SADDLEWORTH won promotion from division 3E of the GMCL on Saturday, August 31 following a 107-run home derby win against Springhead.
Saddleworth, who voluntarily dropped down two divisions at the start of the season following an exodus of players, have begun rebuilding.
They clinched promotion and the title after a comprehensive victory against Springhead who they bowled out for 56 in reply to their total of 163-7.
Club treasurer Michael Ward said: “Perhaps we should have dropped only one division, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.
“After the despondency at the start of the season, when we wondered whether we would be able to field a team, everybody has been pleased that the team has done so well.
“Hopefully we can keep building again next season.”
Saddleworth, lifted by the arrival of a number of new players, have lost only one of their 20 league matches.
It has been a rollercoaster for Saddleworth who completed a treble in 2015, the last season of the Saddleworth League.
They finished runners-up in the premiership of the Pennine League the next year in their debut campaign. Since then, however, it has been a downward spiral.
MOORSIDE remain in the division 1A promotion places despite a shock defeat at third-bottom Denton on Saturday, August 31.
A win would have taken Moorside, who are second, to the top and within touching distance of promotion.
Denton were bowled out for 122 but Moorside managed only 95-9 in reply.
Captain Rick Harrington said: “It was a disappointing loss and a bad day but the good news in that our fate lies in our own hands.
“If we beat Uppermill at home on Saturday, September 7 and at Flowery Field the week after we will go up.
“We also want leaders Denton West to slip up as we want to finish the season as champions.”
Moorside’s defeat to Denton coincided with the loss of professional Ernest Kenn as he returned to South Africa earlier that week to play in the Africa Cup.
• SADDLEWORTH captain Steven Howard and Graeme Simpson, another local player, played for Lancashire Over-50s in their loss to Yorkshire in the English Cricket Board’s national semi-final.
Yorkshire made 217-7 at Southport and Birkdale where Lancashire were restricted to 170-9.
• DELPH failed to successfully defend the Sykes Cup in the Drakes Huddersfield League.
They lost by 83 runs in the final to Hoylandswaine who made 207-7, former Delph player Arron Lilley making 46.
Delph, a disappointing 10th in the league, were dismissed for 124.
• THERE was one piece of silverware for Delph, though, as the Under-15s were crowned Huddersfield League champions.
