Haslingden v Rawtenstall: Best of British points to the title

Now, as the first decade of the 21st century winds down, such badges could well be worn by smart-thinking Lancashire League teams.

In a season turned towards the farcical by the number of sub pros, pros not arriving and retired amateurs acting as pros, two clubs have been a constant after engaging home-grown local heroes.

While the decisions taken by Haslingden and Rawtenstall to hire Phil Hayes and Andrew Payne may have been largely motivated by monetary reasons, they will no doubt pay a huge dividend to the two Rossendale Valley rivals, albeit at different ends of the spectrum.

Rawtenstall may be propping up the league but their young players will learn much from Payne, the sort of whole-hearted cricketer you want in your team, and will become better for the experience.

And Haslingden may just have the key to a first title in five years in the brilliant Hayes, who passed 400 league runs for the season as he led his men to a stunning romp in this most keenly contested of all derbies.

Rarely is the big match between the two Valley rivals so one-sided but, then again, knocks as good as the brutal unbeaten 82 from Hayes don’t come around every day.

And the fans who understandably opted out of shivering at Bentgate on a horrible day really did miss a treat as he passed 50 for the third consecutive league game - and added to the rest of a fine top order, Haslingden could be a decent bet in a season were everyone is capable of beating each other.

A rain delayed start made it easy for Graham Knowles to put Rawtenstall in when he won the toss - but Payne and Rizwan Shafiq didn’t seem in too much trouble as they played positively.

But Payne fell for 14 as he slashed at one from Jack Sudworth and Hayes held a fine diving catch at point. Then Danny Barlow lobbed one up to John Pemberton and the Rawtenstall’s day was starting to look as bleak as the filthy clouds that, somehow, skirted around Bentgate without dropping their contents on the ground.

Josh Rushmore made a nice 16 and Shafiq went for 20, but the visitors were still handily placed.

But only Toby Bulcock made any real impression for them as their innings fell apart from 108-5 to 123 all out as spin twins Knowles and Chris Read tweaked out seven wickets between them.

Bulcock made an excellent 43 and at least gave Rawtenstall a target to defend.

And even though it was meagre, it ws not impossible but a good start was needed. The good start came - but not for Rawtenstall.

Given the new ball, Rushmore tore in with a bounce in his step - but Hayes was in a hurry and slapped the youngster for four fours in a first over that knocked any confidence Rawtenstall had.

But in the second over, that confidence came back a touch as the prolific Knowles failed as he went for a duck, caught by Vinny Hanson off Shafiq.

That unexpected departure brought Steve Dearden to the wicket and he was subdued, prodding and poking and with the score on 50, he was put down as square led off Payne.

It came as no surprise then that Dearden went for 18 with the score on 68. But Hayes was in supreme form, driving gloriously past his 50 despite Payne and Bulcock applying the brakes with frugal bowling.

And any lingering doubts about the victory were removed in the 23 over as Hayes went head-to-head with Payne - stunningly.

Payne was left in disbelief as Hayes smashed the over for 18, including a six carried over by the luckless Rushmore, who ran out of pitch as he tried to hold what would have been a fine catch in the gathering gloom.

He did at least get a wicket to go some way to silence the verbals from the fans behind him as he bowled Read. But the damage was done by then and Hayes won the game with 12 overs to spare.

His 82 came from just 79 balls with three sixes and 10 glorious fours - and his performance could well have other clubs opening up the British contacts book to hunt down next year’s paid men.