Cheshire Independent Issue 205

SEPTEMBER 2025 20 LOCAL RUGBY ROUND-UP Independent LOCAL SPORT LOCAL CRICKET ROUND-UP AS the league season moved towards its final stages, crushing nine- wicket victories in the Premier Division for both Nantwich and Didsbury meant no change at the top of the table. Didsbury have a 32-point advantage with just three games remaining and 44 points enough for the club to claim its second title in four seasons. Captain Nick Anderson claimed two wickets as his side bowled Timperley out for 185. Nantwich also cruised to a comfortable win at Widnes. Ali Chugtai hit an unbeaten 81 off 69 balls and he and Luke Rob- inson (78 not out off 57 balls) put on 159 in 19 overs. Brooklands were defeated at Neston, posting just 114 with extras (25) top scoring. At the bottom of the table Oxton’s terrible run of results was abruptly ended with a handsome 67-run win at Alder- ley Edge. Missing key players, Edge never got going, despite a fight- ing 70 from Tejas Rao, and were all out for 208. Bowdon’s fight for survival continues after a heavy defeat at the hands of Lindow, who posted 332-8 on the board, led by a classy 122 from skipper James Duffy. Division One saw the top three all win with something to spare. Cheadle are still in pole position after their win against Grappenhall who could only muster 72. Josh Dooler took 6-19 and Cheadle knocked off the runs inside 17 overs. Urmston took 47 overs to compile 130 at Bramhall, Jack Clark (65 not out) and Nick Cantello (31 not out) making sure of an eight-wicket win. Macclesfield kept their pro- motion hopes alive with a 108- run win over Davenham, Alex Thompson (65 and 4-21) was the standout performer. Marple shook off wretched recent form to record an eight- wicket victory to ease their relegation jitters, visitors Sale were all out for 210. Stockport Georgians’ happy August continued with a third straight victory, this one a close affair that saw them win by seven runs at Toft. In Division Two Bollington needed just 12.1 overs to knock off 121 and defeat Ashton OM by nine-wickets. Haslington were beaten at Cheadle Hulme by 76 runs, and Stockport were crushed at Oulton Park going down by 250 runs. Chasing 332-5 they were all out for 82 in just 22 overs. An entertaining game at Little Heath saw Christleton’s Max Dunvaband make 95 as his side held on to beat NE Cheshire by 19 runs. Struggling Middlewich had a surprise win at Barrow, who they bowled out for just 123. Caleb McLaren’s unbeaten46 steered them to a priceless two-wicket win and a 21-point cushion from the drop zone. Joe Cooper hit an unbeaten 106 as his side overcame Hawk Green by eight wickets. The Cheshire Cup Final will be played by Lindow and Dids- bury. It will be the Wilmslow club’s first ever appearance in the county final. MACCLESFIELD sum- mer signing Louis Lacey has made a strong start to his career as a Silk- man and manager John Rooney is delighted. The 20-year-old scored the winning goal in Maccles- field’s away win under the lights at Southport. And he also provided the assist for Isaac Buck- ley-Ricketts to net the Silk- men’s first in their 2-1 win at Haig Avenue. Lacey’s debut performance also saw him included in the National League North’s team of the week. Rooney told the club’s official website: “Louis has been brilliant since he’s come in as a trialist, he’s done everything right, came on early when needed, and scored the winner.” Lacey arrived at the Leas- ing.com stadium following his departure from fellow Enterprise National League North side Curzon Ashton. He was in training with John Rooney’s side for a num- ber of weeks in the summer and featured in a number of Macclesfield’s pre-sea- son fixtures. A full back by trade he offers the squad versatility as he is also able to operate on the wing or in midfield. The early stages of his By Rhys Fullerton SANDBACH welcomed back LooseHeadz for an entertaining after- noon of rugby, with the main aim of raising vital awareness around mental health struggles in the game. LooseHeadz is a charity aiming to place a mental health lead in every rugby club around the world and to help to tackle the stigma around mental health. This was the second meeting between Sand- bach and LooseHeadz and this time it was bigger and better. The day kicked off with Sandbach Sabres taking to the field for their inaugu- ral match against Loose- Headz Women XV. This was a historic moment as it was the first match for a Sandbach women’s team in more than 20 years. With the Women’s Rugby World Cup under way, this was a fitting moment and was made possible by the dedication of all those involved with the team. The Sabres had a squad made up of players from Sandbach, Crewe and Nantwich RUFC, Eccleshall RUFC, Lich- field RUFC, Ophir RFC and Stone Roses RUFC. A Sandbach Social XV then faced LooseHeadz XV in the ‘Bradley Peace Memorial Cup’. The cup is named in memory of Mike’s brother Bradley, who tragically took his own life two years ago. The day was part of the club’s preparations for the new season. Sandbach’s director of rugby Andrew Bird said: “We have been delighted with the commit- ment and enthusiasm from the players towards the pre-season programme.” Sandbach, who fin- ished third last season in the Northern Division – Regional 2 North West and reached the quar- ter-final of the Papa John’s Men’s Community Cup - Regional 2 North Plate, will start their season away to Burnage. The first home game of the season at Bradwall Road will see a team from Douglas travelling across the Irish Sea from the Isle of Man. Sandbach’s first local derby will be away to Northwich on Saturday September 20. They will head back to Northwich on Saturday November 29 to play local rivals Winning- ton Park. Macclesfield RUFC have announced that lead- ing payments solutions provider Acquired.com has agreed a three-year partnership to become the club’s new head- line sponsor. Making his presence felt Lacey makes strong start to his Silkmen career Delighted: John Rooney says new signing Louis Lacey has been brilliant (Photo credit: MTFC) career were spent in the academies of Barnsley and Tranmere Rovers. His first senior move saw him go on loan to Flint Town from Prenton Park, where he was named in the JD Cymru North Team of the Season in 2023/24 following a success- ful season with the Silkmen. He spent last season at the Tameside Stadium where he earnt valuable experience in the National League North. It is early in the season but Rooney has emphasised that the squad rotation is going to play an important part in the selection of his starting eleven in games. For the midweek South- port game, he made three changes from the side that lost to Oxford City the pre- vious Saturday. He said: “We’ve got a lot of games coming up so there’ll be changes in those games as well. “Everyone in that dressing room will play a massive part this year, the lads who’ve come out of the team weren’t dropped, it was just rotation and it’s worked out for us.” The Silkmen lost Bran- don Lee through a calf injury midway through the first half. Rooney has also paid trib- ute to the travelling Silk- men supporters. He said: “They’re our twelfth man home and away, they travel in their numbers. “To see them all is mas- sive for us, for me and the lads it’s huge. We’re going to need them every single game right behind us.” Macclesfield’s opening game of the season – a 3-1 home win against Worksop Town – was watched by 3,034 fans. The crowd topped the 2025/26 attendance record in the league by more than 300 fans. Macclesfield have also signed goalkeeper Joe Nichol- son following his departure from Rochdale. The young shot-stopper began his career at Preston North End before moving to Spotland to be a part of Dale’s Academy where he featured prominently in the club’s FA Youth Cup campaigns. A former scholar at the Enterprise National League side, Nicholson left Dale in the summer and has been training with the Silkmen during pre-season. Heading for the finishing line Season’s greetings! Raising awareness: Sandbach’s men and women sides took on LooseHeadz (Photo credit Josh Randle)