Things are going so well for Northop Hall and Chirk sides
Following on from a testing start to the campaign, Chirk have picked up back-to-back triumphs in the Shropshire League.
Meanwhile, Northop Hall are targeting promotion from Division Two of the Liverpool Competition and after losing out in their first contest of the summer, Ben Slater's side have triumphed in each of their match-ups since then.
Last time out, it was a North Wales derby triumph for Hall in their meeting against Prestatyn.
Paul Jenkins was on the money with a four for one return as Prestatyn were skittled for just 69.
'It was just job done in the end,' said captain Ben Slater. 'It was quite humid, so the ball was swinging early. But after 15 overs, that died down.'
Northop Hall head to Stockport Trinity seeking to bag their fifth win on the bounce and keep them within sight of the promotion places.
Slater is taking nothing for granted and he stressed: 'Southport Trinity will be a decent outfit.
'We have always had good competition when we've gone there. They do know how to win.'
Matty Jones, who is enjoying a great season with the bat, returns to Northop Hall's line-up.
Northop Hall Seconds will aim to make the most of home comforts as they tackle Spring View Seconds.
A more settled side is playing its part in an upturn of fortunes for Chirk, who go to Shifnal Seconds tomorrow in Division One of the Shropshire League.
'It's two out of two and it's been two good games,' said skipper Liam Walker.
'We played really well on Saturday versus Frankton.
'We have bowled and fielded well in the last couple of weeks. Having a full side has certainly made a difference.'
Looking to follow up wins over Oswestry and Frankton with another success, Walker added: 'I think Shifnal will be strong. They're always a decent side. They have got some good experience there and we are looking forward to it. We think we will be okay team wise.'
Chirk Seconds host Quatt Thirds.
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Leader Live
7 days ago
- Leader Live
Things are going so well for Northop Hall and Chirk sides
Following on from a testing start to the campaign, Chirk have picked up back-to-back triumphs in the Shropshire League. Meanwhile, Northop Hall are targeting promotion from Division Two of the Liverpool Competition and after losing out in their first contest of the summer, Ben Slater's side have triumphed in each of their match-ups since then. Last time out, it was a North Wales derby triumph for Hall in their meeting against Prestatyn. Paul Jenkins was on the money with a four for one return as Prestatyn were skittled for just 69. 'It was just job done in the end,' said captain Ben Slater. 'It was quite humid, so the ball was swinging early. But after 15 overs, that died down.' Northop Hall head to Stockport Trinity seeking to bag their fifth win on the bounce and keep them within sight of the promotion places. Slater is taking nothing for granted and he stressed: 'Southport Trinity will be a decent outfit. 'We have always had good competition when we've gone there. They do know how to win.' Matty Jones, who is enjoying a great season with the bat, returns to Northop Hall's line-up. Northop Hall Seconds will aim to make the most of home comforts as they tackle Spring View Seconds. A more settled side is playing its part in an upturn of fortunes for Chirk, who go to Shifnal Seconds tomorrow in Division One of the Shropshire League. 'It's two out of two and it's been two good games,' said skipper Liam Walker. 'We played really well on Saturday versus Frankton. 'We have bowled and fielded well in the last couple of weeks. Having a full side has certainly made a difference.' Looking to follow up wins over Oswestry and Frankton with another success, Walker added: 'I think Shifnal will be strong. They're always a decent side. They have got some good experience there and we are looking forward to it. We think we will be okay team wise.' Chirk Seconds host Quatt Thirds.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- BBC News
'Marathon' mindset helped transform Notts
Head coach Peter Moores says it has taken some "blind faith" and a "marathon" mindset to get Nottinghamshire to the top of the County Championship just months after they narrowly avoided are 10 points clear at the summit at the midway point of the red-ball four wins from seven games is already double the victories they managed in the competition last term when they escaped the drop on the penultimate day of their final match the former England head coach, who guided Nottinghamshire to promotion from Division Two as title winners in 2022, admits his side has exceeded expectations so far."We said to the group before we started that at the halfway stage the target was to be in the top three so we could have a go at it in the second-half," Moores told BBC Sport."To be top with a 10-point cushion really is a win more than we thought we would get." Moores has won the County Championship title twice as coach, with Sussex in 2003 and Lancashire in 2011, and said that Notts' approach to turning their fortunes around in recent months will be how they now go on to challenge for the trophy this summer."It's a long-haul," he said. "It's like a marathon because it just keeps coming, which is a bit like football's Premier League where you just have to keep playing well. "And you have to have trust, you have to have blind faith in some ways that by doing the work every day, by pitching up when someone else might not, that will pay you back at the end of the season. And it does. "The most committed, the most skilful and the most at-it sides are the ones that win the championship."This year is a chance to try achieve something really special and win a championship."There are some really good teams in the division - Surrey being the one that everyone feels they have to beat - but we have proven to ourselves that we are a really good team and we can take on anyone if we play to the potential we have in the last few weeks." Improving players and team When finishing third from bottom in County Championship and failing to get beyond the the group stage of either the T20 Blast or One-Day Cup competitions last season, those traits were not immediately obvious at Trent Bridge last Notts' top scorers this season - captain Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater - are again leading the way with the Hutton, the County Championship's leading wicket-taker in 2023, has come back after an injury hit campaign to again lead the bowling attack with 24 scalps so Tongue, the England international that missed his entire first year with Nottinghamshire through injury, has claimed 15 wickets in three games. Teenage off-spinner Farhan Ahmed, who made his first-class debut last season, has also contributed 10 wickets to date."We thought we had a good team and the way we work at our place is something we call the skill factor," Moores said."We try get people better. We believe that getting better as individuals, it collectively makes the team better."The impact of international recruits has also been pivotal. All-rounder Fergus O'Neill was an instant hit during his short stint, taking 21 wickets, while Pakistan seam bowler Mohammad Abbas has replaced the Australian with equal effect, having taken 16 wickets in three pair are among the seven Notts bowlers to have already claimed five-wicket hauls this season - alongside Hutton, Tongue, Dillon Pennington, Liam Patterson-White and Lyndon James."A lot of different people have chipped in and we seem to find a way," Moores said."We have been in some tough situations, there is no doubt about that. But someone has either managed to pull us out of it or if there has been an opportunity to drive home a win, someone has found that extra bit to do it."With the bat, there have been seven century makers, with captain Hameed producing two, including a double is leading the way as the competition's top scorer, but Moores says he has crucially "got the balance right" as skipper after taking the job on last year."He has had a great start to the season but the the biggest credit I would give him is that as well as the batting is how he has captained," Moores said."He has managed to get the group together in a really good way. There is a real comradery with them, and that comes out with the way they play their cricket."
Powys County Times
26-05-2025
- Powys County Times
Sam Curran steers Surrey to draw while Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire earn wins
Sam Curran's second consecutive first-class fifty helped Surrey bat out a final-day draw at home to Essex in Division One of the Rothesay County Championship. Champions Surrey started 386 runs short of an improbable victory target of 418 and when Simon Harmer accounted for openers Rory Burns (39) and Dom Sibley (40), Jamie Porter's three wickets in quick succession – on his way to five for 88 – set up a tantalising evening session at Kia Oval. Struggling on 167 for five, England outcast Curran backed up his first-innings 80 with another mature knock of 77 from 121 balls before his dismissal sparked brief hope for Essex. Match drawn 🤝 We take 12 points from a tense game at the Kia Oval. 🤎 | #SurreyCricket — Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 26, 2025 Further light showers in a rain-affected day four halted the visitors momentum before Surrey's fifth draw from seven fixtures was confirmed after they got to 289 for seven from 84 overs. Leaders Nottinghamshire strengthened their grip at the top of the table, seeing off Yorkshire with five wickets on the final day at Headingley. The Division One pace-setters racked up their fourth win of the campaign by 163 runs, with Dillon Pennington making the running. Pennington, an unused member of the England Test squad last year, had two wickets overnight and finished with five for 106 as he prised out the defiant Matthew Revis, stand-in skipper Dom Bess and tailender Ben Coad. 💬"We've got to find some answers because as much as we talk and everything like that, it's about performances." Anthony McGrath spoke on Yorkshire's defeat to Notts and upcoming player availability. #YorkshireGrit — Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) May 26, 2025 Yorkshire batted for 120.3 overs to show some grit but were finally dismissed for 299 when Mohammad Abbas claimed the final wicket. While Nottinghamshire ride high, question marks are piling up for the White Rose, who sit second-bottom of the standings with one win from seven, and have just lost captain Jonny Bairstow to the Indian Premier League. Chris Woakes claimed three wickets for Warwickshire, but they were denied victory by rain at Worcestershire. Worcestershire resumed on 57 for two and, while Woakes finished with three for 30, Matthew Waite hit 44 not out amid plenty of showers to help the hosts escape with a draw after they battled to 181 for eight. In Division Two, Derbyshire ended a sequence of five successive draws at Kent's expense, skittling the visitors before lunch to win by an innings and 14 runs. Mickey was delighted after the win over Kent. Watch the full interview ⤵️ — Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) May 26, 2025 Needing six more wickets overnight, they picked them up for the addition of just 90 runs as Kent subsided for 247 after following on. The writing was on the wall when Zak Chappell had Tawanda Muyeye caught behind for 55 off the first ball of the day. A knock of 49 from tailender Grant Stewart was the only real resistance as a cheap double from all-rounder Luis Reece and Jake Ball's injury absence helped Derbyshire to take the result. Rain forced Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire to settle for a draw. After Northamptonshire declared on 259 for six, it set the visitors 350 for victory and a thrilling finish was on the cards when Gloucestershire slipped to 214 for six before wet weather after tea ended the chances of a winner.
