Rain Thwarts Milfords Win.

Heavy rain all day Friday and morning showers had left the Saxton ground very soft but the afternoon was sunny and a strong NW wind was helping to dry out the pitch. Milford skipper Jimmy Liddle won the toss and put Saxton in figuring it would only get better for batting as the day progressed.

Milford missing three of the regular first team bowlers struggled early on and the Saxton opening pair made a steady start. Matt Ball taking the lead as they reached 50 without loss in 15 overs. He was helped by Steve Hall dropping him when he was on just 18. Ball went on to make a best of the day 55.

The introduction of Lawrence White into the attack broke up the pair and Milford started to get the upper hand. Steve Hall came on to replace the luckless veteran John Cain and immediately took a wicket. Saxton were now wobbling on 78-4 loosing four wickets for just 16 runs. A brief fight back by Saxton skipper Steve Hills and ex Milford junior Steve Wragg saw Saxton's total climb to 93 but Steve Hall picked off the tail to finish with his best first team figurers of 6 for 19 off just six overs. He was backed up by some excellent catching especially Stuart Morley's diving catch to dismiss Nick Sowerby for a duck.

So Saxton were bowled out for 115 in just 35 overs but would Milford be able to get back on to try to knock off that total. We had already had one interruption for rain during the Saxton innings and just as we stopped for tea a big black cloud anchored its self over the ground. So we had an extended tea break to wait for the rain to stop and the wicket to dry out.

Very nice teas from Saxton, though they should be, having been bought from local bakers Crusties for the princely sum of £82 !!!!! The extended interval gave us chance to look at the new pavilion under construction at the other corner of the ground. It is going to be a very impressive building when finished with folding glass doors and electronic score board. It will be the envy of all other clubs in the Wetherby League for sure.

If the game hadn't been such an important relegation battle it is debatable if we would have waited for the rain to stop and the wicket to dry out but with both sides needing six points to virtually guarantee staying in the second division there was no way we were leaving before either the weather made it impossible or the light failed.

Eventually things improved enough for the Milford innings to start and just before 6 o'clock we took the field. We probably wouldn't get the full 55 overs in but surely the match would be won one way or the other before then. Obviously the ground was now very wet and it is difficult to say which side it favours, probably it is harder on the fielding side as the bowlers struggle with footing and the ball is slippery in the hand.

Stuart Morley and Jimmy made a cautious start and Stuart was soon back after been given out lbw for just 1. Then Dan White was the victim of some appalling luck as a straight drive from Jimmy ricochet off the bowler onto the stumps to leave him stranded. Out for a duck after facing just one ball. Paul Hebden came in at four and decided to attack as the weather out to the west was looking ominous. He and Jimmy put on 45 runs before he mistimed a shot to be out for 32. The match was now delicately poised with Milford 52-3, a couple more wickets and Saxton would be favourites but if Jimmy could stay in we looked to have it in the bag.

The weather decided to interfere and once again the rain came down, so off we came. The wind by this time had died away so the grey clouds were not moving away. Saxton were very reluctant to continue but Jimmy was confident that if we could get back on we would win. He even sent our chairman Dewi back to Milford for some sawdust so we could resume if the rain abated. To show how wet it had become Dewi got his van stuck in the mud in the car park as he set off on his errand.

The rain did stop just after 7 o'clock we headed out to start again, but as soon as all the players reached the middle the rain came down hard. Unfortunately the ground couldn't take any more water and reluctantly the match was abandoned. Both sides will have to try again next week to get that one win which will guarantee their safety.