| Match Report
It may be a little early in the season to define a
game as the footballing equivalent of a 6 pointer but Britcom sponsored
Londesborough Park's 1st XI's fixture at home to struggling
Ripon afforded an ideal opportunity to secure a much needed win and
advance in a northerly direction up the division.
In
conditions more akin to a Caribbean tour (now there's a thought) skipper
Charlie Rook decided his troops needed their tans, or lack of them,
topping up so elected to field. Early successes courtesy of Tom Eagling
and Rich Foster rewarded the Captain's decision and a wicket early in
the Ginger One's spell, closely followed by a run out reduced the
opposition to 60 for 5 and the Park's tails were definitely up. Former
England and Lions winger and Yorkshire cricketer Peter Squires single
handedly held the Ripon innings together as youngster James Beevers
claimed 2 wickets in his 6 over spell before Squires, who traded mostly
in boundaries, fell to Sam Dodd's second catch of the day off the
skipper's bowling for 65. Dan ' the man' Howard's tight spell was
rewarded with a return catch and Rook claimed a second to leave the
visitors floundering on 174 - 9 with 6 overs remaining. Ten and Jack
were unwilling to concede any overs and whittled out a further 5 runs
leaving the Park requiring 180 for victory.
Opening partnerships have been in short supply of late so Big Bird and
Sam Dodd decided to reverse this undesired trend. Now, steaming hot
conditions and extended stays at the crease don't exactly go hand in
hand where Big Bird's concerned but, cometh the hour... A fine stand of
87 put the Park well on course, Sam Dodd contributing 25 before being
bowled by Nel (not Andre – he might have been a little too quick).
Charlie Rook accompanied Big Bird and the score moved on to 126 when
Rook was bowled for 21. Big Bird finally ran out of steam having
accumulated an excellent 73 and Ian Hodson couldn't replicate his
innings of last week but Neil Stephenson (20 no) and Mark Tissiman (25
no) safely steered the Park to a deserved victory ahead of this week's
visit to Hornsea.
Thanks are extended to the match ball sponsor Frances Motors and to the
ball sponsors of the previous weeks' matches Hagston Carpets, MW
Windows, The Red Lion and Hagstons Butchers.
Ripon 179 - 9 (P Squires 65) Londesborough Park 1st XI 181 -
4 (J Williamson 73, S Dodd 25, M Tissiman 25 no)
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