44 points clear... Guess the Winner? (ft. Adam Hope)

It’s been a while – but we’re back, and there’s plenty to catch up on!

In this episode, the team dives into the astonishing 44-point gap at the top of the Lancashire League, reflects on T20 Finals Day, and celebrates how well the Second Eleven are pushing at the top of their table too.

We’re also joined by Adam Hope, who shares the story behind his charity walk for Rakehead Neurorehabilitation Centre, accompanied by Jack Turner, Hayley Spear, and his wife Lauren.

Support the cause and donate here 👉 https://www.justgiving.com/page/walkforrakehead

#UTH 💛💙

Episode Transcript

(00:17):
Gordon, Gordon, send more House.To save.
The house. Come on.
The house. It has.
It has started. Crikey.
We've been on for 5 minutes and we're still not getting.
So I'm logged in as Joe Martin. Joe Martin's logged in as I

(00:40):
think Paddy Martin. Gary's here as himself.
Other than that, it's all going swimming.
Like, are we being recorded, Joe?
We are being recorded, I think. That's good.
That's good because we don't want any any dramas of missing
some some great snippets. So it's good to see you all and
another episode of the House cast.

(01:00):
I don't want to get emotional sobut I missed it this last
fortnight. It's bizarre really, though we
would sometimes we go months anddon't do them.
Certainly winter and that because we're doing every week.
I have missed it. So it's good to see you all here
and we could talk through. I think we've got at least
probably 4-5, six games to talk through of what's going on in

(01:20):
the last fortnight. So do you know Martin, you're
back at the club? I am and the Wi-Fi is working
well. Is that down to good work from
Matt Stanning? It's down to fantastic work from
Matt Stanning. It's been remarkable, ruthlessly
efficient jazz. Right.
What was up with it? The router broke.
We need a new router. The router was broke.

(01:41):
OK, too much use. I.
Guess we've got 2 Internet routers.
We've got one for the score box and one for bar.
Yeah, and the bar one had gone put.
Oh well, at least we go in and you're and you're in there Joe.
So we've got Joe Beneducci, GaryMorehouse, Joe Martin and myself
Jess, who were on for this recording.

(02:03):
We've got quite a bit to get to.We've got the jewel I draw to
do, which I forgot to mention toyou all is the bumper summer
draw. Oh, so it's five £100 prizes.
Bloody hell. If someone applied to Join Now,
would we let him in that thing? As long as they don't win.
Can't say we've put them in. Can't we just not put them in?

(02:25):
Yes, we could do, but it dependswho that is.
No, it doesn't. We won't do it.
No, no, we are. They're all in and no one's in.
Well, I'm even going down this conspiracy to fraud room.
A year up front. Yeah, they could do.
Yeah. Yeah, we've had that before.
So yeah, lots to do. We've got that to do.
We've got to talk about the T20 Finals Day, which Joe Martin,

(02:47):
I'd like to chat that through with you and then get, you know,
I, I came over for the for the final, but I'd like to talk how
that went Good victory yesterdayfor the 1st and the seconds and
then just have a look at the, the season going forward.
So is anyone to anything, any isthere much to report from anyone

(03:08):
who's on? They're all quite on the Western
Front. We've got Adam, Adam Hope on who
is probably the backbone of thispodcast team, keeps things going
together with the stats and pulling things together with Joe
Martin as far as getting the episodes out on time, but is
here tonight for another reason.Really.

(03:31):
Adam, thanks for coming on. Do you want to talk us through?
And we will talk about it again at the end about the the
fundraising effort that you're doing along with your
brother-in-law, Jack Turner and any others.
Just give us an update of when it is and what it's about
please. Yeah, course.
So we decided to do this before the season had started.
For those who don't know, my wife Lauren and her sister

(03:53):
Hayley, their mum seven years ago diagnosed with a brain
tumour and she had quite an extensive operation, about 13
hours to remove it and it all went swimmingly well.
They didn't get all of it, but they got most of it.
But where she spent eight monthsafter that and doing her rehab
to get her back to kind of back going again was a place called

(04:17):
Rake Head Neuro Rehabilitation Centre, which is actually on the
grounds of Berlin General Hospital.
While she was having the brain tumour removed, she had a couple
of strokes and meningitis as well, so it was a big kind of
blow. But she was there for eight
months and they were absolutely brilliant with everything that
they did. I don't even know it were there

(04:38):
where it is, but anyone with an extensive brain injury or brain
surgery goes in there from the northwest.
But for specialist rehab, like little things, she ruined over
Christmas and they let us spend Christmas Day in there.
They've got a couple of flats, so we had Christmas Day in
there. It really, really good.
We wanted to do something to raise some money for there.

(05:00):
When she had the tumour removed,they said it probably wouldn't
grow back in her lifetime, but last year she has to have a
yearly scam and it had grown to a size where they needed to do
something, They needed to removeit again or they didn't have any
kind of further options. So she had another surgery.
It didn't really go to Palm. They didn't get a lot of it but

(05:21):
again after that they put her inrecord to get things and get get
her back to to standard. So she she was in there for
another six months. But it was quite apparent in
kind of the seven-year gap. As with all NHS things are
arranging, we needed to get a a lead for ATV to work and aerial
things like that. So just little things.
But myself, Lauren, Haley and Jack wanted to raise some money

(05:45):
so we decided to do the walk to Todd for the last game of the
season which is on the 14th of September.
We've raised £700 already which is amazing, but that when we put
it out six months ago. So we're just having a little a
bit more of a push and I'm really grateful you'll let me
let me come on to talk about it.We're putting out there.
If anyone wants to walk with us we'll be more than happy to.

(06:07):
I think it's all downhill after you get past Glenview, but it is
10 mile, 4 hours, so it's not, it's not a massive challenge but
it's a good thing to do. We're going to set off at 8:00
in the morning, hopefully get there for when the first ball's
bowled. Fantastic ads.
Let me if I can just you know, fill a few gaps there.
I mean what a great cause Carol is, you know, a real brave

(06:31):
soldier what she's been through and without the hell help from
Ray care and other places potentially not possible.
So people want to to just to donate, whether it's through
yourself, Adam or through Jack or Haley or anyone else that's
doing it. Where can they go on to what?
What is the the platform for them to to donate any funds?

(06:54):
So I'll put a link in the description for the episode.
There is a link on the club's website and I'll just be using
the club social media to give ita push as well over the next
three or four weeks in the run up to it on the day we're going
to have some buckets. So if you are going to Todd,
it'd be good. We'll we'll be collecting around
there as well and if it throws it down on the board and it's

(07:18):
rained off, we've committed thatwe'll walk all the way back.
So I'm not walking back if that's the place where we win
the league. But if it does throw it down, we
will walk it back as well. And if people want to just join
in the walk, is that something to message you with around
timings, where to meet refreshments etcetera on the

(07:39):
way? Yeah, yeah, we're hoping to set
off about 8:00 because from Google Maps it says 4 hours.
So that gives you a chance to maybe grab a bacon butter on the
way or something like that. But yeah, if anyone wants to
join us on the walk, drop me a text or get in contact and we'll
we'll set it up from there. A great cause, Adam, and and you
know, let's hope that there's more funds come in on the back

(08:02):
of this. We will promote it again.
We will, you know, talk about itdifferent episodes, but but
great work and and thanks for coming on.
Don't thanks for the work you doaround the podcast and obviously
with the website at the at the Cricket Club.
So thanks very much, Adam. No worries.
So Joe Martin last game of the season, Todd away a big ass.

(08:24):
Let's say we just happened to win the league before then.
I would you walk into Todd before you play golf?
I don't. Want to be.
I don't want to be too. I go running in the morning of
the game, so I think I'd be all right.
Well, could that be an extra incentive for people to sponsor
because I prepared to, to give you, you know, a good couple of

(08:45):
quid if you walk to Todd before you play.
That is some achievement. Let's see.
You've got this spot there, Jazz.
I'm. I'm a creature of habit jazz, as
you know. So I have AI, have AI, have a
routine. So, but let's see, let's have
some discussions about it and we'll see where we get.
And let's see how the results goand how everyone else.

(09:06):
But that would be, I mean, and it could develop in maybe in
your pads and your gloves. And let's, let's, let's just
let's discuss it and see how it can develop before the end of
the season. I'm to kill me.
I'm sure people are double the donations.
Jazz as well, won't they, you know?
I think so it's such a unique and we might even get on TV with
that because I don't not sure that we've done before.

(09:28):
I could you turn that down? No, he's not a current player,
but Gaff said he'd do it as well.
That's fantastic of Gavin Tech dog.
Yeah, because too. Far from Reggie, it's too far
that for Reggie, but Gav said hedefinitely.
Well, he's got so many friends and associates in and around the
Grove and you know that no Caroland no the family of of Carol,

(09:49):
Haley and and Lauren. I think the Gav could get a lot
of sponsorships as well. So a great idea that Duke we'll
we'll see if we can promote it for Gav as well.
So anyone who wants any more information, then please get in
touch, whether it's Adam or one of us who's on the podcast and
we can we can push it as best wecan.
Thanks, Adam. Thanks for giving that input on

(10:11):
it. And like I said, we will keep
pushing it. Let's move on to cricket.
Joe Martin, I'm going to come onto you now to talk us through
yesterday's game at what was doing.
First rain affected the forecastwas quite poor Friday into
Saturday and it kept changing. And then they did say it was

(10:33):
going to clear at 12:00 or twelve 1:00.
How did how did that affect the first elevens?
Planning for that game, knowing that the weather was going to be
quite difficult? We didn't.
I'm sure that the that Ben and Salpe and Stanley discussed it,
but it wasn't wasn't discussed by the team.

(10:53):
OK, just ready to play. We we knew that Ben might did
Ben send a message? Maybe we knew that we were going
to play. So it wasn't one of those where
you think, well, there's no point, no point turning up
because you're just going to be rained off.
So yeah, no, we were ready to gostraight away, I think.
Even though I was quite confident that was going to be

(11:14):
the answer because that's the way you you commit and the way
you you prepare for the games, which is fantastic.
But it was torrential in the morning.
What did the pitch look like when you got there?
And it was obviously a delayed start.
Yeah, it was probably delayed byan hour, maybe something like
that. An hour and an hour and 10
minutes. Was it?

(11:36):
Yeah, it was obviously, it was obviously wet because we arrived
when it was raining. The pitch looked fine.
It looked, it looked as you probably expect it to.
Lots of lots of covers on. I think they pretty much covered
the whole square. The outfield was lush.
Is that probably how you describe it?

(11:57):
I'd say with the with a thin sheath of water over the top of
it that made your feet wet as you, as you, as you moved across
it, and then that obviously it actually turned into a really
nice stages. So Stan Stan's just locked me
in. Hi, Stan, don't I lock it?
No, I'm just trying to find all right.

(12:18):
OK. Are you?
How is he doing? How's Stan doing?
How are you, Stan? All right, I'm actually.
Yeah. We're going in a podcast.
No, it's all right. I'm in.
I'm in trouble. You're in bad books.
So I mean that. I don't think I've ever heard a
description of an outfield usingthe words lush and sheath.

(12:39):
So great work that Joe, but veryplayable I guess.
Yeah, yeah, there were. No, there were no, there was no
doubt that there's no, there were only some mopping up on the
sheets to get the water off themso they didn't run on.
It wasn't like pitch was floodedor anything.
It was everything was everythingwas dry, so as soon as you got
the covers off, cut to the wicket and roll the wicket you

(13:01):
were ready to, we were ready to go.
Which credit to Waldman really, because suggesting that clubs do
this, you know, but going back in in history was difficult,
nothing to play for etcetera, etcetera that people really, you
know, didn't were interested in playing.
So credit to Walden for doing that.
You know, and they're good enough side.
They still, you know, they're still in that top half of the

(13:23):
very. Good.
Very destructive, yeah. Good at all.
Good at all areas of the game. Yeah, yeah.
And and as you say, you know they want to get the game on so
so credit. So they will look toss and
decided to have a bowl then out early on Johnny looking looking
OK. Yeah, yeah, it was.

(13:45):
Ben was out LBW, trapped LBW hasthe announcer would would say,
which always makes me chuckle. I think I've never heard
anybody, I've never heard anybody say trapped, trapped
LVW. But yeah, Johnny looking good.
Henry, Henry, Henry batting wellas well.
And it was this pretty steady start to be honest with you.

(14:07):
I think Johnny had had started to get into his stride when he
was facing Joe Gale. It's a couple of fours and at
least 1-6 I think. And Henry was, Henry was working
the ball and, and, and, and sortof getting, getting into getting

(14:28):
into his innings as well. So it was a it was a good start
and. I'm guessing you know the 8
fields a little bit lush and andit's got a sheet on it moving
forward. The pitch wouldn't be as you
know, as firm, as as good as some of the tracks we've had
this year. So I'm guessing it was good work

(14:49):
to keep the wickets intact to get us to that stage where we
could accelerate 42 over game. You know, you'd like to think 30
overs gone, 12 left wickets in the 10.
You can then start scoring at 6810 and over.
I think so. I know Walzen as well.
I think that going at 10 and over is very achievable as well.

(15:09):
So I think if you got a good enough platform with 1015 overs
left, I think you can really accelerate.
I mean, Joe plays a game with Bob and Paul about what score
you would get from a particular set of overs.
Don't you do so? I don't.
Play every week. There's a well established game
that I guested on yesterday. So you know, Joe would be able

(15:31):
to give you what he thought his score was, and I bet it wasn't
that far away from what we got. Well, I was going to come to you
next, Duke, A chicken date. I was coming over and driving
over, but then the England game was getting as good as it was.
I wasn't sure how good a game itwas going to be over at
Wollesden, but clearly I should have made the effort to go over.
Did you get there for our batting, Duke?
Yes, yes, yes. I have arrived about 10 minutes

(15:53):
after the start, so I missed Ben's innings unfortunately.
But yeah, watch the rest of it very thoroughly.
Professional performance, I thought.
All in. Yeah, and Johnny's obviously,
you know, is it as you've described your the falls early
on, but he's hung around. He's got through that again,

(16:14):
Henry, a good performance, seeing off a lot of a lot of the
early, you know, the early pace,attacking the balls and then Dan
and Tom Walker have gone. You know, it's over a run of
ball really when you put them both together, a decent score.
You're happy with that score, dude.
Is it what you predicted? I was very happy with it, I
thought. I thought if we could get 190,

(16:37):
having watched the majority of our innings, I thought that
would have been a good score, 190.
And the fact that we managed to get over 200 and then even
further on than that, I thought,I thought was an excellent
score. And you're right, Johnny did
play well. Henry played very well.
Some industrious shots, a lot ofreverse sweeps and using his

(16:57):
feet against the spinners. But when Dan and Tom Walker came
together, I think we scored 100 in the last 9 overs, which is
remarkable really. I don't know what you're saying
about the ground at Wallston. And you know, we, we didn't play
there. I think we played wanting to
lead game there in my day, but Ididn't, I didn't get to play
there more. But it's a, it is a unique

(17:18):
ground for scoring quickly. It's obviously short to the to
the river side and short straight to the houses, but Dan
in particular took advantage of that really, really well and we
managed to get what I thought was a very, very good score.
Yeah, it it it looked to certainly from, you know, far

(17:39):
from falling on play cricket or or even from the messages I were
getting off Matt and what have you did Dan Joe Martin did Dan
Pacer and as well. I mean, I'm not, he's obviously
not got the scores that he wouldhave anticipated over the last
few weeks. You know, he'd be the first to
accept that few injuries that he's had managing to come back

(18:02):
from the injuries. It seemed as all that innings,
innings was very well paced and there's six fixes in it.
Was was that your assessment andwere there were the Sixers
coming at the end of his innings?
Yeah, he paced it extremely well.
I think on his, I think on, on this year, I think he's been
incredibly unfortunate and a bitunlucky to have the injuries

(18:22):
that he's had that you can't really legislate.
So I think that yesterday's innings was a perfect example of
how to how to measure your innings and and post a good
score. He definitely targeted certain
areas of the ground and kind of last 10 overs.
And again, we'd set a really, we'd set a really good platform.

(18:44):
You know, we're only three down.So again, you can, you can
really try and accelerate from from there.
So and Dan and Dan did that brilliantly well and and and Tom
Walker supported. Yeah, Tom 33 off 27 and Dan's
out the last of all the innings,weren't, you know, so that's
really. Good catch by their by their
fielder actually on the can you go in for six flat, but it kind

(19:07):
of moved moved well and got round.
It was a it was a good catch by it was a good catch by their
fielder. So but yeah, but posted a great
score. We were really pleased with
that. I think we were looking at 18190
we thought was a yeah. So yeah, to get past that was
great. You say the great catch was that
to get down out or to get Tom out?
Well, both actually. The pro Tom Walker out, he was

(19:31):
feeling a point and it was sort of skied over him, probably run
1015 metres, yeah, full length and caught.
It was a great catch and then Dan's catch was also probably
run. So to try and catch it, it was
going going pretty hard and fast.
So good catch. Yeah, what?
My computer's just playing up a little bit.

(19:52):
What? Who is their their pro?
He's a, he's a Sri Lankan chap. Yeah, I just can't get his name
up. Dushan.
Dushan, Victoria. Murphy, Murphy.
Did you say Victoria Murphy is? That not right, We might have to
edit. No, really.
Wimala Sakara, Sri Lankan. Good player, well respected.

(20:14):
I've. Got mixed up in the other one
guy with that name product Accrington.
Yeah, yeah. That's.
How did you get mixed up? Incompetence.
The. Walls, then walls, then go into
bat. Some good players, they know
that very good it's not over at all, but we get 3 wickets for

(20:35):
next to nothing, you know, whichincludes you know, one of the
gales, the opening back who can get some runs.
Houston good players and Barker did you was the the attitude,
you know, we've won this now. Game over.
No, I think first, first thing to mention on that is Tom got
Nick Barker without playing a shot balled.

(20:58):
It was a good ball but Paddy bowled extremely well, very
tight to begin with. A couple of maidens got Josh out
in the first over quarter, sort of 45 ish on the offside, could
catch by hockey and then got Jake who's now and obviously
Jake's played extremely well this year and he's a very good
player but he got him. He was caught at mid off again,

(21:22):
I think it was a good it was a really good ball from it
probably wasn't quite where Jakethought it was and ended up like
top hedging it to to Dannet at mid off.
So Paddy ball really well to begin with.
No, some really destructive players.
And we've known from past experience that if you know Joe
Joe Gale comes in, he can he canscore very quickly.

(21:43):
He can score a lot of runs in a very short amount of time and
obviously the pro still in as well.
So no, not didn't think we'd wonit at that point.
There's still a lot of work to do, but we've kind of stuck to
our plans and bowl really well, really tight.
We didn't toxic bowl well, damn,damn bowl well in hockey.
Well, everybody, everybody bowl to be.

(22:03):
Honest boxy bowl. I thought particularly well at
the pro. The pro seemed to really
struggle to score runs off Toxicdidn't like getting him out
particularly, but he really toxic really dried the probe,
you know, a crucial, A crucial point.
Yeah, I'd agree with that. I think you know, you again,
just look at the scoreboard douche the the pro and and the
other Gale have have got it together.

(22:25):
You know, the the four for 35 struggling at that stage all was
a a running out, but they've putnearly 100 on those two and
they've got it up to you know, that they need 8 and over, I
think it was and then pushing towards 9, which, as you said,
Joyce gettable. But did they, you know, shall
come to you because Joe Martin won't answer this properly.
Did you ever feel that they weregoing to get them even with the

(22:48):
pro in? No, I, I didn't think so.
Look, it was getting, it was getting to a stage where we
needed a wicket, not not becausewe're going to lose, but just to
sort of put that doubt to bed really.
Because whilst Joe girls and Joesaid it earlier, he's a, he's a
really good player and he's not a Crash Band wallet merchant,
although he can, he can hit the ball a long way.

(23:10):
He played very, very sensibly early on and then the run rate
was going up but he kept it at six and they needed a four.
He was keeping them in touch without, without us being
worried. It was 1011 and over at the
point that he, that he was out. But at my worry was not a worry.
My slight concern was well, we scored 100 in the last 9 overs.

(23:31):
This is their home ground. They've got 2 very, very good
players in this could get this could get close if we don't get
a, if we don't get a wicket soon.
And then, you know, right at that point we did, we did get
Joe Gale out and, and then the, the sort of the deck of cards
fell off really after that. So no, I didn't.
I didn't ever think we were going to lose.
And we were chatting, you know, your brother Matt was there and,

(23:52):
and Matt Stanley and Matt Marquis, we were all still very
confident, even though they'd got themselves to a position
where they might have a, a daughter as in the last 10
overs. But it always felt out of reach
to me. Was the track still second a
stood Joe or did it play any different?
First innings to 2nd innings. Don't think so.
I think it was No, I don't. I don't think so.

(24:13):
It might have got a little bit slower in the second innings,
but it wasn't a big, it wasn't abig turning pitch or anything
like that. I just think we bowled.
I just think we bowled really well, but very, very tight.
So they were behind the game butlong for pretty much all of it
in their innings. And it's it was a lot to catch
up on and. Yeah, it's good to stay.

(24:35):
Good to see Dan back in both batand ball involved in a game and
go for him and the team, I thinkjust to sort of get that back on
track and these negotiations, ofcourse.
So yeah. I mean, he's ball well all year,
guys. You know, I look at him when
they look at his. I think he's probably maybe 4th

(24:56):
or 5th in the bowling and he's, you know, he missed quite a few.
He's missed a few games through injury.
He bowled extremely all that extremely well this year.
So yeah, no, it was really greatto see him because he battered
extremely well yesterday. It was really good, really good
to see. Yeah.
And it's, as you said there, dude, Chief, those two end up in

(25:17):
with five overs to go and then one of them still in at the end.
They deserve to win. There's no two ways about it,
you know, But it's a big ask to keep that going.
The pressure's coming on more and more.
And as you said, Joe Martin, youknow, some great bowling figures
there and they're reliable. They stick to the plan, which is
which is absolutely dynamite. So a great win, 44 points clear.

(25:38):
Joe Martin Believe so. Yeah.
What do you think of that? What do you think of it?
And what are the team, you know,they've they must, they must
have decided they're going to win it now and they can just
stroll through the rest of the season.
Nope. I'd say my my anxiety levels are
rising, Jess. That is because they just do as

(25:59):
you get closer. I think we've played really
well. We've played really well all
year. So I think as is an old cliche,
we will play one game and see where we get and just keep
going. I mean, providing that we stick
to our plans and stuff, I think that we're in a really good
position. So we've just not.
The last podcast that we that wedid when we had been on, he was
quite open and honest about the fact that they were talking

(26:21):
about in the changing room, theywere talking about the league
table. They were not scared of it.
They're embracing where they arein the league and you know,
they've got a very clear goal and the league table is part of
that. So that kind of goes against
what you just said about one game at a time.
That was a that's a personal, that's a personal view of mine.
Right. OK.

(26:42):
So you're at odds with the team ethos, is that what you're
saying? I think?
That's there as a description, but I've not looked at a league
table since May. And then when Adam was sending
like the league table through inlike the house cast chat this
week, I had to open it and shut my eyes.
I sat at work. People think I'm people already
think I'm weird. So as I'm looking, as I'm trying

(27:02):
to scroll through my phone, not looking at it, I think I'm even
older. Yes, yes, let's just ignore Joe
for a second and let's talk without a player involved.
What, what do we think about about the about the league
situation? What do you think about it?
I will be completely honest here, we'll win it with three,
four games to go. I think we will maintain the

(27:26):
strength that we've got and I think maybe get a touch
stronger, which I find difficultthe the the way the side is
playing. And I think possibly other clubs
might. There's so many games, there's
so many sides can take points off other sides within the
league that they will Littleborough Clitheroe drop
points again. I think they will drop points

(27:46):
between now and the end of the season.
And I just, I don't, well, who cares?
I just want to put it out there that I think, you know, the I
don't know what the records are for the margins between 1st and
2nd historically, but I think there's something special
happening there aside me and you.
Gary played against some top, whether it's has Linden or
Nelsons and people on this, but this side have got to be the

(28:09):
best side I've ever watched in the league.
Yeah, I think. Sorry, just I've obviously not
watched them week in, week out in the flesh like you guys have.
But we said right at the start, I think we were all in agreement
right at the outset that we didn't see a flow we would
consider. You know, there was a discussion
when we, you know, what about Frankie's runs and all this sort

(28:30):
of thing. And it's not, I don't think
anyone's saying told you so anything like that.
But I think we said at the start, at the start, without
getting overconfident that it looked a very, very competent
side that there wasn't, you know, obvious weaknesses, flaws.
You can't you can't alive for people losing form or anything
like that. But you know, as as as a makeup

(28:50):
of a side goes, we set out at the start of the season with a a
pro whose abilities we knew and obviously was in that team
already and everything was very settled.
And couple of young players who come through starting getting a
bit of experience. All the experienced players
going to be available for the vast majority of the season.

(29:11):
Orcas sort of missed an odd gameor whatever through work.
So there was everything was in lined up for it to be in their
hands as it were in terms of just now playing to the to the
maximum ability to the best of their abilities and and they've
backed it up 100% with their performances.
You just can't. Can't say anything else other
than that, really. And it is, but it's a pleasure

(29:33):
to actually watch it and and to talk about it like this.
Other people might listen to this and think we've been Billy
big what you what's it? But but it's a fact.
What I mean, dude, you know, you're involved.
You're still involved in the conversations, whether it's
selection, whether it's, you know some form of tactics or
with the first and second team, I mean Gary being over generous

(29:55):
there. No, I don't think so.
I think naturally as Lorehouse boys, you know, we, we, we
perhaps do on the side of caution and that that sort of
drilled into us from, you know, the club's history and and, you
know, we probably our our generation probably can't ever
really escape that, but we are naturally cautious.
But I even even with that natural caution, you know, a

(30:16):
couple of things I just want to mention was, you know what,
whilst we're talking about this,you've got to look at the games
that we still got to play and wehave got some some tough
fixtures left. You know, we've got obviously a
tough game this weekend against Burnley, who are obviously
scrapping for points in their relegation battle.
So that that'll be that'll be difficult.
And then we've got a mixture of teams at the top and and at the

(30:39):
bottom of the league. So that that's something to be
aware of. The other thing I wanted to
mention was just, I don't know if you remember, but earlier on
in the season, some sage old owlsaid that they were worried
about our bowling and did we have enough?
We were going to take enough wickets.
We've bowled every side out thatwe've played this year.
Ball one. Unbelievable.
It's. Mental isn't it every single,

(31:00):
every single game we've played, whether we batted or bowled
first. The only game that we haven't
bowled the opposition out was the home loss to Rams Bottom.
Yeah, I didn't know that Duke, did we?
Bowl. Yes.
Did we? Bowl them out, they're bat
first. We bowled them out.
We didn't chase them to score down.
Yeah, I remember. It's not chasing.
I mean, that's the stats. I mean, we'll have to get statue

(31:20):
onto all these different stats and and just have a little, you
know, think about that. So when this old owl talked
about the bowl and not being up to it, what do you think?
Event do Schwartz. From memory, from memory, I
think he was sort of saying thatmaybe looking at last year's

(31:41):
numbers in the year before's numbers that we that we perhaps
didn't take enough wickets as a team.
And if you know, maybe that would continue this year.
But obviously that that viewpoint was was categorically
incorrect. Joe, that might have stood true
if we underscored the way to runs we've scored this year.
Good point, Gary. I'm not saying they haven't ball

(32:02):
well, they clearly have, but youknow when they're chasing, when
opposition are chasing big scores or we know we're capable
of chasing big scores, that's you may be two wickets down
already and meant mentally. If you're not, you know,
opposition wise, I don't know. Yeah, yes, very good point.
It definitely has a knock on effect, doesn't it?
Yeah, and also the pressure going back to the games we were

(32:24):
in, you know the it's, it's probably worth at least one, if
not 2 wickets or or 30 extra runs when you're up against the
side like that. So, you know, there's some great
sides out there. What was done, we've discussed,
but it is extra pressure and then you feel you got to score
quicker or take more chances. So it will be good looking at
those stats, Duchin. And if we can't find out who the

(32:46):
wise all our our was, we could maybe put it on them, put it on
our feet. But no great discussion.
That dude that, you know, aroundthe way we're going forward, you
know, if he comes back and back to myself and Gary on the
backside, then, you know, so be it.
But I just can't see anything, you know, going amiss.
You know, players are playing regularly.
Players are playing with little niggles, they don't want to miss

(33:06):
games, whether it's, you know, for domestic reasons, for
injuries, they all want to play and they're all contributing,
which is a great is great to see.
Sorry, sorry. Go on, go on.
I was just going to say jazz. I've heard Honest Jones close
the book. Well, it depends how much you
want to put on or contacted him earlier and then he's in, you

(33:30):
know, if someone was willing to put £1,000,000 on, he will pay
out £2. Not to win, but it's out there.
We haven't done anything. So happy to we are.
We've won a massive chunk of games.
We have, yeah, but you never know.
So let's just make sure we keep doing.
What I was going to say is if itdoes go horribly wrong, we can

(33:50):
just delete this podcast currently from Adam to a movie
from Spotify, just in case anybody wants to pull us up on
it. Yeah, and that's why we weren't
going to come to new Joe Martin.It's not fair for you to put you
under that pressure. But this is what this is what
fans will be talking like. And, you know, it's reality.
We've been there a number of times before.
It'd be interesting at the end of season to look at the stats

(34:12):
etcetera, and whilst we're on good form and and people playing
well, let's just have a discussion about the second team
as well, because they've you know, it's another good victory
at the weekend. Wolves in at home 240 batting
first crack. It's a good chain out score when
you look at it. Dec Mac off 29 Declan standing

(34:34):
again and if you will know, cross 45 Sharpie getting 73 back
in the rooms. It'd be great to see him come
back and get get some get some scores towards the end of the
season. It's worth mentioning am I right
in thinking do Chang Joe Martin and that's will know crosses.
He's got 500 for the season. Yeah, he's played very well,
really well. Yeah, it's an outstanding

(34:56):
effort. You know when you think, and
this is I'm not cracking down tothe selection committee, he is
in there. I would imagine if there's a 16
man squad for the first team he would probably be in that.
But he's still not squeezing players.
You know, Keegan played this weekend and deservedly saw a
youngish lad, players a bit different than Will.
But all credit to Will for the the way he's stuck at it and the

(35:18):
way he's holding that team together 240 or 41 overs to
great performance and bowl Wellsthe next 142, you know, with
with Charlie Thistle again getting 5 wickets, he's he's got
to be up to 30 odd wickets now. Joe, do you know?
I haven't looked, but I've watched the video, yes, of him,
of all the wickets, and it looked like he ball really well,

(35:42):
quick as well. So, yeah, no, really good,
really good. Look like they caught well
yesterday as well. Actually I watched, I watched
the wickets on a stream and theylooked to be so steeple as off
the off the spinners. Yeah.
Yeah, I think James McGregor gota couple of wickets on his debut
as well, which was good to see. And obviously skip a deck
picking up, picking up a few wickets.

(36:02):
Just want to mention deck because, you know, I know that
second team captors is a difficult job.
You know, just the turn around of players is is much greater
than the first team and it is a it is a stressful job.
And if you're wondering just howstressful it is, you just have
to have a look at his hairline. Brilliant.
Oh, Declan, Declan, we've got the there's obviously this is an

(36:25):
audio podcast that no one can see, but it's worth, it's worth
looking Poor Declan. He's he's receding fast, but
it'll be worth it after the great job he's done with the
second team. I think if we can now just go
back again. Joe Martin gonna have to bring
you in for this finals day at Littleborough.
The build up to it, you know you're in, you're in the finals

(36:48):
day. You've done so well in all the
group games. It looks a great occasion.
The weather wasn't kind to startwith but then it improved.
Little Burroughs ground looked apicture with the various tents
on. It's a big massive ground.
A good day to play in. Yeah, it's a really, it was
really, really well organised. Actually, I think I've stated
before I'm not a big fan of the finals day.

(37:10):
Various reasons I won't get again, but.
You're not a big fan of T20, Yeah, so that don't tell when
it's finals there. No, I guess not, but Even so it
was extremely well well organised.
Little Bird did a brilliant job of setting everything up and you
know there were 33 great games to watch as well.

(37:32):
Yeah, yeah, it's Little Bro underneath 119 all out in the
first semi against Darwin. You would have thought that the
Darwin would have knocked them off, but Little Brother bowled
them out with 12 runs to spare. So they get through to the final
and then I was semi final. Joe played Norden.

(37:52):
Looked like quite an easy win. Is that fair to say without
being too, too unkind? Yeah, I think, I think that's
very fair. We took a lot of wickets.
They didn't really have a chanceto score really.
Probably got 40 odd, maybe 50 odd.
Is that right? I think from memory. 63 they
got. How many?

(38:12):
63? Yeah, well.
But we were we were 140 for six off our twenty with John again
54 and then 20s from Ben down Tom 100 and 4020 overs.
It's it's a bit of an ask. I know no done a few players out
and 63 all like with shortcut getting great figures. 3.2

(38:34):
overs, seven runs for four wickets.
Jump to him. Yeah, it's a good challenge
actually, because it's very difficult to pick.
So it's a good, it's a good challenge.
And he bowled very well, took a brilliant one handed catch off
his own bowling. So yeah, yeah, we played very
well in the semi final and then obviously that that meant that

(38:57):
we went through to the final andbowled first.
I think that actually through the I think the toss was really
important throughout the day. Yeah.
I mean, if you look at the games, I think the team batting
first one all three-game. So I think the toss had a big
had a big impact on it. We bowled we bowled pretty well

(39:19):
as well in the final. We took our catches.
Charlie Gonzo took a brilliant catch to get the pro out And
again, people people did bowl all pretty well and chasing, you
know, 1:30. We backed ourselves to to do
that. Didn't quite.
We've got a plan, but that can happen at 20.

(39:41):
And they're a good side, Joe, I don't think.
They're very, very good. I got over to watch the final.
They played well. I thought, you know, the batter,
they kept chipping away, chipping away.
No one was going to get bogged down to get themselves to that,
you know, six, 6 1/2 and over. And then I thought they, they
really tightened it up when we look like we could accelerate,

(40:03):
whether it was, you know, with Tom-tom Walker being in there or
even. Hockey and your brother Paddy,
they just kept squeezing it and squeezing it and squeezing it
and it just was getting too muchas it develops all credits a
little. I think they're they.
Played. They played extremely well.
They played a new one. So yeah, it's one of those, one
of those games where you say well played, fair enough.

(40:26):
No, your pals with their wiki keeper.
Yeah, I wouldn't say I'm, I wouldn't say I know him that
well. But yeah, he's all right.
He's very good. He's a very good wiki keeper.
Very, very good. Fair enough.
One of the best I think. He is, yeah.
He's outstanding Wiki keeper. He just.
I'm not. I don't know if he's got ants in
his pants. He's lively.
Yeah, absolutely. He has lively, Yeah, very much

(40:48):
so. But you know that that probably
helps with his, probably helps with his keeping.
So yeah, no, he's. He's probably in fact if you put
you 2 together because you are very similar around the stumps
like standing up very, very agile.
I think what you missed in your comments and and the liveliness,
I think he's got your share. He's probably a lot more similar

(41:11):
to an occasional guest of this podcast, isn't he, rather than
rather than the host. Yeah, yeah, I think so.
Probably in in his chatter, but I'm just not sure.
Chipper. I mean, I mean, the guest was as
agile as as little of a stomper,but Oh yeah, it could be.

(41:32):
Yeah, yeah, it could be. And and then have we done the
Middleton game last week? No.
No, when you did. Record-breaking game.
Yeah, a good performance again 100 and 55154 all like Middleton
won by 7 wickets with you know, plenty of overs to go and ban a

(41:52):
fantastic tonne in 80 balls. Don't need to labour it Joy all
seems to be were great type of podcast.
Any comments there in that? No, it was again a very, very
good performance by the by the bowlers last last week.
They got off to a pretty good start actually.
They were probably 60 for none I'd say.

(42:15):
Might not be true, but I think that's right.
They played, they played, they played really well.
But as soon as we got that firstwicket we just started to
contain them a little bit more and ball well, hockey ball
fantastically well and toxic ball, toxic ball brilliantly
without taking a wicket. He actually hit the bail last
week, pitched on, pitched on middle stone, beat the batter's

(42:37):
edge. I flipped the Bale into my and
then the ball into my hands and then I was kind of looking
around and Bale was still based on the.
I have seen that from the live stream.
I think Adam sent it to us. And did you think he nicked it
or did you? Did you know him?
No, I knew that it hit the, I knew that it hit the Bale.

(42:57):
I think a couple of people appealed for a court behind, but
yeah, no. Very rare.
So before we move away from cricket, you'll keep it going.
As well, obviously Ben battered magnificently well.
He battered. In that hundred, yeah.
Absolutely outstanding playing shots all the way around the

(43:19):
ground, hitting straight Sixers going across his stumps, hitting
them like over over fine leg, hitting them over his head.
It was amazing to watch. It really was.
And Henry battered. Henry battered really well as
well. Was that Joe?
Was that the game where Johnny got run out backing up?
Yeah, yeah. You know, it was a mirror of the

(43:39):
of the Burnley game, wasn't it? Yeah, Ben, Yeah.
Unbelievable, you know, to kind of think that happened in the
space of a month, you know, people and the same two people
are involved in the in the same incidents.
Incredible, really. It's in two straight 2.
Straight. Yeah, and then so we got 44
points in front of the first team in the league table and 34

(44:03):
points in from the second team, albeit I accept it's Division
Two, but it's still a great strides going forward and let's
say I hope they keep that up. I'm going to move on to the draw
in the next minute. To anyone else, anything else to
say around the cricket side? No, all happy.
We've got to know. We say this quite often.
We've got to get got promised the ages ago to get the third

(44:26):
and fourth teams representativeson the podcast to talk about
their performances because that's going well as well for
them. A lot of young kids playing, you
know, 15 year olds and a little bit less playing in the thirds
and fourths pushing for their opportunities in, you know, 2-3
four years to come. So we will cover that.
I promise listeners. Have you left that?

(44:48):
We have to sort out Jess. Well, he promised you we're
going to do which about four weeks ago.
OK, Might be that one of us needs to do it, but we'll see if
you can come to the fore before the end of the season.
Right here we go. Can't wait for this.
I love it. I've been excited all day.
It's the lower house Cricket Club draw, are we?

(45:08):
Guessing. Oh, we should be guessing.
You need to give us some hint. Yeah, we've got a new a new game
and it's called We need some music for this job, Art, and
it's called Guess the Winner. Guess it right.
Don't be a quitter. It's time to play.
Guess the Winner. How did you come up with that

(45:38):
now? Does exactly what it says on the
team. We, the people who are not
familiar with this, it's, it's the Law House 100 Club which was
invented by Stan Eaton and myself in the police canteen in
late 1999 and he developed to 80members and then got over 100.

(46:01):
So we've stopped calling it the 100 Club and it's now just a Law
House draw. It's £5 a month to to join,
preferably by standing order andthen every month we have a the
prize draw of is generally 250 three £100 a month broken down
into 180 seventy and 50 that's for 10 months.

(46:23):
And then every July and Decemberwe have 5 prizes of 100.
Anyone wants to join, please, please give us a shout, jump,
jump into any of us and just sayI want to join the draw.
We're having quite a lot of success with getting new members
on. We've got a few free numbers
still, but we go to 177. But currently members in the

(46:44):
last few months. I've got to give him a shout out
because the IT really is helpfulthe new members coming on
because we do lose the odd member.
So Sharon Stansfield has has joined in the last few months.
Sharon's number is 106. Tom Walker keeps promising to
join but he's still not coughed up any money.
I don't know if I can tax that to you, Joe Martin, just to

(47:06):
chase him up. No chance.
He's called me a few times and then we'll say I'll give you the
details and nothing happens. But you know, anyway, we, we're
not giving people Chinese burdens for it.
Michael Thomas, a spectator who's followed us for quite a
while, contacted me and want to become a member.
And he's, he started up Louise and Stephen Dole as well.

(47:29):
They're spectators who come on watching regular.
They've joined the The Drawer and their number is 36.
Thomas. Michael Thomas is 52.
Shane Higgins, a couple of months ago, he's 34.
Andrew Chippendale, he's #22 he joined, well, it was 12 months

(47:49):
ago now. Chris Ashworth just joined this
July and Natalie Grieve. So thanks everyone for joining.
So this, on this occasion, Joe will shake his balls in his bag
and give us a number between 1:00 and 177.
Then I'm going to give the threeCo hosts a clue as to who it

(48:10):
could be. That's if I know who it is.
But we can, we can. I'll try the clues to be
difficult at the start and then see if you can guess to the Also
Joe Martin, give us a number between 1:00 and 1:00 7/7
please. #18. #18 OK now, right? So they begin with H.

(48:31):
No, no, no no. I know exactly who this is and I
could talk about him for ages and ages and ages but I have no
idea. I'm going to give you 3 any
clues to guess who it is, but I'll try.
It's been in the draw from the start.
Player X Player. No, no, no.
He's. I mean, I don't think this will

(48:53):
help you. When we first started the draw
at the end of 99, we all used togo to work and persuade work
colleagues to come and join it. But he's not.
There's nothing to do with me orStan, but with my brother Nick.
He used to work with him on Accrington Rd at Chantel
Lighting did this block. I'm not sure any of you will
have even heard of him, but he'sa lovely fella.

(49:15):
He won crack. It's going back to 21 and he
used to live on Martin Dr. If you remember Gary, he's just red
corner from where my mum and dadlived.
Yeah. Sheamus.
No older than that, he was the photographer for Chantelle
Lighting for for taking photographs.
They're all of all their for thebrochure you.

(49:38):
Might have showed this feature. What do you think?
I don't know this one, Jazz. He's a really good, good one
because I know who he is and bless him, he's been in it for
so long and he's won again. His first name's Roger.
His second name, his second namebegins with P.
No, it's Roger, Pless said. A fantastic blog.

(50:00):
Probably. Have any of you heard of him?
No. No, a lot were wasted really.
But I do like that because he started new and I could give a
good dysfunicular enjoy that andbe good when I take his money.
Right? So second price £100 please.
John A. 145. 145 This lad is an X spectator.

(50:24):
An X spectator? Oh dear.
I am. I ain't seen you come on much
before. His first name's George.
He won. He won about two years ago and
his last name is is the same as Paul and David that I used to
play football with. Gaynor No.
Woolly. No Allison Gaynor's husband,

(50:44):
Dave. Dave and Paul played up over
here with me. Yeah, right.
We'll start that. George Bennett.
George Bennett. It's been in it for a long, long
time. Running 2021 continues to
support the club. So next number please, Joe,
it's. Another big one, Jess, It's 158.
158 quite sure about this. He is.

(51:09):
He watches us a lot of the time.He's not a member of the steps
or the, you know, the he's not. A member of the.
Steps. He's not one of the four members
of Steps. He does.
He doesn't frequent but he I feel under pressure here but he
does go down the club, he's always at the AGM and he helps

(51:30):
down to cut the outfield. What?
No, no. Dave Johnson.
That's who I was thinking, but he's not in makes a different. 1
So just to clarify, Dave Johnsonhas not 100 lbs.
The winner is Dave Atkinson. Well done Dave.

(51:52):
Good Lord, another number please. 135.
Two more to go. 135 right now. You should get this one with
less than three guesses. Really good cricketer, used to
play for us. Jonathan Finch.
No, Joe Gary Hassam. No.

(52:14):
Bobby Bradley. No.
So Joe Martin is probably closerto the standard of player.
In fact, this player was probably a better batter than
Fincher, but not as good a bowler.
I mean, that's my view really, but he was that good a player.
He's. Been a very good player.
He was that good a player. I'll sneak another little clue
in. He went pro in in various places

(52:38):
we shall no, no I. Don't think either of them
should withdraw, are they? So you've had Pakistan and V
Shall in our draw, Gary. I think that's more ridiculous
than my game, Atkinson. And you've got to be getting
there now. You've got to be as good.
It honestly is as good, if more destructive possible than
Fincher can. We have an era.

(53:00):
Yeah, era. A bit younger than Fincher.
Oh my. Word.
So we definitely should get it then you.
Should we played? In the 90s.
No, no, this one, No, this one is.
Finch. Wheel driver.
Yes, well done. Oh.
Fantastic. Well done, Gaz.
Well done, Gaz. Well done, Gaz.
Yeah, to. So you've gone from.

(53:20):
The extreme I. Found V Shall and then wheel
driver. Well done Gary.
Let's see, that one was better, weren't it so?
I think we're still struggling to get this Commission for a
second series. Yeah, I agree.
Yeah. I've enjoyed right Fifth prize
for £100, the last prize in thisJuly draw.

(53:40):
Joe Martin, please. #46. Right, you should get this one.
I'll just have to think of some clues.
I don't, I don't think I'm beingover generous when I say he's,
he's probably a legend down at the Cricket Club and not really
for his plane still involved. Did he play?

(54:01):
Great question. Yeah, I did.
Yeah, I definitely did do maybe 415 games, maybe. 6 Matt Matt
Stanny No Adam or no Jeff Shields, no Matt Marquis.
No, I'm definitely not giving you this one.
You've got to get to this. 415 games.
Maybe 415 games he has. He's got a fantastic story about

(54:24):
them involving No, it's not as good as that story.
Actually, he's. Got a fantastic story?
Go on, we're involving what? Involving when him and and Sam
get together they have a real banter about it, about the game.
That or the the Tony. Woodworth.
Yes, that's. It Tony. £100.

(54:45):
Good, good shot, good shot. Tony So I think what what we've
learned. From the guessing game is it
works really well if if we know them.
Yeah. If we don't know, he's
knackered. All of us.
We worked at Chantelle in the 1990s.
He. Was a photographer for.
Chantelle, photographer in the 90s.
Oh, wait a minute. Roger Blessed.

(55:07):
Well done, Roger. And that one guess the winner.
And you won't believe it when you've got my spreadsheet up
here. I'll set a column up now for who
is this? So I write in so I can remember
it, but it's there's only about 12.
I don't know. And you've picked three.
I do know them. I know them quite well.
So it's but I think we should give it another go in at the end

(55:28):
of August. Let's see how we go with it.
So thanks very much, Joe. And again, listeners, we have
some fun with it. It might be boring for other
people, but if you want to join and give us a shout, we have got
some free numbers between the the one and the the 177 that we
always use. Easy to join and we'll make sure
you're in in the draw in August.I'm going to give a shout out

(55:51):
for Adam again and for the walk that they're going to do.
But before I do that, is there anything that you want to finish
up on? Do anything from you.
No, I don't think so. OK.
Thank you. Gary, anything from yourself?
Not for me, Jess, thank you verymuch.
Cheers. Thank you, Joe Martin.
Let's. Keep going.
That's the that's the way to seeit.
Keep going. Yeah, the cricket side obviously

(56:13):
there's, you know, there's big gaps appearing now between 1st
and 2nd. I'm sure we're all doing our own
working out out as to when it's physically possible to win it,
depending on other results etcetera.
So keep looking at social media,keep working out your own
calculations of how it's going to go.
It's really important what Adam came on with regards rayched the

(56:37):
the care centre that Carol's been to the walks.
The last game of the season going to tumbledon whether we've
wanted to. We haven't won it.
It will be a great day. I hopefully the weather's good
and we could all have a great time there.
I'm not sure I'm going to walk it, but I might drive a little
bit and then jump out odd times.So if people want to do the same
then then please do. Anyone who wants to sponsor the

(57:01):
the lads and lasses are walking it, then just give us a shout on
this or on Adam's mobile number or just reply to Twitter or to
Facebook. So if there's nothing else from
anyone, anyone else, then we'll call this episode, we'll call it
to an end. I've really enjoyed it because
I've missed it for a couple of weeks and thanks everyone for

(57:22):
listening.