Marshalls are looking good
by Paul Barker, 2nd May 2006

When it rained heavily on the last match day of last season, it saved Marshalls of Gainsborough from a tricky encounter against bottom club Bridon to see who would be relegated from Division 1. If Bridon had won the match they would have been safe, but much to Marshalls joy we had a day of torrential rain and no play was possible and the Gainsborough side managed a Houdini performance and escaped.

They seem to have learned from this passage of events and have made a tremendous start to this campaign with a winning draw and a win against just one defeat in their first three matches. They certainly made a shaky start and after limiting Kiveton Park to just 92 for 9, they were bowled out for just 79 in reply on the first Saturday of the season.

However on Saturday they had Farnsfield’s last pair hanging on for grim life and on Bank Holiday Monday they managed a brilliant two run win over Cuckney in a thrill a minute spectacle. Batting first Marshalls were well served by skipper Paul Van den Heuvel who made 37 and Mark Whitlam (36). The rest of the batting sad to say didn’t cover themselves with much glory as Richard Stroh (3 for 41) and Tom Ullyet (3 for 32) bowled superbly and Marshalls were all back inside for just 158.

It looked all plain sailing for Cuckney as Will Butler (33) and Richard Stroh (45) put them in a position of real strength but they then collapsed just like a pack of cards and were dismissed for a mere 156 giving Marshalls a memorable 2 run win. Australian import Gareth Yelland who on the evidence he has shown this season looks to be a major capture bagged 4 for 31 and Garry Andrews chipped in with (3 for 33) to trigger off this amazing collapse.

On the evidence of this game, Marshalls will certainly not be a pushover this time around and Cuckney need to regroup after this shock which was totally unexpected.