The 1st XI made the trip the Northowram on Saturday with 3 absentees meaning three 2nd XI players got their chance.Chris Walker, Liam Webb and Louis Holt stepped in.

It was an eventful beginning to the day as our overseas' car broke down on the M62 whilst en route to the ground. 2 Altofts cars pulled over onto the hard shoulder to try and assist Matthew and Jordan who were stuck. At 12:15 just 45 minutes before the start there was 5 players and the scorer parked up on the hard shoulder near Birstall. Eventually everyone jumped into working cars whilst Matt waited for Green Flag to recover his car and get him the the ground.

This disrupted the preparation for the game, and with only 10 men at the ground it wasnt the best start. However captain Craig Wood decided to stick the winning formula and bowl first.

Young debutant Louis Holt got handed the new ball at the opposite end to experienced strike bowler Tom Glover. A very solid start for the 10 1st XI lads kept Northowrams scoring down until Bishop arrived having missed just 5 overs. Soon after Glover claimed the first wicket of the day bowling Welsh for just 6 before Kieron Holliday bowled Grech shortly after. 26/2 after 12 overs. Glover then quickly claimed 2 further wickets caught by Ryan Lethbridge and Adam Perry after 2 chances were dropped in the slip cordon shortly before. A 50 Partnership then followed before Wood claimed 2 quick wickets and Jordan Carter ran out Patel for 49 leaving Northowram 115/7. Wood then claimed another wicket caught by Walker. Kieron then finished the job by getting 2 more wickets to bowl out Northowram for 153. Holliday, Wood and Glover all finished with 3 wickets each.

Wood and Carter then set about knocking that total off. Both got off to a very good start as boundaries got peppered all over the ground before Carter (12) skied a ball and got caught. Altofts 40/1. Dom Richardson replaced him at the crease before he got caught at point for 9. Bishop then went to the crease and alongside Woody added a further 54 to the score before he followed in Carter and Richardsons footsteps back to the pavilion for 27 leaving 1st XI 110-3. 44 to win. Then came the collapse as Webb and Walker both departed on 0. Adam Perry added 10 before he was bowled leaving us 136/6. However Wood batted through the innings to win the game and ended on 85* whilst Lethbridge finished on 4*.

A big game this Saturday however as a yet again depleted 1st XI travel to top of the league Keighley. Teams news to follow tomorrow.

The 2nd XI also beat Northowram on Saturday, mainly due to two superb individual performances from Jaymes Hollingworth and Darren Sharp.

Northowram captain won the toss and stuck us into bat.

Hollingworth opened the batting alongside Pettit. Pettit however could only last 2 balls before getting caught for a duck. Captain Barber added 9 before also getting caught. Then came the important partnership between Hollingworth and Denison as they put on 68 before Denison departed for 40. Sharp then joined Hollingworth as the latter passed the Fifty mark, before being bowled for 72. Sharp then followed soon after for 18. Ellam added a quickfire 19 which got us to 175/6. Bowker added 10* to end the innings and set Northowram 192 to win.

The 2nd innings was Darren Sharps innings as he claimed 6/38 whilst Wheelhouse claimed 2 wickets, Walsh 1 and veteran non spinning spinner Paul Denison claimed the other wicket. Bowling the opposition out for 121. Massive win to get back to winning ways.

The 2nd XI team will be posted by Friday.

#UpTheTofts