THE Chadwick Cup final was played at Heaton Cricket Club on Friday in ideal conditions and the crowd was treated to a fantastic match.

Rupert Ladies and Walkden Cricket Club A had played a league match a few days earlier and Rupert won by an innings, so it was a pleasant surprise to see a totally different game in the cup final.

Starting with just 10 players, and bearing in mind the previous result, the Walkden girls were not over-confident, but determined to do their best.

Sandra Stapleton opened with a single, Dawn Haououi was out at first base, Emma Thornton scored a three then Leanne Tudge Green was also dismissed at first base.

The next five batters added nine runs to complete the first round, but Rupert dismissed three batters on the second round, all by different means, however, Becky Mort excited the supporters with a rounder and after three rounds, Walkden had only four batters.

These batters then raised their games and Mort reached 13 before being out at first base and Paula Coleman scored 15, four threes, a two and a one, before also being out at first. Sammy McCoy and Stacy Leech kept going however, McCoy hitting a rounder before becoming the sixth batter to be out at first base.

With just two batters remaining, Walkden’s missing player arrived, but had to go straight in to bat before having the chance to compose herself and was immediately caught out.

Last batter Leech had already recorded one rounder before finishing with a two consecutive rounders before being denned for a magnificent 29 which took the Walkden total to 94.

Kerry Anderton then batted first for Rupert and scored a rounder, but Alison Saunders was caught out, which prompted the rest of the team to adopt a more cautious approach by settling for single runs, however, Mandy Makin was hit before making it to second base and Lisa Latona was hit out on her way to first.

With Walkden encouraged by the supporters, Rupert were reduced to just three batters. Gail Nicholson played a steady innings, scoring eight before being caught out, Justine Robinson reached 15, two singles, a three and five consecutive twos, before being denned with Anderton whose 24 included two rounders. With 74 for the innings, Rupert were 20 runs behind at the interval.

With victory in their sights, Stapleton started with a three for Walkden and followed up with a rounder before being out at first base for 10, Thornton was caught at the first attempt while Tudge Green, Zoe Makin and Leech were all out at first base on the first round as the Rupert fielders reverted to type and dismissed eight batters at first base.

Mort contributed seven to the innings, but Sophie Ayres opened with a rounder and became Walkden’s top scorer with 17, including three threes, before being caught, leaving Haououi to be denned for seven. With eight bad balls, the Walkden second innings closed on 56, taking their match total to 150.

Rupert went into their second innings 76 runs behind, so needed to improve on their first innings figure by three to win, but Walkden were now in confident mood and had Anderton caught from the first ball. Saunders compensated by hitting a rounder and went on to be Rupert’s top scorer with 13.

Nicholson was caught on the first round, in which Rupert scored 18, but Walkden refused to panic. After five rounds, Rupert had four batters left, but Latona and Robinson each scored just one more run, leaving Ann Truffas and Lynn Carroll alone. Carroll was hit out for 10 and Truffas denned for 12 to take Rupert’s tally to 66 to leave Walkden Cricket Club A worthy winners by10 points, 150-140 the final score.

The delayed Dixon Shield final between Spring Green XI and Stoneclough Ladies will take place at Darcy Lever Cricket Club on Friday when Mary Harrison will referee.