DRINK THE I.P.A. AND SUPPORT THE L.P.F.A.

By Glen Sands

Despite the windy conditions last Sunday that made bowling somewhat difficult throughout the game, Luddington came through a potentially tough encounter with a handy six-wicket victory against a gutsy Everton side who always give of their best. Everton batted first on what appeared one again to be a belter of a track but found runs hard to come by early on as Matthew Mellers and Barry O'Brien kept things nice and tight. Their reward came when Scott Leach was bowled by Old Goole hero O'Brien for nine and he quickly followed that with another impressive delivery to bowl Guy Paxman for 14 with the total on 31. Mellers picked up his first wicket when inducing Steve Johnson into edging a catch to Geoff Smith at slip then O'Brien took his third when home skipper Gareth Parkin produced what was the first of no less than four outfield catches in the innings , removing Ed Campbell for 14. Tim Paxman was next to go, edging a catch to wicket keeper Steve Proctor off Mellers for 11 but Everton then produced something of a fightback in the shape of skipper Peter Dobson and their wicket keeper Dave Codd. They took the total to 91 but that man O'Brien was soon back in the action , inducing a poor shot from Codd that went straight to Parkin at mid wicket and he was gone for 17. Dobson followed in the exact same fashion having made 21 and from that moment on the innings drew to a close as Arron Curry finished things off to pick up 3 for 28, leaving Everton's Richard Chambers stranded on 21 not out in the final total of 123 all out, Buz O'Brien taking the plaudits with another five-wicket haul to add to his ever lengthening CV.
With the wind still whipping across the ground, Richard Chambers chose to bowl with it assisting him from behind and he produced a terrific delivery to bowl Ludd opener Danny Taylor when he had made just four, the score at that time standing at 33. Darren Clark was looking in imperious form and had reached 33 himself when he snicked a catch to wicketkeeper Codd off Chambers who was trying hard to make inroads into the Ludd top order and he picked up a third wicket when bowling Geoff Smith for 14 with the total standing at 54. Cometh the hour cometh the "Gaj" and home skipper Parkin then joined vice-captain Andy Lawson to allay any fears of a collapse. He cleverly farmed the strike to the in-form Lawson who pounced on any loose deliveries, depositing the ball to all parts, with the nearby schoolyard taking most of the peppering, but the visitors refused to give up the ghost and they had him caught by Chris Dobson off brother Peter's bowling when he was just five shy of a half-century. Nine runs were still required but captain Parkin (13 not out) and Oliver Saxon (2 not out) guided Ludd home and in doing so keeping their team level at the top of the table along with Barton Academy Vikings.
Next up is the Isle derby against new boys Epworth at Carrside on Sunday, followed by a KO Cup Final rehearsal against Upton cum Kexby - after which they will have a week off for the scheduled Luddington Gala on Sun July 25th, where the usual fare will be on show such as tombola, children's races, tug o' war, a display from the Anchor Bowmen and Kimberley School Of Dance, added to the annual five-a-side football and all the numerous side stalls.
The afternoon gets underway at 1pm with the crowning of the Queen after which it is hoped the large crowds will enjoy the day taking in all the sights which also include a beer tent and teas on sale in the local village hall.
Let's hope for a magnificent day for the LPFA.