Rolleston 1st XI vs Tutbury 1st XI

Bowling figures of 5 for 20 attributable to the Wizard, a sparkling 74 runs from Michael James’ bat and a determined 36 not out by Gareth Marshall put paid to Tutbury’s challenge, and virtually ensured Rolleston’s return to Division One cricket.

The visitors were in trouble as early as the sixth over, Darren Yeomans having played an Alex Britton delivery onto his stumps, and Rob Ellerington (9) bowled twice in the same over by Haynes, the first off a no ball. Tutbury’s third wicket stand of 57 runs was the only one of any substance, Sam Wesson (39) and young Kunal Manek (22) both playing impressively, the former at the crease for over an hour-and-a-half and stroking six boundaries. But it was Manek, just short of an hour in the middle, who fell next – Baker forcing an edge that looped to Nelson at second slip.

Craig Watson arrived and hinted that he was displeased with his golden lbw decision before making way for Scott Light. Baker’s hat-trick was denied but the new batsman strayed fractionally from his ground in the leg-spinner’s next over – just long enough for Nick Goode to complete a sharp stumping. And when Wesson feathered Bakes behind to Goode the total had slumped to 86 for 6 after twenty eight overs.

Matt Edgerton (17 no) succeeded in becoming only the second batsman to spend more than an hour in the middle, grafting away and still unbeaten at the close. He was first partnered by skipper Paul Edwards (16) who had no difficulty in smashing Marshall’s first, and final, over to the rope on two occasions. He smacked another two fours off Britton prior to being pinned in front by the same bowler. Matt McGibbon offered brief resistance but was bowled by Luke Nelson in the thirty ninth, and Connor Ellis blocked out six balls from the off-spinner before falling to Baker’s final delivery of the day. The youngster initially survived a strong appeal for caught behind and reacted by twice launching the bowler to the mid-wicket boundary. A couple of dot balls left the man from Perth just one more chance for a five-fer, which was duly completed when Ellis hit high to Alex Brown who collected calmly at long-on.

From what appeared a very difficult position Tutbury did well to bat out the overs, Edgerton totaling 55 dots from the 66 balls he faced, and the innings closing on 136 for 9.

The reply suffered an immediate setback when regular wicket-taker Wesson hooped one into Tom Yates’ pads and the umpire upheld the lbw appeal. But the bowler and Ellerington were removed from the firing line after seven overs, the score on 28 for 1. Yeomans and Manek took over but fared only marginally better, 59 for 1 after sixteen, and James having already accumulated seven fours in his 30 runs haul. At the other end, Marshall had quietened the fielders with a steady 20 runs from fifty deliveries.

Edwards and Edgerton were the next pair of bowlers as the visitors grew increasingly desperate for a breakthrough. James stepped up the pace with three more boundaries, and followed with a single from McGibbon’s first over to reach fifty off 64 balls. A huge six off Edwards was backed-up by another three fours before the batsman boomed a steepler off eighth bowler Watson high to Ellis, who held on well just inside the long-on boundary.

James’ match deciding innings included thirteen fours and one six, the major contribution in a 118 run second wicket partnership with Marshall. Tom Rutter (8no) needed only fifteen minutes at the crease, the 18 runs required being shared almost equally between the batsmen and the extras column as the bowling became a little ragged. The target was reached in the thirty first over when Watson sent a wide ball down to an unruffled Marshall – 137 for 2. Rolleston 22 points, Tutbury 3 points.

Note:
A Royal court was held at Tutbury castle with markets, fair and Court of Minstrels until the end of the Stuart era. Minstrels from all around the midlands would assemble on a date in August and provide a continuous feast of music until the end of the month. During the festival, bull running would take place – a bull with horns sawn off, ears cropped, tail cut off, flanks greased and nostrils filled with pepper would be chased through the town and then baited – but not since 1778

Clay Cross 1st XI vs Rolleston 1st XI

Rolleston 1st XI secured the Division Two Championship on Sunday when eighteen points earned from a comfortable ’winning draw’ at Clay Cross proved too many for nearest rivals Ambergate to beat. The players agreed to bat first if winning the toss and, sure enough, Tom Yates (92) and Gareth Marshall (63) were soon padded up and settling in to form an important base for the visitors.

Opening bowlers Brad Clarke and his father, Dave initially bowled quite tidily, but Yates soon started to move through the gears, his sixth boundary taking his score to 26 at a run-per-ball. The first bowling change arrived after fourteen overs, young Harry Wilmot (2-44) replacing Clarke (jnr) whose seven over limit had been reached. The off-spinner conceded a mere nine runs from four overs before Marshall forced him out of the attack with a trio of boundaries, clipped off his legs.

On the hour mark Yates helped himself to another four through extra cover and, two balls later, smashed a tiring Dave Clarke to the rope to reach another half-century from 52 balls. Steve Gardiner replaced Clarke (snr) and Marshall cut him away to pass fifty after one-and-a-half hours and 86 deliveries. Yates blasted the left-arm bowler for four boundaries, and Matt Griffiths came on to become the thirteenth bowler that Marshall had faced over two days, all failing to remove him from the crease.

Yakka was quickly approaching his century and had smashed his fifteenth and sixteenth fours of the innings off the returning Clarke (jnr) (2-92) when the youngster squeezed one through his defence and the first wicket partnership of 159 runs was broken. Alex Britton was quickly into his stride, notching three boundaries in the first over he faced before Marshall tried a very cheeky run to Jordan Lemon at mid-on who was far to quick and accurate to allow the left-hander to succeed - 178 for 2.

Tom Rutter (15) joined Britton and the pair swiftly added 30 runs in four overs before Clarke struck again – the newer batsman getting his ankles rapped and not bothering to wait and see the umpire’s finger raised for an inevitable leg before wicket decision.
Allen, Ford and Baker all made brief appearances, falling to Wilmot, Clarke (snr) and Wilmot respectively as the chase for runs gathered pace. AB continued to bat stylishly, passing fifty off only 36 balls and including ten fours in an unbeaten 54 runs. Alex Brown (8no) chipped in with a four minute cameo and the target to beat was a challenging 259 for 6.

In theory, Clay Cross had little to play for, the team already destined to play third division cricket next season, and with four under-18s in their line-up. But a youthful opening partnership of wicketkeeper Callum Hiron (37) and Harry Wilmot (35) flashed to 66 without loss after twelve overs – if sustainable, a run-rate more than enough to reach the required target.

However, away skipper Mick Haynes (4-39) applied the brakes by bowling Hiron (7 fours) in the thirteenth, trapping Wilmot (8 fours) leg before in the nineteenth and forcing an edge from Clarke (jnr) to second slip Matt Ford two overs later. Bakes opened up with a three over spell that leaked just one run, a wide ball, as number three Matt Davison (3) tried to block the afternoon away. Perhaps there was an element of over-vociferous appealing but a youthful umpire denied the Wizard several lbw claims before Davison gave him a return catch that no-one could turn down. The batsman, on returning to the pavilion, sportingly expressed the view that “I must have been plumb four times” – c’est la vie!!

Four overs later, Clay Cross’ burly captain Griffiths (11) became Baker’s second victim, changing his normal attacking style for a more defensive approach, but losing his stumps to one that spun between bat and pad. The talented Jordan Lemon, recently returned from coaching football in America, was content to offer a dead bat to Haynes whose aggressive follow through seemed only to make the batsman more determined.
Having played out a maiden, Lemon hit the seamer back for four and another couple of maidens were followed by a towering six over mid-wicket.

Meanwhile, Jordan Crowder was also in no rush to keep the runs ticking over, sauntering to an unbeaten 15 after almost an hour at the crease. Lemon eventually skied one to Yates off Nelson, and Joe Pyne (5) was bowled by Haynes with one that pitched and barely left the ground. With just under six overs remaining, the hosts were on 150 for 7, Rolleston desperate to claim three more wickets to clinch the league title.

Number nine, Chris Plant regularly played and missed as the away skipper became increasingly frantic. Britton returned for a final blast but his radar was out of order, Plant flicking a couple of fours and Goode flying full length to prevent three leg-side wides from whistling to the rope. The final over of the season went to the Wizard (2-36) but Plant managed to see out a maiden and steer the hosts to 175 for 7.

Rolleston players’ disappointment with their eighteen points haul soon turned to jubilation as changing-room Facebook fanatics were informed that Ambergate had managed only sixteen points at Denby – the title belonged to Rolleston!!!

CONGRATULATIONS from the scorebox to the many players who’ve worked hard both pre-season and during the summer, and earned their just rewards!!!!!

Note:
In February 1837, the mile long tunnel that runs under Clay Cross was commenced and was the most difficult stretch of the 72 miles of the North Midland Railway between Derby and Leeds. It was with the arrival of the railway that coal-mining in Clay Cross and surrounding districts really took off.