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  CLUB NEWS from 2006  

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FOR INFORMATION ABOUT TIMES LONG GONE, PLEASE REFER TO THE HISTORY PAGE.

December 7th There were returns for old faces and welcomes for new ones at the Annual General Meeting held recently.

Chris Haslam returns as Secretary after his excursion into the world of Rugby League with Swinton, and Dave Wild returns as first XI vice captain. The second XI will be run by Rob Meredith and Liam Dorsey whilst in the thirds, Tony Potter has handed over the reins to Phil Royle with Mark Unwin bringing his unique knowledge of the juniors into his vice captain role.

October 24^th - A FACE FROM THE PAST was revealed this week as the story of an ex-pro was revealed. A century ago, almost to the day, Harold Watson, along with his brother, decided to part company with Clifton, for whom he had been professional since 1902, to try his luck in New Zealand. Now, a century on, this photograph has winged it’s way five thousand miles back in the opposite direction, courtesy of the National Cricket Museum of New Zealand, so that it can join our gallery of photographs of past professionals. The photograph was taken in 1924 after his Wellington side had won the Plunket Shield. He died in Auckland NZ in 1958.

October 14^th - The Club Golf Day, organised by Paul Garner on Saturday 14th October 2006 at Boysnope Park Golf Club was Another resounding success, but our trust in the nation’s police force is placed into question as Jim Ainscough’s arresting performance gives him the spoils thanks to his criminal handicap!!

September 30^th - CRICKET FORCE TO CONTINUE The highly successful ECB cricket force weekend which took place in April will be repeated again in 2007. No dates as yet – watch this space

September 24^th In the sweltering heat and in front of a more than decent crowd which belied the calendar which showed September 23rd, the 2006 season fizzled out as the thirds went down to defeat at the hands of Littleborough. If the cricket had been as hot as the weather and the celebratory after match curry, then Tony Potter’s last game in charge would have contributed to a memorable day. However, defeat by sixty runs, with over fifty of those coming in yet another last wicket stand, this time between Andrew Lord (31*) and Dave Rogers (25*), did nothing to dispel the positives of what has been a memorable season for the club. Littleborough were let off the hook in being allowed to score 177, after being 69-7, but once again the reply stuttered, losing four wickets for less than twenty. That was a bridge too far for the middle and late order, though they did hang on to deny the visitors maximum points.

September 19^th - Yes.. cricket is still alive and well at Clifton after the seconds and firsts wound up the season last week, but after toiling away in exceptionally humid conditions to restrict title chasers Prestwich to 113 all out, some poor batting on a perfectly good wicket handed Prestwich an unlikely win. The opposition’s traditional array of left handers proved difficult for the bowling attack early on, though they never really took the initiative, scoring for long periods at around two an over. David Dempster, one of a number of late call ups as players once again failed to appreciate that the skipper is not psychic, finally prised out a wicket and Steve Eccles then capitalised on some suicidal slogging opening the door for Tony Potter to come on and mop up, as he has done so often in the past, finishing with 5-12. After losing Phil Royle the early order the capitulated to 14-4 before another mature innings by Scott Bradley (30) steadied the ship. The late order then showed how easy batting was, but by then the opposition had their tails up and a couple more quick wickets left the score at 60-9. A last wicket stand of 29 then really showed how easy paced the wicket was with Richard Dempster showing what an enormous all round talent he is with a chanceless 13 until a ‘nip-backer’ just, and only just, nudged the off bail which wobbled and fell.

The curtain falls next Saturday with a home game against Littleborough after which players, spectators and curry monsters are invited to a curry night (venue to be decided).

A late request from the LCB resulted in the club staging the Lancashire Shield Final on Sunday after the game was called off last week. The Shield is for clubs in leagues which do not employ professionals and is their version of the Lancashire Knockout. The clubs involved were Vertex from Manchester and the exotically named Degham Hibbert from Bolton. Aside from providing the players with a venue, it should also give the club a few brownie points down at HQ, which, with some pretty hefty grant applications in the offing, can do the club’s status nothing but good. Following a last wicket partnership of sixty one, the Bolton side won by ninety runs, gaining revenge for their defeat in the final two years ago against the same opposition.

September 12^th - Werneth pro Mark Vermeulen has been banned from English first-class and league cricket for 10 years for throwing a ball at spectators.The 27-year-old had to be restrained by club officials in the Central Lancashire League game between Werneth and Ashton. Vermeulen, who played eight Tests and 32 one-dayers, lost his cool after struggling with bat and ball. The ball did not hit anyone and he was led back to the pavilion before his team conceded the match. League chairman Howard Donsfield told the Oldham Advertiser: "I was at the game and hope I don't ever see anything like it again - it was a sad sight for cricket. "It's not just about spectators - there was a 15-year-old boy among Vermeulen's team-mates and it's not the kind of example he should set." Vermeulen has been in trouble with cricket authorities before.

In 1996 he was banned from schools cricket for knocking out his stumps after being given out. In 2003 he was sent home from Zimbabwe's tour of England for leaving the ground on his own after twice being dismissed for ducks on the third day of the second Test.

September 10^th - OUT with a bang ! The curtain fell on a most extraordinary season in almost perfect circumstances as the firsts and seconds amassed sixteen points out of twenty to complete a memorable campaign.

And for professional Chinthaka Jayasinghe, his plane journey back to Columbo will be all the sweeter after he tore apart the Crompton attack to score 144 not out. Added to the skipper’s 88, it meant that the side came excruciatingly close to the magic 300 for a second time this season as they rattled up 294-2. The professional was also amongst the wickets as Crompton were then dismissed for 150 with Aaron Vincec taking his maiden English wicket ! On Saturday, they had to settle for a point as Rochdale’s 208 proved a bridge too far as the early order got a little bogged down and they finished thirty runs short. Difficult to know how the table works out at the moment, especially as Werneth appear to have conceded their game with Ashton with the game in the balance – more on that to come no doubt, but a final position just outside the top half is some achievement after the start of the season.

The seconds have under achieved over the season, but they certainly didn’t over the weekend as first Rochdale’s runner-upambitions took a severe dent and then Crompton were annihilated on Sunday. Rochdale won the toss on Saturday and elected to bat; a decision they were left to rue as they were bowled out for 148 with Stephen Thorpe getting 7-47. The reply started well but after losing Geoff Griffiths and Paul Dempster it was stuttering on 50 for 3 before Liam Dorsey 38 steadied the innings. However, there was time to very nearly throw it away again but they eventually managed to scrape through for a thrilling one wicket win.

On Sunday it was another telling bowling performance which started the rout as Crompton were bowled out for 148 with skipper Rob Meredith getting 6-27. In reply they finished the season with the maximum in terms of cricket victories, winning by ten wickets with Geoff Griffiths 64 not out and Paul Dempster 63 not out.

For the thirds, as is usual in these situations when six teams have to be found for the weekend, it was a case of battle away and see what happens. Unfortunately, the three stalwarts, Ian Davidson, Tony Potter and Phil Royle had a disappointing time by their own standards, against two very strong sides. However, this allowed the blossoming youth to come to the fore and produce some very promising performances as Richard and Michael Dempster, Andrew Lord, Scott Bradley, Liam Holt and Danny Hill produced batting, bowling and fielding performances of some promise which should have those who weren’t able to turn out at the weekend, looking over their shoulders. Michael Dempster and Scott Bradley deserve special mention as their afternoon plans were rudely interrupted at a very late stage by late drop-outs. Andrew Lord also deserves credit for four wickets against a very strong Swinton Moorside on an unhelpful wicket. For the record, both games were lost, but in neither case were the side disgraced.

August 29^th - SEVEN wins out of NINE and a second and then a third league double of the season and It’s still hard to believe that the firsts couldn’t win a game in the first two months of the season.

A systematic dismantling of Unsworth on Saturday proved the point that the side have real potential to be a force in the CLL next season if the balance of the side can be maintained over winter. After Nick Kennedy reduced the hosts from 100+ for one wicket to 175-9 with 6-44, the ease with which Gary Garner (83no) and Andy Griffiths (85no) knocked off the required runs with no alarms whatsoever, proved the point. It also meant that Unsworth became the victims of a two game batting blitz by the CCC line-up which realised 472 runs for the loss of just two wickets ! On Sunday, the treatment was meted out to Milnrow as Gary and David Garner (109 and 66no) piled up 274-3 before Chris Tye took 5-55 in reducing the visitors to 159 all out.

It’s a long way to April 2007, but if the current momentum can be maintained…..who knows?

Meanwhile, the seconds were far from convincing as they held on for a point after recovering from 18-3 chasing 239. The credit goes to Paul Dempster who’s 96no was the backbone of a terrific stand with Oliver Dunn (29no) which rescued the side from 68-6 to finish with a point on 210-6. Another defeat on Sunday meant a miserable weekend, but Rob Meredith was full of praise for his young side and the way they battled against a much stronger outfit.

The thirds made it seven rained off games out of fifteen on Bank Holiday Monday – spare a thought for opponents Thornham though – that was their ELEVENTH two pointer ! 

August 22^nd -  Working on the premise that a handshake is as good as a written contract when dealing with Sri Lankan cricketers, then the club will welcome it's second Sri Lankan into the fold next season. Hirantha Wijesinghe is a right-hand bat and right-arm offbreak bowler who is currently playing at Ashton, but who has agreed to become the club's overseas amateur for 2007. The twenty seven year old plays for Galle CC in Sri Lanka and visited the club on Tuesday to speak to officials including Team Manager Geoff Garner who is excited at the prospect of having three spinners in the side next year. Ideally, he said, we needed an opening 'quickie', but being able to field Wijesinghe alongside Nick Kennedy and the rising talent of David Dempster as a three pronged spin attack will make the side something a little different. With other new players in the offing as well, plans are well underway for the club's tilt at CLL honours in 2007.

August 6th Professional Chinthaka Jayasinghe will be returning to Clifton next season to continue the excellent service he has given the club over the last two years. The first XI responded magnificently to the news, with a 7 wicket win over Werneth. Chris Tye took the fight to the opposition immediately and soon had the visitors reeling. He followed up his 5 wicket haul last week with a better return of 6 wickets this week and Nick Kennedy also chipped in with 3 wickets for only 1 run. Werneth were easily were dismissed for only 100 runs. On the batting front, Skipper Gary Garner went early on, but Chinthaka and Andrew Griffiths took the score on entertainingly before Chinta was unluckily out for 26, c&b when an "exocet rocket" hurtled its way towards the bowlers forehead. Young Griff was out soon after for 30+ runs and then Aaron Vincec and David Garner steered the side home to victory with plenty of overs to spare.

The 2nd XI were narrowly defeated at Werneth. Chasing a score of 186, they were bowled out for 164. Werneth batted first and were on the rack struggling at 54 for 4 until a partnership of almost 100 got them to a score of 186 for 8. The pick of the bowlers was Rob Meredith with 4 for 52 from 18 overs and Steve Thorpe with 3 for 64 from 13 overs. Clifton's innings saw what seemed like a different wicket emerge over the tea interval and the 2nds ended up with 164 all out. Geoff Griffiths was the pick of the batsmen with a well grafted 59. Anthony Walsh gave solid support but he was run out for 20 along with two other middle order batsmen, and this effectively lost the momentum of the innings.

The 3rd XI recorded their first ever victory over Rochdale CC when they bowled the home side out for only 77 runs with Taylor Marshall picking up 3 for 18 and Scott Davis mopping up the tail with 4 for 14. Rochdale set an aggressive field from the onset and Clifton lost early wickets against a rampant attack. Ronnie Gambles (19) held the middle order together and Taylor Marshall steered Clifton home to victory with 23 not out in a total of 81 for 8

August 5th  The first team took on CLL Table toppers Heywood on Saturday and almost pulled off a surprise victory. Batting first, the team accumulated 224 with Aaron Vincec and Andrew Griffiths both hitting half centuries and Pro Chinthaka Jayasinghe hitting 68. Unfortunately though, the team once again fell 30 to 40 runs short of the anticipated score after dominating the Heywood bowling. West Indian Test opening batsman Sherwin Campbell again hit an assured half century and the home side's total was passed with wickets and overs to spare. 

The 2nd XI were also defeated at Heywood. Chasing a score of 237 for 7, they were bowled out for 148. Top scorers were Grant Cordin with another half century and Geoff Griffiths with 39. Chris Higgs made a return to Clifton after about a decade's absence and took  2 for 68 from 17 overs 

Sunday say the 1st XI chalk up a thrilling victory away to Radcliffe who were restricted to 209 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Chris Tye picked up a well deserved five wicket haul and Professional Chinthaka Jayasinghe picked up four.