Barclays 1st XI

Saturday, 5th June - League

Norths Lose Home Banker                                                                                 Sat, June 5th

Barclays                 173a/o

NLCC                     138a/o

Division Two is proving to be a wide open league with little to choose between the sides from top to bottom. The only exception to that is Barclays who will do very well to avoid relegation again after their last day escape in 2003. It really does not get better than Barclays at home for the majority of sides, and Norths in losing this disappointing game dropped their first points of the season where luck could not be claimed to have been a factor. After some rousing performances against the likes of Eastcote, the Bush and Ickenham, they couldn't hold their nerve in this basement battle. Even more disappointingly Norths made little effort to draw the game, in the process allowing Barclays to open a 14 point gap over the Crouchenders.

 The bowling performance was efficient and businesslike. Tom Wakeford survived some early sledging from the sidelines and won great satisfaction by making a mess of his tormentors stumps. Ben Wakeford was on top form taking 2-16 in 8 accurate overs. Rianne picked up two wickets in an overdue league spell of 2-29 in 9 overs. Patrick Joseph and Dan Amadee joined the fun in a good display of teamwork.

 Sadly the bowlers were not backed up in the field where chances went begging. Its difficult to rationalise such a performance, but its clear that some of the team are either trying too hard or lacking in confidence. The cumulative effect was that Barclays got perhaps fifty runs more than they might have.

 It proved too many for Norths as they slid to defeat. Paddy, Mark and Dan all played decent cameos of twenty to thirty, while Rianne was left not out at the end. But two fifties from four league games is not a suitable return for the number of good knocks being played each week.

 Fate has given Norths an excellent opportunity to avenge this defeat since they play ninth placed Brentham on Saturday.

Bottom Three

Barclays                 16 points

Brentham                12 points

Report by: Run Machine