The Kerridge Cup is the one piece of NYSD silverware that Richmondshire are yet to win and probably their best hope for a trophy this season.
Playing against Middlesbrough at Hurgill Road they had hopes of using their home advantage to go through.
The early signs weren’t good as Middlesbrough, who had won the toss and chosen to bat, piled on early runs aided by some dropped chances. Richmondshire’s fielding wasn’t at its best throughout the innings and with a classy century from opener Paul Johnston and 86 from pro James Lowe Middlesbrough racked up an impressive total of 302 for 8 in their 40 overs.
The Richmondshire faithful weren’t optimistic at the halfway stage and it was going to need something special from the Richmondshire batting line-up. Openers Mike Layfield and Gary Pratt got them off to a good start scoring 64 at well above the 7.5 an over asking rate, before Mike Layfield was out on 40. Alston Bobb added a quick 23 but after his dismissal a mini collapse left prospects looking grim. The arrival of keeper Matty Cowling at the crease turned the game, with by far his best inning of the season so far he scored 87 in 45 bowls and when he was out on 292 for 5 only a further eleven was needed for victory. The dismissal of Gary Pratt for a superb 125 put the pressure on the two Sams, Wood and Winter to see things out, which they did with just two bowls left. Richmondshire progress to the final on the 6th August, where they will play Stokesley who defeated Barnard Castle in the other semi.
Saturday had seen a rather more straightforward win for the 1sts as they defeated Seaton Carew by 88. Richmondshire were put into bat and ending on 246 for 6 with Mike Layfield top scoring with a fine 101. The only doubt when Seaton batted was if they might just hang on for the draw but they were finally all out for 158, giving Richmondshire a 25 point win. This saw them gain ground on Middlesbrough who could only draw against Guisborough and Stokesley who lost at Barnard Castle. Great Ayton stay top 27 head of Richmondshire with an easy 25 points against Norton.
The 2 team found it tough at leaders Thornaby and still struggle to regain their early season form. With all rounder Owen Kelly injured it was down to young brother James to lead the scoing with 63 of the 145 all out total. Thornaby knocked these off for the loss of just two wickets.
The 4th team fell to a narrow defeat at Barningham 1sts and the 5ths also lost to Barningham 2nds.
On Sunday while the 1sts were scoring their last over victory at home to Middlesbrough the 3rds were doing the same against their 3rds at Acklam Park. A last over victory keeping them top of the table. They had suffered disappointment earlier in the week going down went down to Normanby Hall in the Arthur Sanders cup final at Feethams. With their bowlers unable to perform at their normal high standards Normanby managed a demanding target of 174. With opener Julius Glasgow out for a duck, run machine Clive Layfield run out for 19 and Matty Price stumped for 21 the challenge fizzled out and they were bowled out for 91. They now face the same opponents in the Ray Bell cup final at Normanby.
On Monday the Under 17s continued their fine season, annihilating the once formidable Stockton. Batting first Sam Winter 52 and Matty Price 50 both retired not out in a total of 179 for 2. Stockton couldn’t cope with challenge of being required to score at nine an over and fell apart to be bowled out for 43 in twelve overs. Highlight of the bowling was 5 for 13 from leg spinner Griffin Bewell. They now have two big games this week with Norton at home in the league on Monday and Saltburn in the cup playoff against south section winners.
At the same time the Under 9s were continuing their unbeaten season at home to Bedale. Coach Mike White reports:
The heat beat down at Richmond School on Monday evening for the U9s seventh game of the season. With 6 wins out of 6 and only 4 games to go, Richmondshire were keen to make it 7. Our rivals – North Stainley Girls U11s – have an identical record and we still have to play each other twice. (Girls teams are allowed to be up to 2 years older, according to Hambleton League rules)
Bedale won the toss and decided to bat – a usual position for the home side to be in and one that they enjoy. Excellent bowling early doors made inroads into the Bedale batting. James Cox helped himself to a ‘caught and bowled’ in his first over. Jack Platt then took 2 wickets in successive deliveries, helped in no small part by Issac Bottomley, who made a superb full-length diving catch after a 10 yard sprint from the wicketkeeper’s position – potentially catch of the season. The following ball yielded another victim via the same combination, this time Bottomley taking an excellent catch down the leg side. Bedale were 3 wickets down after 4 overs.
>It got worse for the southerners. Joseph White then clean bowled a bemused batter with a well-positioned yorker. With Bottomley also taking a wicket in his first over (deputant Elsa Wright’s hands being as safe and secure as the Bank of England helped!) the U9s had taken 5 wickets in 8 overs, and had limited Bedale to a insignificant net score of 215.
However, with the crowd shouting for more, the Richmondshire bowlers’ radars seemed to go out of kilter and only 1 more wicket was added to our total – Max Percival clean bowling one off his second over. Bedale finished their innings at a vaguely respectable 255.
Richmondshire were in no mood for messing about, it was too hot for that. A slightly re-jigged batting line-up saw Bottomley and Raj open. 4 balls into the innings Issac had scored 9 runs from one of the Bedale star bowlers – and the mood continued in this spirit. The score had rocketed to 241 by the time Bottomley (23) and Raj (9) had finished. Emmy Raggett and Elsa Wright then continued and batted well adding 15 runs between them.
More flashing blades were seen from the third batting pair. Percival hitting 3 fours on the way to his unbeaten 22 runs, well supported by Cox, and moving the score past the target onto 281. The final batting pair then put the cherry on the top of the performance. Joseph White hitting a comfortable 20 runs alongside his partner Platt (8) who took our final score to 315.
Unfortunately their winning run came to an end on Friday when they were defeated by the North Stainley girls team, where the advantage of girls being able to play two years above their age group proved just too much.
