MATCH PREVIEW: Church Eaton 1st XI vs Kidsgrove 1st XI
Saturday 26th April 2025
Church Eaton Cricket Club Ground
1:00 PM Start | Bar Open from 12 Noon until Late!

The 2025 season gets underway this Saturday as Church Eaton 1st XI host Kidsgrove 1st XI at The Playing Fields. After a long winter and plenty of hard work behind the scenes, the lads are back and ready for action in what promises to be another competitive season in Division 4.

Kidsgrove come into the season as one of the favourites for promotion, having finished 3rd last year, narrowly missing out by just 4 points to Oakamoor. Meanwhile, Church Eaton will be looking to build on a solid 2024 season which saw the side finish 8th, a marked improvement from 2023 where safety was only secured by a single point. The highlight last year? Undoubtedly the final day win over champions Eccleshall – a result that secured our league status and showed what this side is capable of.

Head-to-head last season favoured Kidsgrove, who took both wins:

Away Fixture (at Kidsgrove):

CE posted 98-9 in tough early-season conditions, with Dan Smith top-scoring (21)

Kidsgrove chased it down comfortably, finishing 100-6 in under 30 overs

Matt White impressed with the ball, taking 2-15 from 7 overs

Home Fixture (10th August at Church Eaton):

Kidsgrove batted first, posting a strong 205-8 from their 40 overs

Chairman Mike Trayte led the bowling attack with 3-31 from 6 overs

In reply, CE put up a good fight, finishing 180-8

Matt Burslem, Dan Smith and Will Ross all made it into the 30s, but nobody could go on to deliver a match-winning knock, falling 25 runs short

This Saturday’s opener will be another tough test against what is likely to be one of the stronger teams in the division again. But it’s a fresh season, a fresh start, and the team are eager to hit the ground running.

The bar will be open from 12pm until late – so come down, enjoy a drink or two, back the boys, and make a proper day of it in the village.

Let’s get behind the team and start the season strong — Up the Knights!