It’s another double header weekend with derby cup action on Saturday and a trip to Lanhead to face Bacup on Sunday.

On Saturday House will be hoping to repeat last weeks success against arch rivals Burnley in the Quarter Finals of the Worsley Cup.  The sides last met in in the cup back in 2004 with House running out victorious on their way to a first ever Worsley Cup triumph. It’s the same squad as last with Jonny Russell added after returning from injury.

On Sunday it’s a trip to Bacup as we look to move away from the foot of the table.  Lowerhouse name the same 12 as Saturday.

Bacup’s pro for 2008 needs to introduction to league and international cricket followers.  New Zealand Legend Chris Harris is a veteran of 250 one day internationals for his country amassing 4,379 runs and taking 203 wickets in the process.  In the league he first represented Ramsbottom and in 1995 became just the fourth man to achieve the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets.  Last season, which was his first with Bacup saw him score 801 runs at 61.6 and take 82 wickets.  He has 22 wickets to his name already this season.

Amateur wise Bacup’s leading batsmen is Paul Gallagher who last season scored 329 runs with a best of 79* and this season has 130 runs to date with a best of 52.  Leading bowler is David Warren who has 10 wickets to date at 18.2.

1st XI - Burnley (Away)  – 31st May 08 – Meet 11:45

From:-

1. Jon Finch (Capt)
2. Chris Bleazard
3. Chris Benbow
4. Charlie Cottam
5. Will Driver
6. Stuart Grant
7. Joe Hawke
8. Matt. Hope
9. Hassan Khan
10. Jack McGregor (Wkt)
11. Jonny Russell
12. Bredan Drew (Pro)

Same Squad Sunday versus Bacup Away – Meet 11:45 prompt.

2nd XI - Haslingden (Home) - 31st May 08  – Meet 11.45

1. Paul Stansfield (Capt)
2. Phil Haggerty
3. First Teamer
4. Matt Doughty
5. Ben Heap
6. Scott Hope
7. Paddy Howley (Wkt)
8. Matt Marquis
9. Paddy. Martin
10. Matt Stansfield
11. Kieron Tighe

Reserve – Chris Swift

Same side Sunday versus Bacup @ Home – Meet 11:45 prompt.

 3rd XI - Rawtenstall (Away) - 31st May 08  – Meet 12:00

From:-

1. Michael Lee (Capt)
2.  Chris Swift
3. Sahun Heaton
4. Fergus Bailey
5. Lewis Marsden
6. Joe Martin
7. Michael Donovan
8. Tauqeer Razzaq
9. Colin Quinn
10. Matt Walker
11. Ben Webster

Reserves – Jonny Whitehead & Josh Whitehead

Meet 11:45 prompt

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Our 20/20 campaign gets under way tonight with a trip to League Leaders Nelson.  It’s a much changed side with Matt Hope taking the reigns in the absence of the unavailable Jon Finch. Stuart Grant, Charlie Cottam and Chris Benbow all sit out.  There is a return from injury for Jonny Russell and chances for Ben Heap, Scott Hope and Padddy Martin.

The team is:-

1. Matt Hope (Capt)
2. Chris Bleazard
3. Will Driver
4. Joe Hawke
5. Ben Heap
6. Scott Hope
7. Hassan Khan
8. Paddy Martin
9. Jack McGregor(Wkt)
10. Jonny Russell
11. Brendan Drew

The game gets underway at 6pm with entrance £2 Adults and £1 Juniors/OAP’s.

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Lowerhouse won the first of back to back Derbies with a 5 wicket victory at Turf Moor On Sunday. 

Burnley batted first scoring 175-8 from their 50 overs with telling contributions from Mohammad Jamal (41) and Steve Brunt (46) after an early innings slump had seen them slip to 66-5.  Wickets were shared between the bowlers with Brendan 2-47 from 17 and the skipper 2-36 from 12 the main contributors.

In reply, House lost Finch early bowled by Graham Lalor but Chris Bleazard (53) and Will Driver (29) steadied the ship leading House to 62 before Will fell caught behind off the bowling of James Capstick.  Brendan and Blez lead the lads to 115-2 leaving them well in control before Brendan (23) fell caught in the deep off the bowling of Barhat Tripathi and Blez was stumped leaving House 118-4.  Hassan Khan and Stuart Grant saw House home both unbeaten on 22.

Lowerhouse will be hoping to repeat their performance this coming Saturday when they meet Burnley for the second time in 6 days in the Worsley Cup Quarter Finals at Turf Moor.

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It’s derby time.  The first of back to back derbies against Burnley takes place this weekend at Turf Moor on Sunday 25th May.  Next week we face the second of the derbies in the Cup Quarter Final also at Turf Moor.

Chris Benbow returns to the Lowerhouse squad although Jonny Russell is doubtful having picked up a slight hamstring strain in the cup victory at Colne.  House will be looking to build on last weeks success over Colne and string some results together to move up the table and progress in the cup.

There are some familiar names in the Burnley line up although they have lost all-rounder Jon Clare and former Lowerhouse batsmen Vishal Tripathi.  Clare is taking wickets and scoring runs a plenty in County Cricket for Derbyshire having recently signed a 2 year contract.  Tripathi is playing in the Central Lancashire League for Milnrow.

Burnley are skippered by former Lowerhouse allrounder Qasim Ali.  Burnley’s form men at the moment are Michael Kelly who has been in the runs and wickets and former Houser Barhat Tripathi who recently recorded career best figures of 7-35 against Colne.  

Burnley’s pro for the 2008 season is Sri Lankan batsmen Jeeva Kulatunga.  34 year old Kulatunga has scored 6571 runs at 31.6 in 151 First-class matches. His right arm medium pace bowling has accounted for 62 victims with a best of 5-67.   Kulatunga has pro’d in the Ribblesdale League between 2003 and 2006 for Barnoldswick scoring in excess of 1,000 runs on two occasions.

1st XI - Burnley (Away)  – 25th May 08 – Meet 11:45

From:-

1. Jon Finch (Capt)
2. Chris Bleazard
3. Chris Benbow
4. Charlie Cottam
5. Will Driver
6. Stuart Grant
7. Joe Hawke
8. Matt. Hope
9. Hassan Khan
10. Jack McGregor (Wkt)
11. Jonny Russell
12. Bredan Drew (Pro)

2nd XI – Burnley (Home) – 25th May 08  – Meet 11.45

From:-

1. Paul Stansfield (Capt)
2. Phil Haggerty
3. First Teamer
4. Joe Beneduce
5. Matt Doughty
6. Ben Heap
7. Scott. Hope
8. Paddy Howley (Wkt)
9. Matt Marquis
10. Paddy. Martin
11. Matt Stansfield
12. Kieron Tighe

 3rd XI - Nelson (Home) – 24th May 08  – Meet 12:00

From:-

1. Michael Lee (Capt)
2. Sahun Heaton
3. Adam Hope
4. Lewis Marsden
5. Joe Martin
6. Dean Mottram
7. Tauqeer Razzaq
8. Colin Quinn
9. Matt Stansfield
10. Chris Swift
11. Matt Walker
12. Ben Webster

Reserve – Michael Donovan

Same squad Monday versus East Lancs (Home) meet noon prompt.

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Unfortunately, the site has been beset with further technical problems since the weekend.  Gladly we are now back up and running and hopefully it will stay that way.

As for the weekends cricket, Saturday saw the home game against Haslingden abandoned without a ball being bowled.  This game will now be replayed on Saturday July 12th.

On Sunday we progressed to the quarter finals of the Worsley Cup with an excellent victory over Colne.   

House batted first with Will Driver (62) and skipper Jon Finch (69) both in the runs sharing 133 for the first wicket.  The pro built on the good work of the openers with 48  before Chris Bleazard (37*)  and Hassan Khan (31*) saw the lads to a daunting 277 from their 50 overs.

Colne made an excellent start to their reply thanks in no small part to paid man Blake Snijman who struck a majestic 103 before being the eighth man out excellently caught at backward point by the diving Hassan Khan off the bowling of the pro.  The game was very much in the balance until this point thanks to support for Snijman from Colin Varley (25) and Aaron Pollard (22) .  Joe Hawke (4-43) and Will Driver (3-40) were the pick of the Lowerhouse bowlers.

The win sets up a mouth watering quarter final tie away to rivals Burnley on Saturday 31st May. 

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