Third XI captain Graham Tindall on his teams 2001 season

Fourth XI captain Tim Rawstron on his teams 2001 season

A Spectators view of the 2001 season

The Northern Premier League Division Two

2ND TEAM REPORT
By Skipper Andy Kellett

The season started with an away trip to local rivals Blackpool. It was a disastrous start for us losing new opening batter Iain Hill in the 2nd over. Things didn't get much better from there and in the first innings of the season we were bowled out for 95. However the season certainly got off to a better start with the ball and great bowling from Javed Iqbal, Dave Booth and John Cotton saw us bowl Blackpool out for 75 and we were sitting proudly at the top of the League with 15 points.

Further 15 point wins against Netherfield and Darwen, 12 point wins against Leyland Motors and Kendal interspersed with disappointing games against Chorley and Morecambe saw the team to the top 3 in the table after a third of the season. The highlight of these games came at Leyland Motors when Iain Hill on 91 and heading for his maiden century was caught in the outfield by our sub fielder, Dave Watson. "Watty" showed no remorse as he jeered 'City' fan Iain Hill from the field. During this fine league start, a first round cup win at Kendal saw us into a semi-final clash at home to Blackpool. Having lost the toss, St Annes made a bad start but recovered well to make 145. Blackpool were 100 - 1 and seemingly coasting to the win, but fine bowling performances by all the bowlers and especially Dave Booth with his off spin, saw us to a 25 run win and a place in the Cup Final against Lancaster.

The season continued well before the cup final with wins against Leyland (Adam Taylor made a fine 85) and Blackpool. A disappointing day at Lancaster spoilt this run but we then went to Lancaster again for the cup final in good spirits.

The team for the final was:
Adam Taylor
Duncan Whalley
Andy Kellett
Aiden Cotton
John Ashworth
Roger Banks
Wajit Ali
Tom Bolus
Ian Baldwin
Dave Booth
John Cotton

The captain again lost the toss and St. Annes got off to a terrible start, at 30 for 6 the game looked dead and buried. However an excellent late order partnership by Ian Baldwin and John Cotton saw us to a total of 110 on a wicket that was hard to score on. Lancaster lost an early wicket to the pacey Roger Banks but looked good at 40 - 1. Ian Baldwin, who had an excellent season with the ball, came into the attack taking four wickets to get St. Annes back into the game. At 60 - 6 Lancaster looked to be in trouble but unfortunately some good batting saw them home by 4 wickets. A disastrous start had cost us the game but a good day was had by all and it's better to finish second than last.

After the cup final came the most disappointing period of the season. The only highlight between league defeats at Netherfield and Preston, a 1st round cup defeat against Blackpool and a losing draw at Chorley was the fine 9 wicket win over title chasers Morecambe with James Ellis making a fine unbeaten maiden half century for the second XI. The team had now slipped to 5th position in the league and it was important that we gained some victories in the closing 7 games of the season to get us back into the top three again.

In the first of these games at home to Leyland Motors a poor fielding performance let the visitors set the target of 186. Iain Hill produced the innings of the season scoring his maiden century as part of the 10 wicket win, finally making an unbeaten 125. Defeat by Fleetwood and a rained off Darwen fixture left the team in 5th spot, but victories over Kendal, Preston and Leyland saw us climb to 3rd spot at the start of the last game of the season. Jack Kelliher made his maiden half century in the game against Preston and excellent bowling by all the bowlers to dismiss Leyland for 36.

Despite a disappointing 3rd season defeat against Lancaster in the final game of the season other results went our way and we finished in third spot.

Overall we had a very good season, getting to the final of the Blackledge Trophy and finishing third in the league. Iain Hill and Adam Taylor both had excellent seasons with the bat. James Ellis' batting, after playing the first half of the season in the first team, was very impressive and Jack Kelliher was also impressive and is one to watch out for next season. On the bowling front, excellent contributions were made by Javed Iqbal, John Cotton and Ian Baldwin, but the bowler of the season who was unlucky to miss out on the club bowling record by only one wicket.

Roll on April!!!

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