CRICKET PREVIEW: Unsporting? Not us says Peterborough Town skipper

Town’s drawn game with Oundle at Bretton Gate last weekend was over-shadowed by outbreaks of dissent at a number of umpiring decisions that went against them.

It looks like Town’s players have escaped censure - wicket-keeper Chris Milner and Lewis Bruce were the biggest offenders - and the team also look likely to get away with a pitifully slow over-rate, leaving them four points off top spot heading into tomorrow’s (May 14) to Horton House.

Clarke said: “We play aggressive cricket, but we don’t go over the top. We play hard cricket, but we play fair.

“That was the case against Oundle, a team we get on very well with. I admit there were a couple of moments when we showed disappointment in the wrong way and that will be addressed, but the umpires seemed okay with most things after the game.

“It was a great game of cricket which fluctuated throughout the day. Both sides were desperate to win which might have led to some things being said in the heat of the moment, but I wasn’t overly-concerned by our behaviour.

“Horton will be tricky opponents. They are young, but with lots of potential. We will have to be at our best to win.”

Marcus Howard returns to the Town side at Horton House in place of Alex Mitchell.

Bruce, Asim Butt and Joe Dawborn are all in the Cambs team to play Lincs in the Minor Counties Trophy at March on Sunday (May 15). Cambs need a win to keep their hopes alive.

Town’s scheduled John Wilcox Cup tie at Bretton Gate on Sunday has been conceded by Kettering Town.

Second-placed Market Deeping host Woodhall Spa in the Lincs Premier Division tomorrow, when third-placed Bourne entertain Sleaford (noon starts).

Cambs Division One leaders Wisbech are at Eaton Socon tomorrow.

Pick of the John Wilcox Cup first round ties on Sunday (1pm) sees top-flight sides Nassington and Bourne go head to head.

FIXTURES

SATURDAY MAY 14

NORTHANTS LEAGUE

(noon): Premier Division: Horton House v Peterborough Town, Oundle v Old Northamptonians.

(1pm): Division One: Peterborough Town 2nds v Geddington.

(1pm): Division Three: Irchester v Oundle 2nds.

LINCS PREMIER DIVISION

(noon): Bourne v Sleaford, Market Deeping v Woodhall Spa.

CAMBS LEAGUE

(12.30pm) Division One: Burghley Park v Southill Park, Eaton Socon v Wisbech, Foxton v Nassington, Histon v Ketton, Ramsey v Blunham.

(12.30pm) Division Two: Newborough v March, St Ives v Ufford Park.

HUNTS LEAGUE

(1pm) Division One: Castor v Eaton Socon, Ickwell v Stamford, Hampton v Ramsey.

(1pm) Division Two: Peterborough Town v AK 11, Barnack v Orton Park, Nassington 2nds v Warboys 2nds, Buckden v Bharat S.

(1pm) Division Three: Upwood v Hampton 2nds, Alconbury v Ramsey 3rds, Werrington v Sawtry.

(1pm) Division Four: Warboys 3rds v Bretton, Orton Park 2nds v Brampton, Ketton 2nds v Castor 2nds, Falcon v Ickwell 2nds, King’s Keys v Burghley Park 2nds.

SOUTH LINCS LEAGUE

(1.30pm): Premier Divison: Billingborough v Long Sutton, Sleaford 2nds v Bourne 2nds, Spalding v Belton Park, Stamford v Grantham, Woodhall 2nds v Market Deeping 2nds.

(1.30pm) Division One: Baston v Grantham, Moulton Harrox v Heckington, Timberlands v Spalding 2nds.

(1.30pm) Division Two: Long Sutton 2nds v Belton Park 2nds, Spalding 3rds v Graves Park.

(1.30pm) League Cup: Skegness 2nds v Pinchbeck.

SUNDAY MAY 15

MINOR COUNTIES TROPHY

(11am) Group match: Cambs v Lincs (at March).

RUTLAND LEAGUE

(1pm) First round: John Wilcox Cup: Hampton v Stamford, King’s Keys v Oundle, Nassington v Bourne, Newborough v Grantham, Orton Park v Burghley Park, Ufford Park v Wisbech, Werrington v Barnack.

(1.30pm) Division Two: Castor v Whittlesey, Ketton v Oakham, Medbourne v Uffington.

(1.30pm) Division Three: Bretton v Weldon, Long Sutton v Stewart & Lloyds, Wisbech 2nds v East Carlton.

(1.30pm) Division Four: Bourne 2nds v Isham, Kimbolton v Nassington 2nds.

(1.30pm) Division Five: Market Overton v Benefield, Uppingham 2nds v Market Deeping 2nds.

(1.30pm) Division Six: Huntingdon v Orton Park 2nds, Moulton Harrox v Uffington 2nds, Spalding v Newborough 2nds, Whittlesey 2nds v Hampton 2nds.

HUNTS LEAGUE

(1pm) Division Five: Godmanchester 3rds v Sheikh 11.

MONDAY MAY 16

STAMFORD KO SHIELD

(6pm) First round: Barnack v King’s Keys, Castor v Uppingham, Hampton v Burghley Park, Ketton v Nassington, Market Deeping v Bourne, Uffington v Stamford.

TUESDAY MAY 17

JAIDKA CUP

(6pm) Zone match: Oundle v Nassington.

WEDNESDAY MAY 18

JAIDKA CUP

(6pm) Zone matches: Bourne v Market Deeping, Barnack v Peterborough Town, Wisbech v Ramsey.