Wetherby gun for in-form Old Mods
By Andrew Groves
FULL strength Wetherby are gunning for in form Old Mods tomorrow with skipper Andy Twitchen rallying his troops for another afternoon to remember.
Saturday’s nail-biting victory over local rivals Kirk Deighton has filled his side with more confidence according to their skipper as they eye a run of wins to pull them up the league table.
However Twitchen knows they’ll have their work cut out against an extremely strong Mods outfit this term.
“It won’t be easy,” he said.
“They’re a really good side especially on their home ground. They have two of the best batters in the league in my opinion and they are probably the best team in the league this season.
“But we’ve got to go there confident. There’s no reason why we can’t win if we play to our strengths. There’s reason to be optimistic that we can go there and do it.
“We should be at full strength, looking at our squad it’s the strongest we’ve been all season so we’re looking forward to it.”
On Saturday Wetherby could only muster 138 all out against Richard Ward’s Deighton. However this proved enough with Neil Thomas scalping 7-25 to hold them at arm’s length on 130 all out.
“It wasn’t the best batting performance,” added Twitchen.
“Usually at their ground the par score is about 170 because it’s a fast scoring ground. But there were good knocks by Neil Thomas (33) and Phil Garton (48) who got us up to a defendable score.
“Then we just bowled absolutely fantastically. Neil was getting some good away swing and he really did bowl well.
“It was just an enjoyable afternoon for us. We all had a few pints in Wetherby afterwards and it was all good.”
KIRK DEIGHTON skipper Richard Ward will crack the whip with his run shy side tomorrow before their trip to Walton after their collapse against Wetherby last week.
Deighton were reduced to 90-9 before their last pair put them in touching distance of victory.
Ward is now seeking more stability as they plot an assault on the division’s new boys.
“We’ve been struggling this season with our batting,” said Ward.
“That’s been a really big problem for us and I’ll be telling the batters they need to stand up and be counted. They need to take more pride in their wicket and hopefully that will start against Walton.”
Defending champions SPOFFORTH are back on the march with captain Simon Taylor now setting his eyes on SHADWELL when they return to action tomorrow.
It proved a mixed weekend in league and cup for Spoff’ with Taylor’s side thumping CHURCH FENTON on Saturday but slipped to defeat aainst Bradford League outfit Woodlands on Sunday in the Black Sheep Trophy.
With title rivals SCARCROFT losing their way against Great Preston last weekend Spoff’ are now just one point behind Damian Aston’s men.
Taylor is hopeful hs side can leapfrog their rivals and become top dogs in the table yet again.
“That’s the plan,” said Taylor.
“I’ve heard a few reports about Shadwell’s overseas (Ryan Hercules), he’s a bit nippy and he likes to go after it when he bats too so it’ll be interesting.
“A couple of the older members are umpires and they’ve been saying he’s a decent player so we’ll have to see.”
On Sunday Spoff’ were well and truly outclassed by Black Sheep favourites Woodlands with the home side making 339-4 with opener Sam Frankland making 163 not out.
Spoff’ tried their best in response but a late order collapse saw them skittled for 86.
“We’ve no complaints,” added Taylor.
“It means we can concentrate on the league now.”
League leading SCARCROFT will look to bounce back from their nightmare against Great Preston last week when they welcome SICKLINGHALL tomorrow.
‘Hall skipper Steve Fisher is hoping the inclusion of some young blood from the second team can be the catalyst for victory against Damian Aston’s men.
“We’ve got no consistency at the moment,” said Fisher.
“I don’t know how we’ll turn out. We’re a bit like Jekyll and Hyde at the moment. We’ve got a few injury worries and Dave Boyd hurt his hand last week.
“We’ll have to bring a few of the young lads from the seconds but I don’t think that will be a bad thing. Our fielding wasn’t the best on Saturday and hopefully that will improve it.
“We were looking like a set of 40-year-olds on Saturday and we need to do something about that.”
Fisher knows his side will have their hands full against Scarcroft’s fine bowling line-up but after their opponents were bowled out for 62 last week he feels that is the area they must target.
“They have some really good bowlers, Damian is a really good cricketer, he has been for a while but looking at last week at Preston their batting isn’t as strong and that’s maybe something we can target,” continued Fisher.
“They are a good side. You don’t get to the top of the league if you’re not so we’ll have to be at our best.”
Elsewhere tomorrow Barwick in Elmet welcome Great Preston and St Chad’s Broomfield host CHURCH FENTON.
Meanwhile the Wetherby Cricket League Senior Representative Side will play Central Yorkshire League at Bramham & Clifford CC on Sunday. Start time 2.30pm.
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Weather for Wetherby
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
