Local Cricket Club News - Autumn 2009

For our three local cricket clubs the 2009 season is not one to want to remember too fondly. At the time of going to press Nocton, who play in Division Three of the local Lincoln Sunday League, are almost assured of being wooden spoonists and are still looking for the first win of the season.

Regarding our two other sides, Martin and Blankney, they both saw life in the top flight of the Sunday League. For Martin it was a return to the Premier League after promotion last season while Blankney were in their fourth season. This season had proved difficult for both sides with Blankney, bottom and almost relegated while Martin are one place above their neighbours and also in danger of the drop.

Perhaps, in reality, for both sides it would be for the better going down as the gap between the Premier League and Division One is becoming greater as sides in the top flight have a call on players who are turning out for teams in the Lincolnshire ECB League on Saturdays and are just too good.

An example of this was in a recent game Blankney had against Lindum when Lincolnshire bowler Aaron Onyon felt it necessary to run in and bowl at full pace at their bottom order, inexperienced youngsters of 13/14/15 years of age - not very funny.

Nocton CC has continued to see youth as a way of ensuring cricket continues to take place in their village. Stalwarts David Glew and David Franklin continue to ply their trade and for the latter he continues to be the leading batsman in the side with an average of over 27 and a total of over 250 runs in the season to date, his highest score being 62. David Glew is the top wicket taker with 14 victims at an average of 18.5 and best figures 4-27. M. Stephens is the third top fielder in the division this season with 7 catches.

For Martin they have lost a number of players this season and had to rely on some of their old guard, including Steve Bailey and Gerald Audis. Skipper David Gollop leads their batting averages with one of 27.22. He has scored 380 runs with his highest being 107 not out. Dave Newman has picked up 22 wickets (av. 19) but Dave Gollop who has collected 17 wickets has a better average 18.20. Rob Noble and Aaron Pullam have collected 5 catches each while wicket keeper Tom Harrison has claimed 10 victims, the second most in the division.

Blankney CC, like Martin, has lost a number of experienced players including, at the "eleventh hour" their captain Will Carter who finished top of the batting, bowling and fielding averages last season. Local Blankney player, James Ingamells has taken over as captain and has taken the most wickets, 20 at an average of 20.1; his best figures being 4-23. He has also collected the most catches,6. With runs in short supply throughout the side he has also been the top run scorer with 177 at an average of just over 16.

Running two weekend sides Blankney's Saturday XI has, for a second season, played in Division Three of the South Lincs & Borders League. Again they are holding a mid table position and like the Sunday XI have brought in a number of young players, who with a little more practice and a few more games under their belts will be useful cricketers. Skipper Simon Behan is presently the second highest run scorer in the division with 650 runs scored in 14 innings at an average of over 72. He has scored seven fifties this season and one century with his highest score 108 not out. The club's top wicket taker is stalwart, Ian Holvey, who has picked up 21 wickets at an average of 16.9.
His best bowling figures are 5-17.Two other players, father and son, Phil and Tom Woodcock (14)have also collected five wicket hauls. In the field Callum Steele has picked up six catches and Andy Foster, eight victims behind the stumps.