Dabbers delight at cricket title treble (From Crewe Guardian)

Dabbers delight at cricket title treble

3:37pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in Sport

NANTWICH Cricket Club celebrated a hat-trick of Chapel Press Cheshire County League title wins on a momentous final day at Toft.

The Dabbers chalked up on Saturday an eighth win in nine completed games since the season’s halfway mark to finish a dozen points better off than closest rivals Hyde.

“It has been a wonderful run-in for us to win this trophy a third time,” said skipper Andy Newton after receiving the silverware from league chairman David Humpage.

“We’ve done it in a different way, with some different players, but it’s been just as satisfying.”

Amid rumours he intends to stand down rather than try to top the hat-trick records of Bowdon and Oulton Park since the turn of the century, he plans a holiday to contemplate his future.

Nantwich were in trouble when they were reduced to 70-6 by Toft’s spin attack, before Jimmy Warrington and Sam Hunt’s late contributions helped them to 126.

On a wicket shorn of grass and with crumbling dust, Toft were reduced to 7-5 by Nantwich’s pace men.

England junior international Rob Jones offered resistance with Ed Stubbs, but even they were no match for Chris Connolly, who claimed a five-wickets haul.

Ollie Griffiths chipped in with a brace as Toft were dismissed for 80.

Hyde collected a hat-trick of runners-up prizes after losing previously in the Cheshire Cup and Red Insure T20 Trophy finals.