The Richmondshire 1stXI suffered another setback on Saturday when they lost at home to newly promoted Stockton.
The Richmondshire attack struggled to make any inroads, although Josh Dowson regularly beat the bat in the early overs wickets didn’t come.
The first wicket fell on 51 when Sam Wood was introduced to the attack but a stand of 91 wasn’t ended until Shafqullah Ghafari took his first wicket at Hurgill Road.
Shafi went on to take two wickets but at the cost of 96 runs.
The introduction of Dale Marshall to the attack produced immediate results as he took wickets with his first and third ball and he ended with figures of three for 49. Returning to the attack Josh Dowson also took a couple of wickets for figures of two for 56 but by then Stockton had run up a formidable total of 269 for eight.
The Richmondshire batsmen found life difficult and only Gary Pratt (39), using a runner due to a knee injury and Owen Kelly (79) made any impact. Richmondshire ended 186 all out taking only eight points.
They will hope to include Australian amateur Tom Brooks, who arrives this week and that the new signings will have settled in when they play league leaders great Ayton at home next Saturday.
The 2ndXI, facing one of last years relegated teams for the second consecutive week, had a much better day when they defeated Normanby Hall away. They lost openers Jamie Stead and Marc Lockey without a run on the board but a stand of 103 between captain Sam Winter (45) and Matty Price (112) put them on the road to a final total of 209 for six.
Normanby Hall made a strong start until Jake Percival struck with two wickets in two balls to make the score 77 for 2. Normanby were within forty of the Richmondshire total with five wickets in hand until four wickets from Jonny Carr turned the game again. Jake ended with figures of four for 38 and Jonny four for 57 as Richmondshire went on to win by 22 runs taking 25 points.
The 4thXI tasted their first defeat after promotion at Yarm 1sts. Put in to bat they lost both openers with 11 on the board. They lost two further wickets until a partnership between veteran Nigel Winter and junior Jack Platt put on 59. In a scramble to add runs in the final overs four more wickets fell, two run out. Richmondshire ending on a fairly modest 117 for nine after their 40 overs.
Unusually openers Michael Platt and Gareth Wood failed to make any inroads and it was Tom Stockton with three for 29 and Julius Glagow two for 29 who started to cause Yarm problems. Junior Max Percival then took two wickets to hint at the chance of a win but Yarm got home to win by three wickets. Richmondshire taking five points.
The 5thXI were on the receiving end of an onslaught by Middleton Tyas 1sts opening batsmen, former Richmondshire junior George Spink (159) and his partner Dan Smith (138). This produced a massive total of 325 for no wicket after 40 overs.
There was little prospect of getting anywhere near this score the Richmondshire batsmen battled on for 35 overs to reach a total of 120 all out.
On Sunday the 3rdXI played at home against Wolviston 3rds. Jamie Stead made a quick come back after Sunday’s duck to score a fine 148 not out after Richmondshire won the toss and elected to bat. With 51 from Jake Percival and 24 from Joe Shields Richmondshire ran up 282 for 5 after 40 overs.
Wolviston made a brave attempt in their reply, falling just 11 short when they were bowled out in the 38th over. After an expensive opening spell in his first game of the season Chris Layfield came back to take three for 57 and there were two wickets each for Alex Percival and Will Shaefer.
The 25 points puts them up to fifth in the table, just six behind leaders Hartlepool.
