Final washout, but vital league points for Goole

Published on 17th August 2006 in Sport

Goole Town 1st XI 161-5

Studley Royal 159-9

UNSEASONAL WEATHER may have meant a cup washout in Sunday?s Readman Cup final at Sessay, but 24 hours earlier Goole defied conditions in a welcome league win over Studley Royal at Westfield.

Within the space of a fortnight, Goole have experienced the ups and downs of cricketing life, and in cool, windy conditions they dominated third-placed Studley Royal, where it was hard to understand why the teams are over 100 points and six places apart.

Only when the visiting run machine Anthony Mackle blasted 46 out of 73-2 in the opening 15 overs did the outlook look as bleak as the overhead conditions, but once he holed out to Will Sparks off the fourth ball of the spinner?s second over at long off, Goole controlled affairs.

The return of Steve Foster and Dave England added the backbone to the team well beaten by Pocklington, and it certainly had an effect on the rest of the team, who played like a team in all aspects.

Although the defeat at Studley had been laid to rest in the Readman Cup win in July, Goole needed the points after slipping into the bottom two last week, and Richard Mann?s 5-65 supported by England?s 4-54 meant wickets fell at regular intervals.

Mackle?s departure was crucial, as the scorer of two big centuries already this season looked well set for another with seven fours and a six.

Chasing 160 to win, Goole had a disastrous start with Gaurav bowled by 17 year old Matthew Coad for a duck, but although progress was slow at times, they found that all the batsmen made a contribution and at the end Andy Rodgers, together with Steve Hicks added impetus for a famous win with nine balls remaining.

Anthony Gibbins showed well in his first real contribution with the bat since an arm injury last month, and both Fosters and Lee Hayward reached double figures.

Studley?s bowling attack showed similar discipline to the exciting game in North Yorkshire back in May, and their heroes with the bat that day tried hard to do it with the ball, Dan Craven taking 3-36 and Coad, in the six overs he was allowed at the start of the innings taking 1-9 in six.

However it was Goole?s day and with a game at Duncombe Park this weekend, will be looking for another 30 points to edge them further away from the relegation zone.