WEEKEND PREVIEW: Town clear the air, players leaving, all the fixtures

The heavy reverse has virtually ended Town’s title hopes and the manner of defeat was a huge concern for captain David Clarke who led the post-match inquiry.

Town were dismissed for just 97 in 21 overs at Wollaston and 27 of those runs arrived from wides delivered by the home bowlers.

Clarke said: “We were very bad at Wollaston. Only Lewis Bruce had any control with the ball and then we batted really poorly.

“We had a long chat after the game. Everyone had their say and got things off their chest.

“We know what we have to do to put things right and we are all committed to re-grouping and turning things around.

“I have no doubt the ability is there, but we have to start proving it on the field.

“In a way the pressure is off us now as no-one expects us to challenge so maybe we will relax, start enjoying ourselves and play better cricket.

“If we can win several games in a row who knows where we will end up.”

Clarke has made four changes to his team for the visit of Stony Stratford to Bretton Gate tomorrow (July 16), but only one is through choice.

Alex Mitchell (holiday), Marcus Howard (graduation) and Balaji Ganesan drop out to be replaced by fit-again pace bowler David Sayer, Scott Howard and Kyle Medcalf.

The batting form of the younger Howard and Medcalf is partly why Town seconds are enjoying their best season in Division One for many years.

Howard (59) and Danny Oldham (51) scored well in last weekend’s draw against Wellingborough Indians.

Opener Kieran Judd and canny slow-medium pace bowler Richard Kendall were others to be considered for selection by Clarke.

“Something has to change,” Clarke added. “We lost three matches in three days last weekend and I can’t ever remember that happening before in my time at the club.

“Hopefully that’s as bad as it will get. In fact it can’t get any worse.”

Bruce skippers Cambs in a Unicorns Championship fixture against Cumberland in Netherfield for three days starting on Sunday. Batsman Asim Butt also plays.

Market Deeping, who are second in the Lincs Premier Division, travel to Lincoln tomorrow. Young opening batsman Alex Wheatley has left the club.

Ramsey, who are second in Cambs Division One, visit lowly Blunham, while Nassington host leaders Foxton.

Wisbech are at home to Eaton Socon. Fenmen skipper Sam Albutt has resigned and left the club after just half-a-season in charge. Cambs seamer Sam Rippington has taken over. He led Wisbech to victory against Foxton last weekend.

Ketton have two Twenty/20 finals in the next few days. They tackle Uppingham at Oakham in the final of the Rutland T20 tonight (July 15) and Ufford Park in the final of the Stamford KO Shield at Market Deeping on Wednesday (July 20).

FIXTURES

Friday, July 15

RUTLAND T20 FINAL:

Ketton v Uppingham (at Oakham).

Saturday, July 16

NORTHANTS LEAGUE

(noon) Premier Division: Northampton Saints v Oundle, Peterborough Town v Stony Stratford.

(1pm) Division One: Weekley & Warkton v Peterborough Town.

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

(1pm) Division Three: Oundle 3rds v Wellingborough 3rds.

LINCS PREMIER DIVISION

(noon) Bourne v Boston, Lincoln v Market Deeping.

CAMBS LEAGUE

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

(12.30pm) Division Two: Newborough v Saffron Walden 2nds, Sawston & Babraham v Ufford Park, Weston Colville v March.

SOUTH LINCS LEAGUE

(1.30pm) Premier Division: Belton v Stamford, Boston 2nds v Bourne 2nds, Market Deeping 2nds v Spalding.

(1.30pm) Division One: Baston v Skegness 2nds, Frieston v Welby Cavaliers, Moulton Harrox v Timberlands, Spalding 2nds v Billingborough 2nds.

(1.30pm) Division Two: Boston 3rds v Spalding 3rds, Long Sutton 2nds v Graves Park, Pinchbeck v Burgh & District.

HUNTS LEAGUE

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

(1pm) Division Two: AK 11 v Buckden, Barnack v Peterborough Town 3rds, Orton Park v Nassington 2nds, Warboys 2nds v Bharat Sports.

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

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

Sunday, July 17

UNICORNS CHAMPIONSHIP

(11am) Eastern Division: Cumberland v Cambridgeshire (at Netherfield, three days).

RUTLAND LEAGUE

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

(1.30pm) Division Two: King’s Keys v March, Newborough v Grantham, Oakham v Ketton, Uffington v Medbourne, Whittlesey v Castor.

(1.30pm) Division Three: Burghley Park v Stewart & Lloyds, Werrington v Weldon.

(1.30pm) Division Four: Bourne 2nds v Loddington, Hampton v Nassington 2nds, Kimbolton v Ramsey, Orton Park v Thrapston.

(1.30pm) Division Five: Benefield v Alconbury, Castor 2nds v Laxton, Peterborough Town 2nds v Market Deeping 2nds, Uppingham 2nds v Sawtry.

(1.30pm) Division Six: Long Sutton 2nds v Ufford Park 2nds,

HUNTS LEAGUE

(1pm) Division Five: Sheikh v Godmanchester.

Wednesday, July 20

STAMFORD KO SHIELD FINAL

(6.15pm): Ketton v Ufford Park (at Market Deeping).