Prestatyn skipper Dave Harris is hoping to have senior run-maker Gareth Boughey and wicketkeeper John Hughes back for this Saturday’s visit to fifth-placed St Helens Recs after last week’s runious wash-out.
Both are named in Prestatyn’s 15-strong squad as the seasiders go looking for their second win of the season in seven attempts, boosted by the prodigious scoring feats of Springbok pro Warren Groeneveld who has already cracked two flawless centuries and not out 74 for an astonishing average of 295.
Hughes would have missed the scheduled clash with top-of-the-table Skelmersdale last Saturday had the Beach Close ground not been flooded, with dependable deputy Robbie Rimmington lined up to again pull on the gloves.
“We were very frustrated not to be able to take on Skem as all the lads were keen to make up for our failure to come away with a win against Parkfield-Liscard,” said the disappointed captain.
“We got ourselves into a great winning position after bowling them out for only 136 but from 68 for 1 we collapsed and somehow ended up losing by 17 runs. It was a bad let-down which was why everyone trained extra hard in the nets last week to build up for having a real go against Skem, only to find the pitch unplayable!”
Prestatyn banked five consolation points for this non-event after former captain and ground stalwart Tony Young was amazed to find the wicket covers he had securely positioned had been blown 50 metres towards the boundary fence overnight.
“I could see how windy it was when I checked late on Friday night so I placed heavy blocks of concrete against the wheels of the covers to make sure they would stay firmly fixed yet next morning they were halfway to Pontins!” he revealed.
Skelmersdale and the two umpires were advised of the saturated wicket in time to prevent their travelling after local umpire Fred Charles had been consulted and confirmed the hopeless situation.
Liverpool Competition secretary Chris Weston was also disappointed when notified, as he had planned to come over to Prestatyn for his unannounced annual visit to update his familiarity with the ground and facilities as well as talk to club officials and players.
Prestatyn’s teenage all-rounder Danny Davies did his burgeoning reputation no harm with an impressive performance after being selected for the Competition’s Under-17s side to play against a similar Lancashire X1 at Wigan in midweek.
Danny, a 16-years-old pupil at Prestatyn High School hit a polished 29 before controversially being given run-out, as well as taking two catches, one of them described as ‘brilliant’.
Prestatyn Seconds this Saturday entertain Hightown with skipper Andy Taylor confident of further success.