JIMMY SHOWS BOYCOTT CLASS

By Glen Sands

North Lindsey Leaguers Luddington bounced back from an opening day defeat to Everton when beating Broughton 4ths by a comprehensive 94 runs yesterday in what were far from ideal cricketing conditions with a chill wind and the occasional flurry of rain sweeping across the Park Lane ground.
Luddington were invited to bat first with brothers Graham and Darren Clark opening their innings and they made a brisk start before Graham was bowled by Jack Siddall for 19 with the total on 41. Darren went the same way for 22 with the total at 50 thenDanny Taylor was caught by Craig Hall off Tom Reed for four and Ludd were standing at 76 for 3. Andy Lawson struck two towering sixes, one of which went within a whisker of team mate Barry O'Brien's car, but as well as he was playing he was seeing partners coming and going at the other end as Broughton kept plugging away gamely. Visiting skipper Tom Brock brought himself on to bowl and made in roads into the Luddington batting order including the prized scalp of the in form Lawson who was bowled for 43 with the overall total on 111 but the lower order each added valuable runs as Ludd reached 141 all out , Steve Proctor hitting eight , Arron Curry and Matthew Mellers four apiece and Jimmy Roe ending the innings six not out including a quite majestic square cut for four that Boycott would have been proud of. Brock finished with 5 for 18 and Jack Siddall 4 for 19 for the relatively young Broughton side.
After a splendid tea, Broughton set about the task of chasing down the Luddington total but were quickly in trouble asopener McIntyre was bowled by Graham Clark with just two runs to his name. Matthew Mellers then struck with two wickets of his own leaving Broughton reeling on 8 for 3 which soon became 9 for 4 when Clark had Siddall caught by wicket keeper Steve Proctor without him troubling the scorers. Paul Reed did offer some resistance with a bright and breezy 18 before he dragged on a Mellerds delivery and once again it sparked a collapse as Graham Clark proceeded to have Craig Hall caught by his brother Darren for two then he bowled Scott Benson to make the score 28 for 7. Tom Brock (six) and Tom Reed (twelve not out) did offer some late resistence but the match drew to a close with a run out, leaving Broughton all out for 47. Graham Clark ended with figures of 5 for 27 and Matthew Mellers 4 for 19 as Luddington claimed their first three points of the 2011 campaign.
After the match everyone retired to the River Don who kindly provided both sides with some nourishment and left them all to ponder on the likely outcome when they lock horns again at Luddington in the Divisional Cup for a place in the Semi Finals. One thing is for sure, they will all hope for much warmer weather in which to play!