Farsley v Hartshead Moor

Scores: Farsley 293 for 5 : Hartshead 200 All Out : Farsley won by 93 Runs

Points: Farsley 20 – Hartshead Moor 6 Weather: Chilly

Venue: Red Lane, Farsley

A magnificent Red Lane batting wicket produced near enough 500 runs on another Spring day with the Rams winning the game and a full house of 20 points after star performances by Shabbs Rashid, skipper David Syers and veteran Ashley Metcalfe. Shabbs' and the skips roles were with the bat, Shabbs scoring his first 100 for the club, and not out at that, Sayers another excellent 89 whilst Metcalfe's solid contribution on this occasion was with the ball – a fine 5 for 21 stint in 12 overs following a first ball duck which redressed his game at which Farsley eventually won by a convincing 93 run margin.

The Rams had several changes from their win over Lightcliffe the previous week and won the toss and elected to bat. Big Matthew Lumb returned, as did the elder brother Ryan, Barry Frankland came in to the side, the three replacing Charlie Hall, Olly Howick and Jonno Evans, who regrettably have each finished their University stay in Leeds, the former two for good and Jonno doing the same after his final game at Spen Victoria on Spring Bank Holiday Monday. Over-seas all rounder Lorenzo Inghram is now expected over the weekend and has also been selected for the visit to Spen Victoria.

Anderson and Clayton got the Rams off to another decent start, the 50 coming up after a sedate 17 overs as Hartshead looked to win their first league game of the season. Dan Clayton was first to depart, caught at cover at 53-1 and Anderson soon followed, caught and bowled at 58 making 32, Dan having made 19 of the opening alliance. Shabir Rashid and Will Kitchen were together when the Rams got to drinks at 82-2 which was about par for scores at drinks intervals.

The 6'66'' tall Kitchen fell soon afterwards however, LBW 94-3, which became 94-4 next ball when Ashley Metcalfe aimed a poor shot at a poor ball to be caught behind for a very rare "first baller". Farsley's boat was rocking a little at this stage but the score line was as good as it got for the visitors as Syers and Rashid took complete charge of Hartsheads bowling to compile a fine partnership of 148 runs. This took the Villagers to 247 – 4 with 5 overs remaining when the skipper finally departed, caught on the boundary edge for a classy 89 which was an innings of excellent shot selection, good ball placing between struggling fieldsmen and some pure big hitting. Shabbs was no les dominant in passing his half century at 174-4 and then going to his ton in the last over of Farsley's mammoth innings.

Barry Frankland had joined Shabbs after Syers' departure and addeda nice little cameo 18 not out as Hartshead Moor's bowlers were seeking sanctuary in Farsley's Clubhouse which eventually came with the Rams knowing that a total of 293-5 was a probable winning total against bottom of the League side.

The visitors might well have had other ideas of course, and fairly quickly belied their low Division Two ranking. Skipper Simon North had bowled creditably in Farsley's innings when taking 4-55 in 11 overs which doesn't leave much to gloat about from Hartshead's other toiling bowlers and he was again at the fore in opening the visitors' batting. He and Graham Hilton began Hartshead's response and got away to a 44 opening before big Matthew Lumb took Farsley's first wicket, Syers grabbing caught behind, Hilton the departed one.

Drinks arrived at 113-1 which was better than Farsley managed but Ash claimed his first wicket at 122 and even when Anderson's similar off spin claimed a third wicket at 154, the Rams knew they still had a lot to do to ensure another victory.

Hartshead's Barry evans had joined his skipper in making another half century in this total and it took a lightening piece of stumping by Syers, off Metcalfe's bowling, to really turn the game in Farsley's favour at 178-4 with now only 11 overs remaining.

Chris Henry returned to the Ras' bowling attack with10 vers to go when Ash got another wicket, clean bowled, which then Chris supplemented by also bowling Hartshead's number 8, the visitors now struggling at 182-6.

This became 191-7 when Syers pouched another catch off the irrepressible Metcalfe and the game was effectively over when Henry uprooted number 10's off peg to put them in defeat mode at 191-8.

Ash grabbed his first "five for four" of the season at 200-9 and Chris finished matters for the Rams' in favour by pinning their last man LBW to leave the visitors all back in the tent after a fighting 200 total.

Hartshead might have felt a few of their wheels had fallen off after getting to 178-3 but apart from a couple of spilled catches the Rams had kept up the pressure on their opponents when it mattered most with Metcalf very much to the fore in an excellent 5-21 shift, a stint which put the brake on Hartshead's earlier progress and which, in the end, had broken the back of the visitors' reply. Chris Henry grabbed 3 useful late wickets. Lumb and Anderson each chipping in with one apiece in another fine 20 points victory.


PICTURES: Steve Riding