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Heywood lose their grip on Wood Cup

7/ 8/2008

HEYWOOD’S three-year Wood Cup winning streak was ended by Monton and Weaste on Sunday.

The challengers lifted their first piece of CLL silverware with a seven-wicket victory, achieved with 19 overs to spare, in the final at Werneth’s Coppice ground.

In the process they avenged their 2005 final humiliation and inflicted Heywood’s first defeat in the competition since their 2004 final reverse at the hands of Walsden.

Monton took full advantage of two pieces of good fortune – Lancashire’s insistence that Heywood’s in-form teenage opening bowler Steven Cheetham miss the final to travel to Southampton, and winning the toss.

Following a week of heavy rain, with more threatening under overcast skies and on a wicket looking ominously damp and green, Monton skipper Trent Scott accepted his good fortune and had no hesitation in asking Heywood to bat.

His bowlers and fielders then hammered home the advantage that they had been handed.

Craig Duxbury took four for 15 in 7.2 overs as Heywood were bowled out for 132, professional Ruvin Peiris top scoring with 32.

Monton lost both openers with only 18 runs on the board before Scott and paid man Brendan Nash took the score to 96.

Scott (35) was bowled by Peiris, leaving Nash (46no) and Sharma (22no) to guide Monton past the winning post.