Milnrow Throw Away Winning Position

Milnrow threw away a winning position in their home game against Middleton on Saturday and lost by 22 runs. From being 188 for 5, and looking like they would see the game home comfortably, Milnrow lost their last 5 wickets without scoring another run. It was a defeat that was tough to take for all at Ladyhouse, particularly as there were again encouraging individual performances, and the need for more resilient batting was again obvious.

Middleton came to Ladyhouse on a run of seven straight wins and their confidence showed as they made an excellent start. Tierney and Walker put on a century stand for the opening wicket and the Middleton professional Ernest Kemm again batted confidently for his 63. Milnrow stuck resolutely to the task, however, and Wilkinson put in one of his best performances of the season to record figures of 5 for 65 from his 20 overs; a fine return. Milnrow also fielded very well and there was a sense through the team that they could chase the total down.

Milnrow's openers did not last long, however, as both were back in the pavilion with the score on 3. Again Milnrow turned to professional James Price for a commanding innings and he did not disappoint. He batted superbly to reach his third century for the club. He played fluent, commanding shots and looked like he would lead the team to victory. Along the way he was given support with knocks from Power, Dryden and Wilson but with the score on 188 and with Price on 112, he was clean bowled by Rutter. This led to a disappointing collapse as the last five wickets fell in just two overs. Milnrow need to pick themselves up as they face the weekend games against Elton and Crompton and continue trying to build the team performances that will bring points in the second half of the season.

Contributed by
Colin Williamson
Chairman, Milnrow Cricket Club

Brett Becomes New Chairman Of Ellenroad

The new Chairman of the Ellenroad Trust is Councillor Allen Brett. Allen who was a founder trustee is there for the interim and has made two initial pledges; first to increase membership and second to increase visitor numbers. Allen said that if all the people in Milnrow, Newhey and Ogden were to visit who have told him it is on their to do list then numbers would rocket.

The next steaming is this Sunday 5th July

Milnrow Help Boarshurst On The Road To The Nationals

Last Sunday Milnrow Band treated the audience at Boarshurst Band Club to an excellent fare of brass band music with no sign of a march, overture or traditional arrangement to be heard… what ever would the traditionalists of this centre of local brass banding think?

The concert was to help raise funds for Boarshurst Bands appearance in the British Brass Bands National Championships Third Section Finals at Cheltenham in September 2015, competing for the pride of North West Bands.

It was a total surprise when the band commenced with 'All Night Long' the up beat Lionel Richie hit with a Caribbean feel from 1983, MD Mark Bentham then explained that in an endeavour to present something a little different the programme would feature music of styles and groups from the 'rock' and 'pop' era of the past.

The first solo offering of the evening was The Police / Sting (alias Gordon Sumner) hit 'Fields of Gold' and featured the lovely silken tones of Haley Moore on solo cornet - since her return to the band Haley has successfully taken on the role of Principal Cornet and recently was adjudged best solo cornet at the Grotton village Whit Friday contest (2015).

The band then gave us the “Elephant Medley”(ten items) from the feature film of 2001 'Moulin Rouge' and the audience was invited to 'name those tunes'.

Kenny Payne (Soprano Cornet) then stepped up to take the stage and wowed us with an arrangement of the Carpenters` hit 'Solitaire' from their 1975 album 'Horizon'.

In 1975, Stevie Wonder produced his composition 'Sir Duke' which featured in his 1976 album 'Songs in the Key of Life' in which he paid tribute to greats of the big band era such as Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, Milnrow Band continued its unique programme with this well received item.

'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Freddy Mercury (Queen) was announced as the next item and it was explained that the first minute and a half was always sung by Mercury, so here was another surprise, the members of Milnrow Band laid down their instruments and regaled us with a beautiful acappella choral version of those first few minutes of the rhapsody before entering into the full version of this Queen favourite.

Final offering before the interval was a through the ages Beatles Medley, after which the band retired for some well earned liquid refreshment.

Upon its return Milnrow Band continued its homage to the past with 'Ruby Tuesday', recorded in 1966 and released in 1967 this was the bands` tribute to Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones.

Remembering the Carpenters and listening to their hit of 1972 'Goodbye to Love' was easy especially when performed as a solo by 15 year old Ellena Newton, this was a superb mature performance from the bands' solo trombone player, who has taken over the top seat from Chris Binns who has moved on to play with Black Dyke Band. Then more than a 'nod' to Michael Jackson, Bernstein and producer Quincy Jones with a full blooded version of 'Beat It' from Jackson's 1982 album 'Thriller'. Once again the band excelled with some choral accompaniment completed by a final solo shout of 'Beat It' rendered by BBb Bass player Stephen Armitage.

'The Way We Were', a Barbara Streisand hit of 1974 from the film of the same title which featured Robert Redford, encouraged Mick Morris (Solo Euphonium) to show off his versatility on the euphonium and he received a standing ovation for his efforts.

After such a varied and listenable programme the MD can be forgiven for including one of his own arrangements with which to delight us, and being a 'Madness' fan he had the band launch into a medley of Madness classics ,'It Must Be Love', 'Baggy Trousers' and 'House Of Fun'. 'Complete Madness' was a very apt title.

A Philip Sparke arrangement of 'Music' by John Miles, a hit in 1976 from his album 'Rebel' .was the final item but the audience coerced the band into a 'curtain call' and the band obliged with a version of hard rock 'Final Countdown' a hit in 1986 by Swedish group 'Europe'.

Thus ended a musical trip through the years with passing references to styles of music such as Ska, Rock, Soul, Big Band and groups such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Carpenters and solo artists such as Lionel Richie, Sting, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, and Stevie Wonder.

Janet Payne (Secretary of Boarshurst Band)announced that the event had raised £500 and she thanked Milnrow Band for giving its services and stressed how the friendship had grown between the two neighbouring bands, she also emphasised how important it was for all good soloists to have a good band behind them and the audience agreed with her that Championship Milnrow Band had provided an excellent programme of a very interesting and listenable nature.

Contributed by
Ken Watts - Band Presiden, Milnrow Band

Milnrow First XI Fall As Seconds Win Fifth In A Row

Milnrow were beaten by 64 runs in their game at Radcliffe CC on Saturday. Milnrow bowled Radcliffe out for 176 but were not able to capitalise on this and were bowled out themselves for 112. This was a disappointing result following last week's successful chase at Werneth.

Milnrow lost the toss and bowled first and struggled to make inroads into the Radcliffe batting. Price took the first wicket in the ninth over but the next wicket did not fall until the 20th over. The Milnrow attack did well to restrain the scoring with Radcliffe reaching 100 in the 28th over, but then Wilkinson, Price and Jack Wynn started to take regular wickets and from 105 for 2, Radcliffe collapsed to 176 all out. Wilkinson finished as the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 48. Price finished with 3 for 54 and Wynn finished with 2 for 27.

Jack Wynn's performance was the shining light on a disappointing day for Milnrow, in that he was the latest player from Milnrow's youth section to get a taste of first team action. He bowled well to take two top order wickets and took a good catch. Wynn, who also plays for Lancashire's under 14s, is one of Milnrow's most promising youngsters and will learn from this experience.

When Milnrow went into bat, they did not get the good start that was needed. Crabtree was bowled with the score on 5 and when professional James Price fell with the score on 34, it was clear that captain Max Power would again have to lead a rearguard action. In his usual resilient way he moved his score to 20 and stabilised the Milnrow innings, with suppport from Wilkinson and Wilson. With the score on 96, however, he was given out LBW, a decision that was questionable. From this point on, Milnrow's resistance crumbled and they were all out for 112. Radcliffe pro, Raheel Majeed, former Milnrow professional, finished with figures of 4 for 8 from 7 overs. Milnrow's search for consistency continues.

On a more positive note, Milnrow's second team won its fifth game in a row. It was also the fifth consecutive game that they have bowled the opposition out. The highlight was 102 not out from John Lowe, who struck a six off the last ball of the innings to go to his century. Milnrow's score of 243 proved way beyond Radcliffe and they were bowled out for 133, with Charlie Lloyd Jones and Matthew Owen taking four wickets each, Owen narrowly missing out on a hat trick.