LUDD BACK ON TRACK

By Glen Sands

Champions Luddington got back to winning ways yesterday when comfortably beating Sykehouse on their Park Lane ground in what was a low scoring match in the Snaith and District Evening League.
Sykehouse chose to bat first on what was a surprisingly dry pitch, given the amount of rain earlier in the week, but they never really got going in the face of some very good, tight bowling from Jon Wroot and Liam McAnaney. Josh Edwards was first to go, run out when attempting a quick single with his own score on seven and the overall total on 15. And with just one extra run on the board, fellow opener Dave Beavers was bowled by left-armer McAnaney for four. Skipper Dan Greenslade and Michael Smith, on his return to the Sykehouse side after years away at university, then took the score to 35 before the former was caught by wicketkeeper Jamie Belton off Graeme Fletcher for nine. Michael Gallagher was spectacularly caught one-handed, high above his head, by Anthony "Sat-nav" Fitzgerald to earn Craig McAnaney a wicket, but then came a partnership of 20 between Smith and Chris Marshall that gave the visitors hope of setting a reasonable target. Sadly for them, Scott Buttrick brought those hopes crashing when he clean bowled Marshall for 10 with a terrific delivery and from then on wickets began to tumble. Andy Edwards was run out in a mix up, then Smith was bowled by Peter Tait, having made a well-constructed 31, and the innings closed on 72 for 8 as Tait picked up another wicket to finish with 2 for 6 from just two overs.
Jamie Belton and Graham Clark got Luddington off to a splendid start with a fine array of shots, Clark, in particular, showing excellent form. Belton followed suit with three boundary fours before he was controversially given out stumped by his own team-mate, Josh Edwards flicking off the bails to give 13-year-old Charlie Allen his first wicket, Belton having scored 30 in a stand of 62. And Allen was back in the thick of the action when catching Clark off the bowling of another 13-year-old, namely Liam Marshall Clark, having reached 31. By now the game was as good as won but there was still time for Edwards to stump Peter Tait off Allen for 3 before Andy Lawson (6 not out) and Anthony Fitzgerald (2 not out) guided Luddington home.
So the Isle of Axholme side are back on track, although they won't be able to rest on their larels when taking on Askern on June 17th, as they will arrive at Luddington as table-toppers.