Cheshire Independent Issue 213

MAY 2026 20 LOCAL RUGBY ROUND-UP Independent LOCAL SPORT 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. way for Sandbach to travel 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, 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. SILKMEN boss John Rooney continues to receive the plaudits for his impressive perfor- mance in the dug-out. Rooney, in his first season in management, has won his second National League Manager of theMonth award. He followed up his January Down to the wire Home win: Sandbach’s play-o! victory over Widnes was hard-fought (Photos by Andy Mitchell) Opening day ups and downs Derby date for the county ONE LAST PUSH! Silkmen prepare for play-off campaign Raving about Rooney Winning ways: Rooney, his backroom sta! and players with the award (Photo credit: MFC) Speaking after the game, Rooney could not hide his disappointment and frus- tration. He told the club’s official TV channel that the performance was not what he expected from his team. And he added: “It looks like we’ve taken our foot off the gas.” Challenging his players to get back to the level of per- formance that catapulted Macclesfield from mid-table to their present position, Rooney added: “It’s a massive achievement getting into the play-offs, but don’t end the season this way. “We’re going into the business part of the sea- son. You want to go in with momentum.” The players responded to his call with a 2-1 home victory against Southport. Goals from Isaac Buck- ley-Rickets and Lewis Fen- some sent the 2,827 fans home happy. And speaking after that game Rooney said: “We’re pleased to have finished the last home game with a win.” Rooney has also spoken about the part supporters will play in the play-offs as Macclesfield look to secure a place in the National League next season. He said: “Togetherness is the word. We need them to get behind us and push us over the line.” Macclesfield’s play-off cam- paign will get underway with a home match on Wednesday April 29. The Silkmen will play the team that finishes seventh in the league in the National League North play-off elimi- nator B game which will kick- off at 7.45pm. honour with March’s trophy after another fine four weeks for his Macclesfield side. There was just no arguing with the Silkmen’s six wins in their efforts to cap an incred- ible season with promotion. It was a month when they added to their already-impressive points tally with wins over Dar- lington, Marine, Curzon Ashton, Alfreton Town, as well as doing the double over Hereford. MACCLESFIELD’S play- off ambitions have gone down to the wire – and the last day of the regu- lar season. As The Independent went to press The Blues were preparing for a crunch final National League Two North clash away at Sheffield with victory a must. Macclesfield sit third in the table four points behind Tynedale, who occupy the play-off place and who have an away game at Wharfdale to navigate. The Blues put the disap- pointment of the late drama in a nine-try thriller at Darlington Mowden that saw them miss out 42-41 to secure a vital 45-29 home win against Otley. It was a special occasion for Danny Martin as he made his 100th appearance for Macc Rugby. Meanwhile, 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 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 command- ing things at scrum-half. In the forwards, Ryan Arundale was back in the second row, and the experienced Jack Seddon was at number eight. The victory opened the 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. MACCLESFIELD players have responded to man- ager John Rooney’s call for them to go into the National League play- offs with momentum behind them. The Silkmen secured a spot in the end-of-season promotion battle after a hard won 2-1 victory against Mer- thyr Town in South Wales in early April. But they followed that with two defeats in a row – includ- ing a disappointing 2-0 loss against Spennymoor Town in their penultimate home game of the regular campaign in front of a crowd of 3,452.