Dundrum seconds miss absentees for Cooke test

Dundrum seconds miss absentees for Cooke test

29 July 2015

DUNDRUM seconds went down by 134 runs at home to Cooke Collegians seconds at home on Saturday.

Dundrum had beaten Cooke Collegians a few weeks ago, but this was a completely different Cooke team.

The hosts were without Peter Wilson, who scored 80 the last time the teams met, and their captain, Derek Bailey, who was on holiday.

Dundrum’s opening bowlers, Greg Stewart and Scott Symington, went for 27 in the first four overs. A change of bowling brought Victor Edgar and Gordon Lowey into the attack. The runs dried up and Lowey was unlucky to have Russell ped off his first ball.

Edgar took a wicket when Smith was caught by Kelsa for 21. Spike Davis came on and had Russell caught on the boundary thanks to a brilliant catch by Symington.

Stewart and Symington came back into the attack and Stewart, who had taken a wicket in his first spell, was unlucky not to get more. Symington had bowled well at the other end, but he was also unlucky not get a wicket.

Lowey came back on and got Grimason (60) with another cracking catch by Symington on the boundary.

Cooke set Dundrum 206 to win. Opening pair Symington and Dave Williams got off to a steady start against the Indian opening bowlers before Williams was bowled for seven after cracking a boundary up to the pavilion.

Symington was batting well at the other end, but he was bowled for 12. What followed was a middle order collapse as S Vama’s leg breaks proved difficult to bat against. Cooke stalwart Jeremy Burrows also bowled well at the river end.

Edgar hit a couple of nice boundaries, but the batsman who impressed most was Stewart, who looked the part square cutting to the boundaries in the manner of Robin Smith.

He was 12 not out at the end and with Spike Davis (5) took the score to 71.

The club wishes to thank Ben and Matthew for travelling down to help the seconds team. Dundrum are in trouble at the wrong end of the table and will need a big effort if they are to avoid relegation.

Given the young talent at their disposal, such as Peter Wilson and Harry Hitchens, it would be a pity if they were to play in a lower league next season.

It is important that everyone attends practice and gives a commitment to the end of the season. Hopefully, the return of captain Bailey and Trevor Long, plus more U-17s in the team, will ensure they will not go down without a fight.

This Saturday the seconds are away to Academy thirds.