Moorside ready to find new pro

Grant Hodnett

MOORSIDE are hoping to reveal Grant Hodnett's replacement as professional soon after the end of the season.

South African-born Hodnett and the Turf Pit Lane club have called it a day after three years together.

The former Bamford Fieldhouse paid man joined Moorside, then in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League, in 2014. He topped the averages in his first campaign, scoring 1,379 runs at 86.19.

He averaged 56.53 in 2015, compiling 961 runs, which included a superb 206 against South-West Manchester.

That was one of four double centuries for the 34-year-old. His highest score was 216 while playing for Bamford against Micklehurst in 2012.

Hodnett's 2016 season cut short in mid-summer after he sustained a serious ankle injury while fielding at Heyside. He had scored 304 runs in nine Championship matches at 50.67. He had moved to Warrington, which meant a round trip of more than 75 miles, for two training sessions and match days.

Moorside skipper Danny Anchor said: "Grant is a great player and a very talented cricketer.

"He had two good seasons here and an average season, which is a shame.

"He taught us so much and I, personally, learned a lot from him as a player and in the role of captain.

"I've never known training like it in my life. We are all a lot fitter for it."