SATURDAY 19th July
First Team.
The 1st XI made the journey to Pateley Bridge to partake in a must win game against the side next bottom in the League. We won the toss and asked them to bat first. They made stuttering progress and found themselves 74 for 8. 0.Some fine tail end batting pushed the score to 145 for 9 and one run later the innings closed. Pick of the bowlers was Henry “Mudder” Ellison, who claimed 7 for 38 in 8.2 overs. There were also wicket apiece for Sam Arkwright, Struan Makenzie and Jack Kitching.
We reached 80 for 2 then lost Thomas Mountain for an obdurate innings of 17. Skipper Morgan Davies was joined by Sam and they took the score to 122 for 3, where the skipper was bowled for 51, Sam 19no and Jack 15no took us to the winning post in the 31st over. Our 20 points sees us jump two places to eighth.
Second Team
The 2nd XI were at home to Dacre Banks 1st XI, who won the toss and elected to field. We stumbled along to 85 for 9, where skipper for the day Chris Stone joined Mark Walters and just like last weeks final pair, they flourished. Mark closed on 53no and the skipper on 17no as we totalled 151 for 9.
We had them 54 for 4 and later 135-6. They crept nearer to their target and were on 146 for 6 when their overs run out and we were victorious by 5 runs. We receive 17points and remain in 7th place, which seems a bit odd. We lost 20 points during the week following the withdrawal of Alne 2nd XI from the League. All points won by their opponents are deleted.
The sponsors for this week matches are Steve Carling Roofing and Craven Farm Vets. The 1st XI are at home to Pannal whilst the 2nd XI travel to Middleham. For those wondering about our 2nd XI cup progress, I must report that we were eliminated from the Competition by the League for “allegedly “ playing an illegal player. Despite an appeal from us to the League the decision doesn’t change – C’est la vie.
Saturday 27th July
First Team
After all the hot sunny weather, Saturday was overcast, breezy with a possibility of rain in the air.
Pannal were the visitors to the Robinson Memorial Field and after winning the toss elected to field. Their overseas player, R Vankenie, a silky West Indian fast bowler struck with the first ball of the game, bowling Tom Robinson. That said the next wicket didn’t fall until the score had reached 101, where Harry West went for 51 (4×4,3×6). Four more wickets fell as we took the score to 159 for 5. Opener Thomas Mountain was being the anchor of the innings. He put on 53 with Struan Mackenzie. We closed on 234 for 9 with Thomas 78no which included ten fours. The umpire invoked the rule of taking too long to bowl their overs and docked them one over. They were 25 minutes over time!
We got stuck in on a terrific batting strip, complimented by the umpire as being the best he had seen all season. Well done Scott Robinson.
We had them 124 for 6 which became 173 for 7. The eighth pair looked as though they were going to steal the game from us. They put on an undefeated 50 but run out of overs with just 11 needed. Pick of the bowlers was Thomas with 2 for 33 backed up by Sam Arkwright 2 for 39, Andrew Foulds 2 for 28 and Struan 1 for 54.
We collect 18 points which keeps us in 8th place.
Second Team
The 2nd XI were at Middleham and were asked to bat first. We lost Matt Buckmaster at 4. We reached 136 for 3 and then lost six wickets adding just nine runs. The last pair added a crucial 12 runs as we closed on 157 for 9.
Their innings made steady progress as we lost bowlers to injury. Chris Stone was drafter into the attack and claimed 3 for 14 off 4.2 overs – taking the last three wickets to fall, as they closed five runs short of their target. The second successive week we have won by that margin. Hayden Barrett took 3 for 34, Caspar Bean 2 for 14 with a wicket apiece for Paul Wormald and Theo Douthwaite. We collect 19 points and remain in 7th place.
This week the 1st XI are away to Newton-le-Willows, hoping to complete a league double having beaten them earlier in the season at the Billy Bobs Ice Cream Parlour ground.
The 2nd XI are at home to Ripon 2nd. Match sponsors are The Embsay with Eastby Post and Raj, The Paper Shop.
One must make mention of a phenomenal game in Division Five. Lofthouse and Middlesmoor 1st XI were at home to Dacre Banks 1st XI. Batting first the homesters amassed a staggering 503 for 2 off 40 overs. The first wicket fell at 49 and the second one at 214. An undefeated third wicket partnership of 289 followed. Matty Collinson scored 269 not out off 104 balls with 24 fours and 24 sixes. His partner Craig Costello blasted 130no off 53 balls with 17 fours and 8 sixes. Needless to say, the bowling figures do not make pretty reading. The shell-shocked opponents replied with 153 all out with skipper Stephen Wyas carrying his bat with 73 not out. Defeat by a staggering 348 runs. Ouch!!
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