YOU could say that cruelty is what makes sport so interesting. I cheered myself hoarse when Manchester United snatched the European Cup from Bayern Munich in the dying seconds of the 1999 final. In fact, I did more than that, I laughed at the crestfallen Germans who were lying weeping and exhausted on the Nou Camp pitch.
It’s different when you’re on the receiving end, but at least Bayern were beaten by two genuine goals. It might all have been different if they had defended better. As the late-summer gloom deepened at Church Lane, Woodford, last Saturday (September 11), the empty feeling among the Hyde Cricket Club players was caused not by the exploits of an opposition batsman or bowler, but by the rain.
Hyde had started the week on top of the Chapel Press Cheshire County Cricket League. Their finals opponents were Bramhall, bottom of the ECB premier division. Their first league championship for 29 years was there for the taking. What could go wrong? Well the weather could.
The Werneth Low Road side lost the toss and were forced to field. On a pudding of a pitch with sodden outfield they saw their opponents make 190 runs. It was more than expected but a target well within Hyde’s grasp.
Unfortunately, as the innings drew to a close the rain closed in. Bramhall might have made a sporting declaration but carried on, despite an early tea interval. Then, as Hyde prepared to bat, it really lashed down. The Hyde players, even the second team, did their best to dry the pitch. Club chairman Peter Hardman returned to Werneth Low Road to bring Hyde’s water hog. But whenever the batsmen prepared to go out the rain forced them back in.
And all this was taking place while blue sky was clearly visible near by and Nantwich and Neston were playing full games.
Eventually, thanks to the vagaries of the league rulebook, Hyde were presented with the monumental task of making 191 in 14 overs. Skipper James Duffy made hearts leap when he hit the first delivery back over the bowler’s head for six, but not too long later he mistimed a similar shot and put it right down a fielder’s throat. It may have been getting dark but the conditions did nothing to blunt Bramhall’s skill at catching.
Danny Berry played a great innings until he, too, was out and it eventually became apparent that the task was beyond Hyde who finished something like 40 runs short of victory and the title. To make matters worse, Hyde didn’t even finish second. Neston pushed them into third place by a point.
So here’s to next year - the 30th anniversary of the Central Lancashire League championship won by the team in which the professional was New Zealand Test player Bruce Edgar.
Need a fact to cheer you up? Well, in 1980-81, Hyde United led the Cheshire League table all year only to have the title snatched away from them at the death by … Nantwich Town. Twelve months later, the Tigers came back and swept the Cheshire League board.
Could Hyde Cricket Club do the same? Here’s hoping.
Hard luck lads. Thanks for a great season.
