in the players I had around me.

"I just felt I needed to get the morale up at the club after so long with first-team success.

"I felt we needed a bit of belief around the place and now we've gone and won the Twenty20 Cup.

"I knew we were the underdogs going into Monday with Norden, Littleborough and Rochdale also there, but we just went about our business with a smile and we enjoyed the day.

"I always knew we'd be in with a shout because we play good, positive cricket.

"We came good in the end and certainly enjoyed the celebrations afterwards."

Undoubtedly Snyman was the star of the show. He was described as the 'master-blaster' in Tuesday's Chronicle as he plundered runs for fun in both the semi-final (91 not out against Rochdale) and the final (81 not out against Littleborough).

Harrington said: "Gerrie plays with such freedom.

"He picks the right areas with his shots and just bullies everybody.

"He times his final innings to perfection. He was in total control, and that helps the rest of us just bat around him."

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