Hodnett's injury compounds agony

MOORSIDE'S Grant Hodnett

GRANT Hodnett's season is all but over after fracturing an ankle during last Saturday's JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League game at Heyside.

The Moorside professional was hurt during the first innings.

Fielding at deep mid-on, Hodnett was patrolling the boundary between overs when the incident occurred.

Skipper Danny Anchor said: "Grant is out for between six and eight weeks.

"It could be that he is back for the last game, but we'll have to see about that.

"It's really tough for Grant. He's admitted that he hasn't had a great season with the weather how it's been and the wickets as a result.

FIELD

"When he did get a good track to bat on at Heyside, he went and did his ankle."

Although it is not compulsory in the Championship to field a pro, Moorside will employ deputies for the remainder of the season.

That won't be straightforward, though, as the majority of paid men will be retained by their clubs on Saturdays.

The Turf Pit Lane outfit have already made several inquiries and have also been contacted by a pro who is based in Ireland.

Anchor added: "He has got to be the right person for the team, we won't just bring in anybody in."

They have secured the services of Eagley pro Agha Salman for Saturday's game against Hollinwood.

Out of the cups and languishing in seventh place in the table, Hodnett's injury has capped a miserable 2016 for Moorside.

HORRENDOUS

"It just hasn't happened for us," Anchor went on. "In fact, it's been an horrendous season.

"The bowling and fielding has been fine, we've been so inconsistent with the bat.

"Basically our season is finished, all we've got is pride to play for.

"I'm not being pig-headed or anything, but there is no way that a club like Moorside should be mid-table in the Championship. We should be better than that."