Bridlington crowned first ever champions!
On Sunday 19th September, Goole Town CC hosted the 1st edition of the Yorkshire W&G Softball Cricket Finals. This event was re-scheduled from 22nd August due to adverse weather on the day at the then hosts Ampleforth College.
Six teams were originally scheduled to venture over to East Yorkshire. All of which were champions and runners up of their regions events. From South Yorkshire we had Softball League & Finals Day Champions (Higham CC) and the League & Finals Day Runners-Up (Sheffield Collegiate CC). From East Yorkshire were the Softball Festival Champions (Bridlington CC) and Runners-Up (Hessle CC). From West Yorkshire were also the Softball Festival Champions (Alwoodley Leo’s CC) and finally the Hambleton Softball League Champions from North Yorkshire (Richmondshire CC).
These teams were set into 2 groups of 3, where they would play in a round-robin format with the winner of each group advancing through to the final later in the day. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Richmondshire had to withdraw from the event on the morning of the competition, leaving Bridlington & Sheffield Collegiate in their group to play a best of 3 match series to determine who would be group winners.
The first round of fixtures got underway on time at 10:30am with Bridlington and Sheffield Collegiate starting their best of 3 on their assigned pitch and Higham & Alwoodley Leo’s from the other group beginning their match on their pitch. Towards the end of the 2nd innings of both matches the weather took a turn for the worst as the heavens opened, Bridlington & Sheffield Collegiate managed to complete their first match with Bridlington claiming victory by just 7 runs. In the other match there was still 2 overs to play with Alwoodley Leo’s behind by just 3 runs, however play was paused for 40 mins until the heavy rain subsided and we could resume to complete the match. It got off to the worst possible start on the return for Alwoodley Leo’s, as they lost a wicket on the first ball of the penultimate over. Further tight bowling in the over meant 5 runs were now needed for victory from 6 balls. 2 boundaries were scored in the final over along with some sensible batting from the final 2 balls, giving Alwoodley Leo’s the win by 6 runs.
Given the rain delay and the competition now well behind schedule, it was agreed with the team captains for the remaining group fixtures to have a reduction in overs in order to complete the fixtures. The second round did not disappoint. Alwoodley Leo’s, knowing a win would send them through to the finals, set a score of 243 to defend against Hessle, who were playing their first game of the competition. Another match going down to the final ball, Hessle in the lead by 1 run could have defended their wicket to ensure victory, instead took the attacking route as the batter smashed the ball to the boundary for 4, Hessle winning by 4 runs. In the other match, Sheffield Collegiate, knowing a defeat would end their county finals journey, battled hard against a confident Bridlington side and the teams couldn’t be separated with their 2nd game ending in a tie meaning the 3rd match needed to be played.
Sheffield Collegiate took this momentum of survival into their final game against Bridlington, winning the 3rd game and meaning both teams couldn’t be separated in the group, winning one each and tying the other. In the other group, Hessle now knowing a win would now send them through to final but win for Higham would mean a three-way tie between them along with Alwoodley Leo’s in the group. Another close and competitive game, with the ladies giving their all in the match and Higham taking the victory, meaning every team throughout the morning and early afternoon had both won one and lost one fixture.
Therefore, as all teams in both groups couldn’t be separated on wins and given that some of the games had reduced overs, a bowl-off was agreed upon, deciding the overall finalists. Bridlington played off against Sheffield Collegiate whilst Alwoodley Leo’s, Higham and Hessle played off in a three-way tie. All 8 players from each team were to bowl 1 ball each to try and hit the wickets. The team with the most hits would advance to the finals. Some great bowling was on show with many a ball narrowly missing the wickets and on occasion the ball struck the stumps, but the bails were unfortunately not dislodged. Bridlington and Sheffield Collegiate went into sudden death, but it was Bridlington who held their nerve and took the victory. In the three-way tie, Alwoodley Leo’s were eliminated after their 8 balls and a sudden death showdown between Higham and Hessle ensued with Nat Horner from Higham (who was the bowler who previously struck the wickets but not dislodging the bails) took the winning wicket to send Higham through to the final.
After all the excitement of the past few hours, both Higham and Bridlington took a short break to settle their nerves and compose themselves in order to go again and give it all and they did not disappoint. Higham, winning the toss and electing to field, started off well, taking early wickets and restricting the destructive Bridlington batters to just 3 boundaries at the half way stage on 222 for 3. The final two batting pairs of Rachel Betley/Debbie Farrington & Alex Bell/Becky Brown increased the run rate significantly taking Bridlington’s innings total to 272 for 4. In response, Higham set off their run chase steadily, being cautious to not give their wicket away whilst being restricted by the superb Bridlington fielders testing the Higham batters running abilities as boundaries were in short supply. With 2 overs remaining Higham were on 267-0 just 5 runs behind. However, a wicket fell in the penultimate over from Becky Brown and tight bowling again left the Higham pair of Andrea Stevenson/Rachel Barraclough now needing 10 runs off the final over. Debbie Farrington, who had bowled brilliantly throughout the day, was instructed to bowl the final over, Higham were again restricted to running between the wickets resulting in needing 6 to win from the final ball, but a fine piece of death bowling from Debbie saw the ball pass the bat of Andrea and into the wicketkeeper's hands.
Congratulations to Bridlington CC who were crowned Yorkshire W&G Softball Champions, defeating Higham by 5 runs. Debbie Farrington of Bridlington CC was awarded player of the day for her superb bowling figures in both the group stages and the final.
Group 1
Alwoodley Leo’s (302) bt Higham (296) by 6 runs.
Hessle (248) bt Alwoodley Leo’s (243) by 5 runs.
Higham (248) bt Hessle (237) by 11 runs.
Bowl-off results = Higham 2, Hessle 1, Alwoodley Leo’s 0.
Group 2
Bridlington (297) bt Sheffield Collegiate (285) by 12 runs.
Tied Game – Bridlington (234) & Sheffield Collegiate (234).
Sheffield Collegiate (252) bt Bridlington (244) by 8 runs.
Bowl-off results = Bridlington 2, Sheffield Collegiate 1.
Final
Bridlington (271) bt Higham (266) by 5 runs.