Midcheshire Independent Issue 191

MAY 2026 20 Independent LOCAL SPORT LOCAL RUGBY ROUND-UP LOCAL CRICKET ROUND-UP CHESHIRE will host Der- byshire in a T20 match at Nantwich on Wednesday May 20. The game, which will get underway at 3pm, is part of Derbyshire’s warm-up for the 2026 Vitality Blast which begins two days later with a home game against Durham. And it will evoke memories of Cheshire’s famous four wicket win over the first-class county side at the same venue in 2024 which was played over 50 overs. As part of an NCCA and ECB initiative, ‘showcase games’ have been played for a number of years pairing first class counties and national county sides. Cheshire have to date played Warwickshire, York- shire, Derbyshire and last year, Lancashire. accuracy off the tee as they knocked out Widnes to keep their promotion dream alive. Sandbach named an unchanged backline, with captain and leading try scorer Laurie Essenhigh commanding things at scrum-half. In the forwards, Ryan Arundale was back in the second row, and the expe- rienced Jack Seddon was at number eight. The victory opened the way for Sandbach to travel THE new season is underway in what prom- ises to be an exciting Cheshire County Cricket League campaign. Alderley Edge began their Premier League sea- son with a two-wicket home defeat at the hands of Lin- dow. Edge won the toss and elected to bat. They posted 206 for the loss of eight wickets, with Will Valentine enjoying an opening day half-century. He finished on an unbeaten 76 in an exciting innings that included six sixes. In a competitive game Lindow reached the target set in the 48th over for the loss of eight wickets. James Duffy top scored for the vis- itors with an unbeaten 48. Chris Sanders was the pick of the Edge bowlers, finishing with figures of 4-27 from nine overs. Bramhall also started their season with a 51-run defeat at the hands of Hyde but therewerewins for Chea- dle, away at Brooklands, and Nantwich, who travelled to Oxton and won by 56 runs. Timperley also began with a four-wicket win at home to Didsbury. In Division One Maccles- field travelled to Alvanley and returned home with 20pts after recording a 32-run victory. Put into bat the visitors posted 196-9 in their 50 overs. Joseph Moores hit 90 of those runs off 85 balls, including 11 fours and two sixes. It was a target that proved too much for Alvan- ley who finished on 164-9. Bollington began their campaign at home with a convincing eight wicket win over Bowdon, who won the toss and elected to bat. It was a decision they may well have regretted after being skittled out for 119 in just 38.1 overs. All Bollington’s bowlers played their part with Stuart Plant taking 3-21 in his eight overs. Harri Dickinson finished with 2-50. Bollington knocked the required runs out in 28 overs for the loss of two wickets. Opener Richard Hough was unbeaten on 35. There were also victo- ries for Sale, who recorded a one-wicket win over visi- tors Marple, and Stockport Georgians, who triumphed over Urmston by 19 runs. Division Two’s opening day saw travelling Cheadle Hulme beat Grappenhall by seven wickets. And in Division Three Hale Barns made it a happy opening day with a 79 run away win at Stockport, who were all out for 94 chasing a target of 173. Down to the wire Home win: Sandbach’s play-off victory over Widnes was hard-fought (Photos by Andy Mitchell) Opening day ups and downs Derby date for the county By Rhys Fullerton NORTHWICH face a rel- egation play-off against West Park St Helens in their fight to stay in Regional 2 North West. They find themselves playing the must-win match despite a plucky 24-22 away win against West Park SH on the final day of the regu- lar season. Only a five-point win and results elsewhere would provide an escape. While Northwich did collect a five- point victory, as suspected the other results did not go as hoped. The play-off was taking place at Moss Farm as The Independent went to press. Meanwhile, at the other end of the table Sandbach triumphed over Widnes to progress to the next round of the Northern Division – Regional 2 play-offs. The Bach, with home advantage, scored three tries in the 27-19 and had plenty of to Lancashire to take on Vale of Lune in the next round of the knock-out end of sea- son competition. Vale of Lune, who pro- gressed after narrowly beat- ing Douglas (I.O.M.) 23-18, ended their league campaign strongly, finishing in second place, one above Sandbach. However, Sandbach beat them twice this season, including a resounding sev- en-try away win. Sandbach 2nd XV were crowned champions on Sat- urday after thrashing Ald- winians 96-5 in the final game of the league season. Led by co-captains Anthony Dowell and Jake Jackson, the team put in an unbelievable performance to claim the trophy. It put them on course for a league and cup double with a Nowirul Barry Allen Memo- rial Jug final against Black- burn’s seconds scheduled at Audenshaw Park. NANTWICH Town have welcomed Joe Piggott back to the club follow- ing his departure from Bury FC before the trans- fer deadline. Pigott, 26, is no stranger to the Dabbers, joining briefly in the2023-24 season and making eight appear- ances and scoring once, before he made a move to play in Australia with Victoria Premier League side PascoeVale. On returning to England, the Nantwich-born forward joined Atherton Collieries and most recently Bury FC. He arrived at the Swansway Stadium as the Dabbers looked to end the sea- son strongly. Manager Luke Goddard said: “We spoke to Joe a number of weeks back as he fitted the profile we were looking for to add further to the current group and we’re delighted to get him back through the door for the run in of games. “His quality and presence will only enhance the squad which as we know has been in consistent form since the new year with myself and Marc keen to kick again to finish right amongst that top eight come the end of April, the squad is frighten- ingly talentednow indepth.” NANTWICH Town FC Women sealed a historic league title in front of their home supporters. They defeated Manches- ter Laces 2-1 at the Swans- way Stadium to be crowned champions of the NorthWest Women’s Regional League Division One South for the 2025/26 season. The Dabbers’ victory confirms back-to-back promotions and caps off a remarkable campaign, with the title secured on the final day in front of a crowd of 243. At the full-time whistle, players and staff flooded the pitch in jubilation, spray- ing celebratory bubbly and posing for photos in ‘Cham- pions’ T-shirts bearing the club crest. The league trophy will be formally presented at a later date. Speaking after the game, manager Dan Mellor praised his squad’s achievement. He said: “I’m incredibly proud of the players and what they’ve achieved this season. “To win the league in our first year at this level is a fan- tastic accomplishment and it’s a credit to the commitment, attitude and togetherness they’ve shown from day one. They’ve worked for this every single week, and they fully deserve it. “There have been times this season where we’ve had to deal with pressure and expectations and the way the group has handled that has been outstanding. To come through a game like that, with so much on it and deliver shows the char- acter and mentality within the squad.” He added: “Hopefully this is something the local com- munity can be really proud of. We want to keep build- ing on this and give people a team they enjoy coming to watch and to have nearly 250 in today was massive for us and really helped get us over that finish line.” Nantwich Town FC Women end their title-win- ning campaign on 44 points from 18 matches, recording JUST CHAMPION! (Photo credit: Jonathan White) Joe’s welcome return 14 wins, two draws and just two defeats, along- side an impressive plus-55 goal difference. Attention now turns to the 2026/27 season, where the Dabbers will compete in the North West Women’s Regional League Premier Division (Tier 5), facing new challenges including clashes with Bolton Wanderers FC Women, Bury FC Women and a highly anticipated local derby against Crewe Alexandra FC Women.