1ST XI SEASON REVIEW 2026

It's been a curious old season hasn't it. Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote a review of the 2025 season for the 1sts, a campaign which had ended in disappointment and relegation. The off-season however brought respite, with the situation at other clubs meaning that our leading Saturday side retained their position in GMCL Division 2 for another year. With Mike Burns named as pro, Lachie installed as captain and a couple of shiny new recruits, would this be the year to gain promotion back to Division 1?

The loss of Phil Hayes, committed to training for an iron man competition, all rounder Matt Smalley and key seamer Lennie, and the continued injury preventing Lachie from resuming bowling duties meant that the side looked a little short of depth, particularly on the bowling front. However the acquisition of the dynamic Australian Kaleb Daley and highly promising youngster Harvey Holt suggested that the batting was again likely to be our strength. Would this prove to be the case?

Well yes - and no! With the opening match lost to the terrible April weather, a trip to fellow 2025 strugglers Deane and Derby provided a sobering wake up call and a poor defeat. However the first May bank holiday weekend was great. Kaleb hit his straps with a barnstorming 138 against Adlington in the first home game, probably the best pure striking seen at Crompton Meadows all season. He followed it up with 81 the following day as Wythenshawe were despatched in the cup.

It's safe to say the wheels not only fell off but disappeared into the Island Lodge at that point. With momentum lost due to two successive weekend washouts, a horror run of games brought four straight defeats and little to celebrate, and then another abandonment, meaning that the side didn't register any points from May 2nd until a spirited victory away to South West Manchester on June 20th. Harvey had registered his first half century for the club in defeat to Prestwich, a game which also saw Kaleb hit 92. Unfortunately we'd also lost opening bowler Muj at this point, leaving the bowling very much shouldered between pro Burns, Ry Marsh and spinners Callum and Ste Brooks.

It's curious how the season can turn though. From relegation form, the side started to rally, helped in no small measure by a string of impressive performances in the T20 competition. It must be pointed out that the early part of the T20 was very much a club effort, with youngsters such as Jack Schoey filling in and performing well. This renewed optimism definitely rubbed off on the weekend side, and the baking summer months brought 7 wins in 10 games to not only ease relegation fears but also propel the side into the top half of the table and to the fringes of the promotion push.

The resurgence was based on a string of quality performances with bat and ball and also what appeared to this regular observer as a much improved team spirit and togetherness, which seemed lacking at times during the May and June struggles. Individuals stepped up, with Harvey registering two excellent centuries to make the opening spot very much his own for the foreseeable future. His opening partnership with Nathan blossomed, the pair excelling in a terrific away win at Prestwich, never the easiest place to get a result. Pro Burns was also contributing regularly with bat and ball, and there were 5 wicket hauls for Brooky, Callum, Burns and Ry Marsh as the wins rolled in.

Ultimately the team ended the season in 7th place, just 11 points from promotion - cricket is always very much a sport of ifs, buts and maybes, but for my money the team ended the 2026 season in a positive place, with much to look forward to and build on next year. The team still has areas to work on for sure but with the T20 triumph ensuring some silverware for the club this year, it's still been a definite upward progression from the previous 12 months. As a keen observer most Saturdays, there was some tremendous entertainment on show, so thank you for that!