Booth first-team regular, Richard Laycock, insists that winning the league title is still the club’s goal after a maximum points win over Triangle on Saturday.
Laycock said that a performance ‘typical of their season’ allowed them to run out victors by four wickets at Sowerby Bridge.
He added that the team bowled well and fielded tightly to restrict their opponents to 308 runs. Laycock revealed that the side were confident of chasing down the total having batted well throughout the season. And with the pitch at Triangle being relatively small and favourable to the batsmen, Booth always felt they could take maximum points.
Laycock said that the opening partnership of over 100 was the perfect foundation to claim another victory away from home, and the initial run scoring from the openers added to by Jon Midgeley’s 75 was built upon by the middle order.
Laycock singled out no3 Rob Laycock, who made 45, adding that Midgeley’s 75 was crucial as the innings was built around it and the win would not have been possible without such a strong start.
However, it wasn’t just the batters who were being talked up; the bowlers, according to Laycock, bowled “efficiently and tight,” claiming five wickets in the last six overs to crush any hopes of Triangle making a late push for a more dominant score.
Laycock’s joy at claiming maximum points from the win was evident, but he claimed that if the title remains a realistic prospect then the side needs to recreate last weekend’s form more consistently.
“Obviously the win is the most important thing in these last five games,” mused Laycock. “If we win all five we will give ourselves a chance, and if we can get maximum points in any of them then that would be even better.”
Asked to single out star performers or a specific reason for their success this season, the all-rounder, who claimed three wickets in Saturday’s win, ventured: “The bowling has been impressive but it would be hard to single anyone out for praise as the wins have been down to determined team performances.”
That said, he did add that Rob Laycock’s batting throughout the season has been “impressive to say the least” and he showed it again last weekend as the opener made 45.
Laycock acknowledged that his side cannot afford any slip ups at this stage of the season with points at a premium, though he did suggest that if his side were to slip up it is the reaction afterwards which is most important.
“When we’ve slipped up this season and we’ve suffered a defeat the response in the next game has always been magnificent and those kind of performances is what we need in the last five games.”
Booth entertain Premier derby rivals Mytholmroyd on Saturday, while in the first division Luddenden Foot travel to Bradshaw, and in the second Old Town host Great Horton Park Chapel.