Bradshaw pull off shock in league’s opening weekend
The majority of last Saturday’s first day fixtures in the ENCO Halifax Cricket League’s Premier and Second Divisions went to form with one exception.
Bradshaw caused a major upset as they demolished fancied Blackley by 133 runs. The visitors posted 181-8, with Jonathan Lister (52) top scoring.
Aaron Buckley (5-10) and Anthony Langton (5-32) needed only 15.1 overs to bowl out the hosts for 48.
Triangle won the top match of the day against Booth while Thornton’s Josh Hutchinson hit 167 runs in 97 balls, to secure a victory at Sowerby Bridge.
Sowerby Bridge’s match at Triangle this weekend has been cancelled after a Bridge player tested positive for Covid-19.
A league statement said: “[Sowerby Bridge] has taken immediate action to safeguard all its members and others, including opponents from last Saturday, Thornton, who were immediately informed.
“Saturday’s Premier Division fixture versus Triangle has been cancelled and all Sowerby Bridge players involved in the Thornton match have been requested not to visit the club, or any other club, and isolate for the recommended ten days.”
League chairman Anthony Briggs said: “Our first thoughts are for the player involved and trust that the check is his only concern. The league fully understands all the decisions taken and is totally supportive of the action. The health and safety of everyone is our number one priority.”
The First Division of the ENCO Halifax League gets under way this Saturday.
Predicting the champions in this very tight eight-team section is difficult, having to rely on form from the truncated short 2020 season for any indication.
Great Horton PC will be most people’s favourites but they can expect a challenge from Low Moor HT and Sowerby St Peter’s. The two Bradford-based teams both joined the league in the first decade of this millennium but have yet to reach the Premier Division.
In sharp contrast is Sowerby, its membership now spanning over 100 years, who will be keen for quick return to the top flight after relegation in 2019.
A very small blanket can be thrown over the remaining teams with Clayton, Mount and Upper Hopton likely to be challenging, ahead of Luddendenfoot and Oxenhope. Some pundits have the latter marked for promotion.
The opening day’s fixture of note could be that between Upper Hopton and Low Moor HT.
This Saturday’s fixtures - Premier: Booth v Warley, Bradshaw v Thornton, Copley v Shelf Northowram HT, Illingworth St Mary’s v Blackley, SBCI v Mytholmroyd.
First Division: Luddendenfoot v Great Horton PC, Oxenhope v Mount, Sowerby St Peter’s v Clayton, Upper Hopton v Low Moor HT. Second Division: Bradley & Colnebridge v Old Town, Bridgeholme v Southowram, Greetland v Queensbury, Leymoor v Outlane, Stones v Augustinians, Free Date Cullingworth.