WEEKEND PREVIEW: Town can do much better says captain

A thumping nine-wicket win at rock-bottom Wellingborough last week has left Town in third place, 29 points behind unbeaten leaders Old Northamptonians at the halfway stage in the Northants Premier Division.

It’s a sizeable gap as it’s only 20 points for a win this season, but Town skipper David Clarke believes the pressure of the run-in could get to their rivals.

“‘Inconsistency’, would sum up the season so far for me,” Clarke stated. “There have been glimpses of our full potential, but they’ve not been seen enough and they’ve not been seen at all in the bigger games.

“But we have plenty of improvement in us and I’m not sure the teams around us can say that.

“We’re also used to challenging for the title and that’s not been the case with ONs in recent seasons. That could work in our favour, but the bottom line is looking after our own performances and turning up for the biggest games.”

Town travel to mid-table Wollaston on Saturday and they tested the city side on the opening day of the season before succumbing by two wickets.

Town hope to have fast bowler David Sayer back from injury and if fit the teenager would also be recalled to Town’s Jaidka Cup Final team. Town host Bourne at Bretton Gate on Monday (July 11, 6pm) after the original game was washed out when intruigingly poised last weekend.

Town were 68-1 from 6.2 overs chasing 134 from a maximum of 16 overs when play was abandoned.

“It’s the right decision to replay the game,” Clarke said. “We were on top, but Bourne’s innings was interrupted when the rain first fell.

“It had been great entertainment until it was finally called off. Lots of big hitting which is what Twenty/20 cricket should be about.”

Big local game in Cambs Division One tomorrow (July 9) sees second-place Nassington travel to Ketton (12.30pm), when Market Deeping host Grimsby in the Lincs Premier Division (noon).

There are Twenty/20 semi-finals and finals galore next week.

FIXTURES


Saturday, July 9

NORTHANTS LEAGUE

(noon) Premier Division: Oundle v Rushden, Wollaston v Peterborough Town.

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

Divison Three: ONs 3rds v Oundle 2nds.

Division Eight: Oundle 3rds v Barton Seagrave.

LINCS PREMIER DIVISION

(noon): Grantham v Bourne, Market Deeping v Grimsby.

CAMBS LEAGUE

(12.30pm) Division One: Foxton v Wisbech, Ketton v Nassington, Ramsey v Waresley.

Division Two: March v W Colville, Saffron W 2nds v Newborough, Ufford Park v Sawston .

SOUTH LINCS LEAGUE

(1.30pm) Premier Division: Bourne 2nds v Market Deeping 2nds, Sleaford 2nds v Long Sutton, Spalding v Woodhall Spa 2nds.

Division One: Baston v Heckington, Billingborough v Moulton H, Grantham 3rds v Welby Cavaliers, Spalding 2nds v Freiston.

Division Two: Boston 3rds v Pinchbeck, Claypole v Spalding 3rds, Long Sutton 2nds v Grantham 4ths.

HUNTS LEAGUE

(1pm) Division One: Eaton Socon 2nds v Stamford, Godmanchester 2nds v Burghley P, Hampton v Castor, Ickwell v Ramsey 2nds.

Division Two: Blunham 2nds v Barnack, Nassington 2nds v Bharat Sports, Peterborough Town 3rds v Buckden, Warboys 2nds v Orton Park.

Division Three: Newborough 2nds v Huntingdon 2nds, Werrington v Hampton 2nds.

Division Four: Brampton v Castor 2nds, Bretton v Falcon, Burghley Park 2nds v Ickwell 2nds, Great Staughton v Orton Park 2nds, King’s Keys v Ketton 2nds.

Sunday, July 10

RUTLAND LEAGUE

(1.30pm) Division One: Market Deeping v Barnack, Oundle v Stamford, Peterborough Town v Nassington, Uppingham v Bourne, Wisbech v Ufford Park.

Division Two: Ketton v March, King’s Keys v Grantham, Uffington v Castor, Whittlesey v Newborough.

Division Three: Bretton v Burghley Park, Long Sutton v Werrington, Weldon v Wisbech 2nds.

Division Four: Bourne 2nds v Easton Orton Park v Ramsey.

Division Five: Castor 2nds v Weldon 2nds.

Division Six: Hampton 2nds v Orton Park 2nds, Moulton Harrox 2nds v Huntingdon, Newborough 2nds v Whittlesey 2nds, Spalding v Ufford Park 2nds.

HUNTS LEAGUE

(1pm) Division Five: Sheikh v Houghton & W.

Monday, July 11

JAIDKA CUP FINAL

(6pm): Peterborough Town v Bourne.

STAMFORD CHARITY CUP

(6pm) Semi-final: Ketton v Market Deeping.

STAMFORD KO SHIELD

(6pm) Semi-final: Ufford Park v Burghley Park.

Tuesday, July 12

JOHN WILCOX TROPHY

(6pm) Quarter-final: Burghley Park v Barnack.

Wednesday, July 13

STAMFORD CHARITY CUP

(6pm) Fnal: Ketton or Market Deeping v Bourne (at Stamford Town CC).