Soames shines for Yeadon

12:52pm Thursday 10th July 2008

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Yeadon kept themselves out of the relegation zone after a huge win over fellow strugglers, Bowling Old Lane.

With only 14 points between the two clubs prior to the start it was important for Yeadon to gain some breathing space away from the drop zone. With fixtures against East Bierley and Bradford and Bingley coming up the game had added importance.

Due to the weather the match was delayed and reduced to 32 overs per innings. Grant Soames was the thorn in Old Lane's side, his four for 25 off only six overs helped reduce Old Lane to 128 for eight.

Fellow off spinner Saif Mailk took two for 48 whilst Greg Lambert took two for 27 in a tidy ten over spell. James Henry also had three victims behind the stumps, including two stumpings.

Yeadon's reply started woefully as openers Andrew Robertson and Jon Henry were both dismissed for minimal scores. Soames (27) and Aamir Sajjad (19) helped stabilise the Yeadon innings but when both players were dismissed in quick succession it was left to James Todd and Captain David Leather to try and see Yeadon through.

Todd looked good on 18 but when he was adjudged lbw the game was again there for the taking by either side. Khan then dismissed Paul Park for a duck as Yeadon were on the ropes at 95 for seven.

Malik, returning after missing the start of the season, demonstrated his batting ability with a quick fire 20 which swung the game back in Yeadon's favour. However, there was to be one last twist in the tail as Malik was dismissed by the impressive Ejaz.

In the end it was left to Leather, and his unbeaten 20 was enough to see Yeadon home for 15 valuable points.

Leather was very pleased with his side's grit and determination to grind out a result at a tough ground.

He said: "I thought it was a good win. It was a massive game for both teams so to win away makes it even better.

"We bowled and fielded really well. We managed to get it done with the bat on a wicket that was drying out and starting to pop a bit at one end.

"We won the toss but it was a difficult call between batting or bowling first. We knew the wicket would probably play better in the first half because the rain had got on it but if it had dried out it could have started to get a bit two paced which proved to be the case. With rain around I felt we had to roll the dice and bowl first and it worked out for us in the end."

Yeadon play East Bierley on Saturday and it has been two former Bierley players who have shone for Yeadon recently. Lambert sits fifth in the league bowling averages at half way with 33 wickets whilst Soames' promotion up the innings has paid dividends. His bowling has also improved significantly after being slightly underused early on.

He has performed consistently well over the last few weeks and in tandem with the returning Malik. Leather will be hoping the two can repeat their good partnership of last year.

Leather said: "Grant is really important to us and is starting to hit some form with both bat and ball. He bowled really well at the death for us and I stuck him up at number three to dig in and steady our top order early on. It's something I think he did a pretty good job of.

"I think Saif bowled well for us and got a crucial 20 which set us up to win with an over to spare."

With all of his players now available for selection, Leather will be hoping the increased competition for places will improve results.

With Yeadon's short term goal to stay in Division One the club are also looking towards the future. Sunday's Fun Day attended by Leeds Rhino Jamie Peacock which raised £1,580, was a prime example of this.

An event set up help build funds for the junior ranks Sunday was also an opportunity for the club to show off their plans to develop further.

The club have just started work on improving training facilities by making three practice nets. With the help of donations and social events the club are hoping the nets will be in use before the end of the season.

Chairman Duncan Sloane was keen to thank the sponsors and all involved with helping the club and gave a special thank you to Mally Spencer and his team for helping set the foundations for the nets.

With a budding junior set up at the club the clash between senior training days and junior matches has been often but with the new practice nets Sloane is hoping matters will be resolved.

As well as new nets, the club has recently purchased a bowling machine with the help of Pan Credit.