Audlem 2nd XI win Div 4 by 25 points

Despite falling to only their third defeat of the season at Holmes Chapel on Saturday, Audlem 2nd XI have won the league by 25 points from their rivals Stretton, with Holmes Chapel a further 22 points further back in third place.

Holmes Chapel skipper Oli Dale invited the visitors to bat on wet, green and uninviting wicket at the Victoria Club. New opening partnership Paddy Leese and Reg Farnell found it tough going against accurate bowling, especially from veteran Chris Hind who took 3-11 from his 11 overs.

The innings limped along at 2 runs an over and wasn't helped by four of the regular batting mainstays scoring 0 runs between them in 7 balls. Leese made a solid 12 and Shaj Ali Snr was unfortunate to be run out from the boundary by a brilliant (fluke?) direct hit for 18.

At 73-7 Danny Thorburn and Leo North re-enacted their Vic Club effort of 5 years ago and put together the biggest partnership of the innings in pushing the score on to 111. Reg Farnell acting as runner for the injured North was so enthusiastic that he succeeded in running him out whilst backing up and then had to similarly support Lyndon Woodcock who hobbled to 3 not out, his ninth red-inker of the season.

Fittingly it was skipper Danny Thorburn who at 119 was last out for a top score 41 in a season which he has so often led his team from the front.

This week however with the pressure off the usual intensity was lacking from the seconds and the motions were gone through, an uncharacteristic 23 wides reflecting the lack-lustre performance in the field.

With the early autumn sun transforming the pitch to a benign brownish/yellow colour, the Holmes Chapel openers dug in from the start. Rob Mottershead beat the bat countless times but could not find the edge and his 0-11 from 11 overs could have brought him 5 wickets on any other day.

Martin Radford departed hit wicket for 23, Spike Walker was LBW for 27 and opener Phil Harrison was last man out for a painstaking Zar-like 20 as the home side reached 120 for the loss of 4 wickets off 36 overs.

Unexpected highlight of the day was a spell of spin bowling from Paddy Leese who from his two overs took his first ever wickets, 2-14, and meant the losers (but winners) left the pitch in high spirits.

Holmes Chapel CC showed a touch of class as they welcomed the champions from the field with a jug of beer and with Stretton failing to beat Styal, Audlem's advantage at the top of the league was an impressive 25 points, the equivalent of a full match victory.

Next year will be a challenge from the start, playing in the Cheshire Alliance 3rd Division that Audlem 1st XI left only a few years ago.

Team photo which you can click on to expand: Standing from left- Paul Thorburn, Lyndon Woodcock, Shaj Ali Snr, Shaj Ali Jnr, John Wainwright, Paddy Leese, Rob Mottershead.
Kneeling from left- Sam Colclough, Danny Thorburn, Shoaib Ali Jnr Jnr, Reg Farnell, Leo North.
Absent- Z. Ahmed

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