Rochdale District Cricket Under 15s team win Ainsworth Cup

Back Row: Ethan Harding (Clifton CC), A Holland (Middleton CC), J Tierney (Middleton CC), T Booth (Norden CC), M Ul Haq (Rochdale CC), L Le Carpentier (Middleton), J Aikenhead (Middleton CC), and coach Lee Pearson. Front Row: M Bowden-Witts (Heywood CC), J Wynn (Milnrow CC), J Morley (Heywood CC) Captain, H Kilroy (Middleton CC) Q Hussain (Rochdale CC), H Hussain (Rochdale CC).

Rochdale District Cricket Under 15s team won the LCB's Ainsworth Cup by beating Chorley District in a tight and low scoring game in Southport.

Rochdale came top of a group also including Tameside, Wigan and Manchester Districts before winning a play-off with Bury to qualify for the knock out stages.

A comfortable win over Burnley meant a semi-final against a strong Bolton side, which they won off the last ball to qualify for the final.

In the final, batting first Rochdale scoredy 139 for nine off their 50 overs.

An excellent team performance in the field restricted Chorley to 119 all out.

A spokesman said: "Most of the close knit squad have been playing together at district level since they were 10 and their hard work and exceptional team spirit has resulted in some nail biting but exciting victories."