Sport Knapp's good hand can't prevent defeat
Carlton Towers 1st XI 141
Folkton and Flixton 142-5
In the first-ever meeting between the clubs, Carlton Towers' season of misfortune continued at pace with a five-wicket defeat at the Fishpond Field, writes Stephen Carr.
Once again Carlton were hampered by the toss of the coin, as happened at Goole last week, with the side asked to bat on a soft wicket and an outfield playing as the visitors' 12th man.
The side struggled against the elements that Folkton and Flixton took full advantage of and were soon 21- 3 in 14 overs.
However, Richard Knapp, making his debut in the first eleven and batting in a fashion that was very much alien to him, kept one end protected. He featured in a fourth-wicket stand of 47 with skipper Jamie Pocklington, who made 37 until he was out to a freak leg before, with the ball about to bounce twice and hitting him on the front foot.
The Carlton Towers middle order failed to take advantage of this platform until keeper Johnny Burton joined Knapp at the crease for the eighth wicket. He made a season's best 27 before being out caught with the score on 137-9. Ben Lamb then hit a four, but was unceremoniously bowled with the following delivery.
Although Knapp was out in the 45th over, he had made 43 valuable runs in the total of 141. In normal circumstances, and on a level playing field, this return would not have impressed. However, his contribution and application on a so difficult pitch was immense.
The Folkton and Flixton opening batsmen have a legendary reputation for tearing an attack apart. Whilst Neil Elvidge made 37, his side had been reduced to 65-4 and the Carlton Towers bowlers were staging an enormous fight back.
However, so was the wicket and outfield. Paul Wright had taken 4-47, but could do no more as former Seamer batsman Darren Ellis made an unbeaten 42 and Mark Clark an undefeated 23 in a unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 62, taking no more than nine overs to reach the target.
Civil Service II 47, Carlton Towers II 173-6
The fortunes of Carlton Towers seconds appear to be changing, as evidenced by this 126-run success against Civil Service II.
It brought the first 'double' success over the same team this year, following their first win of the season in the match at the Fishpond Field.
The other major landmark was the first century partnership in the side this year. This was produced by the dependable Darren Graves, who made 62, and 15-year-old David Hoe.
Carlton's successful under-15 captain made 50 and thereby secured his first half century for the seconds, having opened the batting for the first time.
The pair added 123 for the first wicket and a foundation, which enabled the side to make 173-6.
Dave Friend took 3-19 in an eleven-over spell, curtailed by the new bowler restrictions introduced at the start of the season.
In reply, the Civil Service batsmen toiled against the opening attack of Robert Haw and Steve Landers. Haw took 2-6 in his eight-over spell, whilst the experienced Steve Landers took 5-27.
Replacing Robert Haw was Ross Geary, who was playing his first match of the season. He finished off the Civil Service reply taking 3 - 7, and it took just 25 overs to give Carlton Towers a brace of victories and another set of maximum points.
Not one home batsmen reached double figures.
Fixtures for Saturday, July 14, 2007
Hunters York and District Senior League
Division One
York II v Carlton Towers
Division Six
Carlton Towers II v Cawood II.
Published on 12th July 2007 in Sport.
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