Uttoxeter Online Magazine

Uttoxeter v Brailsford (Home)  - Match Sponsored by M & I Bailey.

The last game of the season saw Uttoxeter welcoming the league champions to the racecourse ground. Even with the league all done and dusted the fixture produced one of the games of the season with the champions just edging a close draw.

Captain Walmsley won the toss and asked the away team to bat on a slightly tricky looking wicket and it looked to be a good decision as the away side struggled to really get going. Despite the runs not coming freely the wickets weren’t tumbling.

The first wicket fell to Adam Cottier after a great, slightly theatrical catch at cover from Skelham. Cottier was the best bowler on show taking a 3-27 off his 9 overs. Despite Uttoxeters early pressure and with the pitch starting to dry up the impressive looking Thurlow started to accelerate and raced to a 100 with some classic strokes and a monster 6 or two.

The bowlers will feel slightly unlucky not to have picked up a few more wickets with the ball moving all over the place and in some cases just too much. The away side finished with a total of 227.

Uttoxeters' penultimate home game had very much the feel of an end of season encounter with both sides having very little left to play for, and it ultimately showed as a poor batting performance cost the home side as they slipped to defeat.

Wickets fell at regular intervals once Rob Birch was bowled early doors, the only real highlight being an solid 22 from top scorer Ian Bailey and a very mature and well-constructed 17 not out from Marcus Mellor who was the only batsman to show any real grit.

The home side were bowled out for 105 which was never going to be enough on a pretty flat batting wicket.

The bowling was controlled and much better than the batting but with so few runs to defend it was never going to be enough. Adam Cottier picked up another wicket as he looks to secure the seasons bowling averages and young debutant Chris James picked up his 1st wicket for the senior  sides. Chirs performance was the highlight of the day as Uttoxeter now have some real young talent coming through from the junior sides.

Uttoxeter have 2 games both over the weekend and will still be looking to finish strongly and secure the highest place possible in the league.

The defeat completed a very bad weekend for the Racecourse club with the 2nd teams relegation confirmed.

Uttoxeter Cricket clubs annual ‘club day’ took place on Sunday to a roaring success. A 6-a-side tournament was held during the day which involved senior players, juniors, parents and other friends of the club. 6 teams took part in the action packed event with many spectators enjoying the games and tucking into copious amounts of food and drink during the day.

Despite some disappointing early morning weather the day brightened up nicely and the cricket produced some excellent performances.

Match Sponsored by – Howsons Charted Accountants.

Uttoxeter had yet another stutter with an untimely defeat to Derby Congs. The defeat Uttoxeters’ 2nd in 2 weeks was another disappointment in what has been an up and down campaign.

Losing the toss the home side were asked to bat on what looked like a reasonable wicket. The home side made a steady start with James Burton looking in good form and Dave Hunt supporting him at the other end.