Barrow Gurney’s 2nd XI head into the final third of the season in pole position in Division 9 West having last week beaten their rivals for the top spot, Golden Hill 6ths on a damp and miserable day of weather.
In recent weeks the team has had much to celebrate, remaining unbeaten at the halfway stage. Since Phil Milton’s massive hundred to mark the 150th anniversary day, the 2s had a successful visit to Patchway, bowling them out for only 84 with 3 wickets apiece for Paul Gard, Peter Rooney and Adam Brace. A quickfire 57 not out from Abe Gibbs was all that was needed for Barrow to win by 8 wickets.
A home win against Abbots Leigh 2s then followed as the visitors were bowled out for 139 with Peter Rooney bagging another 3 wickets as did Dave Smith. Barrow struggled a little to win by only 2 wickets with Fergus Skinner making 42 and Mark Gracey 36.
Linden Alway took 5 early wickets when the team visited Nailsea to play Oldfield Park, but despite that the home side were only 8 down for 162 as their innings closed, Barrow this time made light work of the reply winning by 7 wickets thanks to a half century from Ellie Holdaway, 49 not out from Mark Gracey and 35 from Ben Skuse.
The first half of the season ended with a comprehensive home win against Backwell Flax Bourton 3rds, where the highlight was Fergus Skinner’s maiden century, supported by Bernie Forge’s 87, the team posted 338-9. Although disappointed to take only 5 wickets the game was won comfortably.
Rain then ruined a well poised game against Lodway 3s meaning that Peter Rooney’s 4/18 and Seb Allen’s 3/10 counted for nothing. But Barrow’s unbeaten record did not survive a trip to Tamil Nadu where they were bundled out for 148. Phil Milton made 57 and Bernie Forge was 50 not out. An 8 wicket loss was a shock to the system and meant that this weekend’s game against Golden Hill took on a greater significance.
With the first innings played in near constant drizzle, Golden Hill made 180-6, with Frank Forge (2/16) and Seb Allen (2/18) the pick of the bowlers. Ben Skuse (30) and Phil Milton (26) put on 49 for the second wicket and Fergus Skinner made another useful contribution of 38 before Linden Always’s decisive 45 not out took Barrow to a 3 wicket win.
So with 6 games to go Barrow are 18 points clear of Golden Hill with Tamil Nadu a further 14 points behind. An away game at Frenchay 5ths is next up for Peter Rooney’s team.