2012 League & Parish Cup Winners

Extracts taken from the Halifax Courier- September 2012

Jubilant Jamie targets further trophy success.

Jubilant Parish Cup-winning captain Jamie Sykes can see no reason why SBCI’s golden era should not go on for many years.

The men from the Astleys reclaimed the trophy from Copley with a 26 run win over Low Moor at Sowerby last Sunday.  Sykes hopes that two cup wins, plus last year’s middle-section title success, is the start of a silverware-grabbing run in the Towergate Cricket League.

SBCI are chasing Booth hard in the title race and Sykes believes there is plenty more to come from a young side.  “We’ve worked hard this season as a team and we have a lot of young talent so there is no reason why we shouldn’t go on to win more trophies”.

Top flight stability and a good cup run were the Church Institute’s targets on their return to the top flight in 2012. 

They have lost just one game – to Triangle and the double may still be on the cards if they can bridge the eight point gap between themselves and Booth.  Sykes said “We’re just looking to get 12 points in each game and hoping Booth slip up.  Their fixtures are looking okay, but you never know, they could have an off day so we have to keep going.  We’re bowling well as a team and regularly taking 10 wickets but its not in our hands”.

Sykes was delighted his side had justified strong favouritism under his captaincy, Ben Summerscales having led the team to an upset victory over Mytholmroyd at Blackley in the 2010 final.  “It means more to me this time being a skipper- the last one was a bit of a blur and its great for the club” he said.  “Low Moor put up a great fight and with the talent they have, it would be no surprise if they are in the Premier in a couple of years.  Matthew Hoyle’s 20 at the end of our innings was a big bonus but we would back ourselves to defend 200, something we have done regularly”. 

Sykes’s Low Moor counterpart Nick Wood had no regrets about having elected to field on the first Sunday of the game.  His side were the harder hit by absentees on the second Sunday.  They had to manage without Mark Mills, arguably their best batsman, while SBCI were able to use Thomas Conway as a sub fielder for star man Jamie Summerscales who had made 59 at the start of the game.

Wood said “ I had to put them in.  We had the better of the wicket because it was a bit soft on the first day”

Double-Winning SBCI skipper can’t wait to get going again.

The stumps have barely been drawn after the 2012 Towergate Halifax Cricket league season but proud SBCI skipper is raring to go again.

The men from the Astleys completed a slightly unexpected double last Saturday when they overhauled long-time leaders Booth to finish top of the Premier Division.  Sykes’s side had earlier won the Parish Cup, so while many clubs will be happy to forget a rain-lashed campaign, it has been a memorable one for SBCI.  “It’s the first time in the history of the club that we have won the title” said Sykes.  “To do the double is a great achievement and has really put the club on the map.  We’ve only lost one game all year and we’ve beaten Booth twice, so I think that shows we deserve it.”

All rounder Sykes is keen to stay on as captain with the prospect of further successes to come.  “We are a young side and we should be around for several years so hopefully we will get a bit stronger.  I can’t wait for next season.”

SBCI went into the final day trailing Booth by three points.  However, the door to the title was opened for SBCI when Booth were unable to bowl out visitors Warley in the first innings of their contest.  Warley finished their 45 overs on 198 for 9 meaning that Booth could only collect a maximum of nine points.

By that stage, SBCI were well on their way to 12 points, having bowled out visitors Sowerby Bridge for 108, and they knew that would be enough for the silverware because if the top pair finished level on points they would have one 12-point win more than Booth.

In the end, SBCI finished five clear because while they strolled to a nine-wicket win over Bridge after an 80-run opening partnership between Sam Hinchliffe (45 not out) and Jamie Summerscales (40),Booth were dismissed for 167 in spite of 66 from Robert Laycock.

League chairman Anthony Briggs presented the trophy to SBCI on Saturday evening.

Robin Hanson took four wickets and spinner Ben Summerscales – who missed the cup final- took five as SBCI ripped through the Bridge ranks after the visitors had been 54 for two.