Match reports

A Sunday with 3 games saw a ‘Mansfield XI’ left with only 10 players, and not even the draw of Wellbeck’s amazing facilities could tempt an 11th player. A mixture of 2nd team and juniors took the trip across the motorway, to play on the 2nd team wicket at Wellbeck due to Nott’s women’s team having a game on the main square (the 2nd team pitch is also approved for county cricket!). Toss lost – asked to take the field and bowl suited the 10 players as 8 were bowlers!

A short drive to Frecheville, the 1st Saturday without any really sun or warmth, with rain over night saw the game in a slight doubt. A slightly soft and damp strip where the covers had leaked made for a very different wicket to previous weeks in the season. Toss won – bowling!

The 1st tough game of the season saw an unbeaten 2nd team sitting 3rd in the league taking on an unbeaten Elsecar team sitting top of the pile having gained more bonus points so far. A rained delayed start meant the game was reduced to 36 over’s per side, toss won, out to bowl (everyone says bat on a hot, sunny day, so cold, wet and windy bowl??)

Opening game of the midweek season started with an away fixture at TOA with a short drive to Coal Aston bottom pitch. An indifferent day of weather saw a damp outfield but hard wicket. Due to poor light and poor weather forecast the standard 12 over’s (8 balls per over) was agreed.

1st round of the cup gave the 2nd XI a Sunday game away at Bawtry Road against a Sheffield United 2nd XI. A few changes from Saturday saw Danny Walton & Jonny Udall back from weddings (or the same wedding?? Now both married??), with Tom Newman making his 2013 debut for the club. Another sunny but windy day with another batter friendly track made for a tricky decision at the toss – decision made a lot easier by losing the toss and being asked to bat.

The u13 Red squad is made up entirely of y7s so is in effect an u12 team playing in the u13 league. 9 of the 12 were in last years u11 Blue side that lost to Doncaster in the district final.That defeat was on the last ball.
This year has seen them going from 8 a side pairs cricket to standard 11 a side cricket. Despite this change they have made an impressive start. Both Hollinsend and Norton Woodseats have been easily dispatched on their own grounds.
The season strated for 7 of the squad as they played for our combined cup side in a win at Aston Hall. The next day was the trip to Hollinsend match.
Collegiate batted first scoring 96 with double figure scores from Oliver Tyas, Hayden Pitcher, Connor Page and Max Robinson.Hollinsend never looked like overhauling that total. The Reds used 10 bowlers, only keeper Tom Higginbottom was not used. All 10 bowled tightly but Oliver Tyas shone brightest returning 3 for 2.
The following week found the team in a sundrenched graves park facing Norton Woodseats. Woodseats entered the match top of the league having already beaten Hollinsend and Hallam.

The 5th team, playing under the catchy title of Sheffield Collegiate Yorkshire and Derbyshire League 2nd XI, have had a mixed start to the season.
First there was an away win on a difficult pitch at Woodhouse. Taking advantage of the variable pounce, Collegiate inserted Woodhouse and then bowled them out for 87. The wickets were shared around a very young bowling attack. Alex 'Bruce' Willis was the pick of the bowlers returning 2 for 3 off 6 overs. Alex Bishop also picked up a couple with Wellman, Russell, Stevens and Liver (bowling off spin!!) all took a wicket.
Collegiate then made hard work of the reply with only Adursh and Harry Liver getting above double figures as the team collapsed to 75-9. The two Toms, Hoyland and Wellman, then steadied the ship and brought Collegiate home.
The following week brought a strong Apperknowle 2s to the HSBC ground. Only skipper Martin Slater and Alex Bishop remained from the game against Woodhouse. Many of the juniors been needed higher up.
Collegiate won the toss and opted to bat. Apperknowle bowled some tight lines and only Matt Belton (39) showed any resistance. With the score on 92-9 Dave Jones joined Slater in the middle. The pair put on 37 runs including a straight 6 from Jones and an upper cut over the slips for 4 from Slater.

An eventful week of Mansfield league ups and downs finally ended playing a home fixture up at HSBC, but on the artificial wicket as no grass pitches available. A full team was only confirmed on Sunday morning after some miscommunication higher up. The opposition were Coal Aston who the previous week had scored 300+....in a hurricane like wind, toss lost and asked to field!

Back to back away games to open the season for the 2nds saw a trip to Treeton. A few problems on the morning of the match (and all through the night) for Matt Mutters Lee, after a homemade prawn curry reappeared far too early! After some gentle encouragement & support from his team a full 11 arrived at the ground. On a wet and windy day, the game had a delayed start meaning a reduction to 38 over’s per side. A slightly leaky cover just on a length meant it was a good toss to win – toss won – fielding.

Start of a new season after a good winter nets, competition for places and a buzz around made for an enthusiastic start for the 2nd XI away at Oughtibridge. Arriving at the ground to find a good looking pitch and a hard, brown wicket in mid April! Usual 1st talk of the season made by umpires, 1st toss of the coin, lost and inserted.

Despite what most of us thought likely a month ago the season has got off to a prompt start.
 
After an intensive winter programme led by new Head Coach Simon Guy the First XI beat Chesterfield in a warm up game last week before taking on Hull at Abbeydale on Saturday in the first YL fixture. Batting first we were all out for 200. Encouraging starts were made by newcomers Ashton Blakey and Jacob Waterson. Tom Lister, in the runs at Chesterfield, also contributed but only Josh Jones got to fifty. Hull reached the total required in good time losing six wickets. The pick of the bowlers being Oliver Pearson who returned 4 for 43 in his 17 overs.
 
The 2nd XI travelled to Oughtibridge and recorded an Incomplete but very heartening victory. Congratulations to Tom Moore on his maiden ton for Collegiate. Tom made 111 in 102 balls with 14 4s and a six. He was joined by skipper Andy Simpson (77) in a stand of 160 for the 5th wicket as we posted 250 for 6. Oughtibridge closed at 220 for 8. Rob Shaw bowled steadily, Danny Walton added 3 wickets to his 23 and Matt Lee also claimed 3 very handy wickets.
 
The Sunday team travelled to Eastwood but a team overloaded with bowlers went down rather heavily. Eastwood made 164 for 8 (Andy Tyas 3/39, Danny Walton 2/13). Collegiate collapsed to 63 all out.
 

Well Done Jonny and Mutters

Well done Jonny on getting your first competitive 100 (129) and not out to boot. I did wonder if you had the concentration to stay at the crease but there are some good things that come with age. I am really proud of you and Mutters on an excellent 55!

PS: Jonny is 18 on 18th August and is having a party at Abbeydale (next Saturday after the Rotherham match) – all welcome.

Having lost our first game to the wet weather and our second game due to a forfeit, the 5s eventually got underway at HSBC against Ridgeway 2s.

Toss lost and put in to bat, Collegiate amassed an excellent score of 277 for 3 from their full 46 over allocation. An outstanding individual effort by Adursh hitting 140 (8 fours and 12 sixes)and a superb 61 from under 15 Matt Tyas on senior debut for the 5s being the highlights. Matt batted for nearly 3 hours and showed excellent skill and concentration throughout. A swift cameo at the death from Ben adding 13, including his first 6 of the season, hopefully the first of many with 'the goose'.