Thirsk seeking to turn their fortunes around
BOTTOM side Thirsk are looking to turn around their season tomorrow as they face fellow strugglers Fenner in the York Senior League Premier Division.
Mark Cook’s side are 26 points short of safety going into the crunch encounter, but the skipper says his players need just one good result to turn the corner.
“This is a massive game for us and hopefully we’ve got enough in the tank to win it,” Cook said.
“It could be the game that changes our season.
“I have been trying to keep the lads really positive, but confidence only comes with good performances.
“I am fairly confident that we can go out there and do the job.”
Cook watched his team let Stamford Bridge off the hook on Saturday, as the home side surged from 122-6 to 249-8 thanks to Phil Hill’s unbeaten 91 and a knock off 49 from Dave Bradshaw, batting eighth.
In reply, Thirsk reached 178-7, with Cook thumping 75 not out and Des Wyrill scoring 45, but they took just nine points from the losing draw, compared to Bridge’s 26.
“We got ourselves into a good position with the ball and should really have bowled them out, but we let them get away from us,” said Cook.
“To be fair they batted very well, whereas we started scoring very slowly and really batted ourselves out of the game.”
“It was disappointing.
“We are maybe 10 or 15 per cent away from where we need to be to start picking up wins.
“We have had a run of bad results and it is difficult to turn that around, but hopefully we will do it sooner rather than later.”
Cook said the aim for his team, the youngest in the Premier League, is simply survival.
“Our primary objective is to get out of the bottom two,” he said.
“We have a young, inexperienced team and it was always going to be difficult, but I still believe in our lads. I believe we can do it.”
Thirsk go into the Fenner match with a full squad, as bowler Barry Petty and Mark’s brother John return to the fold.
SESSAY captain Steve Langstaff said he remains “relatively pleased” with his team’s start to the campaign, despite a losing draw at home to Goole Town this week.
Langstaff’s men relinquished ground on the top three in the Premier League on Saturday, as they struggled to 156-8 in response to Goole’s 203-7.
Stuart Peirse was Sessay’s key performer with the ball, taking 4-65, while Mark Wilkie top-scored with 67
“We had three or four players missing and that made it difficult for us,” Langstaff said.
“It was a good wicket and 200 was a score that, with a stronger batting line-up, we would have been more than happy getting.
“We were in a strong position at 90-1, but we lost wickets at bad times and we were lacking that bit of depth that you need to be successful in the Premier League.
“Looking at the bigger picture, we are fourth in the table after 10 games and we are relatively pleased with that.”
Langstaff told the Ripon Gazette that he couldn’t fault the effort his players had put in, but that they had come up slightly short.
Sessay travel to league leaders Clifton tomorrow with Nick Harrison and Nick Thorne back in the side, before they welcome Shireshead & Forton in the national stages of the National Village Knockout on Sunday.
Matthew Till is the only confirmed absentee, still a fortnight away from fitness after suffering a broken thumb.
“Clifton are not unbeatable - we have done well against them previously,” Langstaff said.
STUDLEY ROYAL are at Beverley Town on Saturday, hoping to bounce back from a seven-wicket defeat to Clifton Alliance.
Studley staggered to 156-9 after Reece Crowe snatched 4-5 off three overs, Rob Mackie’s knock of 44 the standout display. Clifton eased by for the loss of just two wickets.
RIPON are still at the foot of Division One, after losing to York by nine wickets. They will hope to chalk up their first win of the season at home to Sheriff Hutton tomorrow.
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Weather for Ripon
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
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Light snow
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