Pudsey St Lawrence C.C.

Being put into bat by Pudsey Congs didn't put Saint Lawrence off their stride as they ran up a respectable 113-5 off thier 20 overs. Archie Scott and Jack Allman batted to thier customary retirements having put on 59 for the first wicket.Tom Ayres was well caught by Alexander Holmes and Curtis Hardaker played all round a ball from Alex Naylor as Congs struggled to get back in the game.Josh Marsden was unlucky to be run out before facing a ball and Ben Merchant was caught by the treacherous Archie Scott who had defected to the Congs side having scored a brick 12. Tom Frankland (12) and James Pearce (10*) put on some quick runs and the home side finished on 113-5.

James Pearce opened the bowling for Saint Lawrence and put down the first maiden of the match. Megan picked up the wicket of Ross Kettlewell with her fourth ball and Congs were one down without a run on the board.Sam Baxter came to the crease and batted with characteristic assurance but when James bowled Adam Slater Congs were in trouble at 10-2. Sam Baxter went on to make an attractive 32 in an innings containing seven boundaries. Congs wickets fell around him with Josh Chapman neatly caught by Curtis for a duck. Tom Frankland again bowled economically returning 1-5 off his three and John Pearce kept the screws on Congs finishing with 1-7 from his allocation. Harry Allman joined the fun bowling Scott Davies and Ben Merchant mopped up the tail to finish with 2-1 from five balls. Jack Allman, in the tradition of great keepers, went almost unnoticed behind the stumps keeping exceptionally well again standing up to everything thrown down at him.

The U13s ran out winners by 61 runs in what was possibly their best performance of the season. They remain unbeaten in the League since the opening game of last season and remain genuine title contenders in our rain ruined summer.

A impressive performance was only marred by the treachery of Archie Scott who not only fielded for the sworn enemy, but encouraged their fielders and committed the ultimate act of infamy when he caught Ben Merchant off the bowling of Eddie Kerfoot. As regular readers of this column are aware Archbishop Gerard Sharpe is no lover of traitors and heretics and was suspended by the league two seasons ago for suggesting the Baildon U13s coach be burned at the stake for reducing the number of overs in an U13Bs game. The Archbishop was infuriated by Archie Scotts traitorous behaviour and retreated to his workshop in Apperley Bridge to build a gallows which will be erected on the square before the Undercliffe game. So long Archie.