Tommo's gunning for glory with Saints (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Jordan Thompson's gunning for glory with Pudsey St Lawrence

9:00pm Thursday 19th July 2012 in Sport By Bill Marshall, T&A Sports Reporter

Pudsey St Lawrence are not regretting giving teenager Jordan Thompson an opportunity this summer.

The Yorkshire under-15 skipper has chipped in when and where he can, already claiming the scalps of Bradford & Bingley’s Simon Davies and Alex Atkinson and Farsley’s Joe Greaves with the ball.

Meanwhile, last Saturday the 15-year-old was one of only three Saints players to reach double figures in a disappointing defeat to Cleckheaton.

“It wasn’t my idea to put him into the first team,” said his dad Steve, who is St Lawrence’s wicket-keeper.

“That was down to cricket chairman Paul Hutchison and first-team skipper Mark Robertshaw but I feel he was ready as he had already played a season and a half in the first team at Guiseley.

“He is enjoying the men-tallytough atmosphere.” 

Having pitched the youngster into the cut and thrust of JCT600 Bradford League first-team cricket, St Lawrence then had to decide where to bat him and when to give him the ball.

He has opened the bowling against Lightcliffe and Manningham Mills but generally has come on second change, while he seems to have settled in at No 8 in what is a strong batting line-up.

Another Saints teenager to impress has been opening bowler Oliver Ashford, who has been snapped up by Durham Academy.

The latter wanted him to play his league cricket in Durham, but, after a meeting, St Lawrence have persuaded the county to allow him to play the odd match in the Bradford League.

“That will benefit him more,” said Thompson senior, “and we are lucky in having a lot of junior talent at the club.”

St Lawrence, who are at Undercliffe on Saturday, are currently third in the table on 135 points, two points behing East Bierley but a significant 40 adrift of leaders Woodlands.

“We still have Woodlands to play again (at Tofts Road a week on Saturday) but it seems as if we are playing for second place,” admitted Thompson. Woodlands are at home to Farsley.