Studley gear up for big month as Thirsk rue catch
STUDLEY Royal skipper Steve Walmsley says his side face four big weeks as they look to avoid being pulled into a relegation dogfight in the York Senior League Premier Division.
The Royals are just 23 points above the relegation zone with 10 games to play, as they limber up for away games against Acomb, Stamford Bridge and Fenner, along with a visit from Sessay.
They start at Acomb tomorrow, knowing that if they are to bounce back from a five-wicket defeat against second-placed Dunnington they will have to neutralise in-form batsman Andy Tute.
“The next four games are huge for us,” Walmsley said.
“We will have a good idea after that whether we are free of the strugglers or are right in amongst them.
“Acomb are up first and we know they are so reliant on one man with the bat - Andy Tute - who has around 600 runs so far this season.
“His is a huge wicket, so it would be great to get it early on if we could.”
Walmsley’s men were dismissed for 197 within 46 overs on Saturday, despite an epic knock by Matt Coad (79) and strong support from Rob Nicholson (39).
Dunnington then utilised 13 of the extra 24 balls available to them by knocking off the runs with five wickets in hand, as Collis King thumped 92.
Walmsley said he was disappointed to lose the toss for a fifth consecutive game, adding that although this doesn’t always determine the result of games, it can affect the amount of points a team picks up, because of the way draws are calculated.
But he said he was pleased by the display, particularly Matt Coad’s performance.
“We went out there with intent, batting quite aggressively all the way through and it was good to see the lads do that, though it was disappointing we didn’t bat our full 50 overs,” Walmsley said.
“Matthew hit a fantastic knock, having come up the order this week. He played a lot of good shots through the off side.”
Walmsley said his players had also bowled well, particularly Ben Crewe, but that the team had dropped important catches, including one from Collis King that proved to be the difference between victory and defeat.
“We are there or thereabouts, not too far off, with a strong team spirit and a good balance of players, now it’s just about getting the points,” he said.
“We know things can change quite quickly, as they have done for us over the last three or four weeks and we don’t want to be fighting relegation with four or five games to go.”
Rob Mackle and Tom Hickson are both available, while Ben Coad could feature.
THIRSK were left rueing a dropped catch after losing to fellow strugglers Acomb on Saturday.
Mark Cook’s team let Acomb talisman Andy Tute off the hook when he’d scored just one run, then watched him reach 123 unbeaten, surviving a second scare along the way.
Afterwards, captain Cook said his players were learning the hard way that they have to take their chances.
“We have just got to keep playing well and putting in good performances,” he said.
“All the lads are doing all they can, but we are just not having that bit of luck, not taking that important chance.
“We need key moments to go our way.
“I can’t ask any more from the team in terms of effort, but we have got to start winning games sooner rather than later.
“We have three really hard games coming up, against Easingwold, Dunnington and Clifton Alliance, and we have got to win one of them.”
Though Thirsk are 50 points short of safety, Cook remains heartened by the memory of Beverley’s last campaign.
“We played Beverley last season when they were supposedly dead and buried and saw them win their last six games to stay up,” he said.
“It is not yet out of our reach.”
Acomb made 209-8 on Saturday, as Ryan McKendry took 4-53.
McKendry then hit 43 with the willow, Cook (47) and England (41) also aiding the reply, which ended at 189 in the 48th over.
Tom Stead and Danny Magee return to the squad for the visit from Easingwold tomorrow, with Barry Petty dropping to the 2nds.
Cook is hopeful his players can turn the corner, but if not, he isn’t going to panic.
“The games against the top two will be really hard,” he said.
“They get wins or winning draws every week, which doesn’t bode well for us, but cricket’s a funny game - anything can happen.”
SESSAY moved into fourth place after beating Beverley by four wickets in a game that saw two opening batsmen carry their bat throughout the innings.
Ben Fish, 17, produced a mature batting display in making 95 not out to help Beverley post a total of 223-5, before the vastly experienced John Flintoff hit an unbeaten 86 for Sessay.
Nick Harrison (34) provided strong support as Steve Langstaff’s men reached their goal with just five balls to spare.
In Division One, bottom-placed RIPON made a disastrous start at Pickering, as they slipped to 18-4.
Peter Squires then dug them out of a hole with 60, wicket-keeper Paul Sorby adding 40, as Ripon reached 162 all out.
Pickering knocked off the runs with seven wickets in hand.
Ripon travel to Hornsea tomorrow.
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Weather for Ripon
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
