Recent reference on Lincs Cricket Latest to Walt Blackburn, extremely long-serving secretary of South Kelsey Cricket Club, has prompted Ann Boulton to stress it was not only players the old lad tried to recruit for duty with his beloved village side.
She recalls he was always trying to persuade the best players to "come and play at Kelsey next season". And if anyone new moved to the village, Walt would be there, on his bike, asking if they played cricket.
"However, I was rather surprised when, sitting in the sun doing the scorebook for East Halton at the old ground (it always seemed to be sunny at Kelsey!), Walt sidled up to suggest I go and score for them next year. A good one for the CV perhaps - 'head-hunted for my scoring skills'.
Ann was one of those involved with Lincs cricket who attended Walt's funeral during the winter - held in South Kelsey - after which a wake was held at his favourite watering hole, The Bull Inn.
Kelsey stalwart of so many matches, Edwin Chappell (now with Owmby), and Mike Heath (who delivered the eulogy) afterwards met up with fellow mourners to pore over pictures of Walt in various Kelsey team and trophy-winning line-ups down the decades.
The old lad could not have been given a better send-off!
Friday, 10 July 2009
UP TO SECOND
Cleethorpes 2nd X1 that beat Broughton by 159 runs in the Lincs Premier Division last Saturday at Chichester Road, lifting the Meggies to second spot in the table.
Back Row (l to r) Ben Peacock (Scorer), Rob Brice, Dan Tolson (Capt), Ian Bellamy, Chris Wragg, Peter Thompson.
Front Row (l to r) Paul Ridley, Paul Sunley, Mike Shelton, John Zielinski, Gary Cowlam (Wkt), Joe Farmery.
Picture kindly supplied by Graham Hackney.
Thursday, 9 July 2009
I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY
By Ann Boulton
In all 10 ECB Premier League matches up to the end of June, Lindum 1st XI skipper Matt Rutherford had lost the toss. Is this a record?.
Last Saturday, at home to Caistor, Matt was late arriving because of work so vice-captain Richard Bishop took over - and won it!
Lindum also won the game.
In all 10 ECB Premier League matches up to the end of June, Lindum 1st XI skipper Matt Rutherford had lost the toss. Is this a record?.
Last Saturday, at home to Caistor, Matt was late arriving because of work so vice-captain Richard Bishop took over - and won it!
Lindum also won the game.
HE GETS ABOUT A BIT!
Here's one from the newspaper cuttings scrapbook of long-serving Caistor official and left-arm seamer, Wes Allison. It was taken while he was relaxing in the company of Messrs Gibbs, Donald and Adams, the South African Test players. Wes, of course, travels widely in pursuit of the great game, and often gets pictured alongside famous personalities.Although Wes no longer turns out on the field - unless it's a dire emergency - a few of the other 'old hands' at Caistor are still on the go. So much so that during last week's Lincs League Sunday match involving their third team, Ernie Allison sent down more than 20 overs, and Terry McKitton more than a dozen. Yes, and Dave Gowshall and Will Jacob are also still performing, too.
As they say, there's no substitute for experience!
While reading through some old newspapers from June 1974 the other week for a Saturday posting on Lincs Cricket Latest my eye was caught by a scorecard from a Brigg Town CC match in the Grimsby League. For among the wickets was a certain Wes Allison.
Yes, for a season, this super servant to Caistor cricket actually turned out on Saturdays for another club. 1974 was Brigg's very first year, the club having been brought back to life after being dormant since the 1940s.
Instrumental in starting the ball rolling again was Brian Parker, who had connections with Caistor, and one of the stalwarts of the Thoresway CC team which used to play regular Sunday friendlies - home base, Brigg Rec.
But back to Wes...The following season, 1975, he was back in the fold at Brigg Road, Caistor.
Every time I visit Caistor CC it brings back memories of when cricket was played on a different area of the huge sportsground - away to the left of the current clubhouse. It's a long time now since they moved to the new square, but we had some good games against them, back then, on the "old square" as will many of the senior club cricket folk reading this posting.
Just for the benefit of younger Lincs Cricket Latest followers, Wes is second right on the picture above. It's been scanned by him from a newspaper article in which it featured - the subject of which we won't go into at this stage, as it has no local interest. If you want the full story, doubtless Wes will fill you in next time you see him in the bar at Caistor.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
MEGGIES MEET STEELMEN
By Graham Hackney
Neither Cleethorpes North or East Lindsey sides were in action last weekend.
This week sees Cleethorpes 1st X1 have a double-header of action as they travel to near neighbours Appleby-Frodingham on Saturday before entertaining Sheffield United at Chichester Road on Sunday (12 noon starts).
Dan Tolson’s 2nd X1 welcome third placed Hartsholme on Saturday (1pm start) that could go a long way to determining the Lincolnshire League Premier title.
Once again Paul Hewtsone’s table-topping 3rds are denied a game by the fixture computer, while the 4ths will be eager to continue their good run of wins at Holton le Clay 2nds on Saturday in Lincs div two.
There is no North Lindsey game this weekend, while the Academy X1 travel to second-placed Skegness in a tough-looking East Lindsey game on Sunday.
Graham has supplied this super action shot of John Zielinski making Broughton duck and weave during Cleethorpes 2nds' Saturday Lincs League home game.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
ISLE DERBY
By Glen Sands
The eagerly awaited Isle of Axholme clash between Luddington and Outcasts 3rds produced a thrilling match which went right to the wire before home side Luddington secured a morale boosting first win of the season. The two clubs have very strong roots with players on both sides being team mates on Saturdays for the Outcasts Lincolnshire League teams and on Thursdays for Luddington's Snaith evening league team so there was always going to be that little extra spice to this encounter and so it proved as no quarter was asked or given on either side.
Luddington won the toss and chose to bat first but openers Darren Clark and Rich Smith were given little to feed off as Priorymen skipper Liam McAnaney and Graeme Fletcher bowled exremely tightly , conceeding less than a run an over in the first ten. Smith was caught by Matthew Teal off McAnaney with the score on seven , bringing Liam's cousin Graham to join his brother in the middle as the pressure intensified. Suddenly Darren slipped his shackles and began to play some terrific shots including a spledid cover drive off his cousin but just when he appeared to be going well he smacked a drive straight to his drinking pal Peter Tait in the covers and was caught off the bowling of youngster Charles Mason for 26.Andy Singleton then went to the creaseand along with his skipper added 28 runs before Liam enjoyed a magic moment of his own when bowling cousin Graham with a beauty , Clarky having made 21 at that stage. Celebrations were loud and proud from the visitors skipper who certainly enjoyed the moment but if the thought was that Ludd were on the slide they were certainly made to change their opinion as the middle order dug deep to bring the home side back into the match. Singleton was caught by Russell Fletcher off Matthew Teal for three then Kristian Reed and Steve Proctor put together a competent partnership of 23 before Reed was caught by Graeme Fletcher off Teal again for 16 , his best knock so far for Luddington. It was a similar situation for Oliver Saxon who along with Proctor helped take the total to three figures. Proctor was just beginning to open his shoulders and had reached 20 when he was superbly caught by George Torr on the deep mid wicket boundary , earning Graeme Fletcher his first wicket of the innings then Saxon himself went for 17 caught by Teal off Peter Tait with the score on 122 for 7. Fletcher picked up two further wickets , those of Rick Green ( LBW ) and Matt Mellers who was well caught and bowlede by the young starlet but that final wicket just would not come and Ludd finished the innings on a creditable 139 for 9 , Graeme Fletcher being the pick of the Outcasts bowlers with 3 for 24 aided by Liam McAnaney's 2 for 39 and Matt Teal's 2 for 25.
Even the tea break could'nt deflect from family rivalry as Graham and Darren's mother Lois provided food and drink for the two sides , evenly shared it must be said with no hint of home bias , then Outcasts set about chasing the Luddington total with openers Danny Taylor and Scott Buttrick facing Barry O'Brien and Graham Clark.
Barry was celebrating the news that he had just become a grandad for the first time at the ripe old age of 58 and he soon punched the air with delight when he bowled Buttrick for two with the total on five but things could have been even better were it not for a first ball dropped catch that let Taylor off the hook to go on and top score.The big hitting dangerman Andy Lawson joined Taylor in the middle and as ever he made batting appear much easier than it really was. He hit one huge six into the adjacent school field and then another searing four as Ludd apperaed set to rue an earlier dropped catch from him at mid wicket but the wiley old grandad then struck a major blow when he trapped him plum infront of the stumps to send him back to the hutch for 21 when the total stood at 33. George Torr then went to the crease and played some excellent shots to remind Ludd that Lawson's demise did not necessarily signal the end of the danger but home skipper Graham Clark then brought Matthew Mellers on at the Park Lane end and it proved to be a master stroke as he produced a terrific spell of bowling. Torr had made 14 valuable runs before Mellers produced a good delivery to bowl him with the score standing at 55 and that brought the experienced Russell Fletcher to the middle. He played three imperious cover drives off Arron Curry as he and Taylor took the score to 83 but that man Mellers was not to be thwarted and he produced another jaffa to bowl Fletcher through the gate for 13 bringing Ludd back into contention once more. Matthew Teal scored eight and helped take Outcasts to 102 before he edged Curry to wicket keeper Steve Proctor and without a further run added came the moment of controversy that may well have turned the game in Ludd's favour. Mellers induced an edge from stoic opener Danny Taylor which went low to Proctor who instantly claimed the catch and following a glance to square leg umpire George Armstrong who nodded his approval that the ball had carried Steve Bailey lifted his finger to send t he unhappy Taylor back to the pavilion for a hard earned 35.Peter Tait and skipper Liam McAnaney still represented Outcasts hopes in the middle but the Ludd bowling was tight and the overs were running out. Tait lofted a catch high in the air to Rick Green off Graham Clark having made six , the total standing at 119 by this stage then McAnaney succumbed to the experienced O'Brien who bowled him for seven leaving the youngsters exposed needing 19 runs to overcome the Luddington total. Charles Mason was disaterously run out when hitting the ball staright to Darren Clark who threw to brother Graham to lift off the bails and the victory was completed when Graeme Fletcher drilled a low catch straight to that same man Darren who took an excellent low catch to earn his brother a second wicket but more importantly give Ludd a famous victory.
The banter at the end of the game was hightened by Luddington's own Barmy Army who shouted loud and proud from the boundaries edge at the fall of each wicket and the Clark's brothers grins grew wider as each minute went by whilst Barry O'Brien double celebration continued long into the evening as Ludd savoured their victory against their neighbours but it might just be for one week only as the two sides meet again on Sunday at Hirsts Priory when Outcasts will be looking for an instant retribution. However for at least sven days Liam , Russell and the rest are going to have to take things on the chin from the Clarks who can enjoy themselves in their pals presence happy in the knowledge that for now they have the upper hand but will it last one has to ask !!
The eagerly awaited Isle of Axholme clash between Luddington and Outcasts 3rds produced a thrilling match which went right to the wire before home side Luddington secured a morale boosting first win of the season. The two clubs have very strong roots with players on both sides being team mates on Saturdays for the Outcasts Lincolnshire League teams and on Thursdays for Luddington's Snaith evening league team so there was always going to be that little extra spice to this encounter and so it proved as no quarter was asked or given on either side.
Luddington won the toss and chose to bat first but openers Darren Clark and Rich Smith were given little to feed off as Priorymen skipper Liam McAnaney and Graeme Fletcher bowled exremely tightly , conceeding less than a run an over in the first ten. Smith was caught by Matthew Teal off McAnaney with the score on seven , bringing Liam's cousin Graham to join his brother in the middle as the pressure intensified. Suddenly Darren slipped his shackles and began to play some terrific shots including a spledid cover drive off his cousin but just when he appeared to be going well he smacked a drive straight to his drinking pal Peter Tait in the covers and was caught off the bowling of youngster Charles Mason for 26.Andy Singleton then went to the creaseand along with his skipper added 28 runs before Liam enjoyed a magic moment of his own when bowling cousin Graham with a beauty , Clarky having made 21 at that stage. Celebrations were loud and proud from the visitors skipper who certainly enjoyed the moment but if the thought was that Ludd were on the slide they were certainly made to change their opinion as the middle order dug deep to bring the home side back into the match. Singleton was caught by Russell Fletcher off Matthew Teal for three then Kristian Reed and Steve Proctor put together a competent partnership of 23 before Reed was caught by Graeme Fletcher off Teal again for 16 , his best knock so far for Luddington. It was a similar situation for Oliver Saxon who along with Proctor helped take the total to three figures. Proctor was just beginning to open his shoulders and had reached 20 when he was superbly caught by George Torr on the deep mid wicket boundary , earning Graeme Fletcher his first wicket of the innings then Saxon himself went for 17 caught by Teal off Peter Tait with the score on 122 for 7. Fletcher picked up two further wickets , those of Rick Green ( LBW ) and Matt Mellers who was well caught and bowlede by the young starlet but that final wicket just would not come and Ludd finished the innings on a creditable 139 for 9 , Graeme Fletcher being the pick of the Outcasts bowlers with 3 for 24 aided by Liam McAnaney's 2 for 39 and Matt Teal's 2 for 25.
Even the tea break could'nt deflect from family rivalry as Graham and Darren's mother Lois provided food and drink for the two sides , evenly shared it must be said with no hint of home bias , then Outcasts set about chasing the Luddington total with openers Danny Taylor and Scott Buttrick facing Barry O'Brien and Graham Clark.
Barry was celebrating the news that he had just become a grandad for the first time at the ripe old age of 58 and he soon punched the air with delight when he bowled Buttrick for two with the total on five but things could have been even better were it not for a first ball dropped catch that let Taylor off the hook to go on and top score.The big hitting dangerman Andy Lawson joined Taylor in the middle and as ever he made batting appear much easier than it really was. He hit one huge six into the adjacent school field and then another searing four as Ludd apperaed set to rue an earlier dropped catch from him at mid wicket but the wiley old grandad then struck a major blow when he trapped him plum infront of the stumps to send him back to the hutch for 21 when the total stood at 33. George Torr then went to the crease and played some excellent shots to remind Ludd that Lawson's demise did not necessarily signal the end of the danger but home skipper Graham Clark then brought Matthew Mellers on at the Park Lane end and it proved to be a master stroke as he produced a terrific spell of bowling. Torr had made 14 valuable runs before Mellers produced a good delivery to bowl him with the score standing at 55 and that brought the experienced Russell Fletcher to the middle. He played three imperious cover drives off Arron Curry as he and Taylor took the score to 83 but that man Mellers was not to be thwarted and he produced another jaffa to bowl Fletcher through the gate for 13 bringing Ludd back into contention once more. Matthew Teal scored eight and helped take Outcasts to 102 before he edged Curry to wicket keeper Steve Proctor and without a further run added came the moment of controversy that may well have turned the game in Ludd's favour. Mellers induced an edge from stoic opener Danny Taylor which went low to Proctor who instantly claimed the catch and following a glance to square leg umpire George Armstrong who nodded his approval that the ball had carried Steve Bailey lifted his finger to send t he unhappy Taylor back to the pavilion for a hard earned 35.Peter Tait and skipper Liam McAnaney still represented Outcasts hopes in the middle but the Ludd bowling was tight and the overs were running out. Tait lofted a catch high in the air to Rick Green off Graham Clark having made six , the total standing at 119 by this stage then McAnaney succumbed to the experienced O'Brien who bowled him for seven leaving the youngsters exposed needing 19 runs to overcome the Luddington total. Charles Mason was disaterously run out when hitting the ball staright to Darren Clark who threw to brother Graham to lift off the bails and the victory was completed when Graeme Fletcher drilled a low catch straight to that same man Darren who took an excellent low catch to earn his brother a second wicket but more importantly give Ludd a famous victory.
The banter at the end of the game was hightened by Luddington's own Barmy Army who shouted loud and proud from the boundaries edge at the fall of each wicket and the Clark's brothers grins grew wider as each minute went by whilst Barry O'Brien double celebration continued long into the evening as Ludd savoured their victory against their neighbours but it might just be for one week only as the two sides meet again on Sunday at Hirsts Priory when Outcasts will be looking for an instant retribution. However for at least sven days Liam , Russell and the rest are going to have to take things on the chin from the Clarks who can enjoy themselves in their pals presence happy in the knowledge that for now they have the upper hand but will it last one has to ask !!
Monday, 6 July 2009
ASHES BATTLE
Forget England v Australia, Friday night (July 10) will see North Lincolnshire's own Ashes battle - Poms v Aussies at Brigg Rec.
Former Brigg Town batsman Simon Church (pictured), who emigrated to Australia some years ago, is making one of his return trips to North Lincs at present, and has been involved in organising the game for many months.
Brigg players from long ago, when Chozzy was in his prime, will be rooting round garages and lofts to find their old kit for one last run out.
All welcome on Friday - to watch or play - and there will be a social get-together later in the evening.
Among well-known players said to be appearing are Col ("We're doomed") Mumby, Graham Day (ex-Appleby-Frodingham Yorkshire League keeper/batsman) and Jim Balderson (still playing for Alkborough and recently featured in a Lincs Cricket Latest team picture taken at West Halton Lane). They all played cricket in the Chozzy Era at Brigg.
Barrie Briggs - Town's very successful captain in the 1080s (sorry, that should be 1980s) - and John 'Coke' Blanchard (former middle-order batsman) are expected to umpire, which will leave 'yours truly' without an excuse not to play in what will be a Twenty20 contest.
Hopes of another 'did not bat' and 'did not bowl' appearance do not look good and the bad back will be severely tested as a result.
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