FROM RUN-MAKER TO INTERNATIONAL RUNNER

By Matt Gleadell, Morton CC, Gainsborough

David Hughes, representing England in the 400m hurdles tomorrow in the Commonwealth Games, is a former Lea Park CC and Rose Leisure CC junior player. I attended secondary school with David and played a lot of school and club cricket with him. David is from Laughton, near Gainsborough. My main cricketing memory of David is him scoring 70-odd not out in an U13s semi-final cup match against Hykeham at Hykeham. The match was significant as Rob Cook and Paul Cook opened the batting for Hykeham against our Roses U13s 11-a-side team and scored about 170 between them in their side's either 16 or 20-over innings (I can't remember which). We didnt take any of Hykeham's wickets and thought the game was as good as over. Up stepped David Hughes who smashed 70 odd not out in quick time and we just knocked off the runs for the loss of 6 or 7 wickets. We went on to win the final against Lindum, which was also played at Hykeham. I think the year was 1997. At the time Lea Park was also running an 8-a-side team which was made up of the better lads that also played for Roses' 11-a-side team. Both teams won both their league and the cup that year in the Lincoln & District Youth Cricket League. For those involved it was a season to remember.