Cricket: Colwyn Bay demolish Northop Hall

Jun 25 2009 by Dave Jones, North Wales Weekly News

bay demolish northop hall

COLWYN BAY (25) 225-1 NORTHOP HALL (4) 224

COLWYN BAY would welcome another batting performance of the type that destroyed Northop Hall when they visit lowly Formby this Saturday (1pm).

Needing 225 for victory at Penrhyn Avenue, Graeme Jones’ side reached their target for the loss of just one wicket, largely down to a mammoth partnership between opener Charlie Clubb and Welsh international Sion Morris.

The 25-4 split means Bay still trail leaders Bootle by 42 points, but are in an elite group of three at the summit of the Liverpool Competition Premier.

Taking the crushing win over North Wales rivals Hall into this Saturday’s trip to Liverpool, Colwyn can only be full of confidence.

“They didn’t seem to have a plan and just batted and batted for 65 overs and we still passed them for the loss of one wicket,” said captain Jones after the weekend massacre.

“I thought we played really well on the flattest of wickets and deservedly came away with maximum 25 points to their four.”

If the prize at stake in this first derby clash in eight years was to establish who rules these days, then the question was unequivocally answered.

Winning the toss and opting to bat, Hall were in early trouble when they lost key run-getters Simon Butler for eight and skipper Danny Nolan for 12. Dipping to 63-5 the Hall’s fortunes were momentarily reprieved when Gareth Williams (54) and Tony Sparks (50) put on 106 for the sixth wicket in a total of 224 all out from 65 overs.

Aussie import Nathan Rimmington bagged 4-54 to overtake Butler as the League’s leading wicket-taker, former Hall ace Paul Jenkins picking up 3-62.

The Bay in reply had 39 on the board when Ed Parry fell for 17 but that only brought Morris to join fellow international Clubb.

Left hander Clubb was 126no as he and Morris 69no as they lifted the seasiders to 225-1 off only 41.2 overs. Morris’ latest haul takes his tally for the season to over 500 while the catch taken by wicket-keeper Graeme Jones was his 20th.

ZACK Gidlow posted 78 as Colwyn Bay seconds recorded a 14-run win at Parkfield Liscard.

Bay set 199-5 declared off 47 overs, Dave Wallace adding 32, and Chris Rowley then bagged 6-33 as Parkfield were dismissed for 185, points 20-6 to Bay.

GLAMORGAN will once again be using Colwyn Bay Cricket Club as their home ground when they face Leicestershire in a four -day County Championship fixture from Wednesday 5th to Saturday 8th August and Northamptonshire Steelbacks in a one-day Pro 40 game on Sunday , August 9.