Nick Wright previews this weekend's clash between York City Knights and Hull FC
Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past
Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
James Tompkinson reviews an excellent pre-season victory for the York City Knights against Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos
With the 1sts losing Emmerson and Murrils to exams and keeper Remington to the last minute revelation of assessed essays, skipper Vanner again had to plunder the 2nds for his XI. The 1sts won the toss and elected to field on a wicket that looked about as convincing as a Gordon Brown YouTube video.
Second ball of the game and confusion hit the Hallam openers as they ended up at the same end, only for Wood to fumble twice before unleashing an almighty lettuce arm to allow the batsmen safety. Luckily for Wood it didn't cost his team as the opener only went to score 130 out of Hallam's 213. Martin was accurate and Townson slightly erratic but neither managed to gain a breakthrough. Hudson bowled tidily but not brilliantly by his usual demanding standards. Wood got his chance to reconcile himself with the ball, delivering an awe inspiring spell of 1-0-15-0, before the captain felt his services were better employed in the field.
"00" Memon made his 1st team come back and bowled solidly, taking one wicket with a well judged catch at mid off by the normally teflon hands of Townson. Barrat, returning after hernia troubles, took two wickets, but too many boundary balls made them expensive dismissals. As the rain tipped down and the bowlers struggled to grip the ball, Hallam accelerated rapidly, setting their visitors more than seven an over to win.
In reply Hudson started quickly, punishing the continued dross from Hallam's openers. He and Vanner maintained the run rate for the first 15 before Vanner was dismissed for 24. Barrat at three, failed to rotate strike and the chase was halted by the inexplicable LBW of Hudson, an absolute shocker by anyone's standards. In came Townson who quickly departed to another awful decision from the same umpire. Rupa made a steady 33 at 5 but again York's middle order stumbled with Wilson and Memon failing to get a score of note.
Martin rotated strike before Memon was bowled leaving Wood to enter the arena on the back of his earlier heroics. Having assured his team mates on the boundary that he knew how to get the runs required, Wood's practise stroke was unfortunately reminiscent of a John Daly rather than a Michael Vaughan drive. In came Hallam's left arm Chinamen, sending down a full ball at off stump, towards which Wood half shuffled, dangling the bat like a limp towel, and was clean bowled first ball to complete the finest TFC the club has ever seen. Martin hit 21 at the end in a brief cameo but the run rate of 15 an over required excessive risk, and York were bowled out for 163.
Being already relegated, this fixture could not command the same competitiveness as the others. But again, the 1sts relied on a half century from Hudson to deliver any kind of a respectable score and the middle order failed, with the exception of Rupa. The loss of Vanner, Remington, Emmerson, Townson and Butterfield next year will see a lot of places up for grabs. Hopefully for York, they will inherit some batsmen who can perform in tough conditions and not just in the indoor nets, to gain promotion back to BUCS 2B.
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