Bottom placed Goole Town produced one of the day’s surprises when they emerged as comfortable winners by 7 wickets at Thirsk. None of the home side’s batsmen made any significant contribution as Ben Lamb’s 6 for 38 had the hosts crumbling to 106 all out. After the break the home bowlers emulated their batsmen by having little effect as Darrell Monger’s unbeaten 48 enabled Goole to vacate the wooden spoon shot in without being under threat.
Easingwold’s skipper Dan Copeland must have been ruing his decision to bat first against old foes Thirsk as both Martin and Stephen Piercy found themselves back in the pavilion with just one run scored. The youthful Thirsk attack made further early inroads into the home batting line-up as Easingwold slipped to 48-4. The side’s fighting spirit then emerged as Paul Skilbeck was joined by skipper Copeland in a fifth wicket stand that produced 141 runs . Skilbeck made 79 and Copeland 87 as the pair’s efforts left them just five runs short of the existing fifth wicket record for the premier division. After their dismissals, Richard Bowling and Paul Redshaw each made unbeaten 25s to see their side to 243-6. Aussie Tom Polkinghorne’s 3-67 emerged as the best figures for a Thirsk bowler. In reply Gary Bolton made 29, Ben England 31 and Des Wyrill 27 as Thirsk earned a fairly comfortable draw at 190-8.
On a day when the top three sides all suffered defeats, leaders Thirsk had a three wicket deficit against 11th placed Beverley Town. Sean Holmes made 36 and Gary Bolton 25 when Thirsk took first innings but a determined spell by Simon Roe araned him 5 for 69 and, with Jim Fisher supporting with 3-18, Thirsk were dismissed for 163. The premier division’s leading wicket taker Stuart Christon hit back with 3 for 41 but a half century from Andy Burton 58, backed by 25 from Andy Spence enabled Beverley to ease home at 167-7.
Thirsk have taken over the leadership of the Premier Division after gaining an advantage draw at Acomb. Once again their youngsters figured prominently as Liam Mckendry struck 58 and paceman Stuart Christon claimed 3 for 24. Gary Bolton was the other Thirsk man to provide a significant contribution. He hit 59 as the Northerners made 169-6 in a game reduced to 46 overs per side. Dave Sykes captured 3 for 59 in an epic 23 overs spell. In reply skipper Andy Tute made 34, Richard Sykes 29 and Matt Dickinson 27 but the Thirsk bowlers held their nerve to restrict their hosts to 125-8.
Thirsk had an Australian debutant when they entertained champions Woodhouse Grange in a game played at Huby due to Thirsk races. The weather clipped three overs off Woodhouse Grange’s innings but they still acquired maximum batting points as they reached 205-8 thanks to Steve Burdett 58, Andy Anderson 45no and Joel Hughes 31. Teenager Stuart Christon maintained his good form with the ball in taking 3-39 whilst fellow youngster Liam McKendry displayed his lesser known talent as a bowler to capture 3 for 36 in ten overs. In reply Shaun Holmes hit 52 whilst Tom Polkinghorne showed that he had quickly acclimatised to English weather as he made a debut 44. Tom Quinn’s 3 for 39 ensured Grange kept their nose just in front as Thirsk closed on 186-6.
There was a thrilling finish at Dunnington where the home side entered the final over requiring seven runs to beat Thirsk with three wickets in hand. Jack Bolam’s splendid innings of 73 ended off the first delivery and a further wicket left the final pair to negotiate the final two deliveries to gain a draw at 189-9. Thirsk’s Liam McKendry followed his opening day ton with 87 to lead his side to a first innings total of 192-8. Successful home bowlers were Rob Chipps with 3-61 and Adam Iyer who claimed 4 for 59. Harwood Williams 57 then paired up with Bolam to mount a challenging run chase but the youthful trio of Thirsk bowlers just manged to stave off defeat with Stuart Christon taking 3-53, Ben England 3-24 and spinner Ryan McKendry 3-62.
Thirsk entertained Pickering with a youthful side deprived of their two veteran bowling stars, Dave Towse and Barry Petty who claimed a total of 124 wickets between them last season. The young side rose to the occasion and inflicted a 122 run defeat on the visiting tea. Thirsk’s innings got off to a resounding start with teenager Liam McKendry and Sean Holmes building an opening stand of 138. Holmes fell for 55 but McKendry showed a full array of shots as he hit 18 fours and one six in a score of 119 made off 128 deliveries. Veteran skipper Des Wyrill chipped in with 25 as his side made 268-9. Mark Haines took 5-89 and Craig Aconley 3-35. When Pickering replied, skipper Dave Greenlay, whose son was making his debut in the opposing side, hit 14 fours as he made 72. However he lacked support as Stuart Christon with 3-35 and Ryan McKendry, who grabbed 3-31 in 10 overs, dismissed the visitors for 146.