Studley Royal Cricket Club Blog

Wednesday the 5th of August saw the ECB U15 National Club Cricket Championship North Regional Semis and Final. The four teams who had qualified were Warrington (Cheshire), Studley Royal (Yorkshire), Apperknowle (Derbyshire) and Tynemouth (Northumberland). The Semis were played at York CC and Clifton Alliance CC. Apperknowle played Warrington and Tynemouth played Studley Royal.

Studley skipper George Lamb won the toss and opted to bat. Nick Kimber and Ed Robinson went in and put on 22 before Kimber was run out on 16. Robinson went on to 20 before being caught off Lonnberg. The Lamb brother contributed another 11 runs before Angus Shaw looked to be getting established hitting 18 off 13 balls before running himself out. Rob Lowe fell cheaply and Elliot Oates went on 9 caught off Clark. Big Joe Ainscough then contributed 16 off 14 balls and Simon Evans was left with him not out for 4. The innings total of 102 off the 20 overs looked to be on the low side.

Ainscough opened the blowing for Studley with Evans and they restricted Tynemouth to 24 off their 8 overs. Stenhouse fell to a trade mark close catch by Kimber in Ainscough’s third over. Evans bowled 2 maidens going for only 10 runs off his 4 overs. Ainscough took 1 for 11 off his 4 overs with 1 wicket maiden. Shaw and George Lamb then came on with Shaw removing Straughan for 13 caught by George Lamb and returning figures of 1 for 20 off his 4 overs. George Lamb took no wickets for 17 off 3 overs. Lowe and Kimber then entered the attack with Tynemouth on 65 off 15 overs. Lowe took 2 for 19 off 3 and Kimber 1 for 16 off 2. The leadership shown by George Lamb and Shaw with Tynemouth needing only 6 runs to win off the last over was fantastic. Lowe, holding his nerve very well, bowled a cracking last over which went for only 4 runs and contained a brilliant stumping by U-12 wicket keeper George Foster. Studley won by 1 run and were into the ECB U15 National Club Cricket Championship North Regional Final against Warrington who had beaten Apperknowle convincingly.

The achievement of this Studley side to win through from nearly 1800 teams nationally to the last 8 must be stressed. No Nidderdale league side has ever gone this far in the competition and now Studley were faced with a Warrington side that had won the Cheshire Cup and had already beaten the Lancashire Cup holders in the County Playoff Round. Warrington with a population of 194,000 vs. Studley Royal, Ripon with a population of 15,922!

After only a half hour break Studley skipper George Lamb went out for the toss and won opting again to bat. In went Kimber and Robinson. Robinson fell to a brilliant Yorker from Chadderton for 5 in the third over and George Lamb fell for a duck in the fourth. Elliott Oates went in and steadied the innings. Kimber retired with a fine 50 off 52 balls. Shaw contributed 4 before being out LBW and Ainscough was forced to retire hurt on 7 off 5 balls. Rob Lowe contributed 5 and was not out with Oates who made 29 off 45 balls. The Studley total of 111 fell short of the 125 that the coach, manager and supporters had hoped for on what was obviously a good batting wicket.

The sides turned round and things could not have started better for Studley with Ainscough, bowling at half pace due to a muscle strain, removing opener Corcoran for nothing in the first over. Evans and Ainscough restricted Warrington to 25 for 1 off 5 overs before the Studley spinners came on. It was not to be their day with George Lamb going for 23 off his 4 overs. Rob Lowe took 1 for 14 off 3 and Evans coming back on took 1 for 26 off 4. With two overs to go Warrington needed 2 to win and a miracle was needed when Shaw took the ball for his fourth over. Things started well with two dot balls but the dream was dashed and with a huge 6 from Regan the game was lost and Warrington were the ECB U15 Northern Champions for 2009.

Robert Sowray who introduced most of this years Studley U15s to cricket when they started off in his Tykes was at York to watch and spoke to them in the changing room after the Final. He spoke for all those who have managed, coached, scored, supported and generally been involved with this years U15s in saying how proud everyone was of this side and our junior section generally. This side was chosen from a squad of great depth and character whom those that have watched hope to see go on and develop their game as U17s and as Seniors over the coming years. The younger members of the team I am sure will be back and will want to emulate the success of George Lambs 2009 U15s over the next few years. It is tantalizing to think that Josh Crewe has two more years at this age level and that Harry Lamb, George Foster, Will Shaw and Tom Bailey will still be playing at this age level in three years time.

Our Junior club sponsor Geoff Holroyd of Ripon Timber who watched both matches was also full of praise for the lads and we are lucky as a club to have such a generous supporter. Hopefully Geoff will have plenty more opportunities to watch Ripon Timber sponsored Studley junior teams progressing in national competitions over the coming years.

Those that have played for Studley in the 2009 ECB U15 National Club Cricket Championship are as follows:

George Lamb (Captain) U15
Angus Shaw (Vice Captain) U15
Ben Coad U15
Nick Kimber U15
Ed Robinson U15
Joe Ainscough U15
Rob Lowe U15
Nick Stuart U15
Elliott Oates U14
Simon Evans U14
Ben Nabarro U14
Scott Thompson (Keeper) U14
Josh Crewe U13
Harry Lamb U12
George Foster (Keeper) U12
Will Shaw U12
Tom Bailey U12

The U15s have two more matches this season both of which will be played on the 6th of September. 10.00am sees the Final of the Bob Mellor Cup at Knaresborough Forrest CC and then the afternoon the North section vs South section Nidderdale League U-15 Playoff Final which will be played at Studley Royal. Both matches are against Pannal A who like Studley have more than one side at this age group.

Scotton 148-8 (45) 1 pt   SRCC 149-3 (36.1) 5 pts    WON by 7 wkts

Although it was later stolen by Doc, skipper’s trusty 10p won the toss and put Scotton in.  Our only defeat all season was to Scotton and we were keen to avenge it.  The first 10 overs went for 39 before Tommy O woke us up as he shifted their top 2 batters (2-26 off 9).  Binxy (2-35) and Doc (3-21) wheeled away again and kept it tight and wickets fell but we couldn’t shift them all on a benign wicket.  It wasn’t out best performance in the field and we lacked energy at times, but it was tough going.

Mrs Crewe supplied fabulous cakes at tea while Doc revealed the National Grid was no longer keeping him going - he has ditched electrical stimulation.  This week’s investment to get him on the pitch was a new mattress.

Choppy and Lewey got us off to a good start before Lewey went for 17.  Simmy took the score to 73 before going for 18.  Gary came in and hit a brisk 22, before Crewey joined George to see us home with almost 9 overs to spare.  Choppy batted very well for a cultured 64* and Ben ended up on 13*.

During this chase, Binxy (stand in skipper next 2 weeks) at the forefront of the social scene in Ripon suggested if we win the league we should all go out to Ripon’s finest nightclub, Maxine’s.

The victory was wrapped up by the skipper inviting Doc into the shower for a victory sing song before. 

The Studley Royal grounds team worked miracles on the Galphay Road pitch to make it playable for the ECB U-15 National Club Cup Regional Playoff between Studley, representing Yorkshire and Whitburn, representing County Durham this Sunday.  

Studley skipper George Lamb lost the toss and Whitburn opted to bowl.   Ed Robinson and Nick Kimber restored to the side after school trips opened the batting facing off Whitburn seamers Elliott and Henderson.   Henderson dismissed Kimber LBW for 2 off 10 balls and Elliott took the scalp of Robinson bowled for 5 off 12 balls.   The Lamb brothers George and Harry came in and after the openers 8 overs the score stood at 36 for 2.   George Lamb established himself but it was not to be Harry’s day as he fell to an excellent Yorker from H Thursby for 3.   Elliott Oates joined George Lamb and the Studley total grew steadily until Lamb was stumped off Brandt for 44 off 44 balls.   Angus Shaw and Ben Coad supported Oates who after the 20 overs was not out on 35 with the final Studley score being 111.   Drinks were taken and Lamb and Shaw were heard to be getting the Studley lads ready to take the field.

Yorkshire U-15 Seamer Ben Coad opened the bowling for Studley in tandem with Rob Lowe.   Elliott was run out off an excellent piece of fielding from Robinson for 0 in the second over and then Coad struck dismissing H Thursby for 2 in the third over and opener Henderson for 5 in the fifth.   After 6 overs Whitburn found themselves 14 for 3 and facing the tried and trusted Studley off and leg spinning duo Shaw and George Lamb who kept the run rate down and in the 11 over removed M Thursby, caught George Lamb, off Shaw for 12.   After 13 overs Whitburn were 55 for 4 and Kimber was brought into the attack removing Hannah on 36 with the tried and tested short ball trap, Shaw taking the catch at full stretch just inside the boundary.   Simon Evans joined Kimber and between them and the excellent tight fielding display the run rate was held down to 83 off 19 before Coad came back on for the last over with Whitburn finishing on 87 off their 20 overs giving Studley a win by 24 runs.   Studley again showed in this match their highly competitive spirit and the fielding display was the best this season with Ben Nabarro excellent in his sweeping roll and keeper Scott Thompson only conceding 2 byes.

Studley having secured a place in the last sixteen nationally progress to the North Semis and Final day at York Cricket Club on Wednesday the 5^th of August.  

Raskelf 76-8 (43) 1pt;  SRCC 80-4 (18) 5pts;  WON by 6 wkts

After a day of torrential rain we were pleased to get a game.  It was a young team and skipper knew he was on a busman’s holiday when he found most of his team playing the children’s park before the game.

Another pre-match highlight is looking forward to hearing what the Doc has been up to during the week to make the latest game.  Last week he told us all about the £50 he spent on a lady to give him sensations up his backside that were quite special.  This week he has moved to electrical pleasure - he even hooked himself up before the match to get a re-charge.

The wicket was very spicy with sharp lift making batting very tough.  Skipper had won the toss and the opposition skipper said, “we’ll get our pads on then”.  An early heavy downpour took us off for 15 minutes restricting the game to 43 overs.

Coady made the early breakthroughs plus one from Binxy to leave them on 17-4 after 12.  Two of these wickets came courtesy of sharp catches at short leg from the Galer (who had been spied by team mates kissing and holding hands with Mrs Galer during the week) - somewhat sharper than his kit with reversed cap under his helmet and skins under an SRCC slipover.  A long stubborn partnership ensued with a couple of very strong appeals turned down.  Finally Doc shifted one of them (during his 12-6-13-2) and wickets started to come again, but we could not shift them all.  MiniCoad took 4-17 off 10 and deserves special mention.

During tea we had to avoid the sleeping bags of the visiting morris dancers.  Pity Tommy Hixon wasn’t playing as one of his boyhood fantasies is to be a morris dancer - he would have loved it as during our innings more and more dancers returned.

Their opening bowlers were good and made the most of a very helpful pitch.  At 26-4 we were wobbling a little, but Gary and Tommy O batted with some skill (and in Gary’s case luck) to see us home.  Gary was dropped a few times and even managed to play on with the bail jumping up and down back into the grooves.

Another good win.  Next week is a big game against 3rd placed Scotton, the only team we have lost to this season.

West Tanfield 118-7 (45) 1pt;  SRCC 120-2 (21.3) 5pts   WON by 8 wkts

Skipper lost the toss again but was happy to field to test some new gloves (hopefully Teflon free) that Doc had.  With Ben Crewe with a bad back, Lewey took the new ball with miniCoad.  Runs came slowly and wickets were hard to come by.  Doc and Binxy came on to strangle the runs and pick up wickets during 24 overs of tight, high quality bowling.  When the 7th wicket fell, Tanfield shut up shop and batted out for a point. 

With rain forecast, we managed to get umpire Jeff out of his chair 5 minutes early and set about knocking the runs off.  Zinedine Clark opened the bowling but Choppy batted beautifully, using his feet and scoring with freedom.  Lewey joined him and played well, although he rode his luck a little.  We knocked off the runs with over 23 overs to spare, Choppy finishing with 61* and Lewey 36*.

The opposition skipper was full of praise for SRCC, reckoning it was the best performance he had seen in ten years of playing in Division 3.  It was an excellent team performance, but we cannot let up in this tight league and the hard work continues next week at Raskelf as we continue to battle hard to return to Division 2.

Great to see a beaming Jacko back at the New Ground (4 wickets he kept telling me), but Marsie took 4-2 as the 3s beat top of the table Masham.  1s also won and 4s were on top in their game.

Studley 2s  213-6 (45) 6pts,   Ripon 2s 184-10 (45) 0pts    Studley win by 29 runs

Worrying rumours have been circulating this week about Chairman Ken getting in touch with his feminine side.  Photographic evidence has been passed to this correspondant from anonymous sources to confirm his passion for pink handbags.

Meanwhile, on the field part 3 of the 4-part Ripon-Studley 2009 derby battles took place.  Skipper lost the toss and we were put in.  After losing Lorry early, Dan (72 & unaware at this stage of his father’s secret life) and Simmy (60) put on 146 for the second wicket.   As overs ticked by, the accelerator was pressed and batters came and went in the mad dash for runs.  Tommy O hit the last 2 balls for 6 to leave us on 213-6 - these extra runs were quite probably a key part of the match. 

Ripon came out trying to knock the runs off in a hurry.  The two Bens bowled a good opening spell and beat the edge time after time.  The old boys (Doc & Binxy) then realed off the middle overs as wickets were chipped away.  With 15 overs to go they were 107-4 needing another 107.  They kept going and stayed in line with the required rate.  They were 177-6 after 40 needing 37 off the last 5.  The two Bens had come back to bowl the last few overs and bowled fast, full and straight.  In the 41st, Ben Crewe took 2 crucial wickets, with miniCoad taking another in the 42nd.  With 9 down, they shut up shop to play for the point.  The two Bens gave it everything, but it came down to the last ball of the 45th when Ben Crewe took the last wicket.

A hard fought battle that has made a big difference to the table.  With Scotton in 4th tie-ing their game (but not all results in yet), we are now probably 11 points clear of 3rd (and 14 ahead of Ripon).  However, this league is very competitive and we cannot let up.  The same intensity and committment is needed every week and we must keep working together as a team with different players playing their different parts as conditions and circumstances vary from match to match. 

I mentioned the intensity of our fielding two weeks ago, and that has improved and made a difference.  Another area for development is our running.  As a club we do not run as well as we might - too often we do not push the first and miss a second - indeed although we batted well today we probably lost 15 runs from this.  One week it will make the difference so we must work to eliminate that.

A good day - 6 pts - Ripon vanquished.  Next week it’s Tanfield away.

Expectations amongst players, management and supporters were running high when Studley Royal arrived at Hartshead Moor Cricket Club in West Yorkshire for the Semis and Final Day of the ECB U-15 County Club Champions (Yorkshire Region) on Sunday.   The squad of twelve all arrived early so as to watch Guiseley play Darton in the first Semi of the day.   What a match, tied on the last ball, with Guiseley through on the basis of having lost fewer wickets.   So Studley then knew who they would face if they could win their Semi which to great surprise was not to be against North Leeds who had failed to get through but against Whitely Hall from South Yorkshire, like Studley unbeaten in their league this year.

So Studley skipper George Lamb went out for the toss and won opting to bat.   With both the usual Studley openers Ed Robinson and Nick Kimber away on school trips in went Nick Stuart and Lamb.   Stuart did the job asked of him and together with Lamb put on 22 and 26 respectively off 47 balls.   Stuart fell to an excellent bit of fielding, run out, and Lamb was caught right on the boundary line by Stringer while attempting a second six back over the bowlers head!   What Studley did not realise straight away was that Stuart had twisted his back which would result in 12th man U-12 Tom Bailey fielding with implications later in the day.   U-14 Elliott Oates was the Studley number three and was off the mark quickly with a number of quick singles before being caught by Chadderton for 8 while Angus Shaw also fell cheaply for 5.   Having got off to a good start Studley now looked a little shaky when Ben Coad walk purposefully to the wicket with the air of a man meaning business.   Well what business, 29 off 17 balls including three straight sixes and suddenly the total looked much more respectable!  U-14 Rob Lowe, U-12 Harry Lamb, U-14 Simon Evans, U-13 Josh Crewe and U-14 Ben Nabarro all paid brief visits to the crease and added another 21 runs between them putting Studley on a final total of 132 for 8 off their 20 overs.

After taking on fluids Studley turned round and the Whitely Hall openers Pickering and Martin came out to be faced by Ben Coad and U-14 Rob Lowe on blistering form.   With two of the three older Studley seamers away much was on the shoulders of Coad and Lowe.   They did not disappoint Coad bowled 4 overs for 14 runs and Lowe 3 overs for 18 runs.   After seven overs Whitely Hall were very much contained by the Studley opening attack and now came the two older spinners who did what was expected of them.   Lamb took the wickets of both openers returning figures of 2 for 22 off 4 overs and Shaw took out the number 3 returning figures of 1 for 22 off 4.   Simon Evans and Josh Crewe then entered the attack returning excellent figures of 11 off 2 overs and 7 off 2 overs respectively.   Mention here must be made of Studley wicketkeeper U-14 Scott Thompson who did not let anything past him.  The last over fell to Harry Lamb and victory was Studley’s having restricted Whitely Hall to 109 runs off their 20 overs in an excellent game that was played in the best spirit of Yorkshire junior cricket.

So after a forty five minute break for the excellent refreshments kindly laid on by the hosts Hartshead Moor Cricket Club it was time for the Final against Guiseley.    Once again the toss was won and Studley padded up with the officials hurriedly marking out the extra lines needed for Studley to deploy a runner for the injured Stuart.   Studley skipper Lamb and Stuart organised themselves with Nabarro acting as the runner.   Stuart did a brave job at one hitting 13 runs off 7 balls before being run out.   Oates then joined Lamb at the wicket but had a rare off day being bowled for 2.   The great Studley experiment of the day was then instigated with Harry Lamb walking out to the crease to join his brother.   The Lamb brothers then dazzled everyone running up 45 and 44 runs respectively.   George fell caught by Newark off Mountain.   Angus Shaw joined Lamb junior in a supporting role hitting 13 off 13 balls before being caught by Chippendale off Reeve.   Rob Lowe then batted out carrying his bat with young Lamb for 4 runs off 3 balls.   The target set by Studley for Guiseley was 149 runs.

So Coad and Lowe again the Studley opening attack recoding figures of 7 runs with 1 maiden off 3 overs and 11 runs with 1 maiden off 3 overs respectively.   Guiseley like Whitely Hall were well contained and it was time for the dynamic due of Lamb and Shaw to cast their leg and off spin spells once again.   The wickets came with Lamb taking the wicket of Guiseley opener Pratt for 12 and Shaw bowling Mountain for 8, Walker for 14 and taking an excellent caught and bowled of Thompson for 2.   Lamb’s figures were 1 wicket for 18 runs off 3 overs and Shaw’s 3 wickets for 10 runs off 3 overs.   Lamb and Shaw showed once again just how dangerous they are when bowling together in tandem.    Evans, Nabarro and Crewe all then were bowled returning figures of 7 runs for 1 wicket off 2 overs, 10 runs for 0 wickets off 2 overs and 9 runs for 1 wicket off 2 overs.   Finally Elliott Oates was unleashed demonstrating the incredibly spin he can put on the ball going for only 3 runs off 2 overs including 1 maiden.     At the close of their 20 overs Guiseley had scored 80 runs and Studley were the 2009 ECB U-15 County Club Champions (Yorkshire region) by 69 runs.

There was then a fifteen minute break while the presentation table was set up before Stephen Pickles the ECB county organiser for Yorkshire spoke to the two sides,  management and supporters.   The achievement of both sides to reach the final was made clear when Mr. Pickles told everyone that 180 teams from Yorkshire had entered the competition this year and that the Yorkshire Region was the largest county club competition in the United Kingdom.   Guiseley were presented with their runners up mementos and then the winner’s medals were presented to all twelve of the Studley squad for the day before George Lamb came up again to be presented with the ECB U-15 Club Championship County Winners Trophy for 2009.   Pictures were then taken and congratulations given all round.  

Studley now progress to the national stages of the competition playing the County Durham champions at Studley’s Galphay Road ground on the 19th of July at 2.30pm.

SRCC2 274-7 (45 overs) 6pts

Ouseburn2 191 all out (42.1 overs) 0 pts

WON by 83 runs

After a fascinating scenic drive through North Yorkshire, skipper arrived just in time to lose the toss.  Stuck in, Lorry and Dan put on a fantastic stand of 150 for the first wicket in 29 overs before Lorry went for 83 off 92 balls (he has been watching more of that 20/20 stuff on the telly again).  With 16 overs left, skipper wanted 270 and played with the batting order.  Dan soon followed for a solid 63.  Players came and went and scoring started to slow reaching 209 after 40.  Bully was sent in with 5 overs left and smashed 61 not out off 22 balls of fireworks to get us up to 274. It included three massive sixes, “super, smashing, great” in the last over off the spinner (Ryan Goldsmith) who had been chosen somewhat unwisely to bowl it having been hit in the same spot (40 yards over the playground) in his previous over.  Ryan must have felt like a competitor with his Bully in hand being shown the car and holiday he could have won by Jim Bowen.

Excellent tea in the lovely new pavillion extension.  Bully opened the bowling and picked up two early nicks while Crewey bowled well for no reward at the other end.  Binxy came on to replace the lame Bully (hamstring today) and bowled through his 12 overs for 2-32 - an excellent spell.  At the other end, miniCoad bowled the dangereous father of Ollie Rose with a great yorker bowled from wide of the crease.  Speciliast fielder and finisher, the Galer, pulled off a great direct hit run out when a breakthrough was needed.  Skipper dared ex student Henry Lord to run down and hit Choppy, and he obliged to be stumped for a classy 52.  Tommy Orton mopped up the tail.

We were so much better in the field today, with intensity.  Next week is a biggy against 3rd placed Ripon.

The Studley Royal U-15 A side are through to the final of the Bob Mellor Cup for the second year running and will defend the trophy won last year by Ben Crewe’s side at Knaresborough Forest Cricket Club on the 17th July at 6.15pm.  

The Semi Final was an excellent match played against Harrogate A on the old county ground at St. George’s Road, Harrogate.   Harrogate won the toss and opted to bat.   Studley got off to a good start with Joe Ainscough dismissing Harrogate openers Griffin and Halliday for 3 and 8 respectively and then Hammond for 2.   Kempley and Roberts steadied the Harrogate innings both retiring on 35.   Angus Shaw took the wicket of Edmundson for 1 and Rob Lowe that of Davidson for 3.  Wetherald and Walsh were not out on 16 and 3 at the end of Harrogate’s 22 overs.   Ainscough recorded the best bowling figures with 3 wickets for 22 runs off his 5 overs and skipper George Lamb looked on excellent form just when his team need him to be.  

So with the target of 123 to win and the light failing fast Studley went into bat with an experimental opening partnership of Ed Robinson and Nick Stuart.   Harrogate opening bowlers Griffin and Wetherald pegged them back in their spells although runs came slowly.   Stuart was the first wicket to fall to Roberts for 19 off 25 balls.   Robinson then was run out through an excellent direct hit for 28 off 37 balls.   Lamb was then joined at the crease by Shaw and both skipper and his assistant quickly ran up the runs before Shaw went for 11.  Ainscough made a brief appearance before Kempley added his scalp giving him 3 wickets for 19 runs off his 5 overs.   Lowe went cheaply for 3 caught Roberts and then Evans and U-12 Harry Lamb both ran themselves out in the scramble for the final runs needed off the remaining three overs.   Evans recorded 10 off the 8 balls he faced which made the difference.

So as in the early clash between these two sides in the ECB National U-15 Club Cup it all came down to the last over with U-12 Will Shaw having joined Lamb at the crease and finding himself with one run and facing.   Following instructions Shaw junior nudged a single and put Lamb back on strike.  Lamb then hit a nice shot that was well fielded adding another single and putting Shaw back on strike with 2 runs needed off three balls.   Halliday bowled a swift ball with excellent line and length but Shaw with that impetuosity of an U-12 placed it neatly between the keeper and the slip and as it raced away he and Lamb ran the two needed.  Shaw junior not out for 4 and the match won with three balls to spare!

This was a match played in a highly competitive manner between two teams of young men that all want to win and many of whom play representative cricket with each other at various levels.   Both sides can be quite vocal at times however they play very much in the spirit of cricket.   Being on opposite sides of the Nidderdale U-15 league leaves open the tantalising possibility that they could meet again in September if they both reach the playoff finals day.

Studley U-15 1st XI now move on to the ECB National U-15 Club Cup Semi Finals at Hartshead Moor Cricket Club at 12.30pm this Sunday.   The side available and selceted is as follows: George Lamb, Angus Shaw, Ben Coad, Nick Stuart, Elliot Oates, Rob Lowe, Simon Evans, Harry Lamb, Ben Nabarro, Josh Crewe, Scott Thompson and Tom Bailey (12th Man).   The side will meet at Hartshead Moor Cricket Club no later than 11.30am.

This evening Studley Royal U-15 A played Studley Royal U-15 B in the Quarter Final of the Bob Mellor Cup.   Studley B won the toss and opted to bat.    Ben Nabarro fell victim to Ben Coad for 8 before Simon Evans and Elliott Oates built a solid partnership with Evans retiring on 35 and Oates on 36.   James Riley contributed 4 with Scott Thompson at the end of the innings.   Coad had the best bowling figures with 1 for 11 off his 5 overs including 1 maiden over.  George Lamb also showed that he is coming back into excellent form with the ball recording 0 for 15 off his 5 overs.   

So with a target set of 108 for 2 off 20 Studley A went out to bat.    The nightmare for the A’s began with Ben Coad recording a Golden Duck, falling victim to a blistering delivery from U-14 Ben Nabarro.   George Lamb then joined Nick Stuart, returning from injury, and was bowled by Nabarro for 10.   Angus Shaw came to the wicket meaning business and started to make some inroads into the bowling attack while Stuart steadily built up some runs.  Just as the innings looked to be turning in favour of the A’s Shaw smashed a ball at Oates who held an excellent catch to remove the big man much to the obvious pleasure of the B’s!   U-12s Harry Lamb and Will Shaw both fell cheaply by their high standards and it was left to U-14 Rob Lowe and U-13 Garry Ambrose to try and save the blushes of the unbeaten Studley A’s.    The atmosphere amongst the spectators became tense and nerves began to fray.  Studley A team manager Iain Shaw was seen to be pacing the boundary looking decidedly worried while B team manager Dave Thompson watched nervously.    It would seem though that Ambrose had not read the B team script for the night and knocked of 14 runs including three 4s in double quick time which with two balls left meant that Lowe only needed to hit 2 to win the match.   The winning runs came off the penultimate ball with the A team progressing to this Fridays Semi Final against Harrogate A at St. Georges Road, Harrogate.  

Elliot Oates as skipper of the Studley B’s, who are all U-14s, set an excellent example of leadership to his side and the lads all responded very well to produce such an incredibly close result.   The Senior lads in the A team were also reminded never to be complacent and were actually saved from their blushes by an excellent all round team performance by the younger lads in the side with Garry Ambrose being the U-15 1st Team Managers Player of the Match for the A team and Elliot Oates for the B team.   Four of the B team are in the Studley U-15 1st XI which will be playing in the Semi Finals of the ECB National Cup (Yorkshire Region) this coming Sunday at Hartshead Moor Cricket Club.