Runcorn dig deep to secure battling draw
RUNCORN Cricket Club first XI hosted Stockport Georgians last Saturday hoping to continue the good form they have showed this season. Having won the toss they put the visitors into bat.
Stockport’s openers Andrew Splatt and Hayden Bailey started really well soon piling on the runs, their opening partnership of 67 coming in 15 overs before the latter was caught by wicketkeeper Patrick Tyrrell off brother Matty Tyrrell’s bowling for 31.
David McNamara was soon in on the action trapping number three batsman Nick Johnson lbw for seven.
Bailey continued to score well until he fell to McNamara, caught by Will Magee three short of his 50 to leave Stockport on 92-3 off 23 overs.
With the fall of the fourth wicket – Daniel Box stumped by Tyrrell off McNamara – Runcorn must have felt they were going to be chasing about 150.
McNamara continued to bowl well and grabbed his fourth wicket, that of Sam Bailey for 16 leaving the score on 123-5 off 30.
It was at this point that Stockport staged something of a comeback with Ben Jones (50) and Chris Dodd (33) leading the way.
Jordan Grobbelaar finally got the wicket of Jones and Matt Drury claimed the first of his two victims when he had Luke Skade caught by Colin Wright for 12.
Stockport finished on 218-8 off their allotted 45 overs. Pick of the Runcorn bowlers was McNamara who finished with figures of 4-42 from his 13 overs of work.
Chasing 219 to win Runcorn needed a decent start, and openers Grobbelaar ● and Liam Keenan gave them just that.
Grobbelaar especially batted well carrying on his great form with the willow. He clubbed an excellent 47 (including eight boundaries) off 83 balls before being bowled by Saul Ashton.
Keenan also shone before being bowled by James Locke for 22.
This was to be the first of Locke’s six wickets in the match. He claimed the wickets of Ryan Beech (eight), captain James Wells (37), Will Magee (seven), Mcnamara (18) and Wright (eight).
But despite all this, Runcorn managed to hold on for a valuable draw finishing on 184-7. This result leaves Runcorn top of the Cheshire Cricket League Division One on 238 points, nine ahead of Disley. ● RUNCORN’S second-team made the long trip to league rivals Romiley needing a good result to keep them in contention for the league title.
The home XI won the toss and decided to put Runcorn into bat. Runcorn’s new opener Dan Booth began his second XI HFH U7 Reds 8 Thatto Heath U7 3 THIS really was a top performance by Hornets’ career with a great 42, giving his team a super start. Fellow opener Mike Bowen also chipped in with a useful 15.
However, apart from Alan Watt (26) the rest of the Runcorn side did not do themselves justice on a small Romiley pitch and Runcorn were all out for just 131.
In reply Runcorn got the perfect start with new boy Booth getting his first of six wickets when he bowled opener Chris Coupes for three. Soon after, Romiley were staring at 19-2 off nine overs and Runcorn looked as though they were in with a real chance. But 131 was always going to be a difficult total to defend, and decent scores by Dan Leach (31), Paul Flattley (29) and Tom Milne (19 not out) got Romiley over the line with two overs to spare.
The result leaves Runcorn in second place trailing Romiley by 19 points and only one above third-placed Neston. ● RUNCORN’S third XI took a very young side to Toft on Sunday expecting a tough game against one of Cheshire’s top clubs – and they were not wrong.
Runcorn won the toss and decided to field first.
Romiley started well and their openers were soon racking up the runs. David Bates finished on 65 off 52 balls before he was bowled by Rhys Bazley.
Teammate Max Nightingale finished on 50 before he was caught off the bowling of Chris Royle. Runcorn kept going and Zak Judge picked up the wicket of Ewan Williams caught by Joe Barlow for 14. Romiley finished on 212-4 declared off 31 overs.
Runcorn were going to need an innings of grit and determination just to get any sort of result against a very good Toft side. Dan Booth opened and started where he left off for the seconds 24 hours earlier.
Mike Jenner also opened but went cheaply. Jake Woodruff came in at three and he and Booth moved the score along nicely until Booth went for 25 with the score on 50.
Joe Barlow came in and batted well for his 20 before he too departed, bowled by James Hodgson.
With the side that Runcorn had out, a draw was the only realistic result. This was easier said than done, and with wickets falling regularly it looked increasing unlikely.
But that tough-it-out innings was provided by Runcorn U15 player Tom Drury who, against some attacking bowling and fielding tactics, batted for 15 overs for seven runs, to deny Toft the win and gain Runcorn what could be a valuable two points come the end of the season. ● THIS weekend Runcorn’s firsts travel to Haslington, while the second XI entertain Haslington. Both games start at 1.30pm. On Sunday the third-team are at home to Macclesfield (2pm).