Tamar League A Division Ordulph Taverners 1st v Buckland 1st The much anticipated top of the table clash remarkably survived the vagaries of the British Summer. Storm clouds passed north and south of the ground, but in what was at times a tense and bitter affair there were actually more fireworks on the pitch. Ordulph lost the toss and were put into bat on a Kelly wicket playing unpredictably; in addition to this the overhead conditions meant the ball was swinging considerably. The Ordulph openers of Doc Finnigan and Wellard resisted some tight and persistent bowling from Kevin Osborne and Mark Harris, eventually both succumbed, and with the cheap loss of Lawrence Evans, Ordulph were struggling at 35-3. Yet again however the powerful middle order came to the fore with Whitfield (21), Phil Mansfield (28), Jude Rotten (26) and particularly Josh Sutton (51no) restoring the Ordulph innings to 182 -7 in the allocated 40 overs. Buckland must have regretted dropping several vital catches. Pick of the Buckland bowling was Mark Harris (3-30) who bowled with a canny line and length and the swing he produced was the cause of all manner of problems for the Ordulph openers. Ordulph opened with the reliable Axle Folley who bowled with ?pace? and swing returning figures of 3-26. He was well supported by captain Phil Mansfield (3-37). Johnny Lethbridge again got stuck into the tail cleaning up with 3 for 15. The Buckland innings never really got going with a steady loss of wickets, only Gary Elkington (16), Tom Rogers (19) and Norman Bennett (21) provided any resistance. The Buckland resistance finally succumbed with Tomkies being trapped lbw by Poppe. The Ordulph fielding was professional ? taking all their catches and they deservedly extend their lead at the top of the table. Ordulph beat Buckland by 62 runs.
