Langbaurgh League
6 May - Kirby Sigston (Home): Chop Gate 120/7 lost to Kirby Sigston 121/9
'Gate Lose Out in Tense Finish! reports Mark Lane.
The alternative attraction of a pointless draw between doomed Watford and feeble Middlesbrough cost Chop Gate victory with the likes of Mike Tait, Neil Stockton, Richard Holmes and Chris Lane getting their priorities all wrong (again).
Whilst they bored themselves rigid at the Riverside, a dramatic last wicket partnership saw the farmers of Kirby Sigston home despite a gallant effort from a depleted home side in an early-season Bilsdale thriller.
With eight balls remaining, colossal farmer Bill Town secured victory by blasting a mighty six over square leg from a long-hop by Kevin Brown who, up till then, had kept things tight as the game went down to the wire.
Things had started fairly promisingly for the Gate with signing from Langbaurgh League champions Great Broughton Jimmy Scott shaping up quite nicely before dragging an innocuous Town delivery on to his stumps. John Holmes and Mark Lane teamed up in a familiar partnership that saw the side cautiously move to 53-1 at the halfway mark.
The pair departed in quick succession in their bids to
boost the scoring rate but the expected collapse did not ensue with the likes of
Dave Austin, Frank Rose and Dave Hill making solid contributions to Chop
Gate’s 40-over total of 120-7.
When Kirby Sigston replied dangermen Thompson Snr. and
Thompson Jr. perished early on to the old-stager Max Cook, who went on claim
four wickets. Wickets fell at
regular intervals until Kevin Clarkson was joined at the crease by a young
farmer and they edged their side very close to victory.
With the game slipping away from Chop Gate Mark Lane returned to remove both batsmen but it was all too late. Thank God the football season’s finally over.
Other Results:
Scruton (104) beat Gt Smeaton (93) by 11 runs.
Swainby (29) lost to Gt Broughton (30/4) by 6 wickets.
Thimbleby (90/9) lost to Crathorne (92/5) by 5 wickets.
Ingleby Greenhow (46) lost to Stafford Place (50/0) by 10 wickets.
Kildale (183/6) beat Maltby (83) by 100 runs.
1 May - Maltby (Away): Rained off
Poor weather throughout the preceding week put paid to this one and meant we missed out on our favourite 'away' teas (even Mark Lane has one here). The supreme irony of early season cricket is that you can have a gorgeous day with not a cloud in the sky and a heat haze shimmering across the road and still not get a game in. Next week will be -5° and blowing a gale and we'll be playing, guaranteed!
29 April - Kildale (Home): Rained off
Nothing was more certain that this match wasn't going to take place. The usual blank start, will we ever play on the first day of the season again? Our Pitch Inspectors report of a play rating of 0/10 proved to be chillingly accurate.