Match Report

First XI vs Northwich

Barns victorious at the battle for Northwich

The Barns 2009 continued at Northwich - the pavillion's ramparts towering high over the Moss Lane leisure complex. The battle lines were drawn.

Barns won the toss and - on a wicket that looked like cookie dough - had no hesitation in inserting the opposition on winning the toss.

Opening up were the war horse Dave Molloy and his fellow siege engine James Dunley. It turned out the wicket was to play like cookie dough too, as both Molloy and Dunley got plenty of zip and variable bounce. In the face of such an onslaught, Northwich's openers (East and Jamieson) were to prove canon-fodder for Dunley who dispatched both caught behind by Infrantyman Stubbs.

Wood shelled Oaky at Gully and Robinson fluffed Rebbeck at slip - showing one or two chinks in the Barns' armour. However, Sir David of Molloy would poleaxe Rebbeck with the help of Stubbs.

Dunley was taken out of the attack after another fantastic spell to be replacing by campaign veteran Dave Saddington. Saddington trun in a superb display going on to plunder five wickets with his military medium wobblers as, after a late flurry, Northwich closed on 116.

A special campaign medal - perhaps the (Northwich) Victoria Cross - going to Boxty who claimed 6 scalps in all.

Not since Saruman fired up the Orcs before the Battle for  Helms Deep had a team come out as voluble and fired up as Northwich. However, Mike Filson had brought out his mighty war hammer and flayed Brandon for 12 from the innings first over - then promptly removed from the attack.

A stand of thirty odd between Robinson and Filson helped relax The Barns' nerves. However, Robinson fell on his sword in a mix up and was run out. Joe Cooper was LBW shortly afterwards

By this time, Northwich had gained some control bringing in to play an attritional spin attack of Hayes and Jamieson. Both soldiered away for pretty much the rest of the day getting lots of bite on a surface resembling 5th day Lahore - rather than a bracing June in Cheshire. Filson went for 32 - best score of the day - and Wood was run out (more accurately, death by a thousand cuts.)

Khawar Iqbal played a nice cameo before fatally going back to Hayes. However, it was up to Saddington and a great knock by Longbowman Collins to see the Barns home.

Barns were pleased to clap home the boys (although an unhappy Orc did storm off first), as this was a really hard fought victory, before retiring to the bar and enjoying the spoils of victory.