Patience is often rewarded. And that’s never been more apt than looking at Rory Haydon’s Staffordshire stats.
The 21-year-old seamer made his NCCA Championship debut last year and was an impressive performer in the long format.
But his excellent spells didn’t harvest the wickets he craved – or deserved – as he ended the summer with just four wickets in a trio of three-day outings.
So if any of Staffs’ attack was due a bit of good fortune, it was Haydon – and he managed to take centre stage in Staffordshire’s opening Division One East match of this season against Bedfordshire at Checkley.
The Leek paceman grabbed his maiden five-wicket haul for Staffordshire on his way to figures of 6-22 in the rain-affected draw.
And that has certainly put a spring in the step of Haydon as he prepares to once again take the new ball this weekend when Staffs head to Cleethorpes to play Lincolnshire.
‘Pleasing haul’
“It was good to get some wickets. The seam attack against Bedfordshire bowled really well and for me to get some poles was good personally,” said Haydon.
“It could have been any of us taking the wickets, but thankfully on the day it was me. We just now need to keep those standards up for the rest of the campaign.
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“I’ve felt I’ve been bowling nicely for Staffordshire without getting the rewards. I felt good last year, so it took a bit of time for the wickets to come. It’s nice to get them.
“There was a half-hour period before lunch and it was coming out nice and there was also a bit of carry in the wicket, which is what you want to see as a seam bowler.
“That does give you a bit of extra motivation. You don’t always know if it’s going to be your day, sometimes you just get on a roll.
“There will be other days where you bowl just as well and don’t pick up the wickets.”
‘Seaside mission’
Haydon is hoping that his fine form at Checkley can be carried to the east coast.
He admits that not taking a large number of wickets hasn’t been too much of a concern, as long as he keeps sticking to his principles.
“Hopefully I can take that form into Lincolnshire and try to replicate it,” added Haydon.
“It was a very good performance from all four seamers against Bedfordshire and we want to keep our standards high.
“As a bowler, if you go through a dry patch it can be frustrating but it was still coming out well, so it’s all about trusting the process.
“You just need a little bit of luck sometimes. It’s certainly a weight off my shoulders and sometimes you do feel as though you deserve more wickets than you pick up.”
‘Weather wins the day’
Staffordshire were ultimately left frustrated by the weather in that opening game against Beds.
They went into the final day leading by 196 runs, with nine wickets in hand, with strong aspirations to push for victory.
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However, the inclement weather had the final say and no play was possible on day three, meaning Staffs had to be content with a draw.
Haydon says there was plenty of optimism that Staffs could have forced a win to start their campaign in style.
‘Club success’
And he attributes his wicket-taking form in that match to a productive season in the NSSCL Premier A with Leek.
The Moorlanders, who have been in the lower reaches of the table in recent years, are currently top of the standings, helped in part by Haydon’s 25 wickets.
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“The position we were in against Beds was really positive. To be leading by nearly 200 runs, just one wicket down, going into that last day, we felt in a really strong position,” explained Haydon.
“The fact we waited around for so long showed that we felt we needed a couple of hours to get stuck into them.
“You take confidence from club form as well. Going back to Leek this year (from Kenilworth Wardens) has been great and even more pleasing that I’ve been able to contribute.
“When you are playing well you get momentum and take that forward.
“We wanted to climb up the table and be in the right half, which is what we sat down and spoke about before the season started.
“We’ve done well so far and just need to take things game by game.”
‘Good unit’
Haydon is, understandably, full of confidence at both club and county level this summer.
And on Staffs duty, he formed a fine seam unit with former Lancashire paceman Liam Hurt, debutant Jacob Garlick and all-rounder Tom Moulton.
“Hurty has been great on and off the field. He’s a fantastic lad to have in the dressing room and is certainly an asset with his skill and experience,” he said.
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“He bowled beautifully at Checkley and we’ve got a new-ball partnership where we are slightly different bowlers but work well together.
“Jacob has come through the Warwickshire system and he showed what he’s capable of. He was fantastic, bowled really well and deserved a wicket or two for his efforts.”
‘Future plans’
Haydon, who has spent time with Warwickshire, is eyeing up a first-class opportunity in the future.
He is also playing for the NCCA representative side – and wants to maintain his form to pique the interest of the pro counties.
However, in selfless style, he says that he’s more than happy to sacrifice more scalps at Cleethorpes this weekend if it means Staffs return from the seaside with a victory.
“Absolutely, the main priority is the team winning. If I can contribute towards that, great, but as long as we win, that’s the most important thing,” insists Haydon.
“The results have gone in our favour. If we can keep the levels the same we showed against Beds, there’s no doubt we have the talent to take the division by the scruff of the neck.
“There’s no reason why we can’t be positive and aim to finish top of the division.
“My personal plan is to play some second XI cricket. I’ve also been playing for the NCCA Challengers side and have ambitions to get into first-class cricket.
“Staffs is a great platform for me to show off my skills and if I can put in performances that will help my cause.”
Main image: Rory Haydon is looking to carry on his fine form for Staffordshire this weekend. Picture: Alfie Shenton
