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RAMS GOING TO LORDS

12 August 2013

National Village Knock-Out Semi-Final
Rockhampton (219-7) beat Dinton (125 all out) by 94 runs

A beautifully crafted 59 from Guy Brothwood and an inspirational spell of 4-44 from 9 overs by Sam Nichols were the solo party pieces of a magnificent team display by Rockhampton as they overcame the nerves and the excitement to register an emphatic semi-final win, and complete a wonderful road to Lord’s in the National Village Knock-Out.

The Rams will now travel to the Home of Cricket on 8 September 2013 for the fixture of a lifetime and will be sure to relish every moment. They will face Cleator Cricket Club from Cumbria in a bid to be crowned the best cricketing village in the Country.

Despite a brisk start from Will Tyler after the Rams were invited to bat first, his brother Matt Tyler was bowled for just 1 by seamer Nadeem Amin. The skipper James Williams joined Will Tyler at the crease though and they added 65 for the second wicket before Tyler was also bowled for 33. When Williams was then stumped for 38, the local support was sitting a little uneasily.

Rowan Cartlidge and Guy Brothwood steadied the ship and Brothwood began to unfurl his trademark cover-drives and short-arm pulls that have made him one of the most promising young talent’s in the Gloucestershire Region. Cartlidge went for 18 but Brothwood eased his way to a half century and was supported by Simon Hore (14) and Jack Spence (13) whilst Will Cartlidge smashed 16 from just 9 balls.

Dinton got off to a flying start in response with 24 runs plundered from the first 4 overs and the Rams could have been forgiven for allowing panic to set in. As the scoreboard steadied its way to 41-0, the Rams had a crucial breakthrough when Will Cartlidge had Matt Sutcliffe lbw for a brisk 21.

From that moment the Rams turned the game on its head. Sam Nichols replaced Chris Pearce and set about tearing up the Dinton middle-order, most importantly removing dangerous Australian born Andy Gibbens with a well judged catch from Spence.

Nichols collected 3 more wickets in a miserly spell, dented only by an explosive 19 from 12 balls by Marc Ludlow who fell to Brothwood at the other end. Brothwood helped himself to 3-23 from 7 overs and James Hancox cleaned up the tail, including the moment that will go down in club history.

He had Joe Wilcox lbw for 3 in the 32nd over to send the crowd into ecstasy and send the Rams to Lords. Chairman John Hore praised the efforts of all involved and hailed a ‘momentous day for this Club’. ‘The fans were fantastic and the players were even better, when the magnitude of this sinks in there will be some very wide grins in the bar.’

Skipper James Williams admitted he was delighted and somewhat surprised with the way his side dealt with the weight of expectation and the way Dinton started each innings. ‘They had Matt Tyler early which is always a big wicket so my stand with Will was really important and then Guy was superb. When they got off so quick in response I just felt we needed that one wicket to get us going and thankfully Will Cartlidge delivered before they could stamp some authority’. ‘The guys are bouncing off the walls in the changing rooms, it's incredible.’

Follow the Rams at Lords - @RockhamptonRams

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