Galgate vs Bolton-le-Sands A, 13th July 2003

Adam & Gaskell Trophy Semi-Final

Galgate 140, Bolton-le-Sands A 141-8

Sands won by 2 wkts

Sands second team reached the final for the second season in succession after a heart-stopping victory at Galgate on Sunday.
The home side opted to bat first, but were soon in trouble, falling to 15-2 as Steve Foxcroft took two wickets in the fourth over. Riley (16) and Morgan (22) recovered the situation with stand of 44, but again, two quick wickets left the innings in the balance. Late order contributions from Brighouse (23), Cooper (16) and Gardner (14) helped Galgate post a respectable score off their 25 overs. Stockdale took 3-26, Foxcroft 2-19, and Dukes 2-15 for Sands.
Sands looked dead and buried after just two overs of their reply, losing three wickets with just three runs on the board. 34-3 proved to be a partial recovery but Beales took two wickets in an over and Galgate were on top again at 34-5 with fifteen overs remaining. Tony Pennington and Mark Brickles put on 48 for the sixth wicket, Pennington opening his shoulders and lofting the ball down the ground as the home side began to struggle in the field. Brickles fell caught behind, but Foxcroft proved as able an ally for former Heysham skipper Pennington who continued to blaze the ball to the boundary. Nineteen runs came off the 22nd over as Pennington pulled two mighty sixes, and despite being run out for an excellent 82, the winning runs came off a wide in the final over, much to the delight of the travelling supporters.

Sands now face Sedbergh in the final at Bare on July 27th.

Bolton-le-Sands A vs Sedbergh, 27th July 2003

Adam & Gaskell Trophy Final, Bare CC

Bolton-le-Sands A 168-8, Sedbergh 84

Sands won by 84 runs

Sands second team made up for last years disappointment as they stormed to victory at Cross Hill Park on Sunday.

Sedbergh won the toss and elected to field first on a firm strip and Archer made an immediate breakthrough, Mills caught off a flier in the first over. With Cann bowling intelligently at the other end, batting was never easy early on and Brown fell to a mistimed hook shot. After ten overs Sands had reached only 31-2 but crucially Archer and cann had bowled their allotted overs. With the execption of Wilson, the back up bowling was not able to follow up the lead of the openers and Sands took advantage. Tony Pennington fell for 30 but Brian Stockdale contributed 25, and hard hitting innings from both James Vipond (23) and skipper Mick Clarkson (22) saw the score rocket past the 150 mark. Both Vipond and Clarkson hit two sixes whilst Foxcroft (23no) looked on serenely from the other end, hampered by a calf injury. Wilkinson took three late wickets, but went for 61 runs, Wilson took 2-20 and Archer 2-15.

Sedbergh set about the run chase confidently as Neil and Cann put on 40 for the first wicket in eight overs, some quick running between the wickets putting Sands on the back foot. However, both openers fell on the space of two overs as Pennington (2-14) took two vital wickets, and Stockdale followed up by dismissing Archer and then Les Hoggarth first ball. The Sedbergh innings never recovered as Stockdale (4-14) took two further wickets and the pace of James Vipond (2-22) proved too much for the lower order. Fittingly, skipper Mick Clarkson (2-18) took the last two wickets to fall. All the bowlers performed excellently and were well backed up by the fielders.

Amid much cheering, League President Cedric Dyson presented the Meridien Trophy to Mick Clarkson, and Brian Stockdale received the Man of the Match award for his all round performance.