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So it was with a mixture of excitement and apprehension that Elsey's Stiffs welcomed Darley Abbey 2nds for the first game of the season in late April. This game was to prove to be a snapshot of what was to be expected for the rest of the season with an excellent bowling performance bringing a magnificent 27 point win. A 50 for Captain Else was backed up with 3 wickets a piece for Jordan Crowder and Matt Garner gave The Cross a great start to life in 4 North.
The good start was continued the weekend after with a winning draw at Shipley Hall (a team that had played against Cross 1sts the season before) again built around a great bowling performance led by 4 wickets for Jimmy Carroll. Another 27 point win followed the week after against Denby 3rds where the bowlers put on a great show to defend 136 and bowl our Denby for 90, Crowder, Garner, Bob Evans, Mark Harland and John Green all capturing 2 wickets each. So 3 games in and The Cross were top much to everyones surprise and they were to stay there for the first half of the season.
Next up was a Sunday game at a blazing hot Breadsall where 97 from Chris Plant helped Clay Cross to 171 which proved to be enough as another superb bowling performance saw Breadsall shot out for 85. 3 wickets for Green helped The Cross get a little bit of revenge for two defeats against Breadsall in 2007. 27 more points followed the week after at home to Riddings where again (becoming a reoccuring theme this!) the bowlers dug the team out of a hole successfully defending 134. This time Andrew Woolley was the pick of the bowlers with 3 important wickets.
It was the turn of the batting line up to fire (well 2 of them!) in the next game, where an excellent partnership from Steve Eyre (70*) and John Green (56*) took the Cross to victory against Heanor chasing down 172 to register 22 points.
The next game was probably the most memorable of the season with South Wingfield being hammered out of sight for another 22 point win. South Wingfield were bowled out for 19 (nineteen) with Mark Harland recording amazing figures of 14-11-3-4! He was abley supported by Matt Garner (2-10) John Green (2-5) and Bob Evans (2-0). This target proved little trouble for The Cross with victory taking only 2.5 overs and Chris Plant scoring all 22 of the teams runs!
A home game against highly fancied Cromford was next with 50s from Steve Else and Jordan Lemon taking Cross to a godd score of 203. Cromford were then bowled out thanks to 4 wickets from Matt Garner to give Cross 27 points and a good lead at the top of 4N.
The next game was to provide the first negative result of the season with a loss batting first to a strong Little Eaton side. Steve Else hit 64 not out but wasn't supported and Little Eaton were able to overhaul the 131 target despite 2 wickets for Evans, Green and Ogden. (who had made a welcome return to bowling the week before.)
After a rained off game against high flying Holmewood, Cross lost again this time at Belper Meadows, who managed to knock off 178 with little difficulty.
This marked the half way point of the season and Clay Cross 2nd XI were well placed at the top of the league and had exceeded all expectations mainly thanks to some excellent bowling displays! Talk began to be of back to back promotions and playing the likes of Langley Mill and Ashover, but everyone knew that this would be a difficult task. Find out what happened and how in Part Two next week.
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