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Wood you believe it?

24/ 5/2001

But in cricket, as in politics, what a difference a week makes.

For in technical terms although they are still cup holders, it is now in a caretaker capacity only.

Their hopes of retaining the Inter League Trophy went out of the window at Colne on 12 May. And on Sunday, at a packed Towncroft, came even greater chagrin.

Beaten, nay crushed, by their old rivals Middleton by seven wickets in the Wood Cup first round. Downed at the first hurdle.

Middleton's victory margin of seven wickets was adequate recompense for their second round Wood Cup defeat at Redbrook last year.

But it was more than that. Much more. It was comprehensive and thoroughly deserved. Rarely could a Rochdale team of the last decade been more completely overwhelmed.

Skipper Lee Wolstenholme played his first ace when he won the toss. He put Rochdale in and almost immediately his chips began to pile up.

A measure of the ball's domination over the bat was illustrated by the fact that only four Rochdale batsmen, Dirkie de Vos, Jon Henderson, Daz Cryer and Mo Bux got into double figures.

And the highest Dale partnership of the day was only 34 - and that was for the seventh wicket.

In the end Dale were bundled out for 113 and they didn't even use up their full quota of 50 overs ... a capital offence in limited overs cricket.

Middleton reached the target for the loss off only three wickets with 13 overs to spare, thanks mainly to professional Ruvin Peiris whose 61 not out was the highest individual score of the day by a long way.