Promotion hopes hit
RUNCORN made the short trip down the A49 last weekend to face mid-table Oakmere hoping to keep their chances of promotion alive after a rain affected few weeks.
That theme continued as a delayed start meant the contest was reduced to a 36 over-a-side game.
Runcorn won the toss and put the hosts in to bat and could not have made a more perfect start.
Opening bowler Kieran Maher (2-19) found the edge of Adrian Stubbs bat with the first ball of the game, and wicket keeper Sam Rowland duly obliged in taking the catch.
That theme continued for Runcorn, as Oakmere were reduced to 51-4, with wickets from Rob Magee (2-31) and DJ McNamara (2-20) meant that the visitors had a strong grip of the game.
However some strong resistance from Oakmere skipper Craig Phelan (32) and some agricultural hitting from Lewis Newall (33) meant the visitors were looking like posting a defendable score on an interesting wicket.
Seamer Jack Beech (2-16) eventually removed Newall, with Oakmere finishing 139-9 from their 36.
The Runcorn chase did not get off to the best response.
Opener Rob Magee was helpless as a ball from Matthew Howard pitched halfway down the track, but struggled to get higher than the ankles of the Runcorn batsmen, sending his stumps castling.
However, a steady 49-run partnership from the two leading run scorers this season, Maher (36) and captain Will Magee (41) helped Runcorn rebuild to 57-1.
When both were eventually dismissed, with the score at 95-3, Runcorn looked to be in control of the chase. As has been a regular occurrence with Runcorn this season though, wickets began to tumble in the middle order. Matt Keenan (38) the only batsman to put up a strong fight, kept Runcorn in the game.
However, it wasn’t to be, as they went down to defeat by just two runs.
Captain Magee told the Runcorn Weekly News: “It’s not the first time this season we have been on the wrong side of a nail biter. And ultimately those two defeats may have cost us a chance at promotion.
“I am confident though the boys will learn from this and continue to finish the season as strongly as possible.”
Runcorn now sit in 6th place and although not complete out of the race, need some favours from elsewhere if they are to achieve promotion to the Cheshire County League.
Their next game is back at Moughland Lane to Ashely, as they look to impact revenge on defeat to the same opponents earlier in the season.