Cawood was the place to be if you like a run feast as the Pryers
sponsored 2nd XI took on a side struggling at the foot of
the division 5A. Umpire Nigel Botting took control of the minibus
and ensured the ‘mystery’ in the tour was kept to a minimum. On
arrival the players were met by an under strength team of eight
under 13s and three senior pros who were never likely to provide a
contest for the Park.
Skipper Ian Hodson avoided an early return trip by choosing to bat
and may have been having second thoughts as Damian Sharp and Tom
Medley were back in the hutch with just 23 on the board. Normal
service was resumed however as Michael Drewery and Ben Lewis enjoyed
a 3rd wicket partnership of 88 before Ben was caught for
39. Callum Robertson continued the run flow with Drewery who closed
in on a century but couldn’t quite achieve his target, loosing his
wicket just 9 short of the big one. Tom Williamson filled his boots
with Robertson, taking the score to 239 at which point the latter
departed for 54. The pain for the opposition failed to ease as
James Beevers and Williamson continued to prosper as the Park
amassed 304-5, the undefeated batsmen recording 38 and 61
respectively.
If Cawood struggle to raise a 2nd XI they certainly don’t
struggle to raise a tea as the Park’s culinary experts declared it
the best on the road so far. Following nourishment skipper Hodson
adopted a sporting and safety first option due to the age and
ability of the opposition and opened with Steve Mudd and Andy
Copeland. However Muddy’s guile proved too much and he blitzed
through the Cawood defences taking 7 for 18 along the way. Copeland
chipped in with 2 for 18 and even regular keeper Dawson got in on
the act with 1 for 4 as the opposition were rolled over for 43.
30 points in the bag but it could so easily have been 9 if Cawood
had taken the easy option and declared the ground unfit. However
club chairman and captain for the day Tony Wood co-ordinated the
mopping up operations and ensured 11 players of whatever ability
were present to fulfil the fixture. Tony and his club deserve great
credit for their achievement. Credit also to ‘Blakey’ Botting for
leading the pub crawl safely back to Weighton!
Londesborough Park 2nd XI 304-5 (M Drewery 91, T
Williamson 61 n o, C Robertson 54, B Lewis 39, J Beevers 38 n o)
Cawood 2nd XI 43 (S Mudd 7-18)
