Runcorn remain well in touch at summits
RUNCORN Cricket Club’s first XI travelled to Ashton-on-Mersey last Saturday with hopes on improving on their performance from the previous week.
The home side won the toss and elected to bat. Runcorn opening bowlers Jordan Grobbelaar and Dan Booth started well and soon picked up the wickets of Ashton openers Alex O’Gara who went for four and James Marshall who departed for 12.
Ashton number three Lee Brooks came to the crease and he began to bat well. He helped take the score on to the 50s before being smartly caught by Will Magee off a Matty Tyrrell delivery for 30.
Ashton’s middle order of Josh Coleridge (32), Ben Johnson (28) and Craig Stow (24) batted really well and were able to build up a target for for Ashton to defend.
In the end, the hosts were all out for 171 off 42.3 overs. Pick of the bowlers was young South African Grobbelaar who returned figures of 3-32 from his highly-effective 11.3 overs of work.
In reply, Runcorn started quite well before losing the wicket of skipper James Wells for 19. Patrick Tyrrell soon followed for eight and Stow had claimed both openers.
If Ashton thought they were on a roll they were mistaken, as Runcorn rallied well and began to slowly get back in the game.
Although Runcorn continued to lose wickets each player managed to at least reach double figures.
Will Magee added a pivotal 41 and unbeaten knocks of 29 by Roger Watt young Joe Duane who chipped in with 12 helped Runcorn finish winners with a total of 175-7 off 44 overs.
Runcorn gained the maximum 25 points from the tight encounter which leaves them in third position just nine behind leaders Haslington after seven games.
Back at Moughland Lane, Runcorn’s second string were hoping to continue their excellent start to the season and stay on the heels of league leaders Romiley when they entertained Bredbury St Mark’s.
The visitors called the coin flip correctly and decided to have a bat.
Openers Andrew McHale and Chris Bailey started very slowly and despite ● not getting out were only able to score 40 off the first 20 overs.
Most people were now expecting the pair to increase the run rate now that they had played themselves in but this did not happen.
And by the time that Phil Conway had McHale caught by Tom Heath for 33 and Andy Scowcroft had Bailey caught by Mike Bowen for 51, they were quickly running out of overs.
Young Tom Drury came on and claimed the wicket of Chris Horsey clean bowling him for eight. Scowcroft then bagged his second wicket having Andy Gaw caught by Alan Watt for a single.
But despite skipper Darren Evans being 28 not out, the slow start cost Bredbury dear and they finished on 154-4 off their allotted 45 overs.
Pick of Runcorn bowlers was Scowcroft who finished with figures of 2-24 from six overs. Special mention must go to one of Runcorn juniors, Drury, who returned 1-15 from his six overs.
In reply, Runcorn started well with Bowen and Mike Jenner both batting solidly.
Jenner allowed the free-hitting Bowen to build up a quick knock of 41 before being caught by Horsey off the bowling of Josh Ireton. Jenner himself scored 15 before being snapped up by David Nor- ris off an Aidan Norris delivery.
Norris caused Runcorn all sorts of problems with the flight and pace of his deliveries and he claimed his second wicket when he managed to completely deceive Alan Watt bowling him for five.
Conway soon followed when he was bowled by Horsey for nine, and Runcorn were suddenly in danger of letting the game slip away.
Next in was skipper Andy Booth and with Stu Drury they managed to get the Runcorn innings back on track.
Norris was finally taken off after a particularly expensive over when Booth showed the other Runcorn players how to play slow bowling.
Drury was bowled by Horsey for 16 and Scowcroft came to the crease.
It was left to the two veterans to steer Runcorn to victory with Runcorn reaching 156-6 off 33.4 overs.
The 25 match points leaves Runcorn joint-top of the Cheshire Cricket League Division A on 142 points with Romiley Cricket Club.
Runcorn’s fourth-team had a game on Sunday against Poynton, and having won the toss they elected to bat.
The fourth XI is primarily a development side containing many junior players and one or two senior players and is designed to give the youngsters a taste of 45-over cricket.
The onus is on fun and enjoying the game at the same time learning what is required in 45-over cricket.
Having elected to bat Runcorn scored 128-4 off 35 overs. The pick of the batsman was Mike Jenner who retired on 52, and Jake Woodruff who was 40 not out off 63 balls and included three boundaries. Other run scorers were Chris Drury (14), Zak Judge (five) and Joe Barlow (four).
In reply Poynton batted well and reached the target for the loss of five wickets in 26.3 overs.
The pick of the Runcorn bowlers were Rhys Bazley who only yielded nine runs from four overs and Zak Judge who returned figures of 2-29.
Runcorn are hoping to have more fourth XI fixtures right through the season and details will be put on the club’s Facebook site.
The third XI did not have a game on Sunday but they are due to play Neston in the Joseph Holt T20 at Runcorn tonight at 6pm. Also tonight the U9s visit Winnington Park while tomorrow the U18s host Warrington.
On Saturday the firsts are at home to Irby (1.30pm), the seconds go to Irby (1.30pm). On Sunday the thirds are at home to Warrington (1.30pm).