2008 News
Tuesday August 2008 - the Lords Taverners U 15s Yorkshire Junior Cricket Festival
This years competition saw 18 teams from junior leagues within Yorkshire compete over a 9 day period. The Nidderdale league team were in a strong group of 5 The.weather washed out the matches against the Bradford and the Wetherby League meaning that the side had to win their matches against North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire and gain enough bonus points to progress to the semi finals stage of the competition this for only the second time since the start of the competition in 1984.
Batting 1st against North Yorkshire at Normanby Hall Nidderdale made 144 Josh North 19, Peter Barnes 16 with James Ford top scoring with 70. In reply accurate seam bowling and magnificent fielding North Yorkshire were dismissed for 61, the wicket takers were Tom Fryer 5 for 19,James Orton 1 for 7,Ben Crew 1 for 8,Ben Coad 2 for 5.
Again taking first knock in the next match against East Yorkshire at Masham, Nidderdale scored 144,James Ford top scored 68 with contributions from Josh North 21,George Lamb 14,Jordon Webster 21 not out . In reply East Yorkshire were bowled out for 101, wicket takers were James Orton 2 for 7, Tom Fryer 1 for 12, Ben Coad 3 for 12, George Lamb 1 for 22, Micheal Eglin 1 for 19.
This win meant a semi final match against Barnsley at Sowerby St Peters on Thursday 7th August. On a pitch and outfield saturated by overnight rain winning the toss again skipper James Orton changed tactics and asked Barnsley to bat first in what due to the conditions was always going to be a low scoring tense game. Barnsley were bowled out for 117 in 44.3 overs, excellent catches by Ryan Goldsmith (2) and wicket keeper James Ford 4 catches helped the bowlers turn in an excellent effort. Tom Fryer 2 for 31, Ben Crew 1 for 15, Ryan Goldsmith 1 for 12, Graham Whiles 3 for 11 and the pick of the bowlers being Ben Coad 10 overs 2 wickets 12 runs.
Nidderdale in reply struggled and were 68 for 7 with Ben Crew 19 and James Ford 12 , 68 for 7, to the rescue came James Orton hitting the ball hard and running the singles quickly took the side to the last over needing 7 runs to win with 9 wickets down.
What an eventful last over with Lady Luck smiling on both sides. Facing the first ball James Orton was dropped by the bowler but a single was run 2 no balls were bowled in the over from which singles were run,1 more single to Ryan Goldsmith meant that with 2 balls remaining the side needed 1 run to win Lady Luck turned James Orton backing up the non strikers end slipped on the very wet surface when attempting to turn was cruelly run out the side loosing by 1 run,James Orton being the highest scorer on either stde with 38.
Nidderdale Team Manager Rodney Ford said the players efforts in the competition were magnificent and for a young side far exceeded what he expected, attitude and team spirit were 1st class,before the tournament we knew the batting looked brittle and lacked depth,if we were to win matches we knew which players would contribute the runs,the great unknown would be the bowling,wicket taking and fielding,in the bowling department apart from an untidy 7 over spell against East Yorkshire the bowling and fielding could not be falted,the figures proving the point,in the 3 matches the side bowled 116 overs conceeding 279 runs and taking 30 wickets at 9 runs per wicket.
With only 5 of the players being too old for next years competition and the rest of the squad still eligable the side should be able to compete with the best.
