The 3rds travelled to Saddleworth for the Hodson Cup semi final on Sunday. With the weather looking ominous after a morning of heavy rain, ever hopeful skipper ACAH (or was it Michael Fish?) saying that rain would clear up by 4 o’clock, the prospects of play were in the balance.
On arrival we were pleasantly surprised to find that we were likely to start on time and the rain had passed by. The pitch look in good order, although there were a few wet areas but playable. ACAH then proceeded to win the toss and elected to bat.
Andy Jones and Jack Scargill opening the batting and for the first time in many matches, survived the first 5 overs with wickets intact. The Saddleworth bowler’s tending to bowl either side of the stumps, rather than at them helping greatly.
With differing techniques, Jones cutting and Scargill playing in his own cavalier style, the two openers pushed the score along at 4 an over. Jones was bowled off his pads, for 23, with the score on 51. “Wing Commander” Mangnall came out to bat and the score continued at the same rate. However, the light rain that had been falling for about 30 minutes gave way to heavier downpours, causing the umpires to halt play with the score on 65 for 1 with 16 overs gone.
Tea was taken early but it became evident that the rain was not going to relent and the umpires took the decision to invoke the bowl out. ACAH then proceed to hold court on who should bowl in what order and once agreement was reached, we went to the middle.
The toss was won by Saddleworth, inviting Prestwich to start proceedings. Walshy opening up with a ball that narrowly missed off stump. Narrow misses from both sides ensued and after 2 balls each Tom Ward stepped to hit the stumps, to great celebration, After this a succession of misses followed and the tension mounted. ACAH briefly lightened the mood, by pitching his ball on the next track!
With 9 balls each bowled it remained 1-0 as the “Wing Commander” stepped up to bowl and hit middle stump. Off he wheeled, looking like a Lancaster bomber peeling away after dropping a bouncing bomb on the Eder dam!!! Once order had been restored, we awaited the 10th Saddleworth bowler, who narrowly missed the stumped, to give the 3rds a 2-0 winning margin.
Saddleworth were gracious in defeat, but you could feel for them as we would all prefer to win by playing the game.
A chance now to gain revenge on Greenmount, who beat us last year in the final, as they triumphed 5-4 in their bowl out with Fothergill and Harvey’s. The final will be on 23rd August at Swinton Moorside.
