Morale boosting win by 37 runs for Clogher

Editorial Department • Published 29 Jul 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Like a diamond in the rough, Clogher's exciting but hard-fought victory over Ards on Saturday was a shining highlight in a generally frustrating season. In their last away match of 2010, and despite a few hiccups along the way, a superb team effort saw Clogher home by 37 runs - their second proper league win of the year.

After winning the toss, Clogher captain Kenny Maxwell chose to bat first, and partnered by Alastair McFarland, he went out to open the innings in very overcast conditions, and must have been licking his lips at the very short boundary on one side of the ground. The first three balls of the match from S Rodgers were given as wides, a trend which continued throughout the innings - of 47 extras conceded by Ards, 39 were wides. As well as this, neither the bowlers or the batsmen were helped by an ill-prepared wicket - slow and with virtually no bounce, it was a pitch that called for an accuracy which was generally lacking from the Ards opening attack.

Despite the lifeless batting track, Maxwell and McFarland played their strokes well, putting on 37 for the first wicket before McFarland was dismissed for 11, caught and bowled by R Patterson. When Andy Dodds arrived at the crease, he ably supported the skipper in a good second wicket stand of 58, with fine attacking shots. Maxwell meanwhile was really finding his form in the middle, particularly enjoying working the ball to the leg side, and hitting the first six of the day to cow corner in the 21st over.

Dodds fell caught and bowled to B Maxwell (bowling his first over) for 11, with the score on 95. This great diving catch was the first of seven wickets for Maxwell, a brilliant haul for only 27 runs with two maidens - a standout performance in an otherwise uninspiring attack. Stephen Maxwell then joined his father in the middle (which for fans of curious stats, gave rise to the unusual situation of a Maxwell bowling to two batsmen also named Maxwell). When Stephen was bowled round his legs by his namesake for 0, it signalled the familiar Clogher mid-order collapse, with both Ashley Arnold and Richard Scott out without scoring while the team total was 111 - the traditionally unlucky score known as 'Nelson'. While this was going on, Kenny Maxwell at the other end kept his head and reached his 50 in the 30th over - when he was finally caught at mid-off for 65 (with 9 fours and 2 sixes) off B Maxwell, he had guided the listing Clogher ship to 128. Both Aaron Service and Ray Wilson contributed valuable scores of 21 and 13 respectively, before the Clogher innings wound down to it's conclusion, leaving Ards with a total of 173 to chase. It was mainly due to the excellent, accurate bowling of B Maxwell that Clogher didn't put more runs on the board, as the rest of the bowling (and fielding in general) was mediocre.

When Clogher took to the field after tea, they were reasonably confident of defending their total, but the Ards opening batsmen, R Balfour and T Donnan made an emphatic start to their run-chase, frustrating the bowlers with a mixture of big shots over the top and well-timed strokes through the gaps. Their run-rate was higher was higher than Clogher's and it was beginning to look like they had the staying power to see the game out, when Ashley Arnold made the breakthrough, having Donnan caught for 50 with the score on 96. The catch itself was a stunning full-stretch dive by Andy Dodds at deep mid-wicket, who was truly excellent in the field, throwing himself around with abandon to stop both singles and boundaries.

When Balfour was removed by Ray Wilson, caught behind by keeper Alfie Stewart for 40, Clogher seized control of the game and didn't let go. A renewed effort by all the fielders, and a superb spell by Arnold bringing him 6 wickets for 40 runs ensured that no other batsman scored more than 8, and Ards were all out for 136 in the 34th over when Alastair McFarland, after a bit of juggling, caught N Murray off his own bowling, leaving an elated Clogher to head home triumphant (a much more pleasant drive after a win than after a defeat).

This much needed victory saw Clogher complete their double over Ards, and with only four home games left, should lift their spirits and confidence as they go into the home straight of this year's campaign, beginning with the PSNI next Saturday. If they continue to play with the same unity and vigour as they showed in this game, their prospects for a good finish to the season are good.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 29 Jul 10

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