Legends of Rochdale and Norden cricket clubs

Rochdale Cricket Club

The names were known, their playing records impeccable, but time had slightly changed their mobility. This was the inaugural clash in what it is hoped will become an annual event between the Legends of Rochdale and Norden cricket clubs.

The match was played at a damp Redbrook on Sunday morning, with each side having 15 overs of batting.

Rochdale won by nine runs, but the real winner was friendship, something displayed from the moment players started arriving.

It was a competitive match, with some fun thrown in, and on-field banter that would not have been out of place when the 'lads' were in their prime.

There was a display of power batting by Lee Cryer, a shot for six from Scott Kershaw which rolled back the years, a knock of 25 from Dexter Fitton who has played for both clubs, and a couple of dropped dollies which brought hoots of laughter.

Rochdale

Dom Ayres c Holmes b Schofield 9
Steve Schofield b Booth 24
Paul Butterworth c Booth b Hurst 14
Lee Cryer b Hurst 30
Andrew Oldfield c Firth b Allen 10
Brent Heywood not out 2
Scott Kershaw c Schofield b Allen 6
Robin Jackson not out 3
Andrew Dodgson dnb
Ian Gilbertson dnb
Neil Avery dnb
Extras 3
Total (for 6 wkts) 101
Bowling: Howard 2-0-20-0; Booth 2-0-13-1; Schofield 3-0-11-1; Saeed 2-0-25-0; Hurst 2-0-13-2; North 4-0-4-0, Fitton 1-0-3-0; Allen 1-0-7-2; Pilkington 1-0-4-0.

Norden

Robert Holmes c Cryer b Gilbertson 0
Steve Firth c and b Avery 5
Andy North c Schofield b Gilbertson 11
Andrew Booth c Schofield b Jackson 26
Asif Saeed c Jackson b Kershaw 13
Dexter Fitton c Butterworth b Jackson 25
Jason Hurst st Cryer b Dodgson 3
Alan Howard not out 8
Ian Schofield c Gilbertson b Jackson 0
Gary Pilkington not out 1
Matthew Allen dnb
Extras 0
Total (for 8 wkts) 92
Bowling: Gilbertson 3-0-12-2; Avery 3-0-14-1; Dodgson 3-0-18-1; Kershaw 3-0-28-1; Jackson 3-0-20-3.

Umpires

Nigel Skilling and Mike North