Cricket: Top four finish is crucial for thongsbridge skipper

Aug 22 2009 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TOP FOUR

THE importance of finishing in a top four place is not lost on new Thongsbridge skipper Mark Clayton as the Conference sections go into their last four games of the season.

With the League re-structuring to three divisions next season, there is a real chase on now, not only for a promotion spot, but also to finish the season in a position good enough to qualify for what should be a very competitive second division next summer.

And the former Todmorden captain, enjoying his first season of Huddersfield League cricket, is desperate to ensure his young side do just that.

“I can’t stress how vital it is that we finish no lower than fourth in the Cedar Court Conference this year,” said Clayton.

“We have a lot of very good young lads, and it is imperative they at least get Division II cricket next year.

“At the start of the season, I had already written down Hoylandswaine as likely champions judging by the amount of money they had spent on recruitment, so I expected it would probably be between us and Marsden for the play-off spot in the division, but I hadn’t banked on Lepton Highlanders coming from virtually the bottom last year, to be up there challenging for the title.”

Clayton is a newcomer to Huddersfield, having played much of his cricket in the Lancashire League with Todmorden (he helped them win the Worsley Cup last season), while also having a spell at Drighlington in the mid-80s when they were in the Bradford League, and as a junior came up through the Yorkshire age-group ranks, right up to Under 19 level.

“I’ve been a bit disappointed with my own form this year and not made the runs I should have (although in his defence he has been batting lower down the order to give some of his young charges a chance), but I did make a couple of useful smaller knocks to help us beat Kexborough and Kirkburton.”

And it was through Clayton’s connections that Thongsbridge landed on their overseas player, Barbadian-born all-rounder Justin Grant.

“I know Hartley Alleyne very well, having played with him in Lancashire, and it was through him and Collis King, who wanted Justin to come over and get some experience in England, that we got him at Thongsbridge.