Runcorn upbeat as skipper Wells aims to lead team to more success
RUNCORN’S cricketers embark on their 2017 UK Fast Cheshire Cricket League in good shape and with a new captain at the helm.
James Wells is the club’s first XI captain following Ryan Beech’s decision to step down from the role.
An attacking top order batsman, 27-year-old Wells is rarity at the Moughland Lane club, having spent his earlier years at Stretton rather than coming through Runcorn’s own junior system.
He quickly became a regular in the team when he moved to the club in 2014 and has a first XI top score of 71 from last season.
All-rounder Beech has limited availability this summer due to sitting his finals at Loughborough University.
He guided the team to healthy a league position and progressed to the cup semifinal during his season in charge.
Wells’s vice-captain for the season is Patrick Tyrrell, Runcorn’s 21-year-old opening batsman and wicketkeeper.
Runcorn’s second XI will once again be skippered by Andy Booth and he will be assisted by another experienced campaigner in former second-team captain Colin Lloyd.
The club’s third XI will be captained this season by Ryan Richardson, the 20-year-old taking charge of the team after Ian Conway decided to stand down from the position after he led them to a league title win last year.
Runcorn begin their Division One campaign by hosting Lymm at home on Saturday and will be without South African all-rounder Jordan Grobbelaar who does not arrive in the UK until next week due to playing national finals for his club side at home.
First-team regulars DJ McNamara and Will Magee are also out the game, but the club welcome back Colin Wright who has spent the last three summers working in the USA and have recruited Grappenhall all-rounder Ben Clissold to their ranks.
And they go into the game in good form having recorded a convincing win in a warmup game at Woodford on Easter Saturday.
The locals limited the Second Division outfit to 123 all out in the home side’s innings, played in typical cold April conditions.
All Runcorn’s eight bowlers performed well with wickets being shared across five members of the attack. Matt Drury, McNamara and Phil Conway each took two scalps while Matt Tyrrell and Magee snared one victim each. Runcorn’s catching and ground fielding was excellent.
Runcorn’s reply began patiently against the tidy Woodford opening attack but Wells – opening the batting – accelerated nicely and put on 63 for the first wicket with Patrick Tyrrell.
When Wells was dismissed for 43 and his opening partner for 13, Dan Booth showed great early season form with 45 not out from 44 balls.
He was partnered by Beech who was also undefeated on 12 as Runcorn won by eight wickets with 16 overs to spare. ●