2010

4th September

Defeat to new Champions Hawk Green

The 1sts hosted champions elect Hawk Green who knew a win would secure the league title. The visitors batted first and proceeded to post 245-8 from their overs with Blackhurst (65) & Young (52) the main contributors with the bat. Joe Jackson & Paul Jones both picked up 3 wickets for Chapel.

The run chase never really got going as a fine opening spell from O’Connor of 12-7-9-5 saw Chapel slip to 50-6. A valiant 39 from Lee Bradley and a textbook 16 from Paul Jones saw the 1sts to respectability as they were eventually 127 all out but it was Green’s day as they put in a fine performance to ensure they ended Compstall’s 5-year Division 1 title monopoly.

2nds Take One Hell of a Beating

Chapel travelled to Hawk Green and were surprisingly inserted to bat on a ground famous for its favourable batting conditions. Kelly & Fletcher opened up for the visitors but thanks to some accurate bowling from Granite & Holme runs were hard to come by in the early overs. Fletcher fell LBW looking to pull Holme but Kelly, after looking scratchy early on, began to find the boundary on numerous occasions. The score passed 50 before Critchlow was bowled for 12 and Kelly threw away a good start as he was stumped for 37.

The Pickering brothers batted well together and took the score beyond 100 before Jake was bowled for 27. Candlin & Wagstaffe both fell cheaply before Jordan went for a fine 43. Jamie Wood was playing a fine aggressive innings at the other end and a useful knock from Pearson saw Chapel rally in the final overs as he took 18 off an over from M.Holme. Pearson went for a quick 30-odd but 3 wickets fell in an over as Chapel were all out for 203 with Wood finishing 30 not out.

Following a splendid tea in arguably the league’s best pavilion the Hawk Green openers batted brilliantly and capitalised on some generous bowling. Cartledge (65) was being particularly aggressive and Chapel’s bowlers were punished for always giving one or more free hits an over. He was supported by Butler who made a fine 75 not out as 129 was put on for the 1^st wicket. The humiliation wasn’t complete though as Downey came in and bludgeoned 50 from just 17 balls including a series of big sixes over the houses. Green cruised home with 18 overs to spare a win which subsequently sees them all but promoted.

Despite coming up against a side that would probably do very well in Division 3 Chapel let themselves down in the field. The batting performance was reasonable but somebody needed to make a big score to see the total reach the 250 mark which was probably required to win the game. Next up for the 2nds is a trip to bogey side Buxworth.

28th August

Comfortable Win for 1sts at Hadfield

On a typically wet Bank Holiday weekend Chapel made the trip to relegation candidates Hadfield and following a delay due to the weather, elected to bowl first in a 64 over game. The hosts made a solid start to their innings with Murray & Nicholson looking solid against the opening attack of Gratton & Hawtin but the run rate hovered around 3 per over and following the 1^st of many rain interruptions Jake Pickering removed Murray thanks to a Hibbert stumping. Skipper Nicholson played well for his 57 before Pickering tore through the middle order as he collected career best figures of 7-28 from 7 overs as Hadfield made 131-8 from 32 overs.

Chapel’s reply started well as Kelly & Hawtin put on 25 for the 1^st wicket before the former fell to a good ball from Hockey. Hawtin was in imperious form however and he played some brilliant shots through & over the cover region as Chapel made light work of chasing down the total. Dan Christie provided good support with 16 before he fell following another rain break. It was left to Hibbert to hit the winning runs as Chapel won with 5 overs remaining, Hawtin finishing on an excellent 79 not out.

The 2^nd team’s home fixture against Hadfield was abandoned without a ball being bowled

21st August

Winning Streak Ended by Tintwistle

The 1^st team’s 4 match winning run was ended following defeat at home to Tintwistle. Chapel batted first and slumped to just 129 all out with Harris (4-30) and Poole (3-36) doing the damage with the ball. In reply D.Weatherhead was the mainstay of the innings with a well played 73 as the visitors knocked off the runs for the loss of 4 wickets to condemn the 1sts to just their 2^nd home defeat of the season.

Weather robs seconds of victory

 Chapel seconds travelled to 3^rd placed Hollingworth on Saturday for a game they needed to win in order to maintain any hopes of promotion. Skipper Pearson won the toss and asked the home side to bat, a decision vindicated by tremendous opening spells by Ferdani and Critchlow. Both were aided and abetted by a slow, low, track but on any surface scoring would have been hard work against this pair. After 10 overs the home side had 10 on the board but wickets soon begun to fall at regular intervals once the openers were removed. The introduction of Morris, who ended up with three wickets, and Jake Pickering, who also ended up with 3, did nothing to make things any easier for the batsmen as both bowled accurate spells. With 30 overs gone Hollingworth were on 70 for 4 and in fact did well to get the score up to 148 for 9 after 45 overs against Ferdani and Critchlow who kept up the good work of their opening spells.

Kelly and Christie opened for Chapel and both scored at a quick rate before Christie was caught at square leg. Special mention must be made of Christies back foot cover drive for 4 which was the standout shot of the day. Tod Candlin and Tom kept up the quick run rate, largely due to the aggressive Kelly taking full advantage of any lose deliveries. The loss of Jake Pickering for 0 and Kelly for an excellent 60 brought Jordan Pickering to the crease. As the weather closed in, the run rate dropped and at 6.30 the rain stopped play with Chapel at 106 for 3 with 16 overs in hand. The game was finally abandoned at 7.30.

In all bar the result this was a great performance by Chapel. The best bowling for many weeks and positive batting, particularly from Kelly whose knock was perhaps his best ever for the second team on a difficult track against some handy bowling. Although promotion is still possible, lack of player availability for next weeks game means that promotion is now, unfortunately, very unlikely.

14th August

Superb Win for 1^st Team at Hazel Grove

A depleted Chapel side made the trip up the A6 to Hazel Grove looking to record their 4^th consecutive victory in the league. The home side won the toss and chose to bat first with the wicket still damp from overnight rain. Chapel’s innings started poorly with first Kelly, and then Newiss, both falling playing the pull shot. A solid partnership between Mike Edwards and Andrew Hibbert stabilised the innings with Edwards showing good form on his return to the side. He was quick to latch onto anything short and reached 50 in good time. Hibbert played patiently for his 15 but when he fell with the score on 88, the standard middle order collapse, which has so often followed a big partnership this season, ensued. Edwards was one of the men to fall for a real captain’s knock of 68. The perpetrators for Grove were M.Potter & G.Nodin whose mixture of spin and medium pace saw them collect 5-25 and 3-34 respectively. However, a swashbuckling 35 from John Theyer, including a couple of fine sixes down the ground, and a useful 11 from Will Gratton, saw Chapel to 146 all out in the final over.

The Grove response started poorly with Joe Jackson dismissing Noden LBW in the 1^st over much to his displeasure. Burke went in the 3^rd over, dragging on, and skipper Oldfiled fell with the score on 19 as Gratton picked up his solitary wicket of the day. Nick Hayward and Potter put on 40 before Potter sliced a full toss from Theyer (2-39) straight to Edwards at point for 23. Hayward was looking in ominous form before he also hit a full toss to Edwards, this time off 1^st team debutant Ferdani, to fall for a well played 38. It was nip and tuck from here on in as most of the lower order chipped in with a few valuable runs but wickets continued to fall regularly with Jackson continuing his good bowling form with 4-43. Grove reached 128-8 with 5 overs left before a brilliant direct hit run out from Newiss saw the back of Clayton for 8. At this stage Chapel thought they were home but no.10 Nick Hayward (20) played aggressively and took the score to 140. Ferdani returned with 2 overs left and 7 required but Hayward played one shot too many and sliced a drive to backward point where Kelly took a simple catch to see Chapel to victory by 6 runs.

This was a brilliant performance in the field from the 1sts who, without 5 established 1^st team players, pulled off possibly their best win of the season.

Seconds slump to third successive defeat.

Chapel seconds played host to mid table Hazel Grove on Saturday. After heavy rain for much of the week, skipper Nick Pearson won the toss (at the second time of asking. The toss took place on the pavilion balcony and Pearson’s first, over enthusiastic, toss resulted in the coin landing in the roof gutter) and courageously (or stupidly depending on your point of view) decided to bat.

 Topham and Fletcher got Chapel off to a brisk start aided by a plethora of wides and at 31 off 10 overs all seemed set fair. Few wickets fell but the scoring rate slowed and with Chapel barely at 2 runs an over off the first 30 overs, the pressure on the remaining batsmen on a difficult pitch was substantial. Jordan Pickering was the only Chapel batsman to get the pace of the pitch and 150 seemed on the possible until he was bowled for a well made 47. Chapel eventually limped to 125 for 8 at Phil Ferdani and Martin Cooper took Chapel to the extra point in the 45^th over.

Hazel Grove got off to a good start and were at 33 before Chapel took a wicket. Thereafter they lost only 4 wickets before passing the Chapel total with 10 overs to spare. Sean Critchlow was mighty unlucky to take only 2 wickets (11 overs, 2 maidens, 32 runs) while Martin Cooper was similarly economical.

Chapel bowled well but Hazel Grove batted better and in particular were much better at keeping the board moving via quick singles than Chapel had been. In retrospect Chapel should have batted second as the pitch did improve and the outfield quicken but the lack of a pace bowler and the odd dropped catch probably cost Chapel this game.

7th August

1sts Consolidate Mid-Table Position

Hayfield were the visitors to Willow Drive and they elected to bowl first in a game reduced to 39 overs per side. The Chapel innings started badly with Kelly falling in the first over to Unsworth who bowled a tight opening spell, conceding just 7 from his 8 overs. Garry Pheasey had to retire hurt soon after with the score on 12 but Max Newiss & Andrew Hibbert built an excellent partnership for the 2^nd wicket. Once Newiss got his eye in he played with typical aggression and Hibbert was in belligerent mood as he hit 6 fours in a single over. Newiss reached his 50 with a towering six and Hibbert reached his half century before he was dismissed with the score on 132. Newiss continued to punish some wayward bowling before he perished for a fine 81. The innings lost a little momentum as Aldridge bowled a canny spell of off-spin to collect 3 wickets but a useful 20 not out from Joe Jackson pushed Chapel up to 187-6 from their overs.

The Hayfield reply never really got going with wickets falling at regular intervals throughout their innings. Jackson bowled a tight opening spell of 7 overs for just 11 runs, collecting the wicket of Sam Hudson in the process. It was Lee Bradley who proved the pick of the bowlers however as he bowled a magnificent spell of off-spin. The visiting batsmen struggled to get him and Neil Pheasey (3-39) away as the run rate climbed towards 7 an over. Several batsmen threatened, but none went on to make a big score with Furness top scoring with 26. Bradley eventually picked up 6-34, with Hibbert taking two brilliant stumpings, as Hayfield slumped to 111 all out.

This was another good performance from the 1sts who continue to show they have what it takes to compete with anyone in Division 1.

2^nd Team slip up at High lane

On a showery and generally overcast afternoon, top of the league Chapel travelled to High Lane. With a delayed start due to rain, the match was reduced to 41 overs a side. Chapel lost the toss and were inevitably inserted on a damp and well worn pitch. Against some fairly accurate bowling Chapel scratched along, with only 20 runs off the 1^st 10 overs. As 3 wickets fell for some 30 runs, this brought together Topham and Skipper Pearson. Richard batted with controlled aggression as Pearson looked all at sea against the flight and guile of the High Lane leggy. The score gradually crept up before Topham fell for well made 45 to a truly brilliant left handed catch at first slip, who took the ball as it went behind him.

Dan Christie, playing in his first match since dislocating his shoulder, looked immediately at home and he an Pearson briefly threatened to put together a decent partnership before Pearson was inevitably caught long off for a woeful 14.

Dan marshalled the late middle order well for 28 not out to drag Chapel up to 142 for 6 in 41 overs.

In response High Lane got off to a brisk start and despite an early wicket from Tod Candlin and excellent bowling from Ferdani (who eventually ended up with the other three wickets to fall), the Chapel bowling was almost entirely utterly inept. Full tosses were served up at the rate of at least one an over, thus taking the difficult batting conditions out of the equation and the High Lane batsmen happily tucked into the feast of dross with a mixture of relish and incredulity. Could this side really be top of the league you could almost hear them wonder?

The game was lost with over 10 overs left to bowl as High Lane cruised to well deserved victory for the loss of only 4 wickets.

As has been the case for much of the season, with a one exception the Chapel bowling simply did not make the High Lane batsmen work hard enough for the runs on pitch which should have made 142 look a fair total. Chapel must do much better if they are to have any prospect of gaining promotion.

Halfway Season Averages

Batting

Bowling