Pocklington U15’s final away league match saw them travel to York to play Clifton Alliance U15B on a cool, blustery evening following heavy showers earlier in the day.

Asked to bat first on a green tinged wicket, Skipper Will Atkinson got after the Clifton bowling from the start racing to 37 of just 18 balls before he was deceived by a very good slower ball yorker. At the other end Lewis Chaplin produced another intelligent batting display constantly rotating the strike with his quick running and was unlucky to be run out for 16. Having raced to 71-2 from 10 overs Pocklington’s middle order were reminded that it is surprisingly easy to get out to slow, looping bowling. As wickets fell, the run rate slowed before some momentum was restored by Ollie Scott (14) and Will Foley (22) as Pocklington closed on 127 all out on the last ball of our allotted 20 overs, the tail batting selflessly in search of a competitive total.

On a pitch where straight bowling was rewarded but anything short or wide would be dispatched a much-improved bowling and fielding display saw Pocklington take wickets at regular intervals. Highlights included Ollie Scott executing a calm run out and George Moorhouse’s leg-side stumping off Jack Dewhirst. However, the undisputed star of the bowling display was U13 Archie Sumner who took 5 wickets for just 3 runs from his 4 overs, his second 5-for in as many days, as Pocklington ran out comfortable winners by 51 runs.

Our final U15 fixture of the league season will see table topping Pocklington take on second place Bolton Percy in what should be an exciting climax to the league season.