DELPH Cricket Club, runners-up in the Drakes Huddersfield League and T20 winners, are already planning for the 2018 season.

They have signed batsman Chris Tipper, a former Lancashire seconds and Cheshire player, who was at Glossop.

And captain Andy Gleave says there will be further reinforcements, notably a professional as Goswami Shreevats won’t be coming back – he left early complaining of being homesick.

“We are in the market for a few other players so it could be a busy winter,” explained Gleave.

It was a case of near and yet so far as Delph made a gallant effort to retain their league crown, but ultimately they paid the price for one bad month.

Gleave said: “At one stage we trailed Hoylandswaine by 23 points but pulled it back to nine.

“Hoylandswaine lost four in a row and we took it to the penultimate weekend when we lost at Broadoak which ended our title hopes.

“We had two games called off that cost us – Hoylandswaine didn’t lose any to the weather – and it is those fine margins that decide titles.

“In another season finishing runners up and winning the T20 would have been successful but, after winning the treble last season, it didn’t seem that way.”

Gleave, who had a spell out injured, added the team lacked strength in depth after key players Chris Laker and Greg Buckley left in 201.

Pro Shreevats left early, Lancashire’s Luke Proctor moved mid-season while Arron Lilley, also a county player, wasn’t available as much this season.

“When you look at the loss of those players, it was all credit to the lads to finish the season on a good note and everybody is in the mood to challenge again for silverware next season,” concluded Gleave.