Petrie perfect

But Richard Petrie has set a new benchmark at Darwen, who face an almighty task in trying fill the Kiwi's boots when they try and retain the Vaux Northern League title next summer.

Petrie joined a side that finished third from bottom of the league a year ago and moulded them into champions inside six months.

Darwen clinched the title for the first time since 1987 when they beat Netherfield on Saturday to cap an outstanding season in which Petrie performed almost beyond the call of duty.

The Wellington all-rounder arrived at Birch Hall as something of an unknown quantity.

But he quickly stamped his mark on the club, bringing the best out of his team-mates with innovative training techniques and the power of positive thought.

"I wanted to do more than just come over here and play," he said after leading Darwen to title glory as nearest rivals St Anne's saw their final game washed out at Blackpool.

"I'm 32 now and I've played a lot and done well here and there and it was more a case of seeing the other guys do well.

"I was hoping that if we were to win it that it would be fantastic if an amateur player played a big role and Gareth Cordingley did that."

Cordingley hit 78 in a successful last-day run-chase. But Petrie also played a major role with an unbeaten 64, to follow up the hat-trick he claimed in Netherfield's innings.

"I suppose it was beautifully timed in terms of a script," added Petrie, who contributed 814 runs at an average of 81.4 and 63 wickets at 11.81 despite his modesty about his own achievements. However, it was off the field as much as on it that Petrie proved more than value for money.

He said: "The club was third from bottom last year and we lost one player and didn't gain any so there weren't any great expectations. In fact, I heard that if we won four games they'd be happy.

"Before the start of the season I sat down with the whole club and got everybody in and said what I wanted to discuss and asked everybody what their expectations were.

"They were a bit tentative about anything other than the top four being a big success to get into the Lancashire Cup.

"I said realistically on paper if you take all the professionals out where do you see yourselves as a team and they said fourth."

Petrie, therefore, had to find a bit more to mount a title challenge and his team-mates eagerly responded.

The weather allowed Darwen to play 19 games, of which they won 15 and lost only once.

In a victory over Fleetwood they recovered from being 1-4 to reach a target of 90 and against Chorley held out for a vital draw after slumping to 12-5.

"We had talked a lot about handling pressure and putting others teams under pressure," Petrie added.

"Because we have talked about it and everyone's thought about it and we've done a few strategies for handling pressure, we've batted our way out of difficult situations."

For Petrie it's been his most enjoyable overseas summer.

"Being older I've had more of an impact on the side," he said.

And that impact can't be overstated. "They said in the pub after we'd won two games in a row that they had never started this well.

"And when we'd won seven in a row they said nobody in the league had ever started this well. It's been magic all the way through," admitted Petrie, who has left a lasting impression before heading off to tour the United States and Europe prior to the start of New Zealand's domestic season late next month.

"He's been the best professional that I've known in 30 years and he will never be forgotten.

"It's going to be a problem filling the void and getting someone of equal calibre," said club chairman Peter Lamster, who also delighted in the fact that Darwen's success was based around a team of entirely homegrown players galvanised by a top-notch professional.

Petrie will, however, help Darwen land a suitable successor and they will be looking for another mature, seasoned player.

As for Petrie, his wife is expecting a baby next spring and he is considering starting a business.

This time next year, he'll probably be a millionaire.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.