Sport Ludd prove too strong for hosts
Luddington produced a solid all-round performance last Thursday when beating a very useful-looking Goole Town side by seven wickets in a game reduced in overs due to the cloudy conditions at Westfield.
Goole batted first and quickly lost opener John McGrory, trapped leg before wicket by John Danson for just one in the second over but then skipper Mark Holmes and number three bat Lee Hayward began to compile a stand in the face of decent bowling from Liam McAnaney and the afore-mentioned Danson.
The wet outfield meant that they were not getting full value for their shots with Hayward scoring three on no less than four occasions but it was Holmes who was back in the pavilion first when he was caught behind by Darren Clark in Matt Mellers' first over for 33.
Promising batsman Ben Earl was next to the crease and he, along with Heywood, continued to find runs hard to come by as Mellers , Graeme Fletcher Danny Taylor and Peter Tait kept things tight. Heywood had scored 19 when he was caught by Fletcher off Taylor and although no further wickets fell, Goole's final score of 97-3 was always going to be reachable for the Isle side provided they batted up to scratch.
Brothers Darren and Graham Clark opened the Luddington innings and were faced with Goole's first team opening bowler Neil Foster but they soon saw him off, taking 21 from his first two overs.
Graham had made nine when he was bowled by Scott Thorpe, which brought Andy Lawson to the crease. Aong with Darren Clark he proceeded to take Luddington to within a few runs of victory.
Clark reached his personal half-century before being trapped leg before by Nick Holah. Stand-in skipper Jon Bramhill was out without troubling the scorers when caught by Mark Holmes off Aiden Coulbeck. But that only delayed the inevitable and Lawson brought the game to a close when hitting his fifth four of his innings to take him to 27 not out, with Mark Fletcher unbeaten at the other end.
So Luddington remain in the hunt for the title but realistically they know that they have only a faint chance of retaining their trophy.
Tonight sees them play host to joint champions Askern, after which they will meet this season's title favourites Drax. Then their season will come to an end with a home fixture against Howden.
They know that they need to win all three games to have any hope of topping the table come August.
Right, Goole Academy's John McGrory, who is just getting into his season right now gaving been on exams, and doubles up his sport with Bubwith Tennis Club.
Published on 17th July 2008 in Sport.
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