By Senior Reporter Paul Hargreaves.

The 2023 Worsley Cup Final is a match between four-time Cup winners Lowerhouse C.C. and the relatively new Lancashire League team Littleborough C.C.

Although in their first final, the latter have won thirteen Wood Cups as a former Central Lancashire League club. Strangely Littleborough haven’t won since 1999 and Lowerhouse had never won at all before 2004.

Lowerhouse have reached the final with a series of dominant performances. Bacup , Rochdale and Ramsbottom were all despatched with at least 100 runs in hand, making a 77-run semi-final win against Norden seem relatively close! Lowerhouse have therefore reached this stage with more room to spare than Twiggy entering Big Daddy’s front door.

Meanwhile Littleborough started with a handy bye, and a 4-wicket win over East Lancs. They then had the unusual luxury of putting their feet up at the quarter-final stage as local rivals Walsden were disqualified. Littleborough, though, showed their mettle and worthiness by demolishing a strong Clitheroe team in their semi-final. For an assessment of each club’s chances I have to stand down and ask bookmaker Honest Paul, who is less prejudiced. This was H.P.’s lowdown. ” I make the ‘House a 4/6 fav. largely on home advantage. They’ve been on this stage before and have the medals and T-shirts. It might have been 4/7 if Pazza was playing. I had my fingers burnt two years ago when offering Lowerhouse at 6/4 and had to curtail my pre-Cheltenham winter holiday in Barbados to just six weeks. The ‘Borough are 5/4 and if they play as well as they did against Clitheroe, there might be value in that. An important message is please bet irresponsibly, my Bentley is now nearly four years old and had the indignity of passing something called a M.O.T. Who knew?!”

Unusually, but probably not uniquely, the two teams had a dress rehearsal on the eve of the big game. It was the visitors who were impressive winners by seven wickets in the league match. Will it have any bearing? So to the day itself when Lowerhouse’s expert promotion of the event is so clear to see. The template of 2004 and 2018 helps make for a special occasion. As Carly Simon would say “nobody does it better” and other clubs could do worse than to copy it. The weather forecast was pored over for most of the week by all connected to Lowerhouse but was relatively kind on the day and only two minor interruptions occurred both in the first innings. Littleborough captain Clinton Perren called correctly at the toss and inserted Lowerhouse. Lowerhouse’s innings started brightly and they were 40-0 off the first eight overs. Ben Heap was very much his fluent 2023 self(684 League runs so far) and Francois solid, although he survived an early run-out scare. Two consecutive maidens may have resulted in Haasbroek’s downfall as he was well taken by a diving catch by the veteran ‘Borough skipper. It was a devastating loss for ‘House soon after, when sharp glove work from ‘keeper Matt Hernon, saw Heap depart for 30 stumped, as he slightly overbalanced. Surprisingly it was Paddy Martin, not Pretorius, in what seemed a slightly defensive move, who joined Charlie Cottam in the bid to repair Lowerhouse fortunes. This they did, and after hitting ex-England man Chris Schofield from the attack, it was 101-2 at the halfway stage. The drinks break often leads to a wicket and Cottam’s well played innings of 40 was ended by Hamza Ali. Pro’ Pretorius’s belated appearance led to the re-introduction of Littleborough’s pro’ Bryce Street into the attack. In a crucial moment of the game the ‘House sub-pro’ went for the cheese and was caught at first slip. Therefore at the 30 over mark ‘House were on the back foot at 115-4. It is at this point of a game that the important ’30 over challenge’ takes place. This was invented by ‘House ultra Bob Spencer and involves predicting the final first innings score. Many rate Bob as an arch pessimist who has been passed that baton by the late long-serving club official Joe Waterworth. Bob, though, has an optimistic side and even defied an atrocious weather forecast to make the trek to Norden this season, on a day that was so wet Noah’s Ark turned back before halfway. Other regular participants in the ‘challenge’ are myself, Joe Milburn, and brothers Colin and Ian Wilcock, who travel from Blackburn and Sabden respectively. A reluctant and only occasional participant is ex-skip Joe Beneduce, who is fairly disdainful, thinking it a pastime for folk with fairly meaningless lives. There might be a grain in truth in that thought, but cynics have noted Joe’s guesses have been rubbish, Today’s guesses were Yours truly 189; Bob 220; Joe M. 199; Colin W. 201 and guest picker Eddie Fisk a bizarre 245. Ian W. and Joe Bene were disqualified for not entering on time. Wicketkeeper Hernon took two more catches(Simm and H. Cottam) to leave ‘House at 139-6 with 10 overs left.

Lowerhouse were labouring and it was the 43rd over before the 150 appeared on the scoreboard. A rare error saw Joe Hawke dropped on 3 and his two big six-hits gave late momentum to a faltering innings. Paddy was run-out for a top score of 42 as he tried to take a bye to the exemplary ‘Borough ‘ glove man who in getting catches, a stumping and a run-out achieved a kind of wicketkeeper’s ‘triple crown’. Lowerhouse finished on 194-9(a disappointing 93-7 in second half) and equally good ‘challenge’ guesses by myself and Joe Milburn were acknowledged. Pro’ Street(3-23) and opening bowler Ryan Miskella(2-31) were the pick of a good bowling effort by the visitors.

There is a suspicion that Littleborough aren’t a deep batting side and that early breakthroughs might swing the match the way of Lowerhouse. The home fans were therefore hopeful when Schofield was out for 11 with the score on 15. The batter, himself, took significant umbrage to use offensive language, causing great wrath from the man in the white coat. I have a fear of men in white coats so I wasn’t taking sides in the argument. This brought in Street to accompany young Zac Perren. These two had put together a match winning partnership the day before. Surely from a Lowerhouse point of view it couldn’t happen again? Afraid it did folks! This time they weren’t equal partners as the amateur dropped anchor and the pro’ played a match winning innings at nearly a run a ball. Street brought his 50 up in the 20th over when the ‘Borough had reached 87-1. They were 115-1 at halfway and a 110-run partnership was achieved before being ended by Joe Hawke at 125. Hawke was the pick of a fairly toothless attack and deserved better than his 2-36 final analysis. Ben Heap continued to shuffle his bowlers and a couple of late wickets were gained but the prized scalp of Street evaded them. Sub-pro’ Pretorius, despite getting a late wicket, cut a frustrated figure. My gran would have said he looked like he’d lost a pound and found a penny. His counterpart ended on 96 not out and even ‘House diehards wouldn’t have begrudged him a ton.

In conclusion, Littleborough won with over nine overs to spare and were the best team over the whole weekend. They are a likeable side with many promising young players emerging and they can probably get even better. There running between the wickets and general fielding were excellent and wicketkeeper Hernon was faultless. Their first Worsley Cup win is a due reward. For Lowerhouse maybe soul searching, and definitely lessons to be learned, but after winning four consecutive finals appearances, they shouldn’t feel too downhearted.