OUTCASTS v LUDDINGTON - AMAZING SMILE CUP FIRST ROUND

BY GLEN SANDS

Despite the best efforts of the valiant nine men of Luddington, the Isle of Axholme derby at Hirst Priory was won quite comfortably by Outcasts in what was a game played in good spirit between players who are friends and in many cases team mates in the Lincolnshire League and Broughton Evening League.Luddington batted first but were hampered before the start as they suffered a morning cry off through illness and also had one player who simply failed to turn up and they soon found themselves one down when Joe Woolhouse was bowled by Graeme Fletcher for just a single with the total on nine. The scoreboard had'nt moved when Darren Clark was perhaps harshly given out LBW to cousin Liam McAnaney for four which left skipper Gareth Parkin and Graham Clark to rebuild the Luddington innings. For a while they did just that but as often happens the drinks break saw a lapse in concentration when Clark had a swipe at Scott Buttrick only to be bowled for 17 with the overall score on 41. Once again no run had been added when  Parkin was caught by wicket keeper Mark Fletcher off Craig McAnaney for 13 , the ball lodging in his pads for a peculiar dismissal but ton up hero Andy Lawson then took the game to his parent club crashing four ever increasingly bigger sixes in a quickfire 27 the last one clearing the trees to land on the golf course !! It took an excellent catch in the deep by Jamie Belton to bring an end to Lawson's stay at the crease , off the bowling of Craig McAnaney again and Macca picked up a third wicket when Jamie Arrowsmith repeated the shot to give Belton a second catch. Steve Proctor and Danny Taylor took the score to 92 before Graeme Fletcher took a return catch from Taylor on six then Matthew Mellers and Proctor moved the score up to 99 only for Russell Fletcher to catch the former for five to earn brother Graeme a third wicket against the depleted Luddington side.  Fletcher finished with 3 for 16 and McAnaney 3 for 33 to share top billing for the Priorymen although Liam McAnaney and Scott Buttrick also picked up one each and bowled very economically.
A target of 100 was always going to be obtainable for Outcasts given Ludd's lack of numbers but to their credit the North Axholmers bowled and fielded quite well restricting Outcasts to just 40 off the first 20 overs. It went from bad to worse for Ludd when wicket keeper Steve Proctor had to hand over the gloves to skipper Gareth Parkin due to a back spasm and incredibly Jamie Arrowsmith then hurt his back when coming on to bowl to further enhance the visitors troubles. Jamie Belton and youngster Josh Bramhill had opened the batting for Outcasts but Belton was out early , caught by Danny Taylor off Matthew Mellers for four which brought Craig McAnaney too the middle and without the need for fireworks he and Bramhill giuded Outcasts serenely along. Graham Clark bowled his ten overs for just eleven runs with six maidens and Mellers was almost as miserly from his ten , finishing with 1 for 27 but with wickets in hand the home side were always in control of their own destiny. McAnaney picked out Jamie Arrowsmith to give Darren Clark a wicket but Russell Fletcher strode to the crease to join the increasingly comfortable Bramhill and they guided their team home with the young opener scoring a well constructed 51 not out with Fletcher ending on 16.So it was a comfortable win for Outcasts who were sporting in the extreme when lending their neighbours a fielder throughout the second innings - a gesture which was greatly appreciated by Gareth Parkin and his team. 
The victory means Outcasts will now travel to Scunthorpe Town in Round Two on June 16th although before that on May 26th they will host a league game against Alkborough. 
Luddington head to another Isle derby at Haxey hoping that their injured and ill players have all recovered enough to play their part , fingers crossed !!