 LEAGUE leaders Prestwich will be hoping to take revenge on Woodhouses this Sunday in a repeat of last year's Walkden Cup Final. Chris Atherton, brother of ex-England captain Mike, inspired the Failsworth-based team to a dramatic victory in the 2006 showdown.
Prestwich, who currently lie six points ahead in the Lees Lancashire County League, will again stage the final at their Heys Road ground, wickets pitched at 1pm. The club won the Walkden up in 2000 and 2002; their last cup success before that being in 1933! They will be striving for their third success in recent times, this time under the leadership of fledgling captain Steven Lorenzini. He will have his strongest side at his disposal. The team is: Steven Lorenzini, pro Craig Duxbury, Ian Walker, Chris Humphreys, Steve Orrell, Pete Walters, Andy Taylor, Mike Hudson, Chris Thomas, Oliver Holt, Phil Kyle, and 12th man Mike Taylor. Prestwich & Woodhouses in the Walkden Cup The Walkden Cup was donated to the Lancashire & Cheshire Cricket League for clubs to compete for in a knock out competition by James A. Walkden, a past President of Prestwich Cricket Tennis and Bowling Club. Prestwich won the Cup in its seventh year of competition (1933), beating Cheetham in the Final. There was a long wait for their next final when they played Bollington in 1964 at the neutral ground of Dukinfield. Bob Hinchliffe was the scorer for Prestwich that day in a team captained by Ken Morgan and featuring the legendary Stan Thompson and ex Notts bowler Bill Taylor. Stan's son Bob is "mine host" at Woodhouses C.C. and caters for our needs at the monthly League meetings. Prestwich's next final was in 1999 when Irlam were the winners at the Heys, but a 67 year absence without the Cup was rectified the following year when Glossop were beaten. Two years later and Prestwich beat Woodbank to record their third Walkden Cup victory but Woodhouses denied them of a fourth in a close encounter last year. Woodhouses first final in 1990 saw their first success with victory over Denton but in 1993 they lost to the same side in the last year of the Lancashire & Cheshire League. Defeat by Woodbank in 20034 was followed by a win over Denton West the following year. Under the Lancashire County League banner, Prestwich and Woodhouses are the only teams to win the Walkden Cup more than once and today's winners will become the first three times winners. 2007 is the 75th time that the Walkden Cup has been competed for.
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