Barrow Firsts Tame The Lions Whilst The Twos Are To The Manor Born

Barrow Gurney bounced back after last week with 2 good wins on Saturday.

At Hobbs Lane the First XI were in action against the Bristol Lions. Batting first on a beautiful day, Barrow lost an early wicket but then began to build good partnerships. Bernie Forge (40) and Mark Brown (23) put on 55 for the second wicket, before Guy Fisher and Ed Holdaway (33) added 64 for the fourth and then Ben Skuse (30) joined Fisher to put on another 64 for the fifth. Fisher then motored to his second century of the season being dismissed eventually for 105. Barrow set a challenging target of 280-6.

The Lions got off to a positive start and were looking threatening until 3 quick wickets from Mark Fisher (3/50) set them back. Ed Holdaway (3/41) then ensured there was no significant revival, before Frank Forge (4/19) spun out the tail leaving his side convincing winners by 121 runs. Barrow now move into 2^nd place in Division 5.

Barrow seconds played at Tockington Manor against Thornbury 4ths and enjoyed the surroundings as well as an improvement in their fortunes. Thornbury batted first and Tom Rimmer (66) laid into Barrow’s opening attack, but Peter Rooney (2/24), in particular, began to reign him in before striking with 2 wickets. Having opened an end, other bowlers began to take regular wickets with Seb Allen taking 2/25, before Paul Gard reluctantly accepted the challenge to bowl up the hill. A wicket first ball lightened his mood only slightly but the decisive dismissal of Rimmer hastily brought Thornbury’s innings to a close for 157. Gard finishing with the impressive figures of 4 for 5 off his 3 overs.

Barrow players and supporters watching at Tockington Manor, with camera-shy bowler, Paul Gard who took 4/5 in the background.

Barrow’s opener Mark Forge anchored the innings, nullifying the opening attack before joining with Nick Heal in an 82 run partnership for the 3^rd wicket. Although Forge fell for only 15 in the 28^th over, the stage had been set for an increasingly confident Heal to hit some powerful blows straight and off his legs to make his highest score for Barrow, finishing with an excellent 70 not out to take them to their target and a mid-table position in their division.

Ben Saunders looked as if he had never been away in his Sunday innings

Sunday’s home fixture against Westerleigh, proved a struggle for Barrow as the visitors fielded really well and took all their catches to restrict the hosts to 142 all out. Matt Owen (29) and Ben Saunders (32 not out) in his first game for a few years were the main contributors. Mike York (3/25) made Westerleigh battle for their win but they reached their target for the loss of 6 wickets.