End of the line for local league

CRICKET: A LEAGUE born at the Woolpack Inn, Dobcross in 1898 comes to an end on Sunday. The Saddleworth and District Cricket League will see its final games after more than a century of local rivalries.

What is there to play for? Will it be a celebration, a chance to mark some of the sports greats who have graced the league, from Joel Garner and Roy Gilchrist to Sonny Ramadhin and others, as well as local characters? These included Heyside’s Stuart Holden and Uppermill’s Handel Radcliffe, who had a false leg that clicked every time he moved, and Dougie Rhodes, the Friarmere wicketkeeper who came out to bat wearing one glove.

Saddleworth, one of only three clubs to have played in every season, were crowned final champions last weekend, after also winning the Tanner Cup and Twenty20 competition, as well as the last six and aggregate trophies.

In fact there are a couple of outstanding and important issues for the clubs involved. The leading four teams are guaranteed the top flight in the new Pennine Cricket League, an amalgamation of the Saddleworth and CLL competitions.

Saddleworth, Glodwick and Greenfield have already booked places, leaving Austerlands and Moorside to fight for the remaining spot.

And the remaining piece of silverware still up for grabs is the second XI championship. Though Saddleworth hold sway, they can be denied by Friarmere. While the current leaders have an open date on the final day of the season, victory for the Slack Lane outfit at South West Manchester would see them take the title and end their 36-year trophyless run.

Sunday will also see the farewell of a league stalwart as Greenfield’s Peter Gill will draw stumps on his career after the Glodwick clash.