Batting Woes Afflict Marple at Season’s End!

 All three Marple sides suffered a dose of the batting blues as this truncated season came to an end in glorious September sunshine. 

All three Marple sides suffered a dose of the batting blues as this truncated season came to an end in glorious September sunshine. 

At Bollington, the first team managed to recover from 30 for 6 to reach 91 all out. They were, though,  unable to bat the full forty overs, being bowled out in only the 25^th. Mark Makin made 16, but it was Tom Reeve who top scored with a battling 21. Notable for Marple were two huge sixes clouted by numbers ten and eleven, George Clarke (14) and Andy Wylie (8 not out). Harri Dickinson, 4 for 29, Stuart Plant, 3 for 22 and Julian McGovern were all excellent for Bolly.

Marple bowled and fielded pretty well against a good home line up. Wylie removed the two top men, Calum Rowe, brilliantly caught by Reeve, and Richard Hough, and was tough to face. Indeed, he had a couple of close lbw shouts that might have got Marple back into it after Hough was dismissed. However, a solid third wicket partnership between Jake Dickinson (31) and James Heathcote (28*) took the home team most of the way to victory. Connor Bergin had a deserved wicket when Dickinson skied a big shot to Mike Schofield at cover. Bergin impressed with 1 for 14 from six overs, and Wylie was always a handful with 2 for 7 also from six overs. Although their figures did not flatter them, Jack Grundy and Tom Reeve both bowled well, with some pace and no good fortune. Grundy is now well known as a fine young seam bowler, but Reeve has much potential, with an impressive, strong  action.

It has been a tough mini season for the seconds, and they were outplayed by Alderley Edge at Bowden Lane. Edge 188 for 9 in 40 overs, Joey Chang  74, Henry Stevenson 50. Greg Marsland was very good for Marple with 4 for 38, and Sam Stretton, 2 for 20 and James Crisall both did a decent job. When Marple replied, only Jamie Massey with 71 was able to stay for any time. 135 all out was well short, with Archie Vaughan once more showing his liking for Marple, but this time with the ball in hand, taking 4 for 7. 

Stockport Georgians thirds had their revenge against the third eleven, winning comfortably by 46 runs in a low scoring affair at Bowden Lane on Sunday. Georgians 117 for 8, with Sam Ittig 3 for 26, Sam Stretton 2 for 18 and Chris Lloyd 2 for 23, all doing well for Marple. Marple’s top four, Will Darby (14), Will Cheetham (10), Sam Stretton (23) and Tom Lloyd (12) all reached double figures, but no batter was able to take the team to victory. Five ducks in the innings certainly did not help matters! 71 all out was a disappointing end. 

So, a mixed season for Marple’s senior teams. However, in all three sides, the opportunities for the younger players has been there. A good number of them have returned excellent performances, and this valuable experience should hold them in good stead going forward. Let us all hope for a full and successful 2021! 

Marple bowled and fielded pretty well against a good home line up. Wylie removed the two top men, Calum Rowe, brilliantly caught by Reeve, and Richard Hough, and was tough to face. Indeed, he had a couple of close lbw shouts that might have got Marple back into it after Hough was dismissed. However, a solid third wicket partnership between Jake Dickinson (31) and James Heathcote (28*) took the home team most of the way to victory. Connor Bergin had a deserved wicket when Dickinson skied a big shot to Mike Schofield at cover. Bergin impressed with 1 for 14 from six overs, and Wylie was always a handful with 2 for 7 also from six overs. Although their figures did not flatter them, Jack Grundy and Tom Reeve both bowled well, with some pace and no good fortune. Grundy is now well known as a fine young seam bowler, but Reeve has much potential, with an impressive, strong  action.

 

It has been a tough mini season for the seconds, and they were outplayed by Alderley Edge at Bowden Lane. Edge 188 for 9 in 40 overs, Joey Chang  74, Henry Stevenson 50. Greg Marsland was very good for Marple with 4 for 38, and Sam Stretton, 2 for 20 and James Crisall both did a decent job. When Marple replied, only Jamie Massey with 71 was able to stay for any time. 135 all out was well short, with Archie Vaughan once more showing his liking for Marple, but this time with the ball in hand, taking 4 for 7.

 

Stockport Georgians thirds had their revenge against the third eleven, winning comfortably by 46 runs in a low scoring affair at Bowden Lane on Sunday. Georgians 117 for 8, with Sam Ittig 3 for 26, Sam Stretton 2 for 18 and Chris Lloyd 2 for 23, all doing well for Marple. Marple’s top four, Will Darby (14), Will Cheetham (10), Sam Stretton (23) and Tom Lloyd (12) all reached double figures, but no batter was able to take the team to victory. Five ducks in the innings certainly did not help matters! 71 all out was a disappointing end.

 

So, a mixed season for Marple’s senior teams. However, in all three sides, the opportunities for the younger players has been there. A good number of them have returned excellent performances, and this valuable experience should hold them in good stead going forward. Let us all hope for a full and successful 2021!

Cool Darby Sets Thirds on Course!

 Marple/Compstall thirds returned to winning ways with a fine victory over Hyde’s third eleven at Bowden Lane last Sunday.

Acting skipper Will Darby led from the front on winning the toss. He carried his bat for 85 not out in an above par Marple total of 180 for 6 in the full forty overs. He was given excellent support by Marple stalwart Andy Gichero with 29 and also young wicket keeper batsman Will Cheetham with a fine 30.

When Hyde replied they struggled against Sam Stretton who was returning from a broken thumb. He took a vital 3 for 22, and there were also wickets for Sam Ittig, Chris Sullivan and Paul Roberts. For Hyde, opening bat Mark Kohler made a fine 78 before falling to Stretton. The visitors closed on 148 for 6.

A healthy crowd, supporters of both clubs were present, made use of the Marple club’s excellent facilities.

Hat Trick Hero Clarke Polishes Off Congleton!

 Congleton, promoted to division one this season, travelled to Bowden Lane on a decidedly autumnal afternoon last Saturday, and the two sides agreed to play a forty over contest. Captain Jim Morgan won the toss and elected to take first knock. Chasing down even modest totals has proved tricky at Marple in recent seasons, and he would have hoped his batters could do him proud in the final home game of this unique season.

 Marple did not disappoint. Led by Max Fitzgerald (35) and Mark Makin (49*) they posted a very solid 170 for 7 from the full forty overs.  Mike Schofield also chipped in with a useful 19, whilst Joe Cash reminded his fans that he can still wield the willow, clubbing three late boundaries in his 12 not out. It was heartening to see Fitzgerald continue his good form, for he batted with responsibility and application hitting six fours in his innings. Makin has been Marple’s best player over the last two seasons, and he hit four fours and two sixes in a fluent knock, being deprived of a half century only by Cash’s late brutality. Jack Higginbotham, Ryan Booth and Guy Baxendale each had two wickets for the visitors.

It was not to be the day for Marple’s potent new ball attack of Jack Grundy and Ed Saxelby. They went wicketless, as Tom Leese (16) Higginbotham (38) and Simon Prime (29) got the visitors off to a good start. Morgan had class and experience at his disposal though to follow up. Andy Wylie took 2 for 30, Leese and the dangerous Goode his victims. Joe Cash cleaned up Higginbotham and finished with 2 for 15. However, star man was George Clarke, who wrapped things up for Marple in quick time with a maiden first team five wicket haul. His excellent figures were, 6.1 overs, 1 maiden and 5 for 17. He also finished the match with a hat trick. Clarke deserves his success. A club stalwart since junior days, he has worked hard on his game, making himself one of the most successful bowlers in the County League second eleven premier league over several seasons. He stepped up his fitness and bowling to gain a first team spot last year, only for a serious injury to ruin his season at the half way point. His determination to get back was duly rewarded today.

 

 By contrast, it was a day of disaster for the second team at Didsbury. Against a traditionally strong second eleven, Marple were blown away for just 48, admittedly on a pretty spicy pitch. Jamie Massey, with 16, was the only batter to reach double figures. Matt Laker, 3 for 17, and Raza Mian 3 for 5, did most of the damage for Didsbury. They only needed 11 overs to bring up a crushing ten wicket victory, Jason Jeffery 14 not out, and Basil Sultan 32 not out.