Silverware would be a bonus for Loddington

The shortened Northamptonshire Cricket League season reaches a conclusion this weekend
There have been few changes to the Loddington & Mawsley line-up from the one that won the NCL T20 Cup in 2018 to the one that will bid to win the Division One knockout final this weekendThere have been few changes to the Loddington & Mawsley line-up from the one that won the NCL T20 Cup in 2018 to the one that will bid to win the Division One knockout final this weekend
There have been few changes to the Loddington & Mawsley line-up from the one that won the NCL T20 Cup in 2018 to the one that will bid to win the Division One knockout final this weekend

Loddington & Mawsley captain Liam Flecknor says being crowned Division One winners in the Northamptonshire Cricket League (NCL) this weekend would be an “added bonus” for the club.

A truncated season due to the Covid-19 pandemic saw the NCL devise a new format which saw 11 divisions playing a number of league matches before the top eight teams in the divisions headed into a series of play-off knockout matches.

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It has all come down to the final weekend this Saturday and, in Division One, Loddington entertain Stony Stratford in the showpiece to a unique campaign.

There’s no promotion at stake but an opportunity to take the crown and, after claiming a six-wicket win at Burton Latimer in their semi-final last Saturday, Flecknor is hoping he and his long-serving team-mates can finish the job.

“For us personally, being one of the smaller clubs locally, and having to compete with the Ketterings and Burtons, it’s always great to have a shot at some silverware,” said Flecknor, whose team finished in fourth place in the table after the main round of league matches.

“We have a pretty tight young group who, on the whole, have come through the youth section and progressed to the first team.

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“This Saturday’s side will only have one change from the team that won the NCL T20 Cup in 2018, so it would be great to get over the line as a group again.

“Having played Stony in the league stage only a few weeks back and getting soundly beaten, I thought they were a very impressive outfit and as good as I’ve seen in Division One for a while.

“We go into the day as underdogs as we did in 2018, but we’ll embrace the challenge and see where that takes us.

“At the end of the day we are all just grateful to have had some cricket, a trophy would be an added bonus.”

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Flecknor also reserved praise for the NCL bosses after a lot of hard work went into ensuring a competitive season could still be played out once they received the green light to play.

“Obviously, with the current Covid situation we didn’t know if we’d actually get any cricket this season and, if we did, how it would look,” the Loddington skipper added.

“It’s always easy to sit at home and bash the NCL and the people making the decisions but I think they really nailed it with the format.

“The added excitement of a knockout stage and a chance of a cup final really got clubs to buy into it.”

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE

Play-off finals

Premier Division: Peterborough v Old Northamptonians.

Division One: Loddington & Mawsley v Stony Stratford.

Division Two: Weldon v Isham & Wellingborough Indians.

Division Three: Northampton Saints v Wollaston 2nd.

Division Four: S&L Corby v Bold Dragoon.

Division Five: Cogenhoe v Bugbrooke.

Division Six: Stony Stratford 3rd v S&L Corby 2nd.

Division Seven: Desborough 2nd v Dunchurch & Bilton.

Division Eight: Great Houghton 2nd v Haddon 2nd.

Division Nine: Finedon Dolben 4th v Brixworth 3rd.

Division 10: Bugbrooke 2nd v Rushden & Higham 3rd.

Division 11: Willoughby 2nd v Braunston Paddox 2nd.

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