Ribblesdale League: Prayers answered by Monk (26 July 1999)

26 July 1999

Ribblesdale League: Prayers answered by Monk

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Ribblesdale Wanderers won the Jennings Ramsbottom Cup for the first time in 79 years in a style that made a mockery of their recent lack of success.

Their last trophy was the league title in 1963 and the name of the Church Meadows side is the first on the trophy way back in 1922.

And stand-in captain Graham Monk, who denied that he was a member of that side, dedicated his man-of-the-match glory to the overall team effort as the cup holders were well and truly beaten in front of a good crowd.

Monk, replacing usual skipper Terry Braithwaite who was on holiday, claimed 5-19 in his spell at the end of the Cherry Tree innings of 97 all out.

But he stressed that it was the stranglehold placed on the Cherry Tree top order by Barry Spencer and Andy Ainsworth that had the cup holders swimming against the tide from the word go.

On an unpredictable track of uneven bounce, Cherry Tree found it difficult to score.

Openers David Hayes and Michael Veevers put on 23 for the first wicket but wickets then fell steadily and the Blackburn side were soon in trouble at 59-5.

Then Monk started to work his magic.

Much rested on the shoulders of professional Naeem Ashraf but he also struggled to dominate the niggardly Ribblesdale bowling.

The Pakistani batsman was dropped three times before becoming Monk's first victim, caught at long off from a mistimed drive.

And the Cherry Tree tail had no answer to Monk and his renowned arm ball as he ended the Cherry Tree innings with seven balls remaining. Monk was keen to stress the role of his back-up attack.

He said: "I thought our bowling in the middle of the match was very important.

"Andy Ainsworth and Barry Spencer bowled their 20 overs for less than 40 runs at a time when the best batsmen were in."

Cherry Tree, however, did not relinquish the cup without a fight.

Dangerman Shahid Nawaz, who had hit yet another century in the previous day's league game, was caught a short mid-wicket by Dr Mark Butler at the second attempt for just one.

The patient innings of Richard Palmer was ended with the score on 16 and when David Howard, who had returned to the club after a spell with and Rishton in the Lancashire League, was caught behind off Ashraf, the Cherry Tree tails were up.

But that brought Briggs and young prospect Dave Gardner-Chan together.

The 15-year-old prospect batted with maturity beyond his years and the pair put together a convincing partnership of 30. By the time the Clitheroe Grammar School pupil was bowled by Roger Davies for 15, the game was all but won.

That enabled Briggs to open his shoulders and he finished with a splendid unbeaten 48 fittingly finished the game with a six over square leg from pace ace Neil Bramwell.

Monk added: "Martin bided his time and waited for the bad ball and hit it.

"I did not think Cherry Tree's strength in bowling was good enough to defend 97.

"If they had got Shahid out for one with a total of 160 it might have been a different game.

"But, with that score, I thought our amateurs could win it."

Cherry Tree skipper Hayes said: "We were beaten by the better side on the day.

"They bowled very well. We obviously needed more runs, they bowled a good line and length, fielded well and we couldn't get the ball away.

"If Ribblesdale Wanderers had a decent pro, they would have a good side!"

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)