Late slump hits dreams of final

WOODHOUSES’ Chris Reeve heads for the pavilion after being bowled by Grange’s Joe Hughes.

WOODHOUSES’ dream of stepping out at Lord’s died on the mud-stained grass of their Medlock Road ground.

It was no disgrace to lose to Woodhouse Grange, the holders, but trying telling that to the players who were only one win away from appearing in the National Village Cup final.

The margin of defeat, 87 runs, was harsh as Woodhouses showed plenty of character to restrict the visitors from near York to 194 for six.

But Grange’s bowlers never wavered from their plan to bowl at off-stump and just outside as they strangled their hosts into submission.

When Woodhouses’ resistance finally crumbled, the home side’s supporters had seen their last seven wickets fall for only 16 runs.

Woodhouses captain Gareth Tuson said: “I thought we fielded superbly and we did well to get back into the game after they got off to a flying start.

“We were reasonably confident at half-way, but we couldn’t get going. The wicket was a bit sticky and, in hindsight, we probably should have batted first.

“But I’m still very proud of the players. They’ve been amazing. I know it’s difficult when you get so close, but we’ve reached the semi-final of a national competition and we’ve gone out to a very good side.”

After two failed attempts, the fixture finally got under way at 3.15pm — albeit reduced to 35 overs per side after heavy overnight rain.

The outfield was in a worse state than two weeks ago in the first postponed meeting, but both teams were desperate to avoid a bowl-out.

A first-wicket stand of 121 between Nick Hadfield and Jonathon Bean, who scored 63 and 59 respectively, laid the foundations for a formidable total in the soggy conditions.

But both rode their luck early on, Hadfield especially somehow managing to avoid chopping the ball on to his stumps on several occasions.

There were still 15 overs to go when Woodhouses made the breakthrough — Bean was bowled by Mike Cassidy — and another triumph soon followed when Simon Dwyer scooped Mike Akin’s first ball to Ashley Prescott at mid-on.

Grange suddenly found runs hard to come by as Woodhouses, with Chris Atherton completing his eight overs for a miserly 18, tightened the screw.

Tuson’s side needed a solid start, but the loss of Cassidy with only six on the board gave Grange an early shot of impetus.

The odd boundary lifted Woodhouses spirits, but they were too few and far between to give the two-time winners any cause for concern.

When Steve Clarke and Alan Starmer departed, the latter to the excellent spin of Hadfield for 21, Atherton and Tuson were left with a rebuilding job.

However, time was already against them and, on a difficult wicket, pushing the accelerator button was fraught with danger.

Grange’s back-up bowling took advantage of Woodhouses’ urgency, with David Suddaby taking four for nine and Tom Quinn three for 15.

The end may have been quick, but it was still no less painful.