Skipper Ste Davey joined Scott Stanworth and they put on a stand of 50 off 64 balls before Davey was bowled by Hodson for 19.

Deputy professional, Ridee, came in next but he had only made 10 before he came dancing down the wicket to Lovell and being stumped by Webb. Next came another stand of 50 off again 64 balls between Stanworth and Stuart Fitton and when the stand was on 80 Stanworth was bowled by Proctor for his highest score of the season of 79.

Jimmy Ryan, who has not had the best of seasons, arrived at the wicket and him and Fitton set about the Royton bowling and with the score on 234, Fitton was also bowled by Proctor, but the innings of the day was that of Ryan who hit his top score of the season, 69 not out and what a superb knock it was with his fifty coming off 25 balls and his total innings only took 34 balls, hitting 9 fours and 2 sixes being particularly stiff on former Moonraker skipper Punchard.

He and Danny Core took Middleton to a more than respectable 285 for 5 with Core 13 not out.

Royton had a disastrous start to their innings when Liam Mason was bowled without a run on the board by Ridee. It got worse for them when Hodson was bowled by Valentine and Royton were 20 for 2.

The big wicket for Middleton came with the score on 53 when Proctor was bowled by Phil Tomlinson for 18. Two runs later Morris was bowled by Ridee.

The two old stagers of the Royton team, John Punchard and Barry Woodward tried to pull Royton round with a stand of 43 before Core had Woodward caught by Ridee for 18. Ridee soon got rid of Webb and despite a six and a four, Mark Woodward soon followed again to Ridee.

Punchard stood firm with wickets falling all around him and despite a last wicket stand of 32 between him and Lovell, Royton ended on 180 all out with Core taking his second wicket and Highton one before Ridee returned to get Lovell LBW for 11 and finished with figures of 18.4 overs, 8 maidens, 30 runs, 5 wickets, a tremendous effort.

Great credit must be given to former skipper Punchard whose innings of 72 not out came off only 85 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes and was the main stay of the Royton innings.

Once again a 5 point victory for Middleton to end a tremendous season with Middleton finishing with 89 points and fourth place and the Second team finishing 2nd with 104 points

Rod Highton

Middleton (5 points) defeated Royton (0 points) by 105 runs

- Second Eleven produced a professional display that made a victory almost never look in doubt.

Middleton batted first and were struggling at 58 for 3 off 20 overs. Raza Hussain showed his class by hitting his highest score of the season, 90 not out has he played the anchor role as Reece Jones (33), Mark Buckley (27) and Gareth Hughes (34) injected pace to the innings at the other end as Middleton finished on 246 for 5 off their 50 overs.

After the tea interval Royton took strike and the quality of the Middleton bowling soon showed as the batsmen were restricted to 209 for 7 off their 50 overs with Liam Brown (70) and Adam Varley (43) the only batsmen to get starts.

Middleton (5 points) defeated Royton (0 points) by 37 runs

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