White Coppice’s final match of the 2025 season saw the Sunday XI host the Ormskirk Occasionals, who owe their name to their motto ‘Toties Quoties’ (as often as occasion demands).
After Saturday’s deluge – which saw both the 1st and 2nd XI games called off – the sun returned on Sunday, although the outfield remained damp and the pitch tacky.
Despite this, groundman Phil Dewhurst worked his magic to prepare a pitch that could be played on, allowing the game to go ahead.
From the off it looked like a match that could be decided on a coin toss, and with captain Tom Dulson losing the toss and being asked to bat first, this would be the case.
Janayed Ilyas and Chris Scott were sent out to bat and the early pitch proved to be a batter’s nightmare.
Balls kept low, and the outfield was very slow resulting in Coppice struggling to pick up runs and slipping to 9-5.
Ilyas was the first to go, followed in quick succession by Dulson, James Hurst, Jame Speakman and Phil Caswell.
An early finish looked on the cards but Jack Dalziel steadied the ship in partnership with Scott.
Dalziel’s wicket appeared to be leading a charmed life with two dropped catches, a no-ball and a stumping that for some reason was not claimed before he departed at the fifth time of asking for 9.
Scott’s stoic resistance ended when he was LBW for 16 – the second highest score of the innings.
Arriving at the crease to join Ellis Haughton was man-of-the-match Elliot France on debut, who top scored with an excellent innings of 27.
He struck four fours and a six as he guided the side to a respectable score of 79, with useful support from Haughton, Marcus ‘Boom Boom’ Barretto and No 11 Paul Dobson.
With tea done, it was time for Ormskirk to take to the pitch.
James Hurst struck with his first wicket for Coppice to reduce the visitors to 15-1.
James Speakman took 2-4 off five overs while Dulson added another two wickets to his growing tally of victims this season.
Coppice dug in with great fielding efforts. Dobson’s heat map would be a case study in unnecessary, but much-admired effort, and Barretto claimed that physics and perspective were to blame for him dropping his catch. Apparently, the red orb racing towards him stayed the same size until it had passed him!
Ilyas, Speakman and Haughton all had their moments in the field but the final word went to debutant Elliot France, who capped an excellent performance with a first wicket as Ormskirk reached 80-6 to secure a four-wicket win.
An honourable mention must go to Amanda Dark for volunteering to score at the last minute and brave a freezing scorebox.
The defeat left Coppice Sunday XI without a win for the season, but the matches they have taken part in have been played in a great spirit throughout.