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Mottram 1^st XI

Saturday 20th September 2008

Mottram 58 All Out         Hadfield  191 For 9

Mottram end on a rather poor note!

Last game of the season and Mottram travelled to Hadfield in what was a dead game for us. Hadfield on the other hand needed 1 point to secure promotion.

Captain Rick Windsor won the toss and chose to bowl on what was a lovely day. Mike Scott opened up with Rick and they bowled well in partnership with the first 6 overs of the game all being maidens. By the time the openers were replaced the score was 16-0 after 14 overs. The first and second change bowlers of Andy Burke and Andy Isaac couldn’t keep the pressure on as the former struggled after not playing for a while. Meanwhile Andy Isaac took the first wicket and continued to bowl well. Ryan Fitton replaced Andy Burke and also took a wicket in his spell during the middle overs of the innings. Hadfield were going well going into the last 14 overs when the opening bowlers came back on. Wickets started to fall as Rick finished with figures of 4-41 and Mike with figures of 3-42. Seven wickets in 14 overs and Mottram had got back in the game despite a very competitive score of 191 from Hadfield.

Tea Report. The Hadfield tea ladies did themselves proud with a lovely spread. Sandwiches, pasta, pizza, fresh fruit and mini sausages, it went down very well indeed!

Now for the second innings………well bowled Hadfield.

That was basically all that happened whilst we batted. The innings didn’t really start with wickets falling regularly until a 10^th wicket partnership restored some dignity in what was a very embarrassing innings. Mitch Wood put on 8* and Andy Burke 12 in a 27 run partnership including a huge 6 from Burke, it also must be said that Brad Wright also batted well at number 9. To be fair though Hadfield did bowl well with J Jones (Disco) taking 5-10 and Whynce 3-11. It must be said though that at one point I was asking myself ‘do Hadfield have any normal bowlers’, one bowling off the wrong foot another chucking it, what more!

A poor end to a season that has brought mixed fortunes for the first team. At times we’ve been brilliant, beating teams like Hollingworth and Hadfield, the two promoted teams, along with losing to the two bottom teams, High Lane twice and Charlesworth once. Improvement will be needed if Mottram are to move up the table in Division 2 next year, especially if we want to join the second team in promotion. We have the team, but at key moments during the season we made too many mistakes, which we need to eradicate next year.

Michael Scott

Saturday 30th August 2008

Mottram 114 All Out         Buxton 99 All Out

Mottram somehow secure win out of the jaws of defeat.

Last season Mottram didn’t win a game in the whole of the second half of the season, and we didn’t want to repeat that this year. We changed things around this year as we secured the double over Buxton on Saturday.

Mottram won the toss and choose to bat opening up with the ever dependable Rick Windsor and Andy Metcalfe who was looking in fine fettle until being harshly adjudged caught behind. Ryan Fitton was again unlucky as his bad run continues, he fell followed by Alex Birch and Rick Windsor for a well made 38 before hauling out to long off.  The legend that is John Birch held things together with a mixture of patience and power. A mini partnership with Mike Scott helped things before he fell. Birch carried on with the tail but in the end ran out of partners finishing with 36. A disappointing performance in the batting department as N. Smith took 6-40.

Tea Report. Lyn Flint and her friend (Judith) supplied the teas, and what a delight it was...unbelievably lovely. The usual selection of sandwiches and sweets mixed in with the classic Flint potato wedges, that went down very well, followed by a new make of sausages, smaller but just as tasty. Lyn and Judith showed them Buxton folk how to do it!

Spirits were mixed going into the second innings and things started well for Buxton whose openers looked good early on. Both Andy Isaac and Liam Wright bowled tightly early on with Andy going for only 10 from 9 overs, whilst bowling 5 maidens. Meanwhile Liam began to work his magic bowling a spell 21 overs long picking up 4-38. Liam showed great control throughout his spell, not bowling a bad over all day. Mike Scott contributed once Andy had finished picking up 2-21, using the pitch to his advantage. Rick Windsor brought himself on in the pressure overs bowling well using the theory ‘you miss, I hit’. It worked as Rick picked up 3-26, helped by a cracking catch by Scott at long off to dismiss a batsman that had started to move things on. Alex Birch contributed with a run out which stand-in keeper Cal Danaher managed to chest onto the stumps. Cal did extremely well all day on a track which mustn’t have been easy to keep on. He only conceded 4 byes and helped Liam with a stumping. Rick finished things off, bowling out number 11 first ball.

A great win for the determined Motties who at 114 all out hadn’t looked to be in the best of positions. 

Michael Scott

Saturday 23rd August 2008

Mottram 137 All Out         Charlesworth 140 For 9

Mottram curse the fall of wickets and wonder how they let it slip away

Once again the weather was lovely as Mottram travelled to the newly rebuilt Charlesworth ground and Pavilion on what turned out to be a bad day at the office for the Motties.

Charlesworth took first knock but Andy Isaac made a break through in the first over and then continued to bowl with excellent control, as he has done throughout the season. Sam Grinstead opened from the other end and struggled to regain the class he showed last year. Meanwhile Charlesworth started to turn the screw with Guest getting 47 and Elliot 35 in what turned out to be a good, yet slow period of play for the home team. Andrew Burke and Liam Wright bowled second and first change with the latter picking up the 2 key wickets of Guest and Elliot. Things began to turn in Mottram’s favour with Rick Windsor bowling tightly along with Liam Wright. Mike Scott came on to bowl in the last 10 overs and made an immediate impact on his way to pick up figures of 4-11 off 5 overs. The fielding had been good all game but the highlight was the Liam Wright run out with the aid of Rick Windsor who took the bails off. Andy Isaac cam back on and picked up 1 more but the last wicket proved elusive!

Tea Report. Its that time of the report ladies and gents, the much loved tea report. The Tea ladies put on an excellent spread, including: a nice selection of sandwiches, pizza, garlic bread, pasta, strawberries, melons and cakes. Overall a very pleasing tea…well done Charlesworth.

Mottram opened up with Rick Windsor and Andy Metcalfe but yet again the top order failed with Andy and Ryan Fitton falling early in the innings. The wickets kept on tumbling as the skipper returned to the pavilion followed by Mike Park and Liam Wright. Stef Fielding steadied the ship and was joined by Mike Scott with the score on around 50 for 5. A good partnership ensued as the two lads put on a slow partnership that got Mottram back in the game. Stef fell to an excellent catch by the slowest cricketer ever, Elliot, who wasted time between every over to take on and off his box and helmet for 39. Scott fell soon after for 24 which left it up to the tail who struggled in the rain against the excellent bowling of Evans and Wardle. Andy Isaac helped the cause with a big blow for 6 but Mottram fell 3 runs short when number 11, Andy Burke was clean bowled.

Mottram had once again lost the game mainly due to poor batting whilst the other team had pounced on our incompetence.

Michael Scott

Saturday 16th August 2008

Mottram 136 All Out         Hollingworth 184 For 8

Batting lets Mottram down

The opposite fixture to this game brought good fortunes for Mottram providing their first win of the season in May. However, Hollingworth proved why they are top of the league with a confident victory this time.

Hollingworth took first knock and looked rather shaky with Mottram limiting them to 39 – 3 off 12 overs. Andy Isaac bowled with great control picking up figures of 2-16 in a long spell with the new ball. Andy Burke meanwhile struggled a little bit with his control but still managed to pick up a wicket with the help of a fine catch from Mike Scott. The fielding looked good in the early stages with good commitment from all, especially Liam Wright, Ayrton Fielding and Mike Park, who all looked busy in the field. Liam Wright took over from Burke and bowled with excellent control in the middle overs, picking up fugues of 1-34, whilst Mike Scott fruitlessly bowled from the Pavilion end. The 2 Ryan’s finished the innings off, Fitton and Nixon, both picking up 2 wickets bowling well at the death. Hollingworth probably got 20 runs too many; Mottram’s concentration did fail a little bit near the end of the innings.

Tea Report Wendy Irons and Jane Scott took the mantle and didn’t disappoint. The usual sandwiches and sausages were on offer along with some added extras including Pizza, Garlic Bread, Cheese and Onion Pie and Bombay Potatoes…yeah you heard me and they were lovely. A cracking tea all round.

Andy Metcalfe opened the batting with captain fantastic, Rick Windsor. However the top order failed with wickets falling regularly. Along with the openers Ryan Fitton, Ayrton Fielding and Liam Wright all fell cheaply. Mike Park brought some stability playing sensibly whilst hitting the bad balls. Mike Scott joined Park batting in the same manner. The contrasting styles and strengths aided the partnership with the run rate gradually increasing to get Mottram Back into the game. Whilst all this was happening, the County and England wannabes Ian and Shaun Morris provided some very poor banter after every ball which got very tiresome after about 2 balls! Scott and Park responded with much better banter and good batting before falling in consecutive balls, finishing on 28 and 43. The 3 remaining wickets fell quickly thanks to some classy glove work and good bowling. Hollingworth had won the game but not in the most sporting of manner, with some of their lads ending the game in a rather savoury manner.

Michael Scott

Saturday 26th July 2008

Mottram 267 For 7         Buxworth 268 For 7

Metcalfe and Fielding hit the headlines but in a losing cause

Mottram arrived at Buxworth on what was a lovely day…for batting. Mottram under the leadership of Mike Marsden took first knock and took advantage of the excellent batting conditions. Andy Metcalfe and Ryan Fitton got us off to a cracking start going at around 8 an over for the first 10 overs. As Fitton fell for 20, Alex Birch came to the crease but struggled whilst Metcalfe brought up an uncharacteristically quick 50. Stef Fielding strode to the wicket once Birch fell, muttering ‘see you when I get 100’…how right he was. Both Metcalfe and Fielding progressed before Metcalfe lost his wicket for a classy 74. Liam Wright entered the fray showing his aggressive intent, by hitting a straight 6 second ball. Both batsmen were playing aggressive shots, especially Wright who hit 3 sixes. Mottram then lost 2 wickets; Wright was dismissed followed by Jordan Irons. Mike Park entered and batted aggressively along with Fielding who started to really open his shoulders and hit the ball hard, including a flat 6 into the pavilion narrowly missing one of the tea ladies. 2 more wickets fell in the dying overs, Park and Scott, the later being dismissed first ball by a cracking 1 handed catch at long on. Ayrton Fielding came to the crease and aided his brother to get his maiden first team 100 off the last ball of the innings. What an innings from Stef, a mixture of power, timing and sheer class.

Now for the weekly summary of the tea, and I wasn’t too impressed to be frank, more variety needed, just to have Tuna, Ham and Cheese did not go down well (for me at least) Tips for the tea ladies: A bigger spread needed with more variety, possibly including some nibbles or hot food.

Mottram took the field full of confidence but heads fell easily as Buxworth were going at 10 and over for the first 6 overs. The opening bowlers soon found their areas though and began to peg back the run rate whilst taking wickets. Andy Burke bowled well after his first couple of overs picking up the 2 key wickets of both opening batsmen. Ayrton also found his rhythm picking up 1 wicket bowling down the hill/step. Liam Wright then replaced Ayrton but struggled a bit against J Duckworth who was batting extremely well. Liam found his rhythm and picked up 1 wicket but Duckworth continued to target him a bit. Meanwhile Mike Scott had replaced Burke and was bowling quite economically…if I do say so myself whilst picking up 2 wickets. Ryan Fitton replaced Wright but struggled somewhat against the hitting of Duckworth who was probably seeing the ball like a space hopper.  He hit 9 sixes in his excellent innings of 122 Not Out and batted Mottram out of the game, whilst heads fell in the field.

To put it simply, we were not as could with the ball as we had been with the bat, the bowlers struggled and Buxworth capitalised on this with ease. Heads fell easily and at times we looked rather village.

Michael Scott

Saturday 12th July 2008

Mottram 159 For 6      Hadfield 158 All Out

Mottram win in a last ball thriller that should have been all over 5 overs earlier

Conditions didn’t look to favourable when the two teams arrived on what was a rather moist day at Broadbottom Road. Despite being wet under foot in the outfield the pitch played quite well throughout the game.

Mottram took first knock and got under way with Rick Windsor and Ryan Fitton, both batted well with the former getting 45. Stef Fielding then took the lead, making 45 not out, keeping the score ticking over through the middle to the later stages of the innings. The rest batted around the two top scorers with Mottram finishing on 159-6 off their 37 overs. Note: the match was reduced from 45 overs each due to the late start because of the rain. 

Tea was provided by Wendy Irons and Jane Scott who put on a lovely spread which included some specialities including garlic bread and pasta, sheer class. I’ve heard a Michelin star is on the way!

Sam Grinstead and Liam Wright opened the bowler with the former striking in the first over. Sam bowled really well finishing with figures of 3-54 including the two key wickets of Nicholson and Ball, whilst Liam was being targeted a bit from the other end. After an inspired change of bowling from the skip Michael Scott replaced Liam and struck with his third ball and then went on to take another wicket and generally bowled tight along with Grinstead. Catching was key to the success with Jordan Irons taking 5 catches and Ryan Fitton taking a nice catch at slip. Andy Burke came on and bowled well, collecting a wicket with his first ball followed by a superb caught and bowled catch. Wickets fell regularly and when Hadfield were on 116 for 9 with 5 overs left the game looked all over. However this was not the case, Hockey batting at 11 came in opened his shoulders from ball number 1, hitting a 6 into the bungalow! But he was given a huge life 3^rd ball when Scott dropped him at long off, which in reflection should have been easily taken. Hockey continued to hit the ball well finishing with 45 and five 6’s. It came down to the last over when Scott dropped another hard chance, but again it should have taken. Last ball and Hadfield required 3 to win or 2 to draw. Burke bowled a timely Yorker that went straight to Grinstead who with the aid of Irons managed to run out the batsman and win the game for Mottram…far to close for comfort but a win all the same.

Michael Scott

Saturday 28th June 2008

Mottram 191 All Out      Woodley 175 All Out

Woodley underestimate the power of the Mighty Mottram

Prior to this match some banter had been shared between the teams on Facebook which ensured the match would be a close affair.

Mottram were first to bat on a very poor wicket, understandable considering the poor weather in the preceding week. A good start was made thanks to Rick Windsor’s 41, but again the innings fell away until Stef Fielding halted Woodley’s dominance with a mature 39 in the middle stages. Mike Scott then took the mantle and held the innings together with the tail and finished on 42 before being caught on the boundary. Andy Isaac was out in the same over and Mottram were bowled out for 191, a competitive score on a difficult track to bat on. Tea was a rather upper class affair with BLT’s and salami sandwiches, which to be honest were no competition to a Mottram Tea.

The two Andys opened the bowling: Isaac and Burke, who got us off to a great start. After 14 overs Woodley were only on 16 for 1, such was the dominance of the opening bowlers who used the pitch and the conditions to their advantage beautifully. Andy Isaac was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 4-32 after a very long spell. Ryan Fitton and Mike Scott then closed the innings, collecting 2 and 4 wickets respectively, despite the Woodley tail end showing some resistance and getting quite close to the Mottram score. Gary Picken led the Woodley comeback with 6 sixes in his 48 before Scott got him caught by Adam Hilton.

Mottram had held their nerve in what could have become a close match, through good bowling and fielding and most importantly behaving and looking like a united team behind skipper Rick Windsor.

Michael Scott

Saturday 21st June 2008

Mottram 169 All Out         Chapel 229 For 4

Runs slip away from Mottram using the spare ball

This fixture proved to be a wet and cold one, where Mottram struggled to bowl with an old ball for over 30 overs. In the first couple of overs the original match ball got carted into deepest Hattersley which meant the spare ball had to be used for the rest of the innings. The Chapel batters profited from this as the ball soon became difficult to bowl with, but credit to the Chapel batters including Gary Pheasey who batted well finishing on 132. The Mottram bowlers struggled on the whole; Mike Scott bucked the trend with figures of 1-13 off 7 overs, aided by good fielding. Chapel declared after obtaining full batting points in the 41^st over.

The Mottram top order came out after tea and struggled against some good swing bowling from the Chapel Bowlers. Resistance was offered by first team debutant Mike Park who batted well for his 45 before being run out by Mike Scott who went on to get 50 in the rain batting with the tail. A sorry performance from the first team who had looked so confident in the 3 previous matches.

Michael Scott

Saturday 14th June 2008

Mottram 196 For 4         Buxton 192 For 7

90 Partnership by Fielding and Fitton wins the game for Mottram

Mottram travelled to Buxton for the first time in the DCCL to play on an ex-country ground that proved to be very true and good to bat on. Mottram bowled first opening up with pace man Sam Grinstead and Andy Isaac, but neither had much success in their first spells. Andy Isaac picked up 1 wicket at the start but Buxton were well on the way to a big score. Spinners Ryan Fitton and Liam Wright also bowled with out much success as the wickets dried up. Wickets were indeed hard to come by until the death when Mike Scott picked up 2-27 and Andy Isaac 3-41 unveiling Buxton’s weak middle order. A total of 192 was a good one and after quite a nice tea Mottram got to work.

Rick Windsor again made a substantial score of 51 helped by 24 from Jordan Irons but runs were drying up until the captain got out which brought Ryan Fitton to the wicket joining Stef Fielding. Runs started to flow due to brilliant running between the wickets where 1’s were turned into 2’s and 2’s into 3’s. Also there were some boundaries from both players who put on 90 in only 11 overs. The two lads had turned a boring and lacklustre match, where I thought we had batted ourselves out of it into a game where Buxton looked clueless in the face of excellent batting.

Michael Scott

Saturday 7th June 2008

Mottram 193 For 9         Charlesworth 143 All Out

Batting down the order secures the win for Mottram

One of the largest crowds Mottram had ever seen came to Broadbottom Road for this fixture due to the very special unveiling of the Neil Fazackerley plague on the club house at tea by Sam and Matt Fazackerley following some words by Chairman Chris Bowen.

Mottram batted first and got off to a good start aided by Skipper Rick Windsor but the innings lost momentum in the middle overs before Stef Fielding and Liam Wright were brought together who gathered pace and propelled the innings with 29 and 44 respectively. But Mottram were not out of trouble when number 10 and 11 Mike Scott and Aryton fielding were batting with the score of 140 for 9. However a last wicket partnership of 50 got the score up to 193, with selective hitting and quick running between the wickets initiated by Ayrton (19) which left Mike (29) somewhat tired going in to Tea. And it was a cracker: potatoes, sausages and sandwiches thanks to new tea lady Catharine Priest and her mother.  

Team Spirit was high going out to field and a good start was produced by openers Andy Isaac and Aryton Fielding who both bowled well and with pace. Andy took wickets regularly finishing with 4-32 after a long spell. Mike Scott came on first change and bowled with good accuracy in his well renowned ‘Scott Zones’ finishing with figures of 2-10 off 7 overs. The Spinners then finished things off with Liam Wright picking up 1 wicket and Ryan Fitton 3.

Overall a good performance with the bat, ball and in the field with Stef Fielding taking the lead by catching one that came down with snow on it at Long On.

Michael Scott

Saturday 31^st May 2008

Mottram 219 For 8        Hollingworth 84 All Out

Hitting down the order secures the first win and a change in direction for the season?

Mottram travelled to Hollingworth on the back of 4 league losses and with some serious divisions in the team, but we got together and pulled through to win our first game of the season.

Captain Rick Windsor and Jordan Irons opened the batting and started slowly due to Windsor’s bad leg. Irons fell bringing Andy Metcalfe to the crease who put on a nice partnership with the skipper. Wickets fell with Stef Fielding going for a duck after getting 80 odd the game before, unlucky fella. With Mottram on 120 after 30 overs with wickets in hand some hitting was required from the lower order to achieve a good target from the last 15 overs, this was easily provided. Liam Wright and Andy Isaac hit the ball well with the former getting 41 and the latter hitting the ball miles into a neighbour’s garden. Sam Grinstead finished the innings off well with two 6’s off the last two balls of the innings. Mottram went to tea with a score of 219, with twelve 6’s, easily our best batting performance.

Tea was an average affair, not up the standard of an MCC tea, clearly shown as diehards Dezzer and Ezzer went to Mottram for their tea!

Sam Grinstead opened the bowling and was told to bowl ‘quick’ by the skip; he did so but with little success on the wickets front. Liam Wright bowling from the other end tweaked the ball beautifully, being let down by Mike Scott in his first over who dropped a dolly but went on to catch 2 others for Wright, who was well and truly bowling in the ‘Wright’ areas…you get what I did there??? Nice. Wright finished with figures of 14-7-28-5, easily my Man of the Match. Ryan Fitton went on to get figures of 4-24 being helped by an excellent catch by Mike Scott (if I do say so myself) at long on (for more details speak to me directly) and others. Other memorable catches were taken by Sam Grinstead and Mike Marsden who managed to head the ball first and then did a juggling act that a clown would be proud of. Andy Isaac picked up the last wicket, a day in which Mottram had taken 9 catches to Hollingworth's 90 dropped catches…unlucky fellas.

Overall, a very convincing performance from the Mottram Elite, who showed grit and determination to overcome the bad start to the season.

Has the corner been turned for good????

Michael Scott

Saturday 10th May 2008

Mottram 157 All Out         Buxworth 159 For 7

Not Enough Runs makes the game difficult for MCC

Newly appointed vice-captain Andy Isaac in his first game as Captain won the toss and sensibly chose to bat first on what was a boiling hot day. Mottram made a good start thanks to Alex Birch and Ryan Fitton but whilst Fitton fell, Birch ploughed on to make a well made 44. Liam Wright stayed there to score 15, but the rest of the middle order crumbled. A revival was lead by Andy Isaac who hit 5 HUGE sixes to finish on 44 and Jordan Irons who did his job in staying around to finish on 21 not out. But the rest of the order gave their wickets away and didn’t bat to their full abilities with Mottram finishing on a meagre 157 all out.

Tea was a classic, what’s more a Lynn Flint classic, as per usual. I lovely array of sandwiches, sausages, potato wages and desserts.

Buxworth took the field and had a pretty good start despite good bowling from openers Sam Grindsted and Andy Isaac. In fact Sam bowled beautifully picking up the first 4 wickets, finishing with figures of 11-1-40-4. But Andy was soon replaced by Michael Scott who bowled in the zones and picked up 1 wicket. But after the wicket S. Leatherbarrow (56) and J Ratcliffe (50) started hitting out and pulled the game away from Mottram. Mottram looked lack-lustre in the field despite Adam Hilton taking 2 wickets from 3 overs. The game was already over when Buxworth rolled over the winning line.

A disappointing game on the whole despite some good individual efforts from Alex Birch, Sam Grindsted and Andy Isaac. Marked improvement is needed and quickly if Mottram are to start climbing up the Division 2 table. But we can do, we have the talent and the class to start winning. C’mon Mottram.

Michael Scott

Saturday 4th May 2008

Mottram 159 For 9       Broadbottom 163 For 4

LOCAL DERBY THRILLER GOES DOWN TO THE WIRE

Mottram’s season opener ended in last over defeat at the hands of their age old rivals but not without a fight back and an encouraging recovery which in the final analysis came probably 10 0vers too late.

The visitors were inserted on the most difficult Broadbottom wicket I have ever encountered but after such a wet spring nobody could have expected anything other than a “sticky dog” tailor made for seamers. And so it was that Captain Rick Windsor, after surviving a huge and confident appeal for a catch at the wicket off the first ball of the match, had to work hard and patiently for an uncharacteristically slow 50. He was ably supported by Metcalfe(18) and then a cameo from Wright(20) followed by  22 not out at the end from the ever improving Alex Birch were the highlights of an otherwise lacklustre batting performance.

Broadbottom's response with the blade was far more positive as openers Moss(50) and Shufflebottom(36) made light work of all that Mottram could muster with the ball. Mike Scott, the sixth bowler to be used, brought control to proceedings with immaculate line and length pinning back the home side’s hitherto relentless charge. When Windsor reintroduced himself back into the attack near the end there was a flurry of wickets and with Sam Grinstead racing in off his full international run at the Broadbottom end runs became hard to come by. With 2 overs remaining and 24 runs still required, veteran Barry McManus struck two huge sixes and Gareth Witney a couple of boundaries to ease the home side to victory in the last over with just two balls remaining. 

Mottram’s ground fielding had been profligate at times and a number of dropped catches proved costly. There will need to be a marked all round improvement against Buxworth next week.

John Birch