Runcorn firsts beaten but all Hale seconds
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RUNCORN Cricket Club’s firstteam travelled to Hale Barns last Saturday with hopes of getting a positive result which would keep them in touch with leaders Stockport.
Having won the toss, skipper James Wells decided to have a bat.
Unfortunately for the visitors, the good start they were looking for did not happen with the skipper departing early without score.
Runcorn rallied well with Dan Booth and Patrick Tyrrell putting on 72 for the second wicket. Tyrrell eventually went for 36 and Booth was out for 33.
Unfortunately there was not much else to celebrate about Runcorn’s batting, losing three wickets for just one run leaving them on 95-5.
The only other players to get into double figures with the willow were DJ McNamara (33), Joe Ruane (13 not out) and Matty Tyrrell (17 not out).
Runcorn finished on 182-9 off their 45 overs at the crease.
Hale Barns started as Runcorn did and lost their first wicket with no runs on the scoreboard.
But like Runcorn they recovered well, moving on to 92-2.
Despite a mid-order batting collapse which saw them in some trouble at 1426, they had just too much for Runcorn in the end and won the match with three overs to spare compiling a game-winning 183-6.
The highlights of their batting were Chris Colley’s 65 which featured 11 fours and Mike Hunter who added 46.
This result leaves Runcorn in seventh place 12 points behind pacesetters Stockport Georgians. ● BACK at Moughland Lane on Saturday, Runcorn’s second string enjoyed better fortunes against their counterparts from Hale Barns.
Hale Barns won the toss and elected to bat first and started at a tremendous pace racing to 40 off just five overs.
With the game getting away from them somewhat, up stepped Colin Lloyd and Carl Hargreaves who got the breaks Runcorn needed, dismissing openers James Fullerton-Batten (17) and Phil Dodd (29).
Richard Fretwell came in and moved the score forward for the visitors.
Tom Heath then claimed two quick wickets bowling Nick Lathbury for a duck and having Sam Smith stumped by wicketkeeper Stuart Drury for one.
The only other batsman to particularly worry Runcorn was Jordan Collins who was run out for 38.
Hale Barns finished on 174 all out off 38.1 overs.
Lloyd was the pick of the Runcorn bowlers returning figures of 3-63 from his 11.4 overs of work.
What followed was nothing short of an exhibition of tremendous attacking cricket by Runcorn.
Straight from the off their intentions were clear. Skipper Andy Booth put his faith in veteran big hitter Mark Cahill and decided to open with him and the in-form Mike Bowen.
His faith was well rewarded with Cahill destroying the Hale Barns attack from the first over. Cahill eventually went for 59 having been bowled by Smith.
If Hale Barns thought that was the end of the onslaught they were sadly mistaken. In came Alan Watt and immediately carried on were Cahill left off.
Watt finished on 73, another victim for Smith.
Nevertheless, Runcorn could not be stopped and reached their match-winning total of 177-3 in only 25.5 overs.
This win resulted in the maximum of 25 points being awarded to Runcorn and leaves them joint-second only eight behind leaders Neston.
This weekend the first XI visit Ashtonon-Mersey, meeting at 12pm at the club.
The Runcorn second-team are at home against Bredbury St Mark’s, also meeting at midday. ●