Henrik has already written a great piece celebrating the 1s triumph in the Prem, and what a triumph it has been. A quite superb effort – an excellent start, dealing with the setback of defeat and the frustration of four stitches against us, before regrouping and really pressing on, as champion teams do. I’m proud of how the guys play, how they win and how they deal with the less good days. There’s only been three weeks this season when the 1s haven’t been top, and even then they were just a point behind in second, so this second title in four seasons is thoroughly deserved. They’ve been up against good players and good sides – the standard in the Prem is not to be sniffed at – and I hope will end the season with two good victories to round off a fabulous campaign, not forgetting of course the Cheshire Cup Final at Lindow next Sun, which should be a fantastic match.

I wrote in the league newsletter that the 1s run post-Covid is quite remarkable. To finish second, first, second, third and first in the five seasons since 2021 - and win the Cheshire Cup - speaks for itself. Perhaps that could be a new club PiN, as suggested by the sub-heading on this week’s summary. My only regret was not being around personally (minor) and also that the Greens were still away (major – what a contribution they have made). But I am sure they will have been as involved as possible via the internet and we look forward to welcoming them back.

In the next review I sincerely hope to be writing on a second successive league title for the 2s, after a highly impressive win at nearest title rivals Toft on Saturday. It ought to be decisive really, and the way they guys have played this year they absolutely deserve it.

It was a shame that they didn’t get going in the T20 Final on Sunday. The third time that Dids & Chester have met up in the T20 final in the past four seasons, although this time it ought to have been Timperley – how they threw away a golden opportunity to get past CBH in the semi only they will know. But CBH held on and were delighted that the experienced Robin Fisher was available to play in the final, having missed the semi. What a difference he made.

It must be some kind of record for a club to have its three senior mens sides all make their T20 Final in the same season, but all three to come up short. The 1s were a whisker away, the 3s close-ish, but the 2s just never recovered from a nightmare start. It’s the second final this year I’ve scored when an umpiring decision has taken my breath away, but losing Adam & Jack in the first over, and ending the powerplay 22-4 with just one boundary, gave CBH a massive lift, Fisher’s 4-12 really killed us, and 100-9 was never going to be enough. There was no lack of effort and one or two near-misses, but it just wasn’t to be. Congratulations to Chester, and who would bet against another Final next year?

But, silver innings and all that – while the 2s were suffering, the 3s were surging to victory at title rivals Brooklands and their excellent excellent 5 wkt win secured a fifth title in the past seven seasons. All title victories are special, but given the make-up of the side this year, and the number of junior players making their mark, it has been a very special effort indeed. The 3s have two games left to play and deserve to relax and enjoy. JB and Corbs have done a great job leading the side in the right way, as have the stand-in captains, and although for numerous reasons I don’t get the time with the 3s that I once did, the T20 games I umpired for them were really enjoyable to stand in and I keep a close eye on things every Sunday.

The 4s are another side who have done wonderfully well. Aaron C has been in charge in Jack’s various injury and coaching-related absences and has done fantastically well, the side finishing as runners-up to Hyde (they wouldn’t be allowed to be promoted in any case) after beating Bramhall by 6 wkts, Kush made a terrific 92 before, fittingly, the skipper hit the winning runs.

The 5s finished a superb season for them joint-top of Div 2, level on pts with Runcorn but Runcorn taking top spot having won two games more. Again, no praise can be too high for Simon and the way he has got the best out of the young players who do the bulk of the work. If you’re not aware, the 5s (and 4s) can often be changed very late in the day with drop-outs and that is not easy to cope with as a captain. You plan to bowl such a player only to find he’s had to go up to another side and that’s 8 overs that have to be found from somewhere else - a settled team is virtually unheard of. Anyway, at Woodley, Jan Sanderson and Noah Brown did the team proud, five wkts between them, Zain & Shaun Bosworth two each, Simon picked up the other, all out 94 and thanks very much.

The Wanderers lost out to Lindow in a reduced match, meaning they have won 7 and lost 9 with a game to go in Div 3 East, but lots to be positive about for Chris in his first season captaining this side.

And a word too about the 2As, who have ebbed and flowed this season but generally made life easier for themselves than in the last campaign, where they needed a mighty turnaround after a catastrophic start. This year they have been in and around both ends of the table, but a thumping win over relegated Grappenhall on Sat gave them plenty to smile about. Rehmani – who sits atop the leading wicket takers column in all the CCCL – bagged a Michelle, and OG whipped out three, and the 95 target was reached with only the most minor of alarms.

Finally and briefly the womens 1s were frustrated by the rain on Sunday at Hale Barns which washed out their T20 Final on Sunday, which is now scheduled for the weekend of Sept 20-21.