CLEETHORPES PREVIEW AND REVIEW

By Graham Hackney



Cleethorpes return to Barnsley this Saturday eager to revenge their heavy 146-run Yorkshire league cup defeat a fortnight ago. Having slipped to fifth in the table, James Osmond’s side need a return to form to keep pace with the league leaders. They then face Doncaster at home on Bank Holiday Monday (12 Noon Start). Cleethorpes 2nds also have a double header this weekend entertaining Broughton at Chichester Road this Saturday before travelling to Messingham on Monday. Cleethorpes 3rds make a welcome return to league action with a trip to Louth 2nds this Saturday while the 4th X1 travel to Haxey 2nds. Cleethorpes North Lindsey X1 will look to continue their bright start to the season as they travel to Barton on Sunday.


Cleethorpes 1st X1's poor run of form continued last Saturday when they went down by seven-wickets to table toppers Harrogate at Chichester Road. After being put in in green conditions, Cleethorpes recovered from a poor start to post a challenging 221-7 in their 55 overs. They were indebted to Alex Osmond who made a welcome return to form with a forceful 74 in 106 balls including ten fours and a six. He added 56 for the third wicket with Rory Osmond (36) before the latter was needlessly run out when well set. Paul Sunley added 21 while an unbroken eighth wicket stand of 43 between Skipper James Osmond (27no) and Harry Clewett (19no) took Cleethorpes to their final total. In reply, Harrogate’s openers got their side off to a fine start seeing off the threat of Cleethorpes seamers Graham Hume and Andy Ellis and added 66 before Alex Osmond made the first breakthrough. However a second wicket stand of 104 would break the back of the run chase with Cleethorpes losing the services of Osmond through injury just as the run rate was starting to increase. Harrogate reached their target with two overs to spare despite Clewett and Hume chipping in with late wickets as Cleethorpes slip to fifth in the Yorkshire league table.
Cleethorpes 2nd X1 crashed out of the George Marshall Trophy after a fantastic burst from Nettleham overseas player blew away their lower order as they attempted to chase down 232 last Saturday. Having restricted Nettleham to 169-7, late runs down the order set Cleethorpes a total far higher than expected as they closed on 231-7 in their 45 overs. John Zielinski proved the most successful Cleethorpes bowler with 3/55 in nine overs with Callum Robinson picking up 2/42 in 9. Spinner Indy Hayre and Stuart Harvey both picked up wickets as did Joe Farmery. Despite slipping to 52-3, a fantastic fourth wicket stand of 136 between Hayre and Chinese star Shu Yao looked to have Cleethorpes coasting. Having completed a brilliant hundred with a towering six, Hayre departed to following ball attempting another maximum, and this saw Cleethorpes lose their final six wickets for 39 runs. Ban Marris hit a promising 24 at the top of the order but Shu stood firm to complete a fine half century but was last man out lbw when clearly getting an inside edge with Cleethorpes 4 runs short of their target.
Cleethorpes 3rds completed a routine 72-run win at Alkborough 2nds in the Bob Welton Cup. Ian Mansfield was the mainstay of Cleethorpes’ 190-7 in 45 overs hitting a superb 74. He received good support from brother David who hit 37 while Richard Woodward (25) and Simon Taylor (24) made useful contributions down the order.Alkborough were never in conditions after Woodward’s opening spell of 2/14 in 5 while Dean Cressey ran through the middle order with 4/17 in five overs. Young spinner Ed Lumby (2/25) mopped up the tail as Alkborough were finally bowled out for 118 in the 33rd over as Cleethorpes progress.
Both Cleethorpes' Sunday teams were in action last weekend. The North Lindsey X1 had an easy 48-run win at Misterton 2nds in the league cup. Half centuries from Ryan Harrison (51) and Matty Owen (53no) propelled Cleethorpes to 219-7 in their 40 overs with Ben Marris hitting 35 and Richard Woodward 23. Young off spinner Tom Morley, making his senior debut ripped through the Misterton middle order with 4/59 in 10 overs after Fred Lumby had made the initial breakthrough. Lucy Rollinson then took an excellent 3/30 on debut before Lewis Markham (2/45 in 9.5) wrapped up a good days work.
Cleethorpes Academy also ran out easy winners as they thrashed Brocklesby Park by 180 runs at Chichester Road on Sunday. They set their opponents a formidable target after hitting 237-6 in their 40 overs. Shu Yao again starred for the Academy with a brisk 77 with John Mansfield (62) making a return to form. Harry Clewett hit 27 before Cleethorpes’ bowlers demolished Brocklesby’s batting order. An opening salvo of 3/17 in 7 from Reece Holberry set the tone while Ian Mansfield picked up 3/2 in five overs. Further wickets for Vivek Babu, Henry Tasker, Ed Lumby and David Mansfield saw Brocklesby bowled out for a paltry 57 inside 31 overs.