I COULD not believe that the semi-finals of the inter-league cup were decided by bowling at the stumps - it was ridiculous.
Both Lancashire League sides, Haslingden and Nelson, lost out in dreadful conditions.
A bowl-out was okay in the lead-up games.
But there was still enough time left in the season to have set aside alternative dates for the semis.
No-one likes returning during the week but even that would have been a better solution in such a prestigious competition.
The Haslingden lads were pretty upset but they are still my tip to go on and win the big one - the league title.
It is a very professional club with a lot of strength in depth in the amateurs, Jack Simpson and Steve Dearden in particular.
East Lancs bat all the way down but I don't think their bowling is quite as strong as Haslingden.
You have to bowl sides out to win this league.
But there are still a couple of clubs with outside chances.
Colne are only eight points behind Haslingden but they largely depend on professional Ben Johnson, although they have a couple of decent amateur bowlers.
Lowerhouse play well around pro Corrie Jordaan, who seems to have taken about 300 wickets already.
Their batsmen go after the bowlers but that does not always produce the consistency needed for a title tilt.
And then, of course, my side Enfield are steaming up on the rails!
It has been great to see the guys finally stringing together some results. Last weekend I was victim of a Reidy conspiracy after taking the first eight Church wickets.
Young Sam Reidy was stirring it, saying he would stop me taking all 10 for the first time.
The ninth wicket to fall was - no surprises - caught by his dad, Bernard off Sam's bowling.
There is a lot of potential at this club but, unfortunately, the likelihood is that I will not be able to accept Enfield's offer for next season. But I have not made a firm decision either way yet.
My situation is that I have to one year of my University course still to complete. And I would have to start the course again if I did not return to college this year.
So I want to see what happens in my season at home.
There could also be a lot of other opportunities for me, if I can take them.
If I returned to England it would be my sixth consecutive year playing cricket and there comes a time when you need a rest.
So I will have some hard thinking to do this English winter.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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