SHIPLEY TWO's in ACTION

Shipley two's were looking to improve upon their opening loss at Ambergate by whooping Riddings at Shipley. Batting first their cause was not helped by the loss of skipper ROB COKAYNE and OLIVER HODSON with only 8 on the board. BEN SMYTH with 30 played another good knock and with some dour defence from ANDY FINLAY ( pic very annoyed as he walks back) they took the score to 67 before disaster struck and the soreboard descended to 69-8. A mixture of airy wafts and poor skills appeared to be the main cause. However, there was no brotherly love on display when the skipper gave his brother out LBW. ( Pot calliNg the kettle comes to mind as the skipper must hold the batting record for most dismissals for LBW). DARREN CHERRY was showing that staying at the crease was possible. Not much more was expected when he was joined by ROSCO CYSTER (pic - looking very stylish) but he again dumbfounded his batting skill detractors until he tired of the whole thing having scored 14. A wild whoosh and goodnight vienna. That was about it ,with Darren falling soon after leaving PAUL TURNBULL on 0 not out -his first not out having not faced a ball.Final tally 88 all out. Replying,Riddings did not have things their own way with Rosco and JACK MURFIN (who consoled his zero when batting with a cream cake) bowling tidily. Wickets fell and Andy and HARRIET PARKIN with a brace apiece set the match up for a close finsh. Then the more experienced Riddings players came to the fore and they edged past the Shipley score with 6 wickets down. On balance some improvement, but the battIng needs a boost. Will next week produce the first batting point of the season ? Just had a horrible memory of the Shipley 1st XI I captained in 196?? not scoring 100 until the end of May.