Cricket: Premier slot the incentive for and Marsden and Kexborough

Sep 18 2009 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

The club expect to enter an Under 9s in the Sellers Huddersfield Junior League next season and an Under 11s in the Barnsley Junior Cricket League.

Hinchliffe added: “Having now achieved Clubmark accreditation, together with the associated links with local community groups, in particular Kexborough Chiefs Junior Football Club, and the continuing increase on a year-by-year basis of the junior section, it will ensure the long-term future of the club.

“Having Clubmark status will also enable us to look at further improvements to the existing facilities and, if that can be in the Premiership, then that will be a great situation to be in.”

Marsden have seven men with almost 400 runs to their name this season, so they are not relying on any star performer, while South African Lombard has 50 wickets to add to his run tally and has been nicely backed up by Chris Kilner, who has picked up 44 victims.

Unfortunately, Marsden are without four of their top men, including the talented Nicky Clee, who is on non-league football duty with Altrincham.

His father, Norman, steps into the senior line-up, who are aiming to make up for the disappointment of losing to Broad Oak in last year’s rain-affected final.

“I think we are big underdogs having sneaked into the final through the back door, but on the other hand we are coming good at just the right time,” said skipper Butters.

“We are scoring runs at last and bowling people out and, hopefully, we can continue that for one last game and get up into the Premiership where we belong.

“Kexborough have got a very good batting line-up and they beat us earlier in the season, so we are going to have to be at our best to beat them, but we’ve got the experience of being in this before and it’s all about what happens on the day.”

Also missing from the Marsden side are the suspended Nazim Mohammed, Danny Anchor who is on holiday and Andrew May (injured) and Paul Hamer (footballing).

Danny Clee steps up alongside his father and Sam Hall will open the bowling.

The Second XI play-off final is also tomorrow at Broad Oak, between the Oak and Thongsbridge (noon).

Meanwhile, Shepley Seconds have emulated their Hopkinson-winning first team by taking the Schweppes Cup, totalling 35 points from their last six matches.