Leaders Lea and Roses between as Papplewick win it in the field

Dark skies and persistent rain greeted the Lea and Roses first team as they left Gainsborough for their first away fixture in over a month at the picturesque ground of Papplewick CC.
HUCKNALL CC round-up.HUCKNALL CC round-up.
HUCKNALL CC round-up.

Upon arrival it was clear that a 1.30 pm start was never going to be a possibility due to the rain, however the umpires decided the strip would be good to go for a 3pm start.

Lea & Roses lost the toss and Needham and West opened the Lea & Roses batting account.

It’s safe to say it wasn’t easy going, and with just one on the board, Needham drove at one which stuck in the pitch and was collected easily by Hudson at mid on.

Mardle joined West in the middle, but despite a bright start, he tried to work one through mid wicket and caught a leading edge to give a simple chance back to the bowler.

This brought the in form Cooper to the crease, who started comfortably with some solid shots.

But just when the visitors felt they were getting their feet under the table, it was snatched away when Cooper feathered one to Stewart leaving Lea & Roses 20 for 3.

Keightley joined West who was settling nicely into his groove, working the ball well for runs and picking off boundaries when possible on a difficult surface.

The score moved on to 43 before Keightley succumbed LBW to Greenhaigh, and when he removed Snee the very next ball in the same fashion, Lea & Roses were under pressure.

Lane steadied the ship despite riding his luck, and with the skipper moved the score on to 73 before the former was smartly stumped by Stokes.

Ten runs later came a pivotal point in the match, when West, possibly distracted by the hard hitting of his new partner Woolley, went a little too much at one that wasn’t quite there and was caught behind by Stokes for his third dismissal of the match.

Smith joined the Woolley who took the score on to 94 before losing his partner to a good delivery from Hudson which cleaned up the dangerous Lea & Roses mans stumps.

Just a few runs later, Orton stuck one straight down the throat of Blatherwick bringing the last man Housham to the crease.

Woolley was left stranded on a fine 22 not out when the wicket of Housham fell with Lea & Roses posting a final total of 110.

Credit should be given to both Hudson and Greenhaigh who took eight wickets between them for just 44 runs.

After tea the visitors hit the field, determined to make up for a somewhat abject batting performance albeit on a difficult surface.

With ever improving conditions however, it was always going to be difficult, but Lea & Roses felt if they could make early in roads they would be in with a shout.

Ronstan and D.Blatherwick, opening for the hosts had other ideas though. Well taken singles and powerfully struck boundaries off the bowling of Cooper and Smith saw the pair through to 28 before Ronstan went after one too many across the line and looped one up back to the Cooper for a caught and bowled.

S.Blatherwick then joined D.Blatherwick at the crease, and the two Blatherwicks worked together to move the score along.

West rang the changes in the bowling department, bringing Lane and Orton into the attack. The Lea & Roses slow duo stifled the Blatherwicks, and it was only a matter of time before D.Blatherwick got frustrated and spooned an easy chance to Cooper with the score on 42.

After a slow start, the Lea & Roses attack were now getting into the game. Just five runs later Lane had Stokes caught and with no more added S.Blatherwick demised, caught by Lane off the bowling of Orton.

When Joe Gill knocked one straight back at Lane, the visitors were sensing an unlikely victory, but now they reckoned with M.Blatherwick who proved as worthy as the previous, batting resolutely at first, before opening up.

Joined by veteran Rhodes who knocked the ball around the park for a brisk 18 before being trapped LBW by the man of the day for the Lea & Roses attack,

Lane, and then Stewart, who saw the home side through with some lusty blows to inflict on the league leaders their second defeat of the season.

In similar conditions, the Lea & Roses second team only managed a loosing draw to top of the table Rockware in a reduced overs game, and the Lea & Roses thirrd team game was cancelled due to the weather.