A year on from almost folding, Higham Cricket Club have completed their first South Yorkshire League season in which they have won their first league title for more than 30 years.

Higham – who left the Huddersfield Central League last year – finished first in Division Six by 26 points, after winning 15 and losing just two of their completed matches. 

Captain Luke Woodhouse said: “Towards the end of last season we were having selection meetings and we only had eight players available. We had already stopped the second team and we were seriously considering folding as a club.

"But we just managed to make it through to the end of the season then we got approval to join the South Yorkshire League and that attracted five or six players. We put a decent team together and we’ve won the league which is fantastic.”

Higham are now re-entering a second team for next season, when they are hoping to have finished the construction of a new pavilion they have secured funding for. Woodhouse said: “The club has been totally revitalised. We have had too many first team players this season so we needed a second team.

"We’re also hoping to set up a junior system with under 13s, under 15s and under 17s. The new pavilion will have a bar in it so hopefully it will provide some finances for the club. We want to win Division Five next season and get to Division Three in the next few years then reassess where we are.”

Higham were due to complete their season at home to Bradfield 2nd XI but the visitors pulled out and gifted their hosts seven points.

At the other end of the Division Six table, Houghton Main 2nd XI stayed up after Alex Tonge took the first nine Wickersley 3rd XI wickets to bowl them out for 76 defending 133.