Boy George a hit as Ormskirk take draw
LANCASHIRE maintained their 100 per cent record in the Daily Telegraph Northern Counties League when they defeated Northumberland 11-7 at Alnmouth.
They edged the foursomes by a single point then asserted their authority early in the singles by winning three of the opening four ties through Luke Kelly, Henry Tomlinson and John Carroll.
The hosts reduced hit back to reduce the margin to one point mid-way but the Red Rose men stepped up a gear to comfortably get over the line.
Brothers Sean and Ciaran Doherty both recorded comprehensive wins.
Foursomes: Jake Storey (Alnmouth) & Phil Ridden (City of Newcastle) bt Henry Tomlinson (Royal Lytham & St Annes) & Richie Blundell (Hillside) 3&2; Andrew Minnikin (Northumberland) & Mark Wharton (Newcastle United) lost to Ian Kenwright (Haydock Park) & Luke Kelly (Ashton-underLyne) 2h; Jack Hermeston (City of Newcastle) & Alex Dixon (City of Newcastle) halved with Sean Doherty (Rossendale) & Ciaran Doherty (Bury); Sean Heads (Hexham) & Jonathan Davey (Hexham) lost to John Carroll & James Rooney (West Lancs) 3& 2; Craig Penny (Newbiggin) & Brad Robinson (Westerhope) bt Jack Shelley (Formby) & Joe Brice (Manchester) 3&2; Paul Caldicott (Northumberland) & Seaton Wakenshaw (Whitely Bay) lost to Jonathan Hurst (Pleasington) & Reece Cranfield (Wigan) 3&2.
Singles: Storey bt Kenwright 6&5; Ridden lost to Kelly 4&2; Hermeston lost to Tomlinson 1h; Minnikin lost to Carroll 5&4; Wharton bt Hurst 4&2; Penney bt Blundell 4&2; Heads lost to C Doherty 5&4; Dixon halved with Brice; Robinson lost to Shelley 1h; Davie bt Cranfield 5&3; Caldicott lost S Doherty 4&3; Wakenshaw lost to Rooney 4&3. the crease.
The pair took the score along to 38when the prize wicket of Hameed (18) was taken by Scott Lees who had him caught behind by Lavelle.Hameed was perceived as being the danger man, a justified perception as, in the first few overs he faced, he hit the boundary four times with superb timing and style.
Cockbain was living a somewhat charmed life, being dropped at an early stage and being beaten by the ball on several occasions.
He was still there, however, as the score built to 124 when he was caught on the boundary by Caunce off the bowling of Jamie Barnes.
The game was fairly well balanced as useful partnerships developed but it became apparent that with losing wickets to the bowling of Barnes (2-26 off 6 overs), Kerrigan (2-60 off 21 overs) and Hartley (1-36 off 11 overs) Formby gave up hope of winning the game so they dug in to play for a draw.
This was a pity as, having put Ormskirk into bat, it could be expected that with lots overs to play with they would have gone all out for a win.
The Ormskirk fielders crowded the bat for the last 20 of the 58 overs but the batsmen were resolute in defence and stuck out for a draw.
The final session of play was tedious. For the spectators, however, the tedium will have been put into the background as they will have remembered the game for the fantastic partnership between star professional Kerrigan and teenager Lavelle.
For his remarkable innings and his catch in taking the wicket of Hameed, the choice of “Man of the Match” was a relatively easy one and had to go to George Lavelle.