Lancashire
League
Accrington v Colne
Sunday September
14th 1975
This
was the day that Accrington had waited 14 long years for. Needing to
beat Colne to be sure of winning the Lancashire League championship
for the first time since 1961, Accrington won the match in style, crushing
an in-form Colne side by 9 wickets before a huge expectant crowd. Accrington
captain Peter West won the toss and elected to field. Colne were soon
in trouble at 7-3 and eventually they were bowled out for 77 with professional
Alan Worsick taking 5-43 to finish with 99 wickets at 10.8 each. Only
a 44 run partnership between the dangerous Norbert Phillip (34) and
opener Derek Harker (18) held Accrington up on a damp pitch that offered
plenty of life to the home attack. Malcolm Taylor took four catches
close in off Worsick, who himself took the final catch off the bowling
of Tony Gallagher to wrap up the Colne innings. Graham Beech made 30
before being bowled by Barry Driver in an opening stand of 69 and it
was fitting that the leading batsman Geoff Hayhurst (45 not out) and
Worsick should be at the crease, as the professional made the winning
hit to seal the championship with a 9 wicket win. It was the first time
in history that a team had won the Lancashire League title with every
member of the team being born in the town.
Scorecard