Sport Holmes loss leaves middle-order gap
Once again the weather played havoc with the York Senior League fixture programme on Saturday, with by far the greates number of games failing to get under way due to either waterlogged pitches following heavy morning rain or thunder showers around lunchtime.
But the news off the field, following the loss of Goole Town's first team Premier Division game at lowly Hull Zingari, was dominated by the news that middle-order batsman Mark Holmes has left the club by mutual consent after a season and a half at Westfield.
Mark, right (24-05-55 GT) formerly of Carlton Towers and a former captain, is seeking pastures new with club officials taken by surprise, but not standing in his way despite disappointment.
Holmes, was the only one with Premier Division experience, although at the halfway mark in the campaign they look well safe to finish well-placed in their first season at the top level.
Only one game looks to have been played to a conclusion, as the season reached that halfway point, this the clash between Division 4A leaders Pickering and their nearest rivals Welton and Brough which was reduced to 28 overs per side.
The resulting 34-run victory for Pickering enabled them to increase their lead to 29 points.
There was a controversial conclusion at Hornsea where the umpires drew stumps at 7.55pm with Folkton and Flixton well placed in their run chase. Sheriff Hutton have been handed a 17-point bonus following the League committee's decision to award them their recent game against Hull YPI, who were deemed to have included Yorkshire League players in their side as their senior team had a blank Saturday.
Title frontrunners Woodhouse Grange entertained second-placed Stamford Bridge and got off to a good start thanks to the free scoring of Jonathon Bean. He had made 22 not out in a score of 25 without loss before torrential rained caused a permanent halt after just 25 deliveries had been bowled.
The abandonment was particularly disappointing for the ground staff and players of Woodhouse as they had mounted a marvellous mopping-up effort to get the game under way by 4.30pm.
Third-placed Thirsk also made a start against local rivals Sessay, but the spectators received precious little for their money as only two balls had been delivered before the players were forced to retreat to the pavilion with the scoreboard showing 1 run of no wicket.
The game at Hornsea finished in controversy when the game was abandoned at 7.55pm with Folkton and Flixton well on target to beat the current divisional pacesetters. A late start had reduced the game to 33 overs preside and the home team found themselves in all sorts of trouble as Lee Elvidge and Tennyson Roach bowled throughout. The former ended with 5-53 whilst West Indian Roach took 3-57.
Hornsea were indebted to Alistair Kirk who made 31no and Ben Atkinson who contributed 16 to a ninth-wicket stand of 51 which bolstered the home total to 122-8.
Umpire Alan Cann was unable to officiate in the second innings due to illness and Flixton's Terry Baker operated at square leg after the second innings had been delayed by further rain.
Damon Gormley then led Flixton's response as they raced to 78-1 but was then deprived of the chance to build on his unbeaten 35 when the panel umpire considered that conditions had become dangerous for the bowlers and abandoned the game after 13.3 overs.
Having made the two-mile short haul to Heworth, York II batted first and moved to 63-2 in the 15 overs that were possible. Andy Kay made 32 before losing his wicket but Matthew Wilks was unbeaten with 23.
Play was limited to minutes in several games and nine points appears to be the order of the day, however one of the day's longer sessions saw 20.3 overs bowled at Beverley as Clifton Alliance threatened to make a major score. Rapid batting by John Myers (44), Danny White (40) and Paul Walton, who had reached 37 not out had taken the Clifton outfit to 155-4 with home bowler Matt Wilkinson taking two wickets, albeit at a personal cost of 76 runs.
The only completed game was at Welton and Brough, where the home side missed the opportunity of replacing their guests at the head of Division 4A when they were bowled out for 101 to lose by 34 runs. In a 28-over game Kev Wilson's 50, abetted by an unbeaten 45 from Mark Aconley's unbeaten 45, saw Pickering post a total of 135-6.
In reply, Greg Fewster hit 56 but his colleague failed to provide adequate support as Carl Suggitt grabbed 4 for 37 to have the home side all out for 101. Play was only possible in one of the scheduled nine games in the fifth divisions and this was so severely curtailed that Tadcaster Magnet had only made 38-2 at Bolton Percy when the game was called off.
Published on 10th July 2008 in Sport.
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