1st Round Report - Sunday 4th May

The 1st Round of the Cockspur Cup was scheduled on Sunday and once again there were problems encountered with the weather. Nearly half of the scheduled matches were played and a few ties in the North West were decided by bowl-outs, a number of other matches were conceded by clubs who were not able to fulfil their fixtures. This is a massive improvement on the situation last year in the 2nd Round when only 10 ties were decided on schedule out of 128!

The highest total of the day was amassed by Hartley Country Club in Group 16 who blazed away against Linden Park to reach a total of 324-9. James Hockley (100) and David Thompson (68) added 168 for the first wicket. Min Patel then quickly departed for only 4 but Matt Stiller (67) then continued the carnage. Tom Williams bowled 6 overs at the end of the innings and make inroads returning figures of 5-38 as the home side looked for quick runs. In reply Linden Park were never in the hunt and 36-4 quickly became 42 all out. Hartley romping home by a massive margin of 282 runs – more than the second highest team total of the day! In the same Group there was a much closer match at Bickley Park where the hosts batted first and lost Paul Clinton early for a duck but the Peter Clinton (70) and James Lincoln (100*) added 140 for the second wicket, James Lincoln completing his 129 ball century just before the close of the innings on 193-2. In reply Warlingham looked very well placed at 101-2 with 20 overs remaining but the introduction of James Soulsby proved to the turning point of the match as he took three quick wickets in two overs. James finished with figures of 5-38 as Warlingham slumped to 122-8 and ended being dismissed for 153 - 40 runs short. This Group also saw the best bowling figures when James Iles, a youngster who has appeared for the Kent 1st XI, took 5-5 for Lordswood as they beat Minster by 150 runs.

Top individual score of the day went to Graham Blann of Littlehampton, Clapham & Patching in Suseex who scored 123*. Littlehampton looked to be in quite some trouble at 44-3 and then 146-7 but with Graham Blann (number 3) still at the wicket he found an able ally in Luke Vinter as they added an unbroken 95 for the 8th wicket. Roffey lost three wickets straight away and were then never in the hunt.

In Group 2 a young Sheffield United side came up against a very experienced Papplewick & Linby bowling attack with a strong Leicesterhire influence. Bradley Matthews led the way taking 3-23 and his opening partner Charlie Dagnall chipped in with 2-17. The change bowlers continued to press home the advantage with Wasim Rana taking 3-15 and Phil DeFreitas 1-20. It took Sheffield United 41.4 overs to reach 90. In reply the home side knocked off the runs in just over 20 overs for the loss of three wickets – Phil DeFreitas scoring 43 in only 34 balls.

Elsewhere, particularly in the Lancashire and the West Midlands, a large number of Club Secretaries are frantically trying to rearrange fixtures for next weekend.

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