LUDD LADS REFLECT

Glen Sands reviews the completion of another North Lindsey League Sunday season by one of our most popular village clubs

So another season is over for Luddington who have given a good account of themselves throughout the summer. Skipper Graham Clark produced the innings of his life at Haxey in the Cup when scoring a quite magnificent 141, and new boys Oliver Saxon, Kristian Reed and Andy Singleton all improved and benefitted from playing more regularly. Old heads Barry O'Brien (pictured) and Geoff Smith rallied the troops when the dominant Clark brothers were lost to work commitments and vice-skipper Steve Proctor, unavailable for the last game, produced a couple of good batting performances when required.
All in all, Luddington have had a reasonable season and the club would like to thank groundsman Dill Pullan for all his hard work on the square, plus Michael and Lois Clark who have been on tea duties throughout the season. They are all very much appreciated.

Luddington's season came to an end last Sunday with a creditable performance against Alkborough 3rds which ultimately ended in defeat although their patched up team played very well against a good Alkborough team.
Skipper Geoff Smith won the toss chosing to bat first and along with Tom Whitton he batted well to ease Luddington to 27 before he cahsed a wide delivery from Joe Balderson and was caught behind by Matt Greenwood for 15. Gareth Parkin joined Whitton and between them they took the total to 64 then Parkin was trapped LBW by visiting skipper Craig Ross for 16 and it wasnt long before Oliver Saxon was back in the hutch having been caught by Will Harrison off Ross for just a couple. Jamie Arrowsmith, who hasn't played much cricket for a couple of years, went in at number five and produced a very good and sensible display despite losing Whitton for 31 who was caught and bowled by a tumbling Balderson and with the assistance of Arron Curry he moved the Luddington total past three figures. Curry spooned a catch back to Ross having made 12 and opening bowler Steve Kemshall returned to pick up his one wicket of the innings when bowling Kristain reed to leave Luddington on 112 for 6. Arrowsmith had reached 25 before he was run out by a direct hit but the tail wagged as Tom Oliver cracked a creditable 12 before being caught by Fred Balderson off Ian Ross and Balderson senior picked up a wicket when he caught and bowled Rick Green who had made eight. Matt Mellers hit a mighty six into the nearby school before he became Ian Ross's second vistim, Will Harrison doing the catching again which left Luddingon all out for 146, Craig Ross picking up 3 for 34 and dad Ian 2 for 8 from just 2.4 overs.
Alkborough began their run chase in rapid style with Craig Ross and Ben Walker pouncing on any loose deliveries to flash them to the boundary. The visitors, boasting no less than three father and son combinations in their team, namely Craig and Ian Ross, Joe and Fred Balderson and Andy and Steve Jenkins, quickly reached 50 and even went close to a 100 opening partnership only for Ross junior to eventually go for an excellent 61, caught by stand-in wicketkeeper Gareth Parkin off Arron Curry and Matt Greenwood soon followed when he was well caught on the boundary by Tom Whitton off Rick Green for six with the total on 103. Ben Walker deserved a half-century but unfortunately fell two short when he too edged to Parkin off Curry, who then bowled Will Harrison for 12 but by then the visitors were just a boundary away from winning the game and that duly arrived through Williamson who struck the winning blow to clinch a valuable three points for Alkborough who are right in the hunt for promotion to Division One.