Hudson set for success
BASKETBALL JACK Hudson has won two league titles, three national championships and a play-off finals Most Valuable Player award in the last three years – and he’s looking to continue that run of success at new club Lancashire Spinners.
“I feel now is the right time for a new challenge,” said new Spinner Jack Hudson. “Leaving Liverpool [Basketball Club] was not an easy decision. I am truly grateful and privileged to have been part of their family and I like to think I leave the club in a better place than it was when we began our journey three seasons ago.”
The 22-year-old, who also spent time with Liverpool as a junior, turned professional at age 17 with the Mersey Tigers and has succeeded at every turn, which hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“Jack is a guy I’ve watched develop over the years,” said Lancashire head coach Neal Hopkins. “He’s worked incredibly hard and plays with passion – he brings a winning mentality and is someone we can look to for leadership. He’s got a tenacity to his game that fans will love – we’re extremely lucky to have Jack, who had to make a very difficult decision.”
Hudson had 11 points, eight rebounds and six steals in Liverpool’s most recent triumph as winners of the 2016 Division Two playoffs. His basket with 29.9 seconds, meanwhile, helped force overtime.
“After speaking with Neal it was a no brainer where I wanted to be next,” said Hudson, who finished second in voting for Division 2 Player of the Year.
“I follow his philosophy and admire how he gives opportunities to young English talent.”
His 14.3 points per game ranked second on the team whilst he led the league in both assists and steals.
“I’m at the Spinners to win,” he began.
“I can’t wait to get going and help the club continue on its successful journey.” ●● Ramsbottom’s Tom Parton CHRIS OSTICK LANCASHIRE Thunder secured their first-ever win in the new Kia Super League in dramatic fashion.
After a hard-hitting 52 off 32 balls from skipper Amy Satterthwaite helped Lancashire post 164-8 in their 20 overs, they had Loughborough Lightning in trouble on 88-7 in the 13th over of their reply.
But an eighth wicket partnership of 69 between Thea Brookes and Paige Scholfield saw Loughborough come close to pulling off an amazing comeback.
Then Lancashire all-rounder Hayley Matthews picked up two wickets in two balls, finishing with 3-25, to secure victory for the Red Rose.
“Lightning fought back superbly, and credit to them for that, and in the end it was a relief to get over the line,” said Satterthwaite, whose side lost their opening match on Sunday. LANCASHIRE LEAGUE CRICKET ROUND-UP SHELDAN KEAY
HASLINGDEN Cricket Club missed out on silverware after they lost to Burnley by six wickets in the final of the Worsley Cup.
Haslingden posted a total of 170-9 from their 50 overs, but Burnley eased to the total after just 29 overs to pick up a dominant win at Turf Moor.
It was Haslingden who won the toss and decided to bat first, but they soon found themselves 3-2 after losing openers Phil Hayes (1) and Graham Knowles (0) for extremely poor scores.
The visitors tried to steady the ship when professional Babar Naeem and Matt Griffin came into bat, but Naeem fell for 32 and Griffin for 14, while Alex Coleman went for 11 to leave the team 68-5.
There was a slight revival though when Lee Ingham and Lewis McIntosh were at the crease, with Ingham making 41 and McIntosh adding 27 before both men eventually fell.
Jake Neary then finished on 14 not out at the back of the Haslingden innings as his team posted a total of 170-9.
Burnley were dominant in their response, with opener Vishal Tripathi passing his half century and scoring 56 until Naeem brought his innings to an end.
Burnley’s professional Chris Holt scored 47, while David Brown added 42 to leave the hosts 138-1 at one stage.
Haslingden may have had a small glimmer of home when they took two wickets in quick succession to leave Burnley 139-3, but Daniel Pickup (19 not out) and Chris Burton (8 not out) helped the team over the line, winning with 20 overs to spare.
“We talked about being positive in our batting, and not panicking if there were a few dot balls.
“It’s the nature of the competition that there will be wins and losses in the group stage, every side has a lot of strengths.”
Having chosen to bowl first, Loughborough saw seamer Beth Langston
Haslingden did have something to cheer about over the weekend though as they defeated Nelson by seven wickets in the Lancashire League on Saturday.
Nelson won the toss and decided to bat, but only two players managed to reach double figures.
Professional Ryan Bailey made 68 while opener Lewis Bradley made 17, but the other nine batsmen could only make 16 runs between them.
Five players failed to score any runs as Nelson were bowled all out for 111. Ingham was the pick of the bowlers for Haslingden after taking figures of 3-8.
Haslingden eased to their total, with Knowles making 58 before he was bowled by Harrison Phelan.
Professional Naeem took over from there though, finishing on 20 not out as his team reached their target after just 26 overs.
The victory leaves Haslingden in sixth place in the Lancashire League table, now just two points behind Nelson.
Top of the table Ramsbottom kept up their unbeaten run this season after a dominant 145 run win against Colne.
Ramsbottom won the toss and decided to bat, but lost opener Martin Cropper for one run before Will Turner was dismissed for a duck.
Tom Parton and professional Daryn Smit made amends though as they had a partnership of nearly 150.
Parton would eventually fall for 78, while Smit finished on 100 not out as Ramsbottom posted a total of 214-4 at the end of their 50 overs.
Colne struggled in their response, with only Tom Bradshaw (20) and Matt Nutter (16) managing to reach double figures.
The remaining nine batsmen made just 12 runs between them, and the team went from 59-3 pick up the wicket of Matthews in her second over, finding an edge which was well held by Amy Jones diving to her right behind the stumps.
But New Zealand ace Satterthwaite hit straight and hard, making the most of the short boundaries and some ragged bowling. ●● Ramsbottom professional Daryn Smit was part of a 150-run partnership with Tom Parton to 69 all out to hand Ramsbottom the dominant victory.
Smit was the pick of the bowlers for Ramsbottom, finishing with extremely impressive figures of 7-15, while Simon
Emma Lamb, on 26, went down the wicket to the slow left-arm spin of Rebecca Grundy, missed, and was stumped, but Satterthwaite hit nine fours and a six before top-edging a cut at the medium pace of Sonia Odedra into the hands of Brookes at short third man.