Lancashire League Handbook 2014

13 Our Sponsorship relationship with Heineken, under the Fosters banner as League & Worsley Cup sponsors entered the 2nd of our 3 year agreement and since the end of the season an extension of a further year has been agreed. Moorhouses Brewery continued their 20/20 Sponsorship, we are most grateful for both partnerships. Both sponsors have indicated that extra business has been secured during the first two years and we hope this will increase further over the next 12months. Half of our Clubs greeted new professionals. Four of them were from South Africa, Aubrey Swanepoel at Bacup, Brad Moses at Enfield, Ryan Canning at Nelson and Brett Pelser who had acted as substitute within the league on many occasions, at Rawtenstall. Two were from Sri Lanka, Kasun Bodisha at Church and Geeth Alwis at Todmorden. Former Ramsbottom Benton Parchment completed the new signings, at Haslingden. Returning were Ashar Zaidi at Accrington,Adnan Rasool at Burnley, Shadley van Shalkwyck at Colne, Ockert Erasmus at East Lancs, Francois Haaesbroek at Lowerhouse, Pieter Malan and Daniel Salpietro at Rishton. Thankfully this year there were few problems with Professionals not arriving or going home early, apart from the last 2 weekends and problems obtaining replacements were reduced due to there no longer being fixed dates on the final two Saturdays. The Ron Singleton Colne Trophy between Lowerhouse and Accrington started the season off and thankfully this year the match was played and spectators were rewarded with a cracking match as Accrington posted 225 for 6 from their 50 overs with Ashar Zaidi top scoring with 68. In reply Francoise Haaesbroek matched his opposite number with a half century of 51 but in the end the difference was a mere 3 runs withAccrington eventually winning the trophy for the first time. This was to prove a bit disastrous later in the season as their Clubhouse was burgled and the Trophy was stolen during the raid. Thankfully a newTrophy has been obtained andwill be played for at the start of next season. The season actuallymanaged to start on Sunday 21stApril as opposed to 2012 when only 2 games were able to start. The weather would return the following week when again only 2 games started but only one finished at Todmorden with Accrington stealing a march over their rivals with a second win of the season with victory on run rate. This was also their 1000th league victory. Church also recorded their 1000th win at Nelson in July during an impressive 16 match unbeaten run. The weather played havoc with League fixtures between the 11th and 18th Maywith only 3 fixtures reaching a result and consequently all three replay dates were taken up. Importantly, Accrington were involved in two of the three and had opened up a gap at the top of the table with wins over Burnley and East FOSTERS LANCASHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE