Chelmere Homes Trophy Final

Match report - 3rd September 2000

The First XI entertained a crowd of several hundred in the Chelmere Homes Trophy Cup Final against Bootle on Sunday 3rd September. Sadly, Genlec Leigh's Cup Double ambitions ended in disappointment as they lost the final by the comfortable margin of 8 wickets to a star-studded Bootle side. The Merseysiders have now won the cup for a record five consecutive years and were generally in control throughout Sunday's showpiece.

Having bagged the Premiership Cup against Ormskirk over the previous weekend, Leigh went into the game at full strength and high in confidence. Unfortunately, the early loss of Andy Batterley did nothing to calm the nerves, although Chris Hall and Dave Dove set about giving the home side a platform on which to build and put on 35 runs in 11 overs.

Chris Finegan, however, came back to strike twice on 44, removing Hall in the deep and Steve Bailey without scoring in the 14th over. Rotating their Aussie and two Cheshire quicks, the batsmen found scoring difficult but Michael Day did have some success in keeping the scoreboard ticking over and scored 23 before being the fourth victim at 84, half way through the innings.

Whilst four wickets had been lost at the halfway stage, the game was still in the balance, although Bootle were probably slightly more content with the situation than Leigh. The pendulum did, however, start to swing towards last year's champions over the next forty minutes, as only 27 runs came in the next eight overs for the loss of Andy Mullaney and Rob Clews, both cheaply.

With twelve overs to go and Leigh at 109 for 6, there was a real possibility that the home side could commit the cardinal sin of being bowled out without completing their full allocation of overs. However, whilst all this had been going on, Dove had patiently held up one end with a combination of sensible defence and good shot selection. Leigh captain, Tim McKiernan, then joined the ex-skipper and together set about trying to post a competitive score. The two managed to put together an undefeated partnership off the remaining overs, ensuring Leigh finished at 176 for 6 and setting Bootle a victory target of just under four runs per over. Dove's backbone innings of 83 came off 123 balls and included eight fours, whilst McKiernan finished on 20 not out.

In reply, Mike Holden struck early to remove the dangerous Jon Bean without troubling the scorer and, when his opening partner Tommy Reilly went to Day with the score on 42, the home side sensed an upset was still on the cards. Unfortunately, that wicket proved to be the last success of the day as the Cheshire pair of Iain Cockbain and Richard Hignett put together a chanceless undefeated partnership of 135 to steer Bootle to victory with six overs to spare. Cockbain finished with 79 and man-of-the-match Hignett 61.

The day had proved to be an overall success as an event even though the home supporters were disappointed that their side had not been able to rise to the undoubted challenge; in the end, Leigh was well beaten by one of the most powerful sides in the North West. Although Leigh failed to take the glory on the field of play, the members and supporters had a marvellous time and enjoyed one of the best days in the club's recent history.

Everyone at Leigh would like to thank the match ball and team sponsors, First Mortgages and Genlec, together with all other sponsors for their support throughout the year, a season in which the Leigh team broke its duck and picked up its first piece of Liverpool Competition silverware.

Photographs

Below are a few photographs of the members, helpers and spectators without whom the day could not have been the success it was. Click on the thumbnails to view larger photographs.

Gary Woodward & Andy Moorhouse prepare the wicket	Claire touts for customers at Danny's Bar	Danny's Bar proves to be something of a success
Danny ensures that little Mull gets a move on with the empties	Sue, Shiela and Claire prepare the barbeque	Now tell me Mullaney that you weren't drunk that night
The lovely Carol, Leigh's finest bar maid	The crowd gathers for the day's entertainment	Danny's bar & supporters