The seconds impressive season is drawing to a close and has already seen them guaranteed a runners up spot at least in Division 12. Here is an update of recent matches.
A slight hiccup at home to Weldon as Cogenhoe were all out for 181 with Mark top scoring with 57 and despite Dad Tony taking 3-22 the visitors got home for a 4 wicket win. The visit of Medbourne was now a must win game as the top two met at Compton Park on July 13 th and what a response from the seconds as Tony produced his best ever Cogenhoe figures of 7-50 and Mark took 3-25 to skittle Medbourne out for just 79. Russ with 40 not out then rubbed salt into the wounds as the target was reached without loss securing a 30 point win with Medbourne leaving Compton Park pointless. A trip to near neighbours Grendon & Prims II`s saw them also dismissed for 79 with Matt Irons taking 4-8 which included his 300 th wicket for our club with Mark taking 2-5 and scoring 31 not out as we nervously reached 80 for the loss of 5 wickets.Now you have all heard the saying a fool and his money are easily parted and here is the proof. At home to Weekley & Warkton III`s we found ourselves 48-2 with my son Jack next into bat, as he began to walk out I made a chance remark that if he was not out at the end of the innings I would give him a pound for every run he scored. Jack`s best ever score was 42 so my bet was safe! Two hours later with a big grin on his face Jack returned 85 not out! In fairness it was worth every penny as not only was it a quite flawless batting display along with Russ 35 and James 29 it saw the Cooks finished on 220-6. With dark clouds gathering we needed to bowl 20 overs to get a result and when the heavens opened after 22 overs the opposition were 68-2 and so we won on run rate to cement our place at the top of the league. If the Medbourne game was a big one then our trip to second place Brixworth III`s was massive. After winning the toss Ryan asked the hosts to bat and they showed what a good side they were becoming the first team to post over 200 against us reaching 206-7 with Tom Smyth taking 3 wickets.It then got worse as we lost 3 early wickets but that saw skipper Ryan and Jack at the crease who this week was not being sponsored by the bank of Dad.Together they first brought stability to the run chase and then pushed on with Ryan making 60 and Jack a quite superb 96 not out finishing the game in style with a six to secure a vital 4 wicket win.At home to St Michaels 74 II`s the visitors elected to bat on a belter of a Compton Park track and their cause was aided by an injury to Syd Mason restricting him to just 5 overs. So it was down to James Goodwin to do the wicket taking honours and boy did he deliver taking a career best 7-53 as St Michaels closed on 168-9. After my 33 for the first team I was naturally demoted but due to work commitments I got to open and my contribution of 2 in an opening stand of 37 with Russ Coleman obviously took the stuffing out of the St Michaels bowlers as Russ 43, Matt Morrissey 63 no and Jack 51 no,reaped the benefit as we cruised to an 8 wicket win with 10 overs to spare with Jack taking his last 4 innings tally to 254 runs without getting out. A trip to Obelisk II`s on a damp and dismal day saw Ryan lose the toss and the Cooks asked to bat. With the Northants T20 final, holidays and injuries this was always going to be a tricky fixture as there was a shortage of bowlers with messers Bird senior and junior, Mason and Goodwin all missing. But Matt Morrissey showed the way with a superb 70 and he was supported by Ryan 31, Dan Harris 24 no and our old friend extras who scored a valuable 50. With the weather getting worse Obelisk were now in the driving seat as they knew scoring at 5 an over for just 20 overs regardless of the number of wickets lost would see them win on run rate. As the rain became steadier the players came off with the hosts on 144-5 from 25.4 overs and eventually the game was abandoned. Despite the result the 7 points earned ensured promotion for the seconds and it was a case of third time lucky following two previous fourth place finishes. A trip to near neighbours Mears Ashby II`s on August 24 th saw Ryan win the toss and elect to field and with the holidays over it was an almost full strength seconds who took to the field when play eventually began after a rain delay. Despite a healthy run rate Mears Ashby lost wickets at regular intervals and were dismissed for 184 in the 35 th over with Mark Bird taking 4-49 with 2 wickets apiece for Tony and the 2 Adam`s Langley and Lee-Brown. The Cooks reply got off to a fantastic start as Matt Golby 60 and new opening partner James Goodwin 65 put on 112 for the first wicket with James`s half century his first for the club. There was a mini collapse but 20 from Jack and with Mark there at the end 30 points were secured in the 36 th over with 5 wickets remaining. That victory guaranteed the seconds the runners up spot at least with the title to be decided on September 7 th when we visit Weldon II`s with our only challengers for the title Medbourne having two games left which they need to win by an aggregate of 58 points to win the league. Should we finish level on points with the same number of wins then the title is decided on the points won in the games between the two sides and that stands at Cogenhoe 60 Medbourne 6.