JOHNSON CENTURY SWEEPS GRASSMOOR ASIDE

GRASSMOOR WORKS 172 FOR 8 WELBECK 2'S 271 FOR 6

BASSETLAW AND DISTRICT CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT BARNES PARK

16 JULY 2022 --- 1PM

CENTURY MAKER ETHAN JOHNSON FOR WELBECK V GRASSMOOR 

Welbecks 2's took a firm grip on second place in The Bassetlaw and District first division after this comprehensive 99 run victory over hosts Grassmoor Works on a red hot afternoon in Barnes Park.  It was a destructive century from Ethan Johnson that did most of  the damage and even in reply half centuries from opener Mark Crain and Grassmoor captain Adam Bedford were not enough as they never got close to the challenging target. 

WELBECK CAPTAIN LEWIS JONES

A red hot afternoon greeted the twenty minute amble up the two hills that approach the village from the west and once again it was time to be thankful for this local cricket club who have provided a fair bit of the summer sport for me alongside of course Pilsley and Clay Cross Cricket Club.  Last week was pretty hot but this week from a spectating point of view would allow plenty of shaded areas with the boundary tree lined in Barnes Park whereas last week at Rupert Street there was no cover from the big yellow thing. 

Today's visitors to the north east Derbyshire village are Welbecks 2nd eleven who were sat nicely in second place behind Hartrhill and so it looked a tough challenge for Grassmoor who in the last few weeks had met the high flying pedigree clubs in the league and suffered defeats against the likes of Mansfield Hosiery Mills and Kiveton Park.

JAMIE HAWKINS GRASSMOOR ON A BRIGHT AFTERNOON 

Grassmoor won the toss and elected to field on a brown outfield glistening in the sun with players donning headgear and sun cream it was time for the scattering of spectators to generally head for the shelter of the trees.

With the visitors at 54/2 Joe Bradley [2] bowled Craig Dawes and Greg Herbert [27] caught off his own bowling by a diving forward Jamie Hawkins catch, the home side would have been relatively pleased.  A steady collection of Welbeck players made valuable contributions captain Lewis Jones [25], Benjamin Haynes-Greenwood [29] and Hari Tadpatrikar [48*] who was agonisingly two short of his half century at the close. it was though really down to Johnson that this massive total was achieved.  Starting in a red helmet he soon swapped to a club cap as his free flowing innings progressed to its century with 100 off 81 balls containing 12 fours and four maximums.  He was finally dismissed with the score on 232 allowing Tadpatrikar to to continue the attack.  All of the Grassmoor bowlers took a wicket but top returner was John Donaldson woith 2 for 53.

WELBECK CAPTAIN LEWIS JONES LOOKS TO SWEEP

Venturing out of the shade for the tea interval the obligatory walk to Grassmoor Country Park was undertaken with a welcome tree booked for the return and the Grassmoor reply.

MAN OF THE MATCH ETHAN JOHNSON A CENTURY FOR WELBECK

Grassmoor set off in pursuit of the 272 target but lost Andy Woolven [5] when he got a fine edge to keeper Paul Walker off the bowling of Scott Mills in the fourth over.  This brought captain Adam Bedford [57] to the crease to join opener Mark Crain [67] who top scored for the home side.  A cautious and then fluent approach saw these two put on 117 for the second wicket and although building a base they were always behind the run rate.  

JAMES WILLIS OPENING THE BOWLING FOR WELBECK

When the push did come both fell close together to Haynes-Greenwood, Crain being bowled and Bedford caught by Greg Herbert.  The run rate looked too large now but could the incoming batsman start in fourth gear and get near the total?

Sadly from a spectating point of view no and as the bat was thrown at the following deliveries each dismissal signalled a large winning margin for Welbeck, with just Carl Bowling [14] reaching double figures in the run in.  Grassmoor could only reach 172 for 8 at the end of their 80 overs.  

Pick of the wicket takers for the visitors were Haynes-Greenwood 3 for 30, closely followed by Mills 2 for 30 but overall today this had been about the destructive batting of Johnson who guided Welbeck to victory.  They are within ten points of the leaders but have opened up at forty eight point gap over third placed Kiveton Park.

SCOTT MILLS FOR WELBCK FROM THE PAVILION END

For Grassmoor this was always going to be a big challenge but they have showed themselves more than capable of competing within this league with some excellent performances but of course there are some clubs with a good pedigree in division one that make it sometimes difficult for a small village cricket club hard to compete with.

MARK CRAIN ON HIS WAS TO BEING TOP SCORER FOR GRASSMOOR

PILSLEY DENIED OUTRIGHT WIN BY FINAL PAIR

PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS 199/9 DENBY 4'S 139/9

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION 7 NORTH AT RUPERT ST

9 JULY 20222 --- 1.30PM

CAPTAIN TRISTAN BOWERS STRIKES OUT IN PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS V DENBY

Pilsley had to settle for the wholly unacceptable winning draw concept after having fellow title contenders Denby 4's down and out, while in fairness to the visitors their last wicket survived the final ten overs while continuing to play a few shots.  This would be the fourth time this season that the home side would not to take the last wicket to be denied an outright victory with the opposition well out of the game.

A STEADY OPENING FROM PETER LACEY

It was a blistering hot day and would certainly prove to be the nicest one I had probably experienced for watching cricket at Pilsley but along the way walking I could easily have been diverted for a pint of pop at The Shinnon, Blue Bell or The Star.  But time was pressing for the start and with a few minutes to spare the discovery that Pilsley had been put in to bat may have been a little bit of a surprise on such a warm afternoon.

JAMES ALDIS ANOTHER HALF CENTRUY FOR THE 2022 SEASON

It was a steady start with openers Peter Lacey [25] and Steve Wood [6] putting on 22 before the latter was dismissed caught by James Trafford off Josef Dilks, having been dropped off the previous ball.  This brought the in form James Aldis [56] to the crease and as the score reached 53 at the ten over stage the run rate was more than acceptable.  Opener Lacey was bowled by the first ball from James Trafford in a spell that went on to prove very containing for the visitors, at 62/2 all looked fairly steady.  However with just one run added Graham Turner was sent back for a duck caught by Joanna Amps off Josh Smyth.  Ian Worthy [33] joined Aldis at the crease and although the run rate slowed dramatically the latter secured his half century but as he looked to break out he danced down the wicket only to miss the ball and be stumped by Amps off Trafford [J].  At the thirty over stage the score had only just doubled from the ten over count reaching 128 for 4 but with wickets to spare their would be time to be more aggressive now.

Worthy was dismissed with the score on 143 caught by Trafford [J] to a superb diving catch, he was having a big influence on the game, off Ian Burgoyne.  It brought Shaun Fisher [6] to the crease to join captain and man of the match Tristan Bowers [53] Fisher would go caught by Smyth from the bowling of Joe Cherry but by now Bowers was getting into free flow mode and his innings was proving to be the vital decider that moved the scoreboard along to what was in the end a very acceptable 199.  Its always hard coming in low down to add runs at this stage but Gareth Hatton came in for the final ball and promptly despatched it for four, Cameron Lee [1] and Andrew Slinger [2] contributed with some good running between the wickets and Pilsley looked to have timed their innings perfectly to set a more than challenging 200 to win for the visitors.

Denby had Traffiord [J] starring with the ball 2 for 32 from his nine overs there was 2 for 42 from Burgoyne, 2 for Smyth and a wicket apiece for Dilks and Cherry.

BOWERS SETS OFF

Half time meander was around the usual Back Lane and former pit canteen although it was now that hot I'm not sure that was a such a good idea with little shade at the ground it was though probably the best option.  Back a few minutes before the restart Pilsley seemed fairly happy with the total although it would not be an easy task on a fast and ever drying outfield.

BOWERS IN A CLASSIC POSE

The start could not have been better for Pilsley Bowers sent back Julian Todd for a duck off the second ball and it got even better when Smyth [1] was bowled by Steve Gardener in his opening over with the score now at 1/2 .  Remarkably the visitors were further in trouble when Billy Barber [2] was run out and it was 3/3 in the fourth over.  It was dream time for the home side when after a couple of overs without a wicket Gardener bowled Mee for no score to reduce Denby to 7/4.  Opener Ian Glenn [12] who had put up sterling resistance saw half the visitors side gone with the score on seventeen when he was caught behind off Bowers.  When captain Bowers took his third wicket to dismiss George Trafford [4] the home side had the visitors in a more than difficult situation at 23/6.

KEEPER FISHER BALANCES THE FOOTWORK

It looked like game over but that was not to rule out the defensive qualities of keeper Amps [23] who helped move the score onto 57 before she fell the first ball after drinks caught by Gardener off Gareth Hatton.  The resilience continued with superb efforts from Josef Dilks [31] and captain Joe Cherry [27] with the former going with score on 100 caught behind by Fisher off Hatton and the latter caught by by Worthy off  Aldis with the score moved on by just four more runs in the thirtieth over.  Surely now with nearly ten overs to bowl the final pairing would not hang on but with massive credit to visitors man of the match Trafford [J] {28*} and Ian Burgoyne they defied the odds.  It wasn't without chances a very sharp possibility close in saw Wood pull off a superb stop if it had stuck then it would have been a wonder catch, a lofted shot which was just inches away from mid off Gardener's hand and then in the fourth ball of the last over and absolute top edge skier that had Gardener awaiting it at leg slip as it came down but the opening bowler could not hold on.  He looked crestfallen but their was a nice touch from motivator Hatton who gave him solace with 'we drop together and we catch together' and in these moments we should not forget his two wickets that helped get Pilsley into their strong position.

On the bowling front the openers were outstanding with Bowers 3 for 18 from 9 and Gardener 2 for 10, there was two wickets for Hatton and one for Aldis..

As a spectator I don't like these conclusions to games clearly Denby by normal standards of cricket lost this game by not reaching the target but I do have to accept it creates for an exciting finish.  With Denby absolutely gone and who knows if they reversed the order of their batting it is to their credit that the  latter batsman deserve the plaudits for securing their side a loosing draw

AN INTERESTING SCOREBOARD AS DENBY STRUGGLE

GLAPWELL GET FOOTY UNDER WAY WITH A WIN

GLAPWELL 3 ASHLAND ROVERS 0

PRE SEASON FRIENDLY AT OLD COLLIERY LANE

2 JULY 2022 --- 2PM

OWEN RYANS MAKES IT THREE IN GLAPWELL V ASHLAND ROVERS

Glapwell got their pre season campaign off to a successful start mirroring their end to the 21/22 season, were they finished fifth in The CMFL North, against CMFL South opponents Ashland Rovers.  It was a hard working but confident victory for 'Glappy' against their visitors who were up against it after going behind as early as the fourth minute.

LANCASTER FLYPAST AT THE GLAPWELL V ASHLAND ROVERS GAME

A short forty five minute amble along to Old Colliery Lane Holmewood which was staging this fixture would see arrival in the former mining village about twenty minutes before kick off.  The area was covered just a few weeks ago for a Holmewood C C match but has an interesting history with poet John Masefield, the old aerial pit tubs, the former station and the pig and whistle pub.  Without repeating the history again for those who have read the cricket blog I will just refer any new readers to the blog of  2 May for a few pictures and some words on the subjects listed above.  

CLOSE UP ACTION GLAPWELL V ASHLAND ROVERS

Th ground is used as an out ground for some of Glapwell's non senior games and I guess with Hall Corner being rested the option to pop the three miles down the road to Holmewood is a clear one with a very well manicured pitch it does of course overlap the cricket ground where thankfully the home side were away today.

Both sides appeared in their familiar colours but as per usual recognition of players is always a problem in these games thankfully a few of the home side are known but todays report will just be very basic due to this.  However all three match officials were known I'm not sure what that says about me.

TRENT JULES GETS IN A SHARP SHOT

Glapwell had made a nice attempt to rope off 3/4's of the touchline area but with a small crowd of about 20 it didn't prove necessary but certainly gave the assistant referees some freedom.  The ground has a split in style former bus shelter type building, which is well covered in graffiti, acting as the dug out area other than that there is no furniture save for the sports facility changing rooms just off the edge of both the football and cricket pitches.

OWEN RYAN MAKES IT THREE FOR GLAPWELL

Glapwell would take a fourth minute lead after a lovely free flowing move saw 'trialist' convert with a sweet finish.  The second goal came from a right wing corner just after the quarter of an hour mark headed in by the same trialist.  There was a moment of summer fractiousness two minutes before half time when a late challenge of sorts of Richie Mathews saw the latter chase the Ashland player to confront him.  After a moment of  concern all things fell calm and referee Bruce Baskerville produced a yellow card for both players.

There was a further appearance of the Lancaster bomber at a sporting fixture having made a guest appearance at Pilsley a few weeks back.  This time it was travelling north to south having been to an event in Leeds and on the way back to perform at Stanley Common but a nice touch to see what I believe is the only surviving air worthy example once again.

SUBSTITUTE FROM JOINT ASHLAND MANAGER JOE WALKER

The second period saw Glapwell kicking towards the Five Pits Trail end and it was really normal service resumed with Ashland struggling to create too much of any threat.  

Just shy of the hour mark Glapwell made it three after again a nice move down the left and when the ball was fed in Owen Ryan gathered it before firing past the Ashland keeper.

It looked like the home side had a fourth when Ben Copestake [?] ran onto a through pass and fired the ball superbly past the keeper only for the flag of assistant referee Mark Hilton to be spotted aloft on the far touchline by half time change referee Chris Roberts.

DAVID PHILLIPS JOINT MANAGER AT ASHLAND ROVERS

Pre season games can bring out all the cliches of players on holiday, it means nothing at this stage, we were trying new players out etc.  But its always nice to get a victory and you would on this showing at the least expect Glapwell to be right up there in the top five again although as ever The CMFL is getting ridiculously difficult to get out of.  For Ashland Rovers its very early and I'm sure having their reserve side in action also today did not help them too much for selection choice.

I suppose I can count this as being the 22/23 football season underway and it was a good option even if I guess only a mini summer break from the cricket.

REFEREE CHRIS ROBERTS TOOK OVER FOR THE SECOND HALF