CHESTERFIELD GET HOME IN CLOSE FINISH

CHESTERFIELD 3'S 111 FOR 8 CLOWNE 4'S 110 ALL OUT

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION 9 NORTH AT DEER PARK

19 JUNE 2022 --- 1.30PM

DAVID WALKER IN CHESTERFIELD V CLOWNE TOWN

This additional little Sunday meander out to the neighbouring village of Wingerworth produced a low scoring and close finish with Chesterfield in the end getting home by two wickets when captain Eddie Grant secured the four which surpassed the Clowne Town total, but the contribution from Toby Whiteley [48*], who carried his bat through the innings, would make the difference alongside his two wickets.

A bit like Clay Cross and believe me they have never been compared alike but Wingerworth have no cricket club anymore but do have a ground that thankfully has continued to be used by Chesterfield 3's, it as also the home this season of Morton Colliery CC but they have pulled out of the league.

The twenty five minute journey found visa control absent it was after all a Sunday but shall we just say there as always been a feel of something different about the village being slightly better than everybody else around them, apparently it was at one stage one of the poorest parishes in the country but don't tell todays 4 wheel drive and SUV residents.

All that said it was the residence of the Hunloke family and their hall situated on the eastern edge of the village but entrance today would be via one of the selection of lodge gate which would have I guess taken you onto their land.  The un-adopted Central Drive brings you onto much of the activity area of this massively expanded village three miles south of Chesterfield.  Here there is a fishing pond and there is a Clay Cross connection as well as it is controlled by their angling club, bowling green, modern tennis courts, a former football pitch again no longer in use by a senior village side and the cricket ground.  The immediate area also offers a small selection of retial a Spa shop, although it may be more mini Waitrose territory, hairdressers, a new and exciting vegan eatery plus the chemist and medical centre.  Oh and did I mention a further small pond adjacent to these?

ENTRY VIA THE LODGE GATES 1794

So a very basic background to the immediate area of Wingerworth we find ourselves in today as there area other shops and a library plus a village hall within the community too, so much as I rib the village it may just be jealousy at what they actually have here.

The cricket ground is in the area of Deer Park and from Allendale Road the overview used to have a lovely backdrop of the hills around the former Bolehill Quarry this though has become tree blocked now and wasn't as impressive as I remember.  Last time I watched a game here I probably played in it for Ankerbold as a junior.

The wicket in use is situated well towards the far side of Allendale leaving a massive boundary to one side but towards the tennis courts a very short boundary which is aided by the slope down to the edge as soon as the wicket area finishes there is also a slope towards Central Drive so although this is a nice setting the outfield leaves a little to be desired, certainly when fielding.  The ground also has extensive netting some of which have to be laboriously put up on a match day to protect the nearby housing expansion and other sporting facilities, there are also a couple of signs for park amblers to be aware of cricket balls potentially leaving the immediate ground.

A UNIQUE WINGERWORTH FEATURE

This fixture was an additional after concerns about yesterdays game at Grassmoor with the weather but even though we got through that one I thought well 'why not' so here we were fully appreciating there would be a fair collection of young players with a selection of experienced ones but it has to be said this was a very enjoyable game in which Chesterfield's young bowlers were very impressive.

So a brief overview of the proceedings saw Clowne win the toss and bat with opener and keeper Brayden Scott [18] top scoring with a determined effort others to reach double figures were Troy Greveson [17], Gregory Cox [12] and valuable contributions in the latter stages captain Jordan Coates [12] and Adam Fox [15] but when the latter was out caught by Kai Evans off the bowling of Ben Jenkins three overs were left unused and the score had only just got over the three figure mark.

In the bowling stakes it was all economical and all contributed with Ben Jenkins impressing although frustratingly he had just one wicket to show for his eight overs which went for just seven runs.  James Taylor returned 3 for 15, Whiteley 2 for 12 from half a dozen overs, Kelon Charles took two wickets but could easily have had a 'five for' and there was a wicket apiece for Christian Sullivan and Alfie Woodhouse.

KELON CHARLES OPENING THE BOWLING FOR CHESTERFIELD

Chesterfield set off well with runs flowing fairly easily in this low scoring encounter with top order double figures from Charles [12], Evans [13] and Ethan Radford [11] but when William Hallam fell for a duck the score was 46/4 and Clowne knew their chance was to bowl Chesterfield out.  A stand of forty five for the fifth wicket which included David Walker [11] get the home side nearer to the target but a late wobble saw the eight wicket fall at 105 and they were still a little way short.  Captain Eddie Grant rescued that thought though with that four with just over thirteen overs to spare but only two wickets remaining.  The boundary saw Whiteley carry his bat through the innings but agonisingly fall two short of his half century.

The bowling for Clowne saw Paul Jaffray return 3 for 11 with two apiece for Gary Parkin and Fox alongside one for Jordan Coates.

An enjoyable local afternoon out with more than enough interest throughout in an intriguing low scoring game. 

CLOWNE TOWN JUST A FEW RUNS SHORT OF A POSSIBLE WIN