CARLTON Towers progressed to the quarter finals of the Edward Readman Memorial Trophy, for the first time since winning the competition in 2001, thanks to a 14 run success against First Division title challengers Bridlington.

The highlight of the match was a powerful batting performance from captain Jamie Pocklington.

He made 90 out of 115 runs in an outstanding innings taking up 22 overs, including 5 sixes and 12 fours.

When he came to the crease, Towers had reached 41 for three including the Bridlington handicap of 15 runs.

He was out in the 30th over with the score on 156, showing that the reverse sweep is not his strongest point.

Earlier, Paul Wright, Jonathan Dilks and Nick Kline had all fallen to an impressive opening spell of bowling from former Bradford League player Dick Mainprize who took 4 for 16 from his eight overs.

It was a 5th wicket partnership of 91 with Richard Knapp who made 15, that catapulted Towers to their total, continued by the impressive Mark Spetch whose all round skills disguise his tender 14 years.

The Carlton Towers under 15s captain pushed the score on making 21 before being stumped with four overs remaining.

The Bridlington batsmen showed why they are a force in the First Division following their promotion last season as the opening pair put on 47 for the first wicket in only 13 overs. This was despite the efforts of Paul Wright who conceded only 15 runs from his eight over spell.

Mark Spetch had gone for 23 from four, although was replaced by Robert Haw, who stemmed the tide and was to play a decisive role in the closing overs.

As the innings progressed it was clear that a tight finish would be on the cards. Although there were two breaks in play due to the weather, the score never went beyond the target of 5 an over and it was all to play for.

However, to cap a superb display Mark Spetch came back into the attack, taking four wickets from three overs conceding only six runs.

The contributions of David Hoe and David Squires could not be underestimated either, bowling at crucial parts of the match, and taking one and two wickets respectively.

The last pair were at the crease with 25 required for victory. With three overs remaining, Robert Haw, who had been brought back into the attack and had taken the penultimate wicket in his sixth over, had the last man stumped by Mark Chambers, his third wicket of the match. Keeper Mark Chambers also made a valuable contribution taking 4 victims in total.

It was a well earned and probably unlikely victory for Carlton Towers, in this a season of adversity and agony and the reward of a place in the quarter final at home against Harrogate or Crayke.