Youngsters show the way

WITH the club's first team languishing at the foot of the Central Lancashire League table, Stand CC's under 16s have helped to redress the balance a little by winning the Salford Education Trophy.

The team plays in the Salford Youth Cricket Association's Under 16s League, and recently faced SWM in the League Cup final at Winton.

Stand reached the final after knocking out Bolton in the semis, where top Jack Ritchie took five wickets.

In the final Stand batted first and lost their most experienced batsmen very early on.

However, a knock of 47 by 13-year-old Matthew Holt helped Stand reach 105 off their 20 overs - setting their opponents a target of just over 5 an over.

SWM started briskly but, due to a tight bowling performance from Stand's strike force, soon fell behind the rate and were left needing eight an over off their remaining eight overs.

However, this fell dramatically and at one stage SWM threatened to complete a recovery and win.

But the prize wicket of SWM's big slogger was claimed by 14-year-old Matthew Curphey in the 18th over.

It proved to be the turning point and Stand went on to win by nine runs, after SWM needed 16 to win off the last two overs.

Captained by Chris Holt and jointly managed by Sam Warren and Alan Livesey, it was a real team performance to which every one contributed, with the result keeping alive the team's unbeaten run this season with just three matches remaining.