HEMINGBROUGH Roared Back to Form to Completed the HPH York Vale Cricket League Double On

WEEK 19 – SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 28 AND 29

Headley Memorial Cup

(Final at NorthCave)

OVINGTON II won the final HPH York Vale Cricket League cup competition of the season when they won the Graham Headley Memorial Cup on Sunday.

The York-based side beat Burton Salmon by five wickets in the final at NorthCave, Craig Theaker having a fine all-round game.

Salmon looked well set at 81-3 but Theaker came on to take 6-4 in four overs, including top scorer Paul Ward (33). With Alistair Souch taking 3-14, Salmon lost their last seven wickets for just eight runs to be bowled out for 89, Theaker also taking a couple of catches.

Ovington were chugging towards a straightforward win at 45-1 but Martin Senior (4-22) prompted a collapse, which included the wicket of Theaker for 27. However, Bobby Clapham kept his nerve with an unbeaten 34 striking a six off Adrian Davies to win the game with a dozen overs in hand.

Host club NorthCave’s president Graham Mathers presented the trophy to Ovington skipper Sam Prangnell.

Division One

HEMINGBROUGH roared back to form to completed the HPH York Vale Cricket League double on Saturday.

They beat deposed champions University of York Staff by 58 runs to add the division one title to the HPH Cup which they won earlier in the month.

It was Hemingbrough’s first championship since they won their first in 2007.

Layton Hallam (53) and Tom Collins (34) lifted Brough 181-8 but the real star of the show was Paul Collins, who came out of retirement to take 5-17, after Glen Crouch (3-37) had removed the top order. Salman Syed (31) was the only Staff batsmen to shine in a total of 123.

The result leaves Staff in the relegation zone and needing victory against NorthCave in their final game to stand any chance of avoiding the drop.

Cave lost second spot to Burn after losing at home to Clifton Alliance whose six-wicket win was based on Ali Lloyd’s half-century after David Friend’s 3-10 from 12 overs. Cave made 137-8 with Rob Page (38) and Craig Hewson (30) the main contributors. Jon Buttle took two wickets in successive balls to have Alliance struggling on 28-3 but Lloyd, dropped twice early on, saw them home with 51.

Burn’s prolific opening pair Leigh Adamson (85) and Ray Adamson (59), supported by Ed Clarke (48), saw their side amass 235-3 against Copmanthorpe. In reply, Cop lost their top three for less then ten runs each but Andy Godfrey (61) and Mike Walker (41) led a recovery until Ashley Abbott (4-37) wrapped up a 21-run win for Burn.

Barmby Moor’s Barry Shepherdson (100no) and Andy Winn (55) put on 109 in 14 overs in the rout of relegated Heworth, who were bowled out for 51, Adrian Stancer taking 5-9 in 5.2 overs.

Chris Walker guided Wheldrake to victory against Bishopthorpe, whose Lewis Graham produced the highest score of the match with 60. However, Walker (6-14) and Saeed Taha (3-19), making his first team debut, engineered a spectacular collapse as nine wickets fell in the last 14 overs as Bishopthorpe were bowled out for 124. Les Fearn and Martin Lambert put of 58 for Wheldrake’s first wicket but it was Walker (30no) who took them over the line. Tom Eckhart took 3-15 for Bishopthorpe.

Division Two

Ben Johnson secured promotion to the top flight after making their highest total of the season, 257-7, against Melbourne. The York printers produced a solid batting display with Danny Cameron (61no), Martin Reynolds (60), Jamie Agnew (52) and Steve Wragg (33) the major contributors. Malcolm Harrison took 4-59 for Melbourne whose reply was led by AndyRoom’s blistering 108 which included eight sixes. However, Wragg (6-38) worked his way through the card as BJ won by 87 runs. They will take the title if they win at relegation-threatened Fulfordgate on Saturday.

Rich Grimes took a hat-trick as Stockton & Hopgrove boosted their chances of going up by crushing Selby by ten wickets. He finished with 4-3 as he and Josh Barrett (2-2) removed the last six batsmen for just four runs. Fifteen-year-old wicketkeeper Dan Barrett made three stumpings and took a catch as Selby were shot out for 53. Giles Smith (46no) sped Stockton to victory with four sixes in his 24-ball innings.

Ovington remained in the hunt with a 43-run victory against struggling Fulfordgate. With Dean Cairns (3-32) bowling well, Ovington were labouring on 46-5 but were dug out of trouble by Neil Metcalfe’s well-constructed 94 not out which lifted his team to 186-9 at tea. Fulfordgate’s replay was always behind schedule despite a maiden half-century by 16-year-old Liam Hancey (54). When he fell to spinner Alex Deacon (4-33) the innings tailed off, closing on 143-9 with Metcalfe following his great batting effort with 3-16.

Phil Allen’s 71, his best score for Askham Bryan earned his side victory against Westow.

Allen and Paul Thornton (32) put on 87 for the first wicket after being put in on a wet track following a heavy shower an hour before the match. With Zeeshan Athar scoring an unbeaten 36, Askham posted 180-4. Despite 33 from Mark Earle, Westow’s innings ran out of steam, closing on 106-8. Mike Hodgkinson finished with 4-28 and veteran Thornton completed a good all-round day with 2-36 from 12 overs and a couple of catches.

Relegated North Duffield lost to Kelfield by four wickets after being bowled out for 89. Tony Moore (34)was the only batsmen to settle in as Martyn Rhodes (3-19) and Mike Richardson (3-38) returned the best bowling figures. Stuart Hardy (3-23) had Kelfield 14-3 but Kelfield eased home with Neil Atkinson still at the crease with 36 at the close.

Division Three

Sam Dunn (5-31) and Craig Lawson (4-28) bowled unchanged as division three champions Hirst Courtney saw off GooleTown inside 21 overs. Hirst had been bowled out for 132, Craig Chafer taking 5-39.

Woodhouse Grange are favourites to go up with Hirst following their six wicket win against Bishopthorpe II who collapsed from 67-1 to 106 all out with their last four batsmen recording ducks as Sam Craven (3-6), Luke Phillippo (3-18) and R Pepper (3-36) got going. Luke Cattle then hit 48 while Jon Green (4-42) took all the Grange wickets to fall.

Thorpe Willoughby stayed in the hunt after star turns by Nadeem Shefta, run out for 92, and spinner Mark Seaman (7-26) crushed nine-man Stillingfleet who were bowled out for 88 in pursuit of Thorpe’s 194-5.

Thixendale eased their relegation worries with a comprehensive ten-wicket win at Acomb on Sunday. Batting first, Acomb were in trouble from the off with Ben Potter taking 4-21 as they were bowled out for 80. John Webster top scored with 37. It took Thixendale openers Les Milburn (40no) and James Wigby (32no) just 15 overs to knock the runs off.

On Sunday, Welton Brough secured their division three status with an 80-run win at already relegated Hemingbrough II – a result which saw Bishopthorpe II fall through the trapdoor. Welton’s 210-2 was built on a big unbroken third wicket partnership between James Beaton (120no) and Steve Bedford (61no). Hemingbrough’s young side battled gamely in response with Gary Lister (41) and his 14-year-old son, Ben, supported by some late hitting by Jack Hardman (22). But Welton were always in control and Heminbrough were bowled out for 130, Adam Heathcote taking 3-16.

Division Four

Ovington II’s decision to give Mike Noble his first outing in three years appeared to have paid big dividends in the crunch game against YorkRI in division four. He hammered a stunning 177 not out in a total of 250-8 to see the Knavesmire men promoted behind champions Malton & Old Malton while pushing RI out of the equation. He totally dominated a third-wicket partnership of 135 with youngster Danny Smith who made eight from the 48 balls he faced. However, doubts were raised about Noble’s eligibility for this game, claims which the league investigated. Ovington approached the league themselves to say they believed they had fielded an ineligible player while RI objected to the inclusion of Noble, who is still a registered player with Dunnington. As a result, Ovington were deducted 25 points and 20 points were awarded to RI. Both sides now have 326 points in joint second place.

Noble’s sensational performance was matched by Heworth II’s Perwez Ahkter who came within a whisker of joining the exclusive ‘ten-for’ club. He claimed 9-18 in 7.4 overs against Huntington, only being denied a full house as the visitors only had ten men.Huntington still managed to make 152 thanks to James Dawson (59) and Stu Ross (34). But Ahkter had not finished, opening Heworth’s reply, he top scored with 47 as Heworth won by five wickets. Jamie Ross took 3-30.

Ashwin Gaddam made 54 and Paul Ward (41) helped Burton Salmon to 166 all out against Askham Bryan II, Afshin taking 4-48 and Chris Copeland 3-25. After tea, Adrian Davies (4-22) and Vishnu Sadasivan (4-43) bowled unchanged as Askham were bowled out in 24 overs for 69, Sameer scoring 33.

Champions Malton & Old Malton show no signs of letting up, crushing relegated Pocklington by ten wickets. Andy Thompson was in devastating form for Malt, taking 6-9 with all his victims bowled, in six overs, as Pock were bowled out for 71. James Langthorne cracked an unbeaten 42 to ensure the points were wrapped up by 4.30pm.

Under-15 player Aled Davies spun Wheldrake II to victory at Copmanthorpe II with 5-30. With Mike Neilson chipping in with 3-21, Cop were all out for 96. Wheldrake then cruised to a five-wicket win with John Cockerill, run out for 41, and Neilson (37no) leading the way. The only blot on Wheldrake’s display was a three wicket burst in four balls by P Jackson (3-40).

Division Five

None of the scheduled Saturday fixtures were played as Selby II, Malton & Old Malton II and Thorpe Willoughby II conceded to Burn II, Thorp Arch & Boston Spa and York respectively.

On Sunday, Drax beat Tadcaster Magnet by seven wickets. Tad compiled 197-6 thanks to Joe Smyth (72), Richard Laver (32) and Mick Cowling (30). However, it was eclipsed by a big stand between Dan Montgomery (96) and Sam Jackson (72).