Woodley end wait for their first D&C title
WOODLEY joined the Derbyshire and Cheshire League in 1975 and thus far the First Division title has eluded them despite being one of the most enterprising and up and coming clubs in the League.
However, coming into Saturday’s game they were top of the table and a win would see them crowned champions undefeated throughout the season.
Their opponents were Tintwistle and on winning the toss the Woodley captain Danny Kay elected to bat opening the innings with himself and Ryan Murphy against Tintwistles bowling attack of Alex Brown and Stuart Rose.
Murphy was first to fall for 3 lbw to Rose, 8-1, next to the crease was Conor Cranwell and he and Kay steadily took the score to 38 when Kay was adjudged lbw to Rose for 18, Jamie Kay was next to the crease and in partnership with with Cranwell took the score to 72 when Karl Handforth caught him off the bowling of Ryan Nixon for hard fought 36.
Jamie Kay was next to fall caught Kieron Davies bowled Ryan Nixon for 5, 85-4, next to the crease was Frazier Heginbotham and also next to fall for 14 caught Handforth bowled Nixon, 94-5.
James Duggan joined Bradley Heginbotham and batted very steadily and sensibly mixed with aggression when necessary and rebuilt the innings taking the score to 138 when Heginbotham was bowled by Rose for 28.
Next to fall was Jarrod Ince bowled Alex Brown for 5, 149-7, Duggan fell on the same score caught Richard Harris bowled Rose for 28 Jack Trowsdale and Harry Ripon took the score to 166-8 when the latter fell to Matthew Robinson for 6 and the innings closed on 166-9 with Duggan 12no.
Stuart Ropse was the pick of the visitors bowlers with 4-22.
The Tintwistle response was led by Karl Handforth and Kieran Davis against the Woodley attack of Jamie Kay and Mike Mallett and both batsmen struggled against some accurate bowling and Handforth was first to fall caught Cranwell bowled Kay for a duck, 0-1, Davies followed shortly after caught Trowsdale bowled Kay for 8, 9-2, Ryan Nixon was next to the crease and attempted to hit his way out of trouble as his score suggests, 16, 1 x 4 and 2 maximims when he was lbw to Mallett, 26-3. Damian Weatherhead did not really trouble the scorers as he became Kay’s third victim lbw for 2, 26-4, during the carnage and collapse which was to follow youngster Charlie Harris defended his wicket as if his life depended on it, more than can be said of the batsmen to follow as Tinwistle capitulated and the innings finally closed on 46, with Harris not out 12. Kay and Mallett both picked up 5 wickets for 15 and 30 respectively, congratulations to Woodley let the celebrations begin.