Gomersal CC v Farsley CC

Date: Saturday May 30
Venue: Gomersal CC
Weather: Fine and Sunny
Result: Gomersal won by 81 runs
Points: Farsley 5 Gomersal 20
Scores: Gomersal 228 all out (50 overs) : Farsley 147 all out.

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Just as against St Lawrence, Yeadon, Saltaire, Bradford & Bingley and now Gomersal, Farsley were again unable to rise to the batting challenge of overtaking an opponents' tea time total and another defeat, even when batting first against Baildon, has thrust the Rams into an early relegation threatened position in Division One after only seven league games.

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The worrying trend of not been able to overtake an even attainable score is costing Farsley dear and on a belter of a batting wicket against another of the Division's struggling teams Farsley were once again rolled over in chasing a 228 total on the season's first sun-kissed day.

It was a good toss to win in any event and the home side had no hesitation in taking first knock on a rock hard wicket and on a small ground such as Gomersal's there was ample talk of a 300 total as Khan and Gould took early runs off a lack lustre 'Bozza' Thornton who had surprisingly opened the Farsley bowling with James Lee.

Bozza's first over had a wide, a no ball, two fours and other balls the batsmen had no need to play at and Gomersal had 28 runs on the board in the fifth over before Lee got a lucky wicket when Gould feathered a ball which was meant to disappear in to Gomersals Town Centre.

Syers' neat diving pouch sent one of the League's to run makers for an early shower but an out of sorts Bozza was still bowling when Gomersal went to50- 1 after only 8 overs before giving way to regular opener Chris Henry who was immediately on the mark gaining an LBW with his very first ball, Gomersal 54-2, and a bit of commonsense captaincy by Syers had dragged the visitors back into the game.

The skipper took another good catch behind the sticks to give Lee another wicket at 64-3 at which point the Rams could be said to have gained the upper hand.

Just when Lee was looking tired he cart wheeled his third wicket and Farsley's fourth before 'Enzo took over and welcome drinks arrived with Farsley now well in to the game with the home side at 104-4.

Ashley Metcalfe took over from Chris Henry just as Everton scored a very early Wembley Cup Final goal, heard by all and sundry from the club house telly, and the veteran all rounder, in tandem with 'Enzo's left arm spin, put something of a stranglehold on Gomersal's march. 'Enzo turned a beauty to give Farsley their fifth wicket at 121-5 before the hard hitting number 7 Richard Whitehouse , with the nickname 'Wiggy' began to plunder runs in tandem with 16 year old Andy Gorrod who was happy enough to play senond fiddle as runs began to mount.

'Wiggy' is "built like a brick outhouse" and the pair's alliance quickly added another 63 runs to take the initiative away from the Rams before Garrod's innings ended for a valuable 36 when Ash turned another enough to bowl the home star with their score a now more challenging 184-6 with 7 overs remaining. 'Enzo pouched another catch for Ash at 190-7 but 'Wiggy' went on to a fine 50 at 197 with 4 overs left and Farsley looking now at stopping the runs flow as best they could.

A boundary edge catch brought Ash another wicket and a final demise of "Mr. Wiggy" with his score on 69 (4 sixes and 7 fours) with Gomersal's total at 214-8 and another two wickets, one each for Ash and Jimmy Lee, took the teams to tea with each side having gained 5 bonus points, Gomersal ending with 228 all out in the last over.

This total looked a bit below par considering the excellent wicket and a day made for batsmen who, for sure, would be filling their boots around the League. Ash once again Farsley's best bowler (12-2-48-4) whist James Lee's (14-2-2-70-4) would have done him no harm as he seeks to get his chance in Yorkshire's first team. Chris Henry also did well (12-1-49-1), 'Enzo grabbing another wicket for 26 runs.

Although confidence is arguably at a low ebb in the Rams' dressing room at 229 victory target on a day like today ought to have lifted spirits but it if it did, it could have fooled the watching faithful.

Teenager Harpal Ryatt was quickly gone, LBW hitting a straight one from quickie Richard Browning (Farsley traditional 3-1) and when 'Enzo fashioned a dolly catch to mid-wicket and Ash went to a quite brilliant 'C&B' followed by skipper Syer's departure to another outstanding catch at mid-wicket, the Rams were in dire straits at 64-4 and Gomersal, and Browning, were on fire on a day when it was warm enough as it was.

The score moved to 91 before Shabs departed, Lee came and went in the blink of an eye, and Anderson, still looking for some runs after a season and a third at Farsley, also departed without so much as a challenge to Gomersal's attack. Clayton added to the steady stream of returning batsmen to a quite as a-mouse-dressing-room and the Rams were 95-8 in a display of batting which did not befit the Bradford League Division 1 side, and for which there are no text books. Grit and determination , with a sense of not wanting to give your wicket away without a fight, have no written slot in a coach's manual – only in the make-up of an individual. This is a quality not too evident in this season's struggle so far.

Through all the mayhem around him 19 year old Woodhouse Grove student Gareth Phillips stood firm with a determination, shot selection, and technique which surely ought to qualify him as potential opener and he was only let down in not notching a fine half century (he finished 48 not out) when 'Bozza' completed a day he will not be recalling to his grandchildren , when that day comes, got out LBW, leaving the Rams even short of a second batting point for the fourth time this season – after only seven games!

Richard Browning finished with 5-33 in a decent enough spell, Shahzaib Khan also helping himself to 3-24 which no doubt pleased the home side's punters but it was another bating display by Farsley (Metcalfe, Syers and Philips excepted) which puts the Rams in early relegation worries.