FRIARMERE CRICKET Club sneaked up on the rails to snatch the second division title in the SWB Commercials Saddleworth and District Cricket League off neighbours Saddleworth.
And it was a moment to cherish for Friarmere as it was the club’s first major honour since 1979 when they, too, won the second division as well as the Moore Cup in a double-winning campaign.
As for the first team, their last silverware was in 1971 when they won the double of first division and Tanner Cup.
It looked as though Saddleworth would be crowned 2015 second division champions, especially when they beat Friarmere towards the end of the campaign.
Secretary Craig Ramadhin explained: “We needed to beat Saddleworth and when we lost we felt that was it.
“But it turned in our favour on the next to last weekend when we won at Micklehurst on the day Saddleworth’s match at Stayley was rained off.”
Saddleworth held a 35-point lead going into the penultimate weekend with two games left while Friarmere had three.
Saddleworth didn’t have a game on the final day while Friarmere, requiring 17 points to win the league, collected 22 points in their victory at South West Manchester.
The Dr Bruzaud Shield was presented after the game on behalf of the league by retiring umpire Fred Dellar.
“Under normal circumstances Saddleworth would have won it, but we enjoyed a lucky break,” said Craig.
Stand-out performers for Friarmere this season were Mohammed Waqas with over 800 runs, captain Wasim Imtiaz and Rizwan Khan, both with more than 600 runs and Iftikar Ahmed with 87 wickets.
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