Report by Albert Pattison

The Hunter’s York & District Senior League’s bid to retain the Nixon Yorkshire Inter-League Trophy failed at the first attempt when they were well beaten by the Pontefract & District Cricket League at Ripon. Having had their previous day’s league game abandoned due to a waterlogged ground, the Ripon club had worked wonders to get their pitch and outfield fit for play. Whilst it can be said that batting conditions improved as the game progressed, the Pontefract side’s superiority in every department cannot be denied.

York’s innings got off to a disastrous start against some impressive bowling by Ackworth’s Kevin Marshall and Fishlake’s Gary Strephon. In the space of 12 overs the pair had the York in disarray, having reduced the host side to 17-4. Worse was to come when David Owen picked up two wickets for a mere seven runs to leave the scoreboard showing 32-6. Stamford Bridge’s Matt Beckett produced the first positive batting but was then caught for 18 off Hemsworth’s Simon Kemp. York’s ninth wicket followed at 84 but then followed a fine last wicket stand between Ripon’s own Richard Hooks and Clifton alliance paceman Barry Sayer. Hooks, in particular, put his recognised batsmen to shame as he struck six boundaries and had moved to 33 before he perished off the penultimate delivery of the 40^th and final over. Sayer was undefeated with 17 having helped add 41 for the final wicket to lift the York total to 125.

Pontefract’s pair of Frickley openers Steve Secker and Richard Belk set their side well on the way to victory with a partnership of 48. The introduction into the attack of Studley Royal’s Steve Walmsley in the 14^th over paid immediate dividends as he had Belk caught by Danny Hagan off his fifth delivery. The same bowler then had captain Secker caught by his opposite number Andy Tute for 33 and when the dangerous Strephon also fell to Walmsley, York had a slight whiff of opportunity at 72-3. However defending the indefensible proved to be an impossibility as Pontefract, despite losing two more wickets gained a comfortable victory in under 27 overs.

Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League
L Sacks        Acomb                       c Belk        b Strephon    10
D Hagan        Stamford Bridge             lbw           b Strephon     0
A D Tute       Acomb           (C)         c Secker      b Marshall     0
S Walmsley     Studley Royal                             b Marshall     4
A Mackle       Studley Royal                             b Owen        11
G Blackburn    Ripon                       c Ward        b Owen         2
S Holmes       Thirsk          (WK)        c Wincer      b Kemp         6
M Beckett      Stamford Bridge             c Belk        b Kemp        18
D White        Clifton Alliance            lbw           b Clark        8
R Hooks        Ripon                       c Marshall    b Clark       33
B Sayer        Clifton Alliance            not out                     17
                                           Extras                      16
                                           TOTAL                      125 all out (39.5 overs)

FOW:       1-4   2-5   3-13   4-17   5-20   6-32   7-55   8-61   9-84  10-125 
   
Bowling            O    M    R    W
K Marshall         9    2   31    2
G Strephon         9    5    7    2
D Owen             9    2   22    2
S Kemp             6    0   21    2
B Clark            4.5  0   26    2
R Wincer           2    0    9    0

Pontefract & District Cricket League
S Secker       Frickley       (C)          c Tute        b Walmsley     33
R Belk         Frickley                    c Hagan       b Walmsley     11
M Jordan                                   c Hooks       b Blackburn    22
G Strephon     Fishlake                    c Hooks       b Walmsley      1
B Clark        Ackworth                    c Tute        b Walmsley     10
D Owen         Hooton Pagnall              not out                      14
A Dyke         Hooton Pagnall              not out                      11
S Ward         Sharleston     (WK)         dnb
K Marshall     Ackworth                    dnb
S Kemp         Hemsworth Colliery          dnb
R Wincer       Hooton Pagnall              dnb
                                           Extras                       25
                                           TOTAL                       127 (26.1 overs)
  
FOW:       1-48   2-63   3-72   4-94   5-111

Bowling              O    M    R    W
B Sayer              5    2   16    0
R Hooks              7.1  1   31    0
D White              4    0   19    0
S Walmsley           7    4   22    4
G Blackburn          3    0   31    1

Scorer               – Jean Carter     Umpire - Bill Carter
Team/ Match Managers – Richard Sykes & Albert Pattison

Pontefract I District Cricket League won by 5 wickets         
(Round 2 – away to Scarborough Beckett League)