Result Summary
Result: Goole Town CC - Under 11 - Won by 27 runs
Score Goole 77 for 6 (16.0 overs) Net Score 247 - Ack 75 for 11 (16.0 overs) Net Score 220

After losing the toss Goole were asked to bat first at Ackworth in the top of the table clash on Thursday. Goole began with Thomas Franks (11) & Sam Whittall (4) negotiating the opening bursts to take Goole to 215 with some well-timed running and lusty blows for 4 from Franks. Ollie Sugden (11) and Henry Appleby (2) lost 3 wickets, but they managed to keep the score near to par as they also scored well against a good Ackworth attack. Ciaran Smith (12) and Callum Woodcock (3) lost wickets, but good hitting from Smith kept their score in positive figures as Goole progressed to 242 from 12 overs. The final four overs were negotiated by Lennon Wilson (7) and Leon Murphy (4) who both batted well to score 6 runs and take Goole to a reasonable score of 248 from 16 overs.

Goole knew that a disciplined bowling and fielding display was needed. The openers for Ackworth got off to a good start with boundaries against Franks and Whittall. A tight 2nd over from Franks and an excellent double wicket over containing and excellent stumping by Murphy from Whittall pegged them back to 219 from their 4 overs. The 2nd pair of Varley and Bickerton scored 32 from 4 overs, but 2 wickets each from Henry Appleby and Lennon Wilson meant that their score was limited to 12 mainly due to good fielding and an excellent catch from Smith who dived forward to a ball hit towards mid-wicket. From this point on Goole began to take the upper hand as 6 wickets fell in the next 8 overs, 3 to leg spinner Ollie Sugden. Franks took a well judged catch on the square leg boundary to prevent a 6 and Appleby diving at mid-wicket caught the ball one handed to hold on to the ball despite injuring his hand. Two run outs and a further stumping for Leon Murphy kept the Ackworth score down and Goole finished the innings with a 28 run victory. It was an excellent fielding display from the Goole team with many of the Ackworth parents commenting on how well they had done under difficult circumstances.

The win leaves Goole top of the Pontefract & District Eastern Division, 3 points ahead of Whitley Bridge who beat Carlton on Thursday. With two games to go against Carlton & Whitely, Goole look in a good position to win the division and qualify for the finals day in July, but they will have to be wary of both their final two opponents who also have the chance to overtake Goole.