Rathkeale in outright win over Lindisfarne

Rathkeale College beat Lindisfarne College outright with 10 balls to spare in their annual first XI cricket match played at Hastings.
Lindisfarne batted for most of the first day to finish on 192 after 61 overs. Jacob Smith, son of ex-Black Capo and noted commentator Ian Smith, top scored with 49, while taking three wickets apiece for Rathkeale were Sam Renall and Andy Dodd.
Day two saw Rathkeale battle their way to 167 off 43 overs against the fierce pace of Lindisfarne quickie Israel Dagg who took five wickets.
Brock Price was the main contributor with 41 and middle order player Doug Bracewell made a patient 21.
Lindisfarne then began their second innings and looked in a dominating position at 200-3 at stumps with Goodwin scoring a fine 102.
Day three began with Rathkeale aware they would be facing a huge run chase for victory if they did not capture the last seven Lindisfarne wickets in quick time and while they did not quite manage that t they restricted their opposition to the point where the declaration came at 277-9
That left Rathkeale an imposing 303 runs to get in 80 overs for the outright win and a successful defence of the Castles Trophy for the third successive year and after being in early trouble at 20-2 the two Andys, Oldfield and Dodd, put on a partnership of 180 runs at a run a ball.
Oldfield made his way to 128 with 22 fours and one six testimont to his ability to find the boundary and Dodd was eventually out for 81 after a further partnership of 60 with Bracewell, who made 31.
It was the third season in succession that Dodd had played a big part in wins over Lindisfarne
Solid contributions also came from tail-enders Sam Renall, Anton Ross and Jamie Willett and Rathkeale made it to their target with two wickets and 10 balls to spare.