Leigh Cricket Club reflect on champion campaign (From Leigh Journal)

Leigh Cricket Club reflect on champion campaign

5:24pm Thursday 30th September 2010 in More Sport

LEIGH’S first XI can reflect on a fantastic 2010 having secured promotion to the Premier Division of the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition.

They finished as champions in comfortable fashion, secured with two games still remaining.

A measure of how far the side has come was clear with a fantastic run in the League Cup, beating Premier sides New Brighton, Lytham and Ormskirk before being narrowly beaten by Bootle in the final at Beech Walk.

Leigh captain Dave Dove said: "I am proud of the achievements of the squad of players who have helped bring success to the club this season and there is plenty for this young group of players to look forward to in 2011.”

Sixteen-year-old Mattie McKiernan led the way with the ball, with 58 wickets in all competitions.

Richard Dempster, aged 16, took 30 wickets in his first full year at first X1 cricket, while Tom Foster and Joe Davies, both aged 17, were equally influential in Leigh's success and the quartet will hope to continue their impact at county as well as club level.

Paul Keenan and Andrew Batterley both hit centuries during the season and will have a big part to play in Leigh's campaign in the Premier Division next year.

Not only did Leigh benefit from having Lancashire's Karl Brown in their side, with a fantastic return of more than 1,100 runs in all competitions together with 44 wickets, they also had a county winner in their team as Steven Mullaney picked up a championship winners’ medal with Nottinghamshire.

Leigh are holding their annual presentation night on October 22 when they will celebrate the successes of the season across all age groups.