CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF KEXBY KIND

By Glen Sands

Luddington won their first points of the season yesterday in what proved to be a thoroughly entertaining encounter against an Upton cum Kexby side who are beginning to find their feet now after three seasons in the North Lindsey League.
Ludd batted first on a cold and blustery day and quickly found themselves one down when Danny Taylor was bowled by Alsop for just a couple and when Geoff Smith followed suit, this time well caught by Hayden Green in gully off Nathan Plumtree Ludd were 33 for 2. Andy Lawson joined opener Darren Clark and suddenly the run rate raced away from the visitors, Lawson in his own spectacular style, reaching 24 in no time before he inexplicably missed a full toss from Spencer and became third man out with the score on 81. That certainly gave Upton a filip and they hit back to pick up further wickets as Gareth Parkin, Oliver Saxon and Arron Curry all failed to trouble the scorers but all this time opener Clark was batting superbly at the other end and when joined by Steve Proctor they steadied things to take Ludd past three figures. Clark brought up his own half century, then came another twist when Proctor, having been advised earlier by umpire Brian Cross that he was batting outside his off stump was then trapped LBW by Green for six and duely admonished by Crossy for not having listened to him ! Clark eventually sacrificed his wicket when being bowled for 71 and at the end of the innings Barry O'Brien treated the Luddington version of the Headingly Terrace with a couple of unauthodox boundaries as they closed on 139 all out, Hayden Green finishing with 3 for 44, whilst Spencer and Birkett took two each for the visitors.
Upton's response saw them have to battle for every run early in the innings and they soon lost opener Clay, caught behind by Steve Proctor off the ever dependable O'Brien for 11 then Hayden Green offered a simple catch to Darren Clark off Matt Mellers having eased to nine and Upton stood at 27 for 2. Jimmy Snee had set his stall out to bat through but played a rare loose shot to O'Brien and was pouched by Jimmy "Buckets" Roe in gully for 13, and when two further wickets fell quickly Upton's resistence appeared to be waining. Howver Spencer and Bray got them back on track with some excellent batting and just as they appeared set to put the visitors back in pole position Darren Clark took the most spectacular of tumbling catches in the deep off the bowling of Arron Curry to send Spencer back to the hutch for 19 and the game was in the balance once more.Curry then bowled Bray for 14 and followed that up by douing the same to Lesley, then he collected a simple caught and bowled off Will Cawte to leave Upton on 100 for 9 and all seemed lost but once again the Gainsborough outfit refused to give in and last pair Nathan Plumtree along with Alsop gradually inched their way toward the Luddington total until they attempted a very quick single which saw Plumtree run out by the narrowest of margins, leaving them 17 runs short of the Luddington score.
So it was a first win for Luddington but credit must go to both teams for producing such a good game in what were rather trying conditions. Next up for Luddington is another home game, this time against early pace-setters Barton Academy Vikings, while Upton entertain Bottesford in what is their first home game of the campaign. Both will go into their respective games in confident mood.