1st XI v Middleton CC - 3rd June 2017

The potential revenge fixture for the cup defeat at home against Middleton CC did not come off. Again, Swampy won the toss and elected to bat on what turned out to be a “slow, green-top”. Of the 16 wickets in the match, 11 were out caught, in almost every case, batsman playing too soon. Danny opened with Jack and both looked in good nick against opening bowlers Williams and Pritchard. Danny fell LBW to pro, Williams, and Swampy followed soon with the total on 42. Apart from Harry Mouse and Jamie T (both 23) the only other anchor of the innings was Jack G on 36. 165 all out on this wicket was 40 short and so it turned out to be.
Moorside’s attack started with Drew and JT who bowled steadily enough but apart from a good running catch from Danny Anchor to dismiss opener Gee for 7, pro Williams and skipper Walker made good progress. There was a loud shout for a caught behind off JT to left-hander Walker with Pip Taylor standing up, but “trigger-finger” missed the snick. Time for a change of attack and the spin twins Ron Usain were called for but, no, Swampy decided to have a chuck for a couple of overs, before he found his tactics again and the spin twins were on. Then things started to happen. Williams played too soon to Ronnie Venger and was caught low by Usain Balti diving forward. 82-2 with Williams making 62 of them. Walker smacked it to short mid-off and Harry Mouse put it in his pocket. More wickets fell and on 108 for 6 another “Royton” was on the cards. Tierney and Rutter had a few scares but gradually played themselves in picking up the odd one or two every couple of overs. Between them the spin twins bowled 24.2 overs, 5 maidens, 5 for 65 with Ron picking up a 4 for and Immy 1.
It needed another change and so Swampy, JT and Drew tried again but by then batsmen’s eyes were in and Miggy passed the score with just 5 overs left. So near, with a few strange umpiring decisions and a second-team track, Miggy just scraped through.