‘We’re a group of mates doing the best we can’… captain Noctor on Sutton’s flying start

Sutton captain Joe Noctor Picture by Sutton CC

Sutton skipper Joe Noctor hopes a couple of tough away trips don’t derail his side’s flying start to life in Division One.

Last week’s clinical win over Sefton Park made it five out of five at the New Street Oval for the newly promoted side.

They are the only team to beat leaders Spring View in the league this season, and Noctor is delighted with how they have adapted to their first season at this level.

But they are yet to win away. And with trips coming up to the other two sides above them – Liverpool tomorrow, followed by Southport & Birkdale next week – Noctor knows they are about to be put to the test.

He said: “We’ve definitely exceeded all expectations and we’ve adapted really well, and we’ve played some really good cricket at home. 

“We’d quite like to get the monkey off the back away from home, but we’ve probably got the two toughest games of the year coming up. So they’re good tests to see where we are.”

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Unusually for the Comp, Sutton’s top three wicket takers – Andy Cowley, Finn Thomson and New Zealander Depp Bolingford – are seamers.

“Our wickets have probably given a little bit more for seamers than spinners when we’ve played at home,” said Noctor.

“But even when we’ve played away, our seamers have been able to hold an end up and create a bit of pressure. 

“The challenge for them now is to build on that, going towards the halfway mark and in the second half of the season.”

Cowley’s 19 wickets place him 13th in the division, and Noctor himself is third in the run charts with 294, including three half-centuries.

But apart from that there is nobody in the top 20 in either discipline. 

Noctor said: “It’s very much a team effort, which is really pleasing. 

“There have been moments in every game where someone stuck their hand up for us.

“We’ve never been reliant on just one player. 

“And what makes us the team that we are is we are a group of 11 mates who on a Saturday try to pull together the best we can. So that’s held us in really good stead.”

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Show me a cricket captain in June, and I’ll show you someone who’s trying to take it week by week and not get carried away. 

But with Sutton in their loftiest ever position, it’s understandable that Noctor wants to keep the expectations measured.

“For us, this year was all about making sure we stay in the division and then consolidate,” he said.

“So that’s still the aim, make sure we’re safe and then build from there.”

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