Yes folks it may be October 2009, but the cup draws for 2010 have already been made! Here’s how our teams have been paired up.

Calverley Cup (1st Division)

1st Rnd - Robinsons v TSJ

2nd Rnd - Robinsons or TSJ v Blackley or Springhead

Hunter Cup (4th Division)

1st Rnd - Bye

2nd Rnd - Darcy Lever or Ashton Ladysmith v TSJ

The times they are a-changing! The magnificent new artifical wicket was installed at Crompton meadows on Thursday 15th October. Thanks to fundraising by the committee, and a successful grant application, the new wicket has been put in place and will be unveiled officially for this year’s Boxing Day fixture against Brooksbottom CC.

Special thanks go to Kieran for the grant work and the rest of the committee for getting this development through!

A sensational innings of 122 from Russ propelled the firsts into the Calverley Cup final following a 56 run over Fothergill and Harvey. Having lost the toss, we were sent in on what looked to be a damp wicket, but this didn’t stop the opening pair of Russ and Boris getting off to a flier - Bird whacked two sixes in the second over and this set the tone for the afternoon.

Th eopening stand raced past 100 inside 18 overs and such was Bird’s dominance that his ton came up moments later out of the first 130, and included around 10 sixes! When Dunan eventually got out for a good 25, a few quiet overs followed. The run rate was upped in the closing overs by skipper Ash (36 not out) and Nelly B who whacked 27 in no time. The target of 261-6 looked a pretty good one!

Some excellent early bowling from Doc stopped the home side getting off to a flier, and when Bird an dNelly came into the attack wickets tumbled. An asbolutely sensational catch from Marshy got rid of Syab for a secnd ball duck, and with the score at 50-5, it looked like our game all the way.

However, you underestimate Fothergills at your peril - just 10 overs later they’d somehow raced to 160-5, and were well in the game again - some lusty hitting and a couple of bad misses contributed to the chaos, and it took another great catch from Marshy and some good ground fielding to stem the flow. Having removed both danger men, Si cleaned up the last few wickets to leave us victorious by 56 runs and on course to defend our cup again!

 The final will be played against Littleborough Lakeside, and will be held at Prestwich Cricket Club on Sunday August 30, match start 1.30pm.

Gents, be very very proud of our new pavilion!!

Tottington St. John’s Cricket Club are having a Grand Opening of their newly refurbished pavilion on Sunday April 19th 2009.   To mark the event, MP David Chaytor is opening the pavilion which now boasts: 2 new changing rooms with 3 showers, new toilet facilities, lounge and bar area. 

The original pavilion was built in 1965 and unfortunately the club has not been in a position to modernise until now.   Monies raised for the refurbishment have come from the club’s own fund raising activity over the past 8 years - including the Boxing day match versus Brooksbottoms, car boot sales, race nights, etc - and TSJCC would like to take this opportunity to thank their members, friends, sponsors and the local community for their continued support.  

The Grand Opening will include a ‘friendly’ 30 over cricket match versus a Walshaw 11 and other activities on the day are a grand tombola, bouncy castle, raffle, BBQ and refreshments.  All players past and present, the community, sponsors, Bury Cricket Development Group, NMCL members, and anyone else who would like to come down and see the progress are invited.

We hope to see you there!

At last night’s AGM Kieran outlined the startling progress made in the pavilion redevelompent project. The project is on schedule for completion by mid April - details of the formal opening will be presented in due course.

Just some of the features we are looking forward to include:

Completely new layout inside

Bar and lounge area

Integrated Scorebox

New ladies toilet facility

Shower rooms in both home and away changing rooms

Fully refitted kitchen

No more furniture from 1960!

and the list goes on!

It’s an extremely exciting development and one which takes the club firmly forward into the 21st century. It’s the result of enormous dedication and effort by the players and committee, and fantastic work by Les and his crew to get the build progressing so fast and on schedule and budget!

Pics will be added below throughout the next few weeks!

The 2009 TSJCC Annual General Meeting will be held at Greenmount Cricket Club on wednesday Feb 11th; 7.45 meet for 8pm start.

Please do your best to attend - this is a vital season for the club and there have been massive developments off the field during the winter, with the pavilion redevelopment well underway. A full update on that and related matters will be provided.

Anyone who intends to stand for a club position - particularly the captaincies - needs to notify Clive as soon as possible.

The Saints went down by just 10 runs in a hotly-fought contest against Brooksbottom in this year’s Boxing Day cricket fiesta. With a new wicket in place, we all expected more of a cricketing contest than last season and we weren’t to be disappointed!

Totts took early advantage, making serious inroads into the Brooksbottom top order. Clive was a surprise double wicket taker in his first over, removing danger man Hoyle. Doc, Kieran and Marshy also struck early, leaving the home side reeling at 40 for 5. All the Saints bowlers toiled away well in lovely, but cold, conditions. The Totts fielding was sharp and Ash took a couple of pretty spectacular catches, while Dickie P clung onto a couple which came at him right out of the low sun!

The eventual Brox total of 99-8 was attained with the help of a few lusty blows at the end from man of the match Bamford and the visiting Eddie Hoyle - Doc was deposited over the car park while old boy Cotters also tonked a few! The target of 100 looked attainable but it would require some decent batting!

Dasher and Kieran led off the Totts run chase, and were thwarted early on by a lot of legside bowling. Once CDO fell, skipper Ash took charge hitting a few big sixes to get the run chase underway in earnest. After his dismissal, Doc P also attempted to get things going, but some tight bowling from Cotton and Hoyle kept things in check. When Dasher and Doc frell in quick succession, there was little time left for Marshy and Nelly B to get us close. Totts eventually fell just 10 runs short with only 4 wickets down.

The defeat was saddening but at the end of the day it was a good day out and a terrific fundraiser for the club as we charge towards our new pavilion for next season!

Totts bowling:

Totts batting:

Hi folks,

The end of season presentation evening will be held on Friday November 28 at Woodbank CC. This year in a bid to shake things up, we are abandoning the race night format in favour of a more inclusive quiz night. Full details, including venue, prices, etc will be released as soon as we have it!

An imposing performance against Blackley saw the firsts snatch runners up spot for the 3rd straight year. Despite terrible conditions over the past fortnight, tireless work from the team saw the ground fit for a 4pm start and a 20/20 contest!

Intentions were clear from ball 1 when Craig took a smart catch at gully off the Doc. Despite a few edges and lusty blows, Blackley never really settled into any pattern with wickets falling regularly. Doc ended the season with 6-30, and Asif, Bird and Ash all chipped in with a wicket apiece.

In reply, Kieran and Doc settled any nerves, putting on 40 in no time. Doc’s dismissal sparked a mini-collapse with 4 wickets falling for 10 runs, but Ashley strode in to seal the game with a brisk 20 not out to add to Kieran’s crucial 29 not out.

With ELPM losing at Elton Vale, the firsts jumped back into 2nd place, ending the season 6 points adrift of Catholics again …

It looks like Flash should win the 1st division batting, and Marshy the 1st division bowling, with Doc 2nd. A fitting end to what’s been a pretty good season once again with the memorable cup triumph too!