PENNINE CRICKET LEAGUE
ROCHDALE v ROYTON
Saturday 30th April 2015

The Pennine League truly gets under way for us at Redbrook this afterneoon (weather permitting) with the visit of Royton, to whom we extend our heartiest welcome. The Central Lancashire League nay have gone but it will never be forgotten, at least by its afficiandos, and here’s hoping that the new League can retain some of the character and longevity of its predecessor.
Make no mistake, the template looks promising. Twenty four clubs, all possessing worthy history, most wearing the badges of successful periods compete for honours. Not all can be winners straight away, of course, but here’s hoping that come September we all look back on the inaugural season proud to have bee a part of it.
None of it might have come about, however without the hard work of a number of people imbued by an admirable determination to make it work. Some of the new ideas may not suit everyone and there may be some hitches along the way. But they are forgiven in advance after their endeavours and it is now up to us, the clubs to make it work.

It has been a long winter, during which one of Rochdale’s own, Freddie Moore, who pro’ in the early sixties passed away. By this writer’s reckoning that leaves Goolie Abed as our oldest surviving professional and readers are requested to treat him with due reverence and be kind to the old sod!
The main event of the winter occurred on the cusp of the start of the season when Faveez Maharoof declared his unavailability and we were left searching for a new man.
Luckily, we discovered that Will Bosisto was available and keen to come and we welcome him to Rochdale. Here’s hoping that the magic dust from his legendary initials (W.G.) are sprinkled liberally on our season. We also welcome back Marradon Bend who is looking to replicate his successful time last year. At the very least, sometime in the future and back in his native Barbados, Marradon will be able to boast to his grandchildren that he has seen snow!
A further piece of good news for us (although not for him) is that Andy Dawson is expecting to be available all season after having been advised to retire from football due to his knee problems.
The season got under way last weekend, the initial opener being the Third team’s home game to Friarmere on Saturday. The Firsts and Seconds then began the day after and two of the three teams gleaned maximum points.
In chronological order, Robin Jackson with 4 for 15 and new boy Andy Rodgerson, with3 helped to restrain the visitors to 135, a total we passed with 8 overs to spare, the main contribution coming from Kelton Aughey who despite arriving into the season incognito on account of a dodgy beard that he spent all winter growing, made 38. He is hoping that the growth will be a full set, complete with tash, by the end of the summer.

The Second also entertained Friamere for their opener on Sunday. Never having played them before we have now met on consecutive days! This time we came unstuck. New captain Darryl Cryer was overjoyed initially when he discovered that he could still fit into his flannels but his day got worse thereafter. He lost the toss then had to watch opener ‘Chicken’ Butterworth get run out without facing a ball and then his team slump to 70 for 7. The later order youngsters revived the innings to 146, but Daz’s fortunes were about to plummet. Having come on to bowl and taken a wicket in his first over, in his second his whirly action proved too much for his aging shoulder, and out it popped. Thanks to the tender ministrations of a group of nurses it was gently put back, in leading Daz to wonder if he might dislocate some other part of his anatomy.
Suffice it to say his charges were unable to cope without his leadership and they lost by 5 wickets.

The First team gained 5 points at Saddleworth and it was a smashing debut for the Pro who made 61 before being run out. (Note to Rigsby: The first commandment of League Cricket: Thou shalt not out thine own pro) Marradon also posted a half century while cameos from Andy Dawson and the self redeeming Rigsby elevated us to 220 from our 40 overs, a total beyond the home team after Buxy (looking evermore like an old cigarette card) ripped through their top order.
Scorecards from all games can viewed on the club’s play cricket web page.

We still require match and match ball sponsors. Anyone who can help in this regard are asked to see Geoff Blakeley, Ken Taylor or any committee member.