Lancaster University’s make-shift Rounders team narrowly missed out in 27.5-26 loss. Lancaster’s team consisted mainly of Fylde’s successful Carter shield Rounders winning team and stand-in Captain from Lonsdale, Nick O’Malley.
Lancaster started strongly with the rounders flowing freely from Kieron Waterson and Nick O’Malley in particular, with Waterson picking the gaps with expert precision and O’Malley occasionally adopting the back-hand technique to avoid fielders. Dani Croucher was the stand-out female on the Lancaster side as she picked up two full Rounders in the first innings, to go with the two half-rounders she also picked up for getting to second base.
One moment of magic, in the first innings came from first baseman George Gardiner, as the York batter lofted the ball high into the air off the bowling of O’Malley; he made up fifteen yards in order to make the catch with a magnificent sprawling dive.
However in an attempt to rival his Fylde team-mate Waterson produced possibly the greatest catch in Roses Rounders history. As the ball once again ballooned up off the bat, the ball was flying high and behind back-stop Waterson; he had to be quick on his feet, before performing a running jump, around the side of a shed.
The fans that were sat around the opposite side of the shed were to miss out on this amazing moment. However, as he returned with the ball held aloft, upon realization that he had somehow caught the ball, the crowd roared and applauded.
Lancaster led relatively comfortably after the first innings 18.5-10, with York perhaps fortunate to get to ten courtesy of a contentious decision. York’s best batter had been given out, before being reinstated by a Lancaster umpire, in spite of most on-lookers believing it to have been a fair ball and not a wide, as was given. The York batter pounced on this opportunity scoring 2.5 more rounders before his team-mates deserted him.
Lancaster struggled against a different bowler in the second innings and could only muster 7.5 rounders. Peter Marshall, Croucher and Gardiner were the only players to pick up a full-rounder in the second and final innings.
However, this set a mean target for York, as they would require 16 to tie, and 16.5 to take the match. York stood strong in their second innings and reached the target with relative ease to surprise the spectators after a poor showing in the first innings. York were deserved winners as they swooped to a one and half rounder win.
