THE champers overflowed as Prestwich were presented with the league title trophy – three games ahead of schedule.
The side had already been christened champions of the Lees Lancashire County League prior to their final home match against Dukinfield on Saturday.
And the Heys team were determined to ensure the celebrations did not fall flat, by wrapping up the game in around two-and-a-half hours with an eight-wicket triumph.
This meant they had gained a maximum of 25 points from their last five games, whilst nearest rivals Woodhouses had faltered.
The fizz had to be kept on hold for a short time, however, while league chairman Tony Crook hurried to the Heys ground earlier than he had planned to make the formal presentation to captain Steven Lorenzini.
It is the club’s third league title in recent years, following on from its ice-breaker in 2004 and a league and cup double in 2007. They narrowly missed out on repeating that achievement this year, having lost to Woodbank in the Walkden Cup final.
Skipper Lorenzini said: “It’s a great reward for all the players who have put in so much effort this year. There’s only three players in this team who played in the 2007 Championship win so it’s clear that we’ve done a lot of rebuilding over the past four years and it’s finally paid off.
“To win it with three games to spare is testament to our consistency during a season where everybody has beaten everybody. Hopefully we can build on this now and kick on next year and after that and not struggle like we did last time we won a league.
“No team has worked harder than us, I’ve never played in a team to train with such dedication and high standards over a season and we are deserving winners.”
Dukinfield were bowled out for 63 as spinner Andy Bradley continued his phenomenal season by chalking up a magnificent personal milestone – 100 wickets for the season.
He took three wickets, as did bowling compatriots Danny and Chris Jones, to leave a re-jigged batting order little problem in knocking off the required target.
The early finish and subsequent celebrations took their toll the following day, as they fell to a 93-run defeat at Denton.
Steve Wharton struck 102 in the home side’s 191 for 8, but a jaded Prestwich lurched to 98 all out, with only Lorenzini (30) and David Taylor (24) putting up any noteworthy resistance.
The final game of the season on Saturday sees the newly-crowned champions making the short trip to neighbours Stand.
