ON THIS DAY by Paul Hargreaves
16th August 2009
Rishton vs Lowerhouse
.It was a battle of sub pro’s on this day 17 years ago. Adam Bracewell, the excellent Enfield amateur batsman, was on duty for Rishton. On August 8th, 2026, the hard hitting Bracewell became one of the elite players in the Lancashire League to pass the 10,000 runs mark.
Lowerhouse, meanwhile, fielded Australian Carl Sandri as sub-professional, his fourth appearance of the season. It was very much a “make do and mend” campaign in 2009 on the professional front, although Kiwi Ian Butler provided some consistency with eight appearances across the summer.
Rishton won the toss and batted first, eventually posting 195 all out in the final over. Despite no individual score passing 35, contributions throughout the order proved valuable. Richard Rostron and Andy Bartley both made 35, while Bracewell added 29.
Lowerhouse’s bowling effort was led by Jonathan Finch, who returned 5-55. It was one of many five-wicket hauls in a remarkable career that would ultimately yield 402 Lancashire League wickets and almost 5,000 runs for the club after joining from Nelson in 2003. Finch became the most successful modern-day Lowerhouse all round amateur, second only in historical context to Tommy Shutt, who retired over a century earlier.
Sandri went wicketless in the Rishton innings, the least effective of the four bowlers used.
In reply, Lowerhouse were quickly under pressure. Only Joe Hawke (12) and Matt Doughty (20) reached double figures in the top order, with Hawke opening in those days before later earning professional opportunities in the Bolton Association.
At 109-7, defeat looked inevitable, but Joe Beneduce (33) and wicketkeeper Jack McGregor (48) produced a defiant 86-run stand for the eighth wicket to give the chase some respectability. McGregor’s innings was his highest score for Lowerhouse, showcasing his natural style and particularly sharp work down the leg side as a keeper, with stumpings of a high standard. Although his batting remained secondary at the time, he later went on to score a Lancashire League century for Bacup.
Despite the fightback, Lowerhouse fell 23 runs short of the target, with promising 16-year-old Matt Walker the final wicket to fall. For Rishton, Shaun Hutchinson starred with 5-28, supported by Richard Rostron’s 4-55.
Notably, there was a rare statistical quirk in the match — neither professional took a wicket on the day.