After the previous week’s positive outcomes for Londesborough Park’s two senior teams, they came back down to earth with a bump last weekend. Indeed the 2nd XI suffered the embarrassment of having to concede their fixture against Whitkirk 2nd XI due to a shortage of players.
The 1st XI hosted York 3rd XI on a day of changeable weather conditions. Vice captain Tom Eagling lead a relatively young side and had the misfortune to lose the toss. He was, unsurprisingly, invited to bat. Before the start of the game both teams observed a one minute silence in memory of the Park’s sadly departed longstanding secretary Peter Milne. Openers Ben Shingles and Sam Dodd were both back in the hutch with only 17 on the board, Matthew Wright taking both wickets. Michael Drewery and the skipper fought back with a partnership of 38 before Drewery was bowled by Forsdike for a valiant 23. Steve Dawson (11) joined the skipper and contributed to a further partnership of 17 before Jack Neil found a way through his defences. Forsdike then struck without further addition to the score, dismissing the skipper for 30, leaving the Park on the back foot at 72 for 5. Rory Stephenson came and went as did Joe Shingles but Tom Sowersby kept one end going. Mark Tissiman and Rich Foster provided brief companionship but the Park’s innings came to an abrupt end after 42 overs when Sowersby’s resilience was finally broken by Chris Hunter. He contributed 25 in a meagre total of 124, Neil being the most successful bowler for York with 4 for 48.
York’s reply stuttered from the outset as Joe Shingles enticed Brown to edge to keeper Drewery for a blob. Fellow opener Bloor fared little better as Shingles took the catch off Sowersby’s bowling to end his innings prematurely on 6. With the score on 44 Toby Cleminson was bowled by Rich Foster for 8, leaving the visitors on 44 for 3. A positive partnership of 41 between Toby Giddings and Ben Horseman then put the visitors in control. Mark Tissiman joined the bowling attack and saw off Horseman (22) and Giddings eventually came a cropper courtesy of Michael Drewery with the score on 85 for 5. However Jack Neil contributed a valuable 20 before skipper Eagling intervened but it was a little too late as the visitors eased to a 4 wicket victory with several overs in hand.
All the Park’s bowlers stuck to their task and bowled economically but just didn’t have the runs to play with. A contribution of 30 with the bat and a wicket probably saw skipper Eagling gain the Harpers man of the match award. A big thank you is extended to Hornseys for their kind sponsorship of the match ball.
Londesborough Park 1st XI 124 (T Eagling 30, T Sowersby 25, J Neil 4-48, T Forsdike 3-27) York 3rd XI 125-6 (T Giddings 42)