Studley Skipper keeps his cool
By Rob Stanworth
STUDLEY ROYAL captain Steve Walmsley has asked his team to take each game as it comes after maintaining their lead at the summit of Division One.
The Galphay Road outfit took 26-points from a tight draw at home to Bridlington last weekend and are looking to put further space between themselves and the chasing pack in their match at York 2nds tomorrow (1.30pm start).
Walmsley admits that his mind is already drifting towards promotion after his side have accumulated nearly 300 points in the first half of the season.
And his team should be at full strength for their clash tomorrow.
“Winning the title would be a fantastic achievement and after such a good start to the season, we are definitely looking towards that promotion goal,” he said.
“The second and third placed teams play each other this weekend, so if we can get a result it will leave one of those two a few more points behind.
“I am hoping that Anthony Mackle will be available and if so then we have a full squad to choose from.”
On Saturday Studley posted 221 for eight, with good contributions from Rob Nicholson (66) and Chris Scatchard (61no).
Bridlington got within touching distance, running out of overs on 211 for six, with Rob Mackle standing out with the ball taking three for 58.
“It was a fantastic weekend for us, I always felt like we were in control of the situation but we perhaps let them get a bit closer than they should have,” said Walmsley.
“It was a good bowling effort and Matt Coad was superb, bowling 14 overs for about 30 runs to really tighten things up.”
Meanwhile Studley Royal have been disqualified from the Addison Cup after fielding an ineligible player in their semi-final against Blubberhouses on Monday night.
Matt Pickles, who was part of Studley’s victory, hadn’t played the requisite number of league games to qualify for the tie.
Captain Steve Walmsley accepted the blame for the incident but admitted his frustration over the rules.
“It was mistake and I am absolutely gutted if I’m honest,” said Walmsley.
“We had to play some under 15s earlier on in the tournament just to get a team out, but at the end of the day I should have checked the rules.”
Blubberhouses will now play Knaresborough on Monday night at Follifoot for the trophy.
RIPON will go into tomorrow’s game at home to bottom side Pocklington full of confidence after easing past Malton and Old Malton last weekend.
Gary Blackburn’s men moved into fifth place in the table and will now have their minds set on catching the teams above them as the race for promotion intensifies over the second half of the season.
Tomorrow will give them an ideal opportunity to rack up more points against a Pock’ side who have won one game all year.
“Gary Blackburn is away on holiday and we will miss him as he is averaging about 90 so far this season,” said bowler Dave Moss-Blundell.
“We had a really good win last weekend and we really just want to string together a few more wins and see where that takes us.”
On Saturday Richard Hooks was the chief destroyer, blazing through the Malton batting line-up with five for 41. He received good support from Mike Morton who chipped in with three for 50 as the home side were dismissed for 103.
Ripon made slightly heavy weather of chasing down the target in the face of four wickets by Mike Linsley but a solid 25 not out from Andy Cook saw them home for the loss of five wickets.
In the Premier Division, second-placed SESSAY swapped places with Easingwold to move into second spot after taking the majority of the points in their drawn match last weekend.
It was a case of an opportunity missed as Easingwold’s last wicket pair denied Sessay, who had their visitors in dire straits at 39 for four at one point.
Earlier in the day Sessay posted 181 for nine with Matt Till (63) and Chris Till (34) the stand out batsmen.
Richard Till and Steve Langstaff then took three wickets apiece but Tom Piercy’s 60 helped Easingwold escape with a draw.
This weekend won’t be any easier for Sessay as they travel to league leaders Woodhouse Grange, who defeated Clifton Alliance by 173 runs last weekend.
THIRSK took maximum points from their match against Hornsea in a run-fest on the east coast.
The home side would have been happy with their efforts in posting 233 for five, with the visitor’s overseas bowler Tom Polkinghorne taking three for 49.
In reply Thirsk’s openers Liam McKendry (104) and Sean Holmes (47) put on 144 for the first wicket before Ryan McKendry (33) finished off the job in the 48th over with five wickets to spare.
Tomorrow sixth-placed Thirsk will be looking to swap places with Clifton Alliance as they meet in a mid-table clash.
DIvision One (top five)
Studley Royal 10 283
Fenner 10 224
Sheriff Hutton Br. 10 200
Hull Zingari 10 200
Ripon 10 178
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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
