Lancashire League Handbook 2022

20 SECRETARY’S REPORT 2022 The season managed to get underway as scheduled, albeit with coronavirus restrictions and Greenmount were welcomed into the League, with a visit to Accrington being their first game. Professional Chesney Hughes top scored and a total of 238/6 was built around his 66. In reply Accrington recovered from 13/2 with 55 from sub pro Jack Edgar and 45 from Tom Walker to reach 128/4. Useful knocks from Toby Bulcock and skipper Graeme Sneddon gave hope but eventually they fell 7 runs short to give Greenmount a winning start. Accrington had engaged Jack Edgar as a substitute due to their professional not yet being available due to covid preventing travel and this was a similar situation for several clubs. The League Executive had extended the option of not engaging a Professional for the season and East Lancashire had taken this option up. Several Clubs had UK based professionals and this was a bonus in difficult times. In Division One, Colne, Crompton, Darwen, Rochdale and Todmorden had substitutes in their first matches and in Division Two, Accrington, Bacup, Haslingden and Rishton were in the same position. Coronavirus caused problems throughout the season, not only with Professionals being unable to travel but with outbreaks at clubs which caused postponements and Clubs affected, both via the infection and the inconvenience of losing a weekends cricket because their opponents were unable to play due to isolations, are to be congratulated for having been amenable and flexible when rearranging games. The virus is not selective and anyone, any Club could be affected. Hopefully this will be behind us for 2022. Elsewhere on day One of the season there were wins for Walsden, Ramsbottom, Darwen, Norden, Todmorden and reigning champions Burnley in Division One and for Bacup, Littleborough, Nelson, Rawtenstall and Church alongside Greenmount in Division Two. On the previous day the Ron Singleton Colne Trophy got the season underway and was contested between Burnley and Darwen the, League and Cup winners from 2019. Burnley asked Darwen to bat and they posted a total of 210 for 8 with substitute professional Suleman Khan top scoring with 97. Burnley then chased the total down in just over 36 overs thanks to two unbeaten innings via a run a ball 105 from professional Ockert Erasmus and 78 for wicket keeper Chris Burton to record their third Trophy win. During the season several new records were established. Keith Roscoe became the highest ever amateur wicket taker when he overtook Fred Duerr’s 1929 record of 1815 wickets, ending the season with a total of 1823 Lancashire League wickets. A new record opening stand of 320 was set by Chesney Hughes 159* and Andy Kerr 120 at Greenmount against East Lancashire on 13th June.