The Clifton third team juggernaut rolled into the sleepy,picturesque village of Uppermill on Sunday and, for the second week insuccession, posted over 250 runs in 100+ margins of victory. It was the formerSaddleworth League club's second XI on the receiving end this time and onceagain it was a teenage centurion that did the damage.
Last week's ton-up terror Dan Jones had to take a back seatafter lobbing up a 'catch me' in the second over, leaving Owen Hogben to showhis pedigree, guiding him to a first senior 100 in partnerships of 66 withEthan Kite (32 off 43 balls) and then with Chris Thorpe who rolled back theyears with 70 in just 57 deliveries faced. Owen registered fifteen fours in his106 not out that was achieved in 121 balls.
After Sam Winstanley racked up a rapid 18, the Cliftonfaithful were treated to a glimpse of the future, as young Fred Breidenbach,who only achieved the ripe old age of 12 in November, strode to the wicket andlooked perfectly comfortable and every inch a senior cricketer as he scored12no in seven balls as the final daunting total of 274-4 beamed out from thescorebox.
Centurions Owen and Dan shared another feat in amassing 215runs without including a single six in both innings. I once overheard futureEngland captain John Crawley's dad telling him that "cricket is a gameplayed along the ground" so the lads are in good company in that respect.
Fred wasn't done there, as he was later to contribute withthe ball, but chief tormentor Owen wasn't done either as he followed throughwith 3-19 with the ball and a sharp, juggled catch off the bowling of OllieDunn at slip. All five bowlers captured at least one scalp as Ollie and Oscargrabbed a couple, but the biggest cheer went to Fred as be took the first ofwhat will almost certainly be many career wickets, towards the end of thecontest.
It was a day that neither Owen nor Fred, for differentreasons, are likely to forget in a hurry as the 100% record remained intact andan eleven-point gap opened to second place, a gap which could become widerstill after 2nd placed Werneth visit Manchester Road next week.