Woodhouses lord it over rivals!
Reporter: CHRIS LYNHAM
Date published: 08 August 2011
Photo: Chris Sunderland
HIGH-FIVES: Woodhouses players celebrate Village Cup semi-final victory over North Yorkshire outfit Sessay.
CRICKET: WOODHOUSES booked a dream date at Lord’s following a superb Persimmon Village Cup semi-final victory over holders Sessay at Medlock Road.
Mike Cassidy’s men will take on Sussex outfit Rottingdean at the home of cricket on September 4.
A couple of false starts due to rain saw some glum expressions on the hundreds of fans who flocked to the eagerly-anticipated clash yesterday, but a few hours later those frowns were turned to smiles.
After finishing on 214 for seven — Josh Tolley made 79 — Woodhouses dismissed the visitors for 163, sparking scenes of wild celebration.
Cassidy said: “It might take a while for it to sink in. We came close five years ago only to lose in the last-four, but this time we have taken the next step and we are going to Lord’s — how good does that sound?
“It means an awful lot to the club and people in the area who are passionate about their cricket.
“I would like to thank them because we have received great support all the way through the
competition.
“The fact the final is at Lord’s is a treat for all concerned. We cannot wait for it to come around.”
Sessay won the toss and decided to allow their opponents to bat first — a decision which suited the Woodhouses captain down to the ground.
He added: “Had we won the toss, I would have opted to bat first anyway. It is a pressure game and I think if you can put plenty of runs on the board early on it makes the other team slightly anxious.
“Luckily we managed to do just that and we probably grew in confidence as the contest progressed.
“To get more than 200 runs on a slightly slow wicket is good going.”
Nick Doyle joined Cassidy at the top of the order and mustered an assured 37 before he departed lbw.
Cassidy looked destined for an extended stay at the crease until he was bowled out of the blue for 28.
Enter Tolley and the key knock for Woodhouses.
His powerful drives belied his small frame, with the player demonstrating wonderful technique and footwork.
No such joy for Luke Swards, who departed for a duck, and Jimmy Clarke followed him with nine runs to his name.
But Tolley continued to fight the good fight, with Woodhouses moving on 152 for five.
NickHardman was caught and bowled and Tolley eventually fell lbw.
Popular Doug Sloan — known for his big-hitting — entered the fray and did not disappoint his followers, starting an exciting innings with two successive fours before bowing out on 21.
Gareth Tuson (nine) and Callum Megram saw out the remaining overs for Woodhouses.
Openers Mark Wilkie and Matthew Till looked to have runs in them and Sessay went about their business effectively enough.
But Tolley collected Megram’s teaser and sent Wilkie on his way for 30, and Swards clean-bowled Till on 19.
The next two wickets proved critical to Woodhouses’ chances, as Nick Thorne was brilliantly caught by Clarke off Swards for a duck and Nick Harrison managed just one before Tolley gathered his tame effort from Megram.
The sense of belief around the ground was palpable as the ailing visitors found themselves on 56 for four.
Chris Till steadied the ship, but Cassidy got in on the act, dismissing Joe Spencer to make it 81 for five.
Sessay limped to three figures but the writing was on the wall. Sloan claimed Chris Till (caught Tuson) for 23 and Chris Cowton for 17 (caught Tolley), taking the score to 116 for seven.
Richard Till resisted with a decent knock of 21, but Swards produced one of the highlights of the game when he acrobatically gathered his attempted slog off Hardman.
Jake Watson’s drive was caught by Tolley off Sloan for five and Ashley Prescott clinched victory in fine style, powerfully bowling Stuart Peirse for six.
