News Round Up – May 2023
The summer seems to have finally arrived after what, according to Mike Oldfield, Groundsman at the Bridge, has been the wettest spring he can remember in over 40 years doing the ground. We have been lucky to get some cricket on, but by mid-May we’d lost eleven senior games out of eighteen to the weather.
Up to this point the 1st XI had completed only two of their league fixtures. They bowled York out for 129 with Freddie Collins taking 4 wickets but fell 53 short, with Isaac Giannini top scorer with 22! They did the same against Clifton Alliance, who were all out for 127, with the Bridge failing to get there by one run! Harry Sutcliffe top scored with 34. Mark Fisher had 3 for 39 off 13 overs.
The 2nd team have fared equally badly after their great opening win against Pickering where Bhabra took 3 for 25, Mydeo 5 for 16 and skipper Jack Hugill top scored with 38. Since then, they fell to York and then Harrogate. The latter was unfortunate losing by 3 runs on Duckworth Lewis (DLS) with Harry Sutcliffe top scoring with 39 in a total of 193. The following Saturday brought a heavy defeat at Whitkirk, albeit with a very weakened side. Skipper Jack Hugill top scored with 19 in a total of 91 with final pair of Tom Appleton and 14-year-old Sam Giannini contributing 20 for the last wicket.
The 3rd XI have had only one match against Osbaldwick which ended in a heavy defeat. Their other three matches have fallen to the weather.
The 4th XI have managed two games, against Nawton Grange they were in a winning position when the weather intervened. Sam Giannini returned figures of 3 for 15 and newcomer Jake Caskin 5 for 17 in his 10 overs. At the half way stage Bridge were on 60 for the loss of one wicket, Billy Isles on 16 and Wayne Fawcett on 12 leading the charge before rain put an end to proceedings.
This was followed by a loss to Saxton by 61 runs. Again, Jake Casken was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 10 in 10 overs. There wasn’t much to highlight in reply with 14 apiece from Magee and Batley.
There has been a very disappointing list of non-availabilities for various reasons with more juniors than we would expect having to fill the gaps. In some instances, the level of cricket is just a bit beyond them at this early stage in their development, but at least they are playing. More adult commitment is needed!
The juniors have had similar problems with the weather with few games being completed. Of those that have, only U11b’s have recorded a win in the league with Bell and Truman with 3 wickets apiece and excellent batting from Duemmer Wigley and Reynolds.
The U13s have had mixed success with one win out of two. A convincing win by 57 runs over Heworth saw Jake Popplewell retire on 30, well supported by Reuben McBride on 26. Bowling honours went to Jamie Haworth 3 for 3, Theo Foster 2 for 4 and Reuben McBride 2 for 11. Unfortunately, they came unstuck against Clifton Alliance with a poor batting display, all out for 64 with Reuben McBride top scoring on 15, eventually losing by only one wicket, McBride again the wicket taker with 3 for 3 in 4 overs. Fielding and catching was excellent but bowlers must learn to concentrate more on line and length, dot balls are good balls!