Match Day 11th September 2004 IT'S FLEETWOOD'S TITLE By Gerry Wolstenholme Rather like the final weekend of the 2003 season, rain had the last say in the Northern Premier League in that no games were completed but that did not prevent Fleetwood from winning the title for the first time since 1985. Four points all round meant that the seven point lead at the top was preserved and at 5-15pm when news reached Darwen that the Morecambe versus Netherfield game was washed out, Fleetwood were able to celebrate even though their game against Darwen had only just got into the second innings. It was in fact the game where most play was possible but, as everywhere else, Jupiter Pluvius had the final say. Fleetwood were put in to bat at Darwen where news quickly arrived that Morecambe had won the toss and were batting at Woodhill Lane. This meant that the number of bonus points required by Fleetwood in the event of a Netherfield win and a Fleetwood draw was fewer. But it was all academic in the end as Fleetwood recovered from losing half their side for 64 to make 187-6 in their 57 overs. Wayne Clarke made an excellent 53 not out and he was ably assisted by Andrew Clough who made 46. The wickets were shared with Jeff Hacking's 2-37 the best return. Darwen had advanced to 35 for no wicket when the drizzle became steady rain and that was the end of proceedings. Morecambe had a number of rain interruptions and had gone unsteadily to 64-5 when two cloudbursts meant the end of the game with a frustrated Netherfield side unable to do anything about it. Phil Thornton made 20 for the home side and Gareth White took a fine leg side catch and made one smart stumping. Kendal managed to notch a massive 256-5 at bottom club Leyland who were probably grateful for the rain, as they had gone to a precarious 18-4 when the match was abandoned. Ikram Ullah made 70 and Kevin Howarth 46 but it was Terry Hunte who stole the show with 57 that took him past 1,000 runs for the fourth time in his Northern League career. Barrow ended the season well for although their game was a victim of the weather, they had bowled Leyland Motors out for 123 with James Aspinwall making 46 and Rawl Lewis taking 4-28. Barrow were over halfway to their target when the rain came and the game was abandoned. Steven Croft continued his magnificent form for Blackpool as he blasted 76 not out and with Martin Pickles, 75 not out, he had put on 147 runs unbroken for the second wicket when torrential rain ended the contest with Blackpool 159-1. Lancaster were only able to reach 49-2 in their game with Preston before it was abandoned and the season once again came to a sad and wet ending. But nothing can be taken away from Fleetwood whose run of nine consecutive victories at the end of the season was instrumental in their taking the title with Netherfield deserved runners-up and the holders Darwen in third place. The presentation night will take place at St Annes Cricket Club on 24 September 2004 at 7.30pm. Scores in brief (home sides in bold): Blackpool 159-1 (Croft 76*, Pickles 75*) v Chorley Match abandoned 4 points each side Fleetwood 187-6 (Clarke 53*, Clough 46), Darwen 35-0 Match abandoned 4 points each side Lancaster 49-2 v Preston Match abandoned 4 points each side Kendal 256-5 (Ullah 70, Hunte 57, Howarth 46), Leyland 18-4 Match abandoned 4 points each side Leyland Motors 123 (Aspinwall 46, Lewis 4-28), Barrow 67-2 Match abandoned 4 points each side Morecambe 64-5 v Netherfield Match abandoned 4 points each side NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE Division One Club P W15 W12 D4 D1 L NR4 BP Pts Fleetwood 24 5 10 3 0 4 2 35 250 Netherfield 24 8 4 5 1 2 4 38 243 Darwen 24 4 7 5 1 4 3 43 220 Morecambe 24 4 8 1 2 6 3 29 203 Chorley 24 5 4 2 0 8 5 37 188 Kendal 24 5 4 1 4 8 2 40 179 Blackpool 24 2 7 1 5 6 3 43 178 Preston 24 4 4 2 1 11 2 46 171 St Annes 24 1 5 3* 4 7 4 61 169 Leyland Motors 24 2 3 4 2 9 4 54 154 Barrow 24 2 3 2 3 11 3 60 149 Lancaster 24 1 2 3* 5 10 3 57 126 Leyland 24 0 0 0 2 17 4 45 63 * includes 5 point for a tie Second Division scores in brief (home sides in bold): Barrow 133-5 (Adams C 58), v Leyland Motors Match abandoned 4 points each side Blackpool 179-9 (Caunce 52), Chorley 41-2 Match abandoned 4 points each side Fleetwood 94-8 (Chatterton 4-24) v Darwen Match abandoned 4 points each side Kendal v Leyland - Match abandoned 4 points each side Netherfield v Morecambe - Match abandoned 4 points each side Lancaster 193-4 (Speak 68*) v Preston Match abandoned 4 points each side NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE Division Two Club P W15 W12 D4 D1 L NR4 BP Pts Morecambe 24 5 11 5 1 1 1 36 268 St Annes 24 5 10 3 2 3 1 30 243 Chorley 24 6 9 1 2 4 2 19 231 Netherfield 24 3 5 3 3 7 2 62 190 Darwen 24 5 3 3 2 7 4 44 185 Fleetwood 24 5 3 4 1 9 2 44 180 Blackpool 24 2 4 3 4 8 3 50 156 Lancaster 24 2 6 1 2 11 2 37 153 Barrow 24 1 4 5 4 7 3 53 152 Leyland Motors 24 2 3 2 5 8 4 55 150 Kendal 24 0 5 1 3 12 3 40 119 Preston 24 2 1 2 5 13 1 46 105 Leyland 24 0 0 5 4 11 4 57 97 ACTION REPLAY: RAIN BUT FLEETWOOD WIN TITLE Fleetwood 187-6, Darwen 35-0 By Gerry Wolstenholme It may have been an anti-climax as far as a cricket match was concerned but for all those Fleetwood supporters present, and there were plenty of them, it was winning the title that mattered. When news came through that the Morecambe versus Netherfield game had been abandoned, the Fleetwood players, sheltering from the heavy rain, began their celebrations and the game was duly abandoned as the rain became even heavier. Before the stoppage Fleetwood had done extremely well to reach 187-6 on a damp track and after a start that saw them lose half the side for just 64 runs. Darwen only had time to receive 9.2 overs before the rain came and by that time they had advanced to 34 without loss. The fist bad news for Fleetwood was that skipper John Wright had a bad back and was unable to play so Doug Marillier took over the captaincy but he lost the toss and Chris Lowe invited Fleetwood to bat. It was a poor start for the visitors but a good one for 13-year-old wicketkeeper Jordan Clarke who was involved in the first two dismissals. Adam Sharrocks, five, got a thin edge to Andrew Mercer and he saved the umpire having to make a decision by walking and that was 12-1. It became 20-2 when Clarke took a catch off John Whalley, 11, who swung at a delivery from Jeff Hacking without really getting in line. Marillier, 12, got a bottom edge to Mercer and played it onto his stumps at 35-3 and when Clarke took his third catch off Neil Cordingley to dismiss Michael Clinning for 22, Fleetwood looked in trouble at 64-5. But cometh the hour cometh the men and Andrew Clough and Wayne Clarke got their heads down and defied the Darwen bowlers for 105 minutes in which time they put on 92 runs and took Fleetwood to respectability. Neither gave any chances and they worked hard for their runs early in the partnership as the Darwen bowlers gave nothing away. Keith Semple spoiled the party when he bowled Clough for 46 made from 111 balls with six fours and when the close came, James Ellis was 11 not out and Clarke a splendid 53 not out made from 85 balls with one six and two fours. It was a superb effort by the player who had come into the side to replace his captain and he thoroughly deserved the applause of his teammates as he left the field at teatime. Stuart Grant, 26 not out, and John Cordingley, seven not out, took Darwen to 35-0 from 9.2 overs but then the drizzle that had been falling for a while became heavy rain and the umpires had no option but to take the players from the field. The rain continued, as it did at Morecambe, and at 5-15pm the news from the coast was that the game had been abandoned and Fleetwood were able to celebrate and toast the winning of the trophy in the champagne generously provided by one of their supporters. A delighted skipper John Wright said, "I was sorry to miss the final game but my back was so bad I just could not have played but I am delighted for the boys and pleased to be captain of the side. We have done extremely well and those nine games on the trot that we won have proved decisive. " Coach and team manager Pat King commented, "It is the third time that I have been involved with a last day issue with Fleetwood and we lost out on the other two occasions, so I am delighted to have won the trophy this time. We will certainly be celebrating tonight."

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