Review of 1994

Membership: Manchester Association
Captain: Dave Dove

The 1994 season provided a wide-ranging set of challenges for the 1st XI who were involved in five separate competitions, including the Lancashire Cup for the first time since 1976.

The first round of the Abbot Ale Cup (national knockout) was played on the second Sunday of the season, and a remarkable spell of 6 for 9 by veteran spin bowler, Ken Dickinson, saw Leigh to an easy win over visitors Prestwich. The second round produced a notable 34-run victory over local rivals Golborne in a high-scoring game, but the third round saw Northern Leaguers, St. Annes, prove far too powerful for a below-strength Leigh side in spite of a top class opening partnership of 87 by Dave Dove and Steve Whalley.

The Skipton L.C.A. Trophy first round game produced an easy win at Goodlass which included a superb 141 by Dean Reeves, but the second round exit at the hands of Greenmount from the Bolton League was a great disappointment, Leigh losing by 13 runs in a match that they should definitely have won.

The Burtonwood Trophy 20-over competition featured a remarkable recovery against St. Helens - from 19 for 6 to 95 all out - to set up a victory by 21 runs, but this was followed by the narrowest of defeats in a high scoring game against Newton-le-Willows.

Convincing wins over first division sides Bury, Ashton and Stretford led to Leigh's first ever semi-final appearance in the H.C. Smith Trophy at home to the highly successful Newton side. This game ended in a shattering 77-run defeat only eight days after the same opponents had been well beaten at Beech Walk in a league game.

The league campaign ended with Leigh in fifth position in the table with eight wins, eleven draws and six defeats and, although home form was often excellent, away games produced only two wins, effectively destroying any hope of a challenge for honours.

Australian Dean Reeves achieved a club record aggregate of 1312 runs in all matches, beating the previous highest total of 1037 set by Alf Unsworth in 1938. His 844 round in league matches was, however, just short of Alf's record of 862 also set in 1938. He also held most catches in a season by an outfielder (15) since records have been kept (1957). In a year when 20 centuries were scored in Premier Division cricket, Leigh was the only club not to produce a centurion, although Dean Reeves fell just short with 98 at Chorlton.

The 1st XI achieved its first home win over Wigan since 1976, the previous instance being in 1963.