The Cricket History of Calderdale and Kirklees

VERITY MATCH IN OMAGH 1941

2012-02-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

By Brian Sanderson,

On Wednesday 8th of February Yorkshire cricket Archives received two score sheets for match between Green Howards against Mr Walsh X1.The Green Howards included Norman Yardley and Hedley Verity.

The match itself was described in Alan Hill book called A portrait of a cricketer
Hedley Verity and there is photogragh of the sides together with picture of the wicket at the Tyrone and Fermanagh hospital.The Green Howards were on manoeuvers in Northern Ireland.They were beaten at cricket by a North-West Ireland eleven at the garrison town of Omagh in Hedley Verity last game on a British field. Verity took eight wickets for 55 runs to dismiss the Irishmen for 112 but the Green Howards ,cloaked in the anonymity of a "Miltary X1", lost by 21 runs.

There is also a copy of newspaper report of the match and an averages for Strabane Cricket Club for 1941 for whom Yardey and Verity played for that season.It was their most successful season since 1910. I e-mail the Strabane historical society to see if they could obtain details of these matches.It will be interesting if they can find any details.

I have put the details of the match on Cricket Archives for the season 1941. This will appear in the next few days.While looking at this excellent web-site ,I noticed they have recently put copies of The Cricketer magazines since 1948 on the site.You can read them as though it is a magazine. Brilliant idea.

You might also look at the Hillam and Monk Fryston cricket club web-site. On the home page there a link to Yorkshire Post article about the club which has been playing cricket for over 300 years. I hope to visit the club this season.

It is also the Centenary of The York and District Cricket League tis year.There is a cabinet full of celebratiing the fact in The Long Room at Headingley. I hope people will stop and look at during the coming season.

Latest news is that Howard Clayton is the new Second Team scorer for next year.

There is somebody out there

2012-01-31T00:40:00.000-08:00

posted by John Winn

In a posting last summer I remarked on a peculiarity of making contributions to the blog was that one could not be sure if they were read by anybody and even if they were, who that person or persons might be. I did mention that some readers had been kind enough to say at the end of the season that they enjoyed the postings which was encouraging but yesterday however I discovered that with a little delving there is very detailed information available about the popularity of the site and the composition its readership.
Since its inception in May 2009 the blog has had almost 15000 'page views'*, 62% from the UK, 15% from USA, 3% from The Netherlands and almost as many from Russia! The peak month for 'hits' was July 2011 when there were over 1500 page views,devotees seeking a refuge from T20?, and perhaps most remarkably there have been over 400 pageviews already in 2012, including 75 in the last week. We may well have a Republican in our midst for there is one hit recorded at 3:00 pm on December 25th.
Postings are also listed by their popularity with number one being by Tony Hutton in 2009 describing cricket under the heading 'A wet bank holiday weekend', which had 264 page views. Perhaps not surprisingly four of the top ten have been for the monthly fixture lists provided by Tony.
Encouraged by all this I attach a few bits of information which might be considered the real business of the blog.
Most counties have published their second eleven fixtures although Durham appear to be keeping theirs a secret and in some cases venues are still to be confirmed. Yorkshire were quick off the mark and it is good to see Harrogate with four days cricket in April when Leicestershire will be the visitors.
With first class cricket beginning on 31st March and the championship a few days later, there a number of friendlies scheduled including Essex against Surrey on 21st March. For those who prefer their cricket in warmer climes and had better luck than I had at Wetherby Races last week, then YCCC start their pre-season tour of Barbados with a practice match on March 15th, full details of packages are available on the club website. Nearer to home and almost certainly colder, The Riverside hosts a two day friendly between Durham and Yorkshire starting on April 1st.
League cricket fixtures are also available with most competitions beginning on April 21st although I note that the NYSD Sunday league begins the previous week, i.e. April 15th.
If you can add any additions, clarifications or corrections to this fixture information then please use the comments section.

* apparently a 'pageview' is not the same as a 'hit' but you probably get the idea.

'Hallowed Homes of Cricket'

2012-01-10T05:38:00.000-08:00

posted by John Winn

Happy New Year and I hope this mild January finds you well and looking forward to the 2012 season which begins in just 81 days. Father Christmas was kind to me, in particular because he delivered Chris Arnot's lovely nostalgic book 'Britain's Lost Cricket Grounds'. The front cover of the book shows the Central Ground at Hastings where I was fortunate enough to play on a number of occasions and to be present when the last first class fixture was played between Sussex and Middlesex in 1989. Although the ground sustained club cricket until 1994 it is now a shopping centre.The book was previewed via this blog in October by Tony Hutton and Tony described how he was approached by the author when he was researching the loss of the Fartown ground in Huddersfield.Tony's contribution to the text appears on page 161.

The idea behind Arnot's book is a simple one: find forty cricket grounds where the game is no longer played, visit the site of each one,talk to people who recall when cricket was played there and illustrate with photographs showing how it was and how it is now, the sort of idea that might have produced a mundane book with a few very familiar photographs. Fortunately Arnot's book is not like that. It is the work of a craftsman who has thoroughly researched the project, cares deeply that such grounds have been lost and he has used many lovely photographs which I suspect in many cases will be new to readers, especially those from the Edwardian era. Photographs, not readers!
Back to Hastings, which occupies the first chapter and in which two photographs commemorate the remarkable achievements of Denis Compton in 1947 when he eclipsed both Hayward's aggregate of 3518 runs and Jack Hobbs' record of sixteen centuries in a first class season. Compton achieved both these landmarks at the Hastings Festival that year. First he beat Hobbs' record when scoring 101 against the touring South Africans for the South of England and a few days later and again representing the South, this time against Pelham Warner's XI, Compton scored the 35 runs necessary to beat Hayward.How those large post war crowds must have enjoyed that week's cricket.
At the same time as Compton was entertaining seaside crowds in Sussex the Scarborough Festival was in progress at North Marine Road. When the original fixture list was published it had featured a match between Leveson Gower's XI and the South Africans but 'shipping conditions' compelled the men from the veld to return home early and the fixtures were rearranged with a North v South match taking the place of the tourists' match. The final match of that year's festival was between The Players, captained by Hutton, who comfortably beat The Gentlemen. One little peculiarity is that the 'Indisposition of Brennan left The Gentlemen without a wicketkeeper and (J.L.) Cheetham of Bridlington took his place'. This was to be Cheetham's only first class match and almost 10% of The Players' runs came in byes but he could perhaps have gained consolation from the fact that his only victim was England opener Cyril Washbrook, caught behind for 7.

In closing I should point out that Arnot's book is not just about the demise of county grounds like Hastings and Fartown, for these are in the minority, although they do include The Circle at Hull where Yoekshire played until the 1990s. Many of the lost grounds described were works' and village grounds. Arnot's description of such grounds will equally bring a tear to the eye of those who played and watched cricket there and perhaps to those who just love the game.

Cricket season's greetings

2011-12-21T07:33:00.000-08:00

posted by John Winn

Tomorrow (December 22nd) marks the winter solstice, the day will be one second shorter than today and Friday will be six seconds longer than tomorrow, so by the weekend it will be OK to talk about the days drawing out. More importantly next year's first class English cricket season is now nearer than last, just over fourteen weeks to go. On 31st March 2012 at venues as far apart as Durham and Taunton five university sides will take on county opposition.My aim is to be at Durham where the students' opponents will be Middlesex.If you prefer to travel south then Cambridge MCCU host Essex at Fenner's.To further whet your appetite Durham take on Yorkshire in a two day friendly at Chester le Street beginning on Sunday April 1st.
I appreciate that for our readers there are probably more pressing matters four days before Christmas than the prospect of potentially chilly days spent watching cricket at a latitude of almost 55 degrees north before Easter but it might be worth making the journey north by way of acclimatisation less than a week before the county championship has its earliest ever start. After a couple of hours at The Racecourse or The Riverside Headingley might seem tropical.
The preceding paragraph may have put you in mind of a Michael Palin character in 'Ripping Yarns' for whom rainfall figures were even more interesting than shovels and if the finer points of the solstice are not your bag and you prefer to see out 2011 before worrying about how you might spend Palm Sunday,then I apologise and close by wishing all our readers a Happy Christmas.

THREE YORKSHIRE PLAYERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

2011-12-17T06:21:00.000-08:00

By Brian Sanderson,

Waking up early this morning I decided to watch two Test matches on Sky.

This first one was Bangladash against Pakistan in Dhaka.There had been a delay in the match due mist,Bangadash had lost early wickets to the only two fast bowlers.As soon as the fast bowlers finihed they had to bowl their spinners which enabled the batsman to come on top.It must years since Pakistan went into a match with only two fast bowlers.

Moving on to South Africa against Sri Lanka at Centurion.There were a few interesting incidents.There was a run out and the batsman have now have to run a stright line and not in the way of the ball.A new law says that a batsman can be given out for obstuction if he tries to stop the ball hitting the stumps.

Mathews was injured and he is not now allowed a runner .A intresting new law.During the innings a ball was exchanged however a wrong type of ball was used.Boucher noticed the fact and the ball was changed for a correct one.Imran Tahir spun a ball over the head of the batsman and the umpire called one for the over.It must be a first for a leg-spinner to be called.Tahir got a wicket and he celebrated over the top.It would have nice if he could have got a wicket for Yorkshire.

One downside of the programme was music during replays.

Of course the three players were Rudolph,Morkel and Tahir.

The match was finished by 1.00P.M.While watch the Rugby Union the commenentator mention that Clermont Auvergne had a budget of twenty million pounds.Yorkshire would be pleased with that turnover.

The Christmas match at North Leeds is now 27 December not 26th.

A barnacle stuck like (Mc)Glew

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

posted by John Winn

The first test series I was old enough to follow with a degree of understanding through the press and radio was that between England and South Africa in 1951. England came into the series buoyed by their first test victory over Australia since 1938 when F. R. Brown's team was successful at Melbourne in the fifth game of the 50-51 series. The series against South Africa was won by three tests to one although Nourse's men came within four wickets of levelling the series at The Oval. England were not to lose another series until the defeat of May's eleven in Australia 58-9.
This successful period for the England side was, however, played out against increasing concern about the health of the first class game. A good way to gauge this concern is via the 'Notes by The Editor' section in the 1950s' Wisdens.Hubert Preston and his son Norman were the editors at that time and as the decade went on their editorials increasingly contain references to 'listless play', 'lack of ambition',the need to 'revive first class cricket', and so on.
In the edition of 1950 Hubert is reasonably optimistic for the previous summer had brought good weather, a close fight for the championship and a better than expected performance from the visiting New Zealanders. The post war boom in attendances soon goes into decline however and the younger Preston's editorials of the mid fifties encourage a change in the points system and an improvement in over rates as remedies. Occasionally optimism breaks through as when all five tests against the South African team under Jack Cheetham are brought to a definite conclusion in the lovely weather of 1955 and when another glorious summer, 1959, brings out the best in county batsmen, typified by Yorkshire's run chase to clinch the title at Hove. Such cheerfulness is short lived for the one sided series against South Africa in 1960, marred by the controversy over Geoff Griffin's action and the beginnings of protest against the visitors' government's apartheid policy earns the epitaph 'The sad season.'
By the mid fifties two runs an over or worse has become the norm for test cricket. Last week saw the 53rd anniversary of Trevor Bailey's innings at Brisbane when he took just three minutes short of six hours to score fifty but the 'barnacle' was not without rivals for has there been a batsman better suited to his name than the South African, Jackie McGlew? Against Australia at Durban in 57/8 McGlew took 313 minutes to reach fifty and just over nine hours before he was able to raise his bat to acknowledge his century. A nice illustration of the torpid batting of this era is that of the eight lowest scores in a full day's test cricket, five were set in the fifties.At the top of the list is the 95 mustered by Australia and Pakistan in Karachi in 56-7, Australia 80 all out, Pakistan 15 for two. What would Sehawg make of that?
This winter has seen some excellent test cricket much of which has been televised by Sky at times to suit those who keep 'normal' hours. Australia have shared exciting series in South Africa and at home against New Zealand and there have ben few more dramatic finishes than that in the Mumbai test between India and West indies last month. Yet as far as it is possible to judge from the TV screen, and despite scoring rates approaching four an over, crowds have been very small. Earlier this week in the 'Bradman Oration' Raoul Dravid urged the cricketing authorities to seriously consider day-night test cricket as a remedy for poor attendances. It will be interesting to see what support is like for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG when India are the visitors. With Sehwag and Warner opening the batting for their respective teams it certainly has more appeal than much of the test cricket of fifty years ago. Worth staying up for?

FIRST ENGLISHMAN TO SCORE AGAINST AUSSIES

2011-12-05T10:13:00.000-08:00

By Brian Sanderson,

Like John Winn, I have just received a cricket book through the post to-day.

The story started when the Yorkshire Archives received a letter from a relative of George Pinder who was the Yorkshire wicket- keeper in the 1880,s.They wish to have a copy of picture of the 1880,s Yorkshire side.

This set be wondering who was the wicket-keeper before him. I do not know much about this period.Looking through my books I found his name, Edwin Stephenson who was born in Sheffield on the June 5 1832. Lugubrious of expression but capable of the droll remark, he was one of two Yorkshiremen on the 1861-62 Australian venture.The other cricketer was Roger Iddison who was the first captain of Yorkshire.

The book I have just received is The Trailblazers by David Frith and purchased for £8 from Boundary Books and signed by Frith.He recently spoke at Wombwellin it,s 60th Year.

A quote from the book was that Ned felt strongly about Southerners moves to destablise the established itinerant teams by setting up the United South of England X1, and spoke of the wage-earning Northerners as having been most cruelly-treated by the Surrey men.

So sensitatively balanced was his dignity that when his partner ran him out-apparently deliberately-in a North v Surrey match in 1863,Stephenson walked out on the ramainder of the game,the entry in the scorebook in the second innings reading,absent,shamefully and disgracefully.Would have Boycott done that when Botham ran him out for scoring too slow in New Zealand.

Laughing Teddy Stephenson, who had proudly top-scored with 67 in Yorkshire first match after its 1863 foundation, and again in 1867 with 54 in the first -ever Roses match,and who had scored England,s first run off the Australian bowling, deid in obscurity and in very poor circumstances on July 5 1898. aged 66.

I look forward to read the whole book during Christmas day instead of watching The Snowman.

Just a message to John I am still very busy with mine and Yorkshire archives.Winter does not stop me been involved in cricket just a change tact.

A remarkable life

2011-12-05T06:23:00.000-08:00

In a posting I made in October I mentioned that I was awaiting delivery of an autobiography of Clive van Ryneveld. This duly arrived and well does the book deserve the title of '20th Century All-rounder' for indeed CvR, as he is referred to throughout the book, has led a remarkable life. The book is not in fact an autobiography, a point he stresses in the preface, merely a selection of reminiscences and reflections, and yet herein lies an element of disappointment for such has been his life that it certainly merits a fuller account.
CvR came to England in 1948 as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University. Here he gained his blue for both cricket and rugby and his play for the rugby fifteen led to an England trial from which he was selected to represent this country in the five nations' championship of 1949, scoring three tries for a not particularly successful England side. Contrast their preparation with that of today's professionals. For the game against Scotland at Twickenham the team assembled on the Friday afternoon for a 'runabout' (bring your own shorts), jersey and socks will be supplied. In the team photograph the players look like representatives of homo sapiens, not the homo giganticus we see today.
Van Ryneveld's nine week international rugby career is described in very modest language. He was invited to play in the trials, so he played, invited to play for England, so he played.
There is no indication in the book that van Ryneveld put himself through any torment in accepting the invitation to play rugby for a country other than his native South Africa yet two years later he returned as a member of The Springbok cricket team that toured England in 1951 and came within four wickets of sharing the series. CvR's contribution was relatively modest, 217 runs at just over 24 and bowling only 19 overs of his leg spin in the tests.The 1951 tour was CvR's only experience of test cricket away from the veld for he was not part of Jack Cheetham's exciting side that pushed England all the way in 1955.Opportunities to travel overseas were turned down because of his commitments as a barrister, he had read law at Oxford.He did however play three home series, captaining his country against Peter May's team in 56-57.
Van Ryneveld's first class career lasted little more than ten years for in 1958 he was elected to the South African parliament and was a founder member of the Progressive party formed a year later and who were opposed to the government's apartheid policies.The last third of this slim volume is concerned with CvR's post cricket life, a career that brought him into contact with some of the most influential figures in late 20th century history.These included Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Desmond Tutu and Harold MacMillan.A remarkable life.
As there have been no postings on the blog since early November our small but selected band of followers may have decided that, like a village cricket pavilion we are closed for the winter and some readers may not find this posting until the doors are opened again in April.It may be, however that the publication of the 2012 first class fixtures has turned some followers' thoughts back to cricket and possibly this blog. After all there are only 117 days until the first game of the new season at Fenner's on March 31st. Take a coat. The ECB has pushed its luck with earlier and earlier starts to the season and been rewarded with fine April weather, but Headingley on April the 5th, brrrr.

Looking back

2011-11-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

Posted by John Winn
When I left Darlington in 1972 to take up employment in East Sussex I also left Cockerton Cricket Club where I had spent five very happy years playing in the Darlington and District League. In addition to Saturday league cricket the club's two elevens competed in a number of evening cup competitions. Friendly cricket was a thing of the past and yet from the club's formation in 1893 it had been nurtured on, and thrived on, that form of the game for almost seventy years. Only a shortage of fixtures for the second eleven forced its entry into the South East Durham League C Division in 1959. In 1961 the first eleven became founder members of The Darlington and District League where they were joined by the seconds the following year. Fifty years later this league has spread its catchment area to Trimdon in the north and Middleton in Teesdale in the west. Cockerton still has two member teams and
there is a reassuring familiarity about the names of many of the opposing clubs. I have fond memories of games played forty years ago on attractive grounds like those at Raby Castle, Rockcliffe Park, Aldborough St John and Cliffe, clubs that feature among Cockerton's opponents today. Even more comforting for the amateur cricket historian (and romantic) is that my grandfather and his brother played for Haughton CC against some of these clubs over one hundred years ago.
It would be tempting to think that for the first half of the last century friendly cricket was the bread and butter of all small village clubs but some recent research in the Darlington and Stockton Times for 1937 has shown that this would be misleading. As today each edition of the weekly paper had at that time extensive coverage of local cricket. At least one page of dense type with few, if any, advertisements or pictures, printed detailed scores, teams for the weekend's games and notes by 'left hander'.Top of the tree were reports of the NYSD league. This had started life in 1892 as the North Yorkshire League with just six clubs but the recruitment of Darlington and Stockton in 1896 allowed it to add SD to its initials.Below this level there was league cricket for a surprising number of smaller clubs. The West Cleveland League for example included the works' teams Acklam Works, Dorman's and Smith's Dock, together with Hutton Rudby who play in The Langbaurgh League today and Preston, Great Ayton and Stokesley, currently members of The NYSD. In 1937, the year of the coronation of George VI, the Langbaurgh West Rural League was composed mainly of clubs who play in The Langbaurgh today. Of greatest interest however is the paper's coverage of The Wycliffe League with just six member clubs, Ravensworth, Hutton Magna, Rokeby, Wycliffe, Forcett Park and Gilling, all small villages close to the A66 between Scotch Corner and Barnard Castle with the longest journey from Rokeby to Gilling a distance of just eight miles.To my knowledge none of these villages can boast a cricket club today although Gilling (West) is used by Richmondshire for fourth eleven games. The Wycliffe League was actually formed in 1937, how long it lasted is a matter for further research and another visit to the local studies room at Darlington Library.
I began by referring to my relocation to East Sussex in the early seventies where I joined Bexhill CC whose very extensive fixtures comprised almost entirely Saturday and Sunday friendly cricket but by 1975 they had joined The East Sussex League and in 1978 moved up to The Sussex County League which afforded the opportunity to play on the county club's outgrounds like Hastings, Eastbourne, Worthing and Horsham. In 2011 Bexhill ran five Saturday League teams and just one Sunday friendly side, how times change.

New cricket society off to a good start

2011-10-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

Last night saw the first meeting of the newly formed Pennine Cricket Society at Golcar cricket club, Huddersfield. Peter Davies, with the help of several willing helpers, has set up this new venture and it got off to the best possible start. This was despite the poor weather and the problems of finding the new venue, both for the speaker who was slightly delayed and for one potential member who gave up and turned round when approaching Saddleworth and returned to Leeds by a very roundabout route.

A real shame that, particularly in view of the excellent cricket tea laid on before the proceedings started. Good to see so many familiar faces, and some new ones, among the audience.

The star turn was of course the inimitable Alan Stuttard, who is fast becoming the Ken Dodd of the cricket speakers' world. His memories of a lifetime of cricket in the Central Lancashire League, and all the big names who have played there, was a real treat. His oft told story of the Everton Weekes cup final of 1954 improves with age.

His biggest claim to fame as a player was hitting the one and only Garfield Sobers for four sixes and for the benefit of those cynics who just could not believe it, brought along a press cutting to prove it.

So a great night for the cricket lovers who turned out to support this new venture and full marks to Peter and his helpers. The next meeting will be held on Thursday 17th November, again at Golcar cricket club, when David Cooper will have more tales of cricket on the 'wrong' side of the Pennines and his association with Royton cricket club.

Membership of the new society is available for the modest charge of £8 for the six meetings, or £2 per meeting, which includes the cost of the cricket tea.

Still More to read

2011-10-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

Like John Winn my thoughts have turned to winter reading this week. Thanks John for your nice plug for 'Bloggers on the Boundary'. Sadly this volume does not contain any photographs due to the high price of colour printing, but I still think it is a good read at the bargain price of £5.

Anyone thinking of buying cricket books should always go to the Amazon website first as you can make considerable savings. Another book, to which I made a very minor contribution, is being published this Thursday. This is 'British Lost Cricket Grounds' by Chris Arnot, published by Aurum Press.

Chris, who is a freelance journalist for the Guardian, amongst other publications, contacted me earlier in the year for information on Fartown, Huddersfield. I was able to point him in the direction of the cricket heritage website and supplied one or two photographs. The book covers 40 lost grounds, at all levels of the game, and should make an interesting read.

More book news also arrived today when I was sent a copy of the Nottingham Post review of a book very close to my heart. 'The Boundary's Edge' by Lawrence Griffiths goes on sale nationwide from November 14th, priced at a hefty £25.

However you can already pre-order, somewhat cheaper, from Amazon. Griffiths is a full time sports photographer and works for Getty Images. He usually attends major sporting events, but like me has fallen under the spell of village cricket grounds.

He has spent the last six years compiling this book and visited 60 different grounds, as far apart as Cornwall, Flintshire, Northumberland and Fife. I am tempted to say only 60 in six years, but suppose the poor man has a full time job to do !

He sums it up by saying 'The people I met and stories I've heard have been phenomenal'. Many of us will know exactly what he means. One definately to look forward to.

Something to read

2011-10-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn
I learned this week that the typical WH Smith reader buys just three books a year. Having ordered three books in the last week alone this came as something of a surprise to me.
It will probably come as no surprise that now that the cricket season is over and withdrawal symptoms have set in, the three books on my shopping list were all cricket books.Two of the three have not yet arrived, the first the autobiography of Clive Van Ryneveld, from Stephen Chalke's excellent Fairfield Books, is still en route from South Africa and the second, a new biography of Fred Trueman by Yorkshire Post cricket writer Chris Waters should be with me this week. The latter has received a glowing review in November's Cricketer Magazine with the promise of 'insights from those closest to Trueman'.
The third book,which I have read, is also published by Chalke and will, I think, have particular appeal to pcws. It is 'Typhoon Tyson to Twenty /20.A lifetime of watching Northamptonshire cricket' by Tony Ward. A short read, just 95 pages, and in some way a rather sad one. Not that it lacks humorous moments, but they are at times the result of that rather sardonic sense of humour that followers of unsuccessful causes tend to develop about something they love deeply, and I speak as a follower of Darlington FC for almost 60 years. As Stephen Chalke, whose idea the book was, says in the foreword, humour that 'is essential if you are a Northamptonshire supporter'.
Admitted to the championship in 1905 Northants have been runners up three times and along with Gloucestershire and Somerset are part of that exclusive club who have never qualified to fly the championship pennant. They have of course had success in other competitions and Tony Ward descibes his great joy at witnessing their victory over Lancashire in The Gillette Cup Final of 1976.
As the title would suggest Frank Tyson features prominently in the book as does Colin Milburn,whose career and life both came to a sad end.For me though the greatest pleasure the book offers is its descriptions of the county's diehard, if pessimistic, supporters; their grumbling, their witticisms and the importance of county cricket in their lives.
An altogether different kind of book I would recommend and which I read earlier in the year is 'The Captains' by Malcolm Knox, a history of Australian cricket seen through the eyes of its 42 captains from Gregory to Ponting. At over four hundred pages this is a hefty tome but Amazon is offering a second hand copy at £3:59.Knox is an Australian and it is interesting to see how cricket appears to those at the other side of the world, for instance the 'chucking' controversy of the late 50s and early 60s. Over Charlie Griffith and Tony Lock the author leaves us in no doubt that as far as Australians were concerned these two 'chucked' but Ian Meckiff, whose action Wisden had no doubt was illegal, is treated with almost saintly reverence.
Finally, and I have saved the best to last, pcws will want to get hold of 'Bloggers on the boundary', a diary of the 2010 season by Messrs Sanderson, Hutton and Davies, names well known to you all!I received a copy by mail from Peter Davies yesterday and I am sure copies will be widely available shortly. Watch this space.

Lord's to Langbaurgh

2011-10-10T00:22:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn
Tony has nicely rounded off the season in yesterday's posting and expressed his personal disappointment that ill health prevented him watching cricket for a large chunk of the summer. How good it has been to read his postings again this last few weeks with the added bonus of photographs.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my first season of contributing to the blog and can't really complain about the amount of cricket I have seen. Totting it all up I have seen exactly the same number of days 'representative' cricket (First Class, second eleven, under 17 etc),as in 2010 and about the same amount of league cricket too. The lovely weather of April and early May got things off to a flying start and I managed to tick off six of the seven 'listed matches' that were available to me without any serious interference from the weather. The various promotions and relegations in the county championship have thrown up a bumper crop of such matches for 2012, twelve in all, and mostly in the south of England which will test the bank balance, the rail network and my stamina, but the publication of the season's fixtures will ignite my passion and come April I will be raring to go.
Looking back over this season my highlights included a day at The Cheltenham Festival, visits to six of the test match grounds, and by contrast time spent at delightful places like Newburgh Priory, Escrick Park and Bolton Percy. There have, of course, to be disappointments, among them Yorkshire's relegation, Durham's poor August which cost them the championship and worst of all ringing up Marske CC to be told they were playing but to get there and find they weren't.But worse things happen at sea, never mind Marske by the Sea.
Writing for a blog is a strange experience, one has no idea how many, if any, read them, who they are and what they make of one's contributions. Except a few kind souls have been good enough to say they have enjoyed them, to them many thanks.Having started the season as an 'umpire from Lancashire', see Tony's posting of the April 11th, from which position things could only get better, I have enjoyed making some new friends. Those of you old enough to remember 'The Lone Ranger' will perhaps recall that at the end of every show as he rode away to the strains of William Tell, somebody would say 'Who was that man?' It would be nice to think that,on my departure from a cricket ground, fewer pcws ask that question than was the case in the spring.
One or two people have suggested that they would welcome occasional postings during the winter and to this end I have one or two ideas in mind so if 'Strictly' or 'The X Factor' are not your bag then it might (just) be worth checking out the blog. In the meantime may I recommend you go to You Tube and enter Cricket 1950 John Arlott into search and you will find a delightful film, lasting just over 15 minutes, narrated by Ralph Richardson and with contributions from Arlott, based round the Lord's test of 1948.It is a gem. Winter Well!

After the heatwave - a damp squib

2011-10-09T02:15:00.000-07:00

Nothing can replace experience

Posted by Tony Hutton

Saturday 1st October - Arthington v The Hawks

A wonderful day of hot sunshine brought out a good number of professional cricket watchers from far and wide, with some entertaining cricket which sadly finished early when the weather was still warm and sunny

I can do no more than quote from the excellent report of proceedings sent in by the visitors to the Wharfedale Observer, which reads as follows:-

The Hawks ended their season with a visit to the lovely ground at Arthington and found themselves playing in the very best conditions of the entire summer.

They also celebrated with an emphatic win in front of their biggest crowds of the season. Opting to bat first, the hosts never found the going easy against a varied Hawks attack and after their 40 overs reached 156-9.

Joe Nash made 26 as opener, a further 26 came from L. Barraclough, 27 from M. Barraclough and Andy Stoddart made a solid 29, as the Hawks bowled and fielded well.
Simon Armitage finished the season with 3-25 and there was a surprise 3-23 from veteran Kevin Woodley.

In reply the Hawks lost no time in claiming the game and reached 162-3 in just 27 overs. This was achieved with the help on an opening stand of 62 from Sam Wilkinson (26) and Tom Lester (50). Stu Cobbett (47) and Duncan Heath (27) added valuable runs before Micky Love-Peel swiped an enormous six to seal victory.

The Hawks extended their thanks to Arthington for a splendid day, the umpires for turning out and the tea lady for her fine fare.

That ends the Wharfedale Observer report and all I can add is the photo above showing the last wicket pair of Arthington returning undefeated at the end of the innings. Dennis Nash and Martin Binks combined ages must be in the region of 140.
Long may they continue to play !

Sunday 2nd October - Arthington v Doghouse.

Not quite as hot as yesterday but still very pleasant for the traditional visit of Doghouse, the team from the Teeside area which consists mainly of players from the North Yorkshire and South Durham league, who like to let their hair down on Sundays.
They have a full fixture list of friendlies at some of the most attractive grounds in the county.

Their name derives from the inevitable consequence of late night homecomings, sometimes the worse for wear, on Sunday evenings.

The cognoscenti voiced the opinion that Arthington should not bat first against a usually strong side and that this might result in yet another early finish. As so often the experts were proved wrong again as Arthington batted consistently throughout their 40 overs to amass a huge total of 244-4. The main man, as so often, was the immaculate Geoff Barker, who made 92 not out, but with good support from all his partners.

Doghouse soon showed that their batting was in a different league to their bowling and went for the runs from the word go, opener Sheppard (apparently from Great Ayton), made a rapid 50 before retiring and at half way the visitors were on target for victory.

Sadly the fine weather then took a turn for the worse as the rain swept down the Wharfe Valley from the direction of Ilkley. I left at this point and still do not know whether the game eventually reached its conclusion. No doubt someone can put me right on that.

We had hoped for another weekend of cricket on the 8th and 9th October, but again the weather had the last word. I doubt very much whether any play was possible on the Saturday and although it was somewhat better today (Sunday) I decided to give it a miss.

So that's it a damp squib to end the season, which for me personally has not been a very good one, having to miss a large part of it for health reasons. However there have been some excellent memories from the earlier part of the season which I hope have been reflected in these pages.

Already people are planning for next season - all I can hope for is good health and good weather for all our readers in 2012.

A long long tale awinding

2011-09-25T05:54:00.001-07:00

posted by John Winn

At Arthington yesterday conversation turned to Arthington Hall and the Sheepshanks family in whose possesion the hall has been since 1830. It was mentioned that a member of the family, Ernest Richard (Dick)Sheepshanks had played one match for Yorkshire, his only first class match and had been killed in the Spanish Civil War when acting as a war correspondent.
Dick was born in 1910 and was killed while reporting on the battle of Teruel for Reuter's on the last day of 1937 when a republican shell exploded in front of the car he was sharing with three other correspondents. What makes this tragic story remarkable is that there was one survivor, namely the communist spy Kim Philby. There was even a bizarre conspiracy theory put forward that Philby planted the bomb to kill Sheepshanks to prevent him blowing his cover.
Dick Sheepshanks' one first class match was in 1929 for Yorkshire against Cambridge University when batting after Mitchell, Oldroyd, Barber and Leyland he made 29.A nice coincidence is that Sheepshanks was in his first year at the university at the time but despite playing in the Freshers' match in '29 and the Seniors' match in '31 he never played for the university. This is surprising in that he certainly had the right pedigree having captained Eton successfully in 1928 when despite being over one hundred runs behind on first innings they fought back to win by 28 runs. The key partnership in Eton's second innings was between Sheepshanks and Ian Akers-Douglas who made 158. There is another somewhat ironic twist to this story in that Akers-Douglas too met a tragic end, killed by a shotgun accident at his home in Frant, near Tunbridge Wells in 1952. Like Sheepshanks, Akers- Douglas might have considered himself unlucky not to get his Oxford blue for he scored centuries in both the Seniors' and Freshers' matches.He was twelth man at Lords in 1930 and went on to play for Kent between 1932 and 1937.
Dick Sheepshanks' brother Charles also represented Eton at Lords, opening the batting in 1930. Dick had played as a fifteen year old at Lords in 1925 when he represented CF Tufnell's eleven against a Lord's XI. Carleton Fowell Tufnell (probably not related to Phil)had a typical upper class background for his time, including service in India and played seven first clas matches for Kent.Matches between Tufnell's teams and a Lord's eleven were an annual event at Lord's betweeen the wars. One of his sons, Neville played as wicketkeeper for England in a test at The Wanderers' ground in 1909 when Hobbs and Sutcliffe put on 212 for the first wicket. This was to be his only cap, one of nine England wicketkeepers who have achieved this distinction.
There is an excellent tribute to Dick Sheepshanks on Reuter's website, 'The Baron'. He is buried in the family vault at Arthington Churchyard, within shouting distance of a loud 'howzat'from the cricket ground.

Some ups and downs

2011-09-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn

I have in my possession some fixture cards which belonged to my father and they are a partial record of his time spent playing local cricket in County Durham and North Yorkshire. The oldest is for the 1932 season, a season which began on May 7th and ended on the last Saturday in August, just sixteen weeks. How times change! This blog reported on the season's opening league cricket in Yorkshire in the middle of April and as Tony reported earlier in the week Blackpool Ken has passed on information about a full programme in the Shropshire Senior League today. No need for the pcw to travel that far however, for cricket will continue at Arthington until the second week in October.
Today's game in the festival was between Arthington and The Jesters and pcws were there in force, including fellow bloggers Tony and Brian. The home team batted first and after a cautious start raised a respectable 160 off their forty overs. As Tony left at the tea interval to test his skill at pin the tail on the donkey Peter Davies and Mick Bourne arrived with Peter leading the way to the tea table. Good to have the chance to talk to him and share notes on strategies for surviving retirement. 'Watch cricket and then count the weeks until the next season'*. Simple.
After seeing The Jesters get off to a flying start I made the short journey to Harewood where St George's were entertaining Cookridge Hospital. After one over the players adjourned for tea, taken halfway through the second innings. After a chat with Ian Cockerill who intended to stay put and see the last overs of cricket at Harewood for this season, I made my way home.
If you were wondering what was the link between the title of this posting and its content then your patience has been rewarded. Yesterday's Darlington and Stockton Times rounded up the end of season cricket in three of the many leagues which have been covered on the blog this season: The NYSD, The Darlington and District and The Langbaurgh. Champions of The NYSD are Marton, runners up Hartlepool with Northallerton and Bishop Auckland relegated, to be replaced by Sedgefield and Thornaby.Bishop Auckland might feel somewhat unfortunate for they are the first team to be relegated without finishing bottom, a second relegation place having been inaugurated this year.Rockcliffe Park head The Darlington and District with Richmondshire and Barningham relegated and Middleton Tyas and Brompton on Swale promoted from Division B.Finally in The Langbaurgh League Hartlepool Power Station retained their title with East Harsley second.Crathorne and Norton are demoted to Division Two and they will be replaced by Stafford Place and Ingleby Greenhow.
* 26 by my reckoning

Arthington fixtures update

2011-09-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

Managed to see a few overs at Arthington this afternoon in their game with Romany, in the company of my son and grandson, until interrupted by thunder, lightning and torrential downpour! Grandson very impressed with cricket and sound effects.

Remaining fixtures are as follows :-

Sat 24th September v The Jesters - 1.30

Sun 25th September v King James I (Bishop Auckland) - 1.30

Sat 1st October v The Hawks - 1.00

Sun 2nd October v Doghouse - 1.00

Sat 8th October v Cambridge Rd Methodists - 1.00

Sun 9th October v Hawksworth - 1.00

One of my Lancashire correspondents advises that the Little Lever CC (Bolton) T20 semi finals and final takes place next Sunday (25/9) with an early morning start, possibly 10.30.

I am also advised that the Aire/Wharfe 3rd XI play off final between Ilkley and Olicanian was called off today and an attempt will be made to play next Sunday (25/9)
probably at Olicanian's ground. Although as the two grounds are within sight of each other it won't really matter.

Blackpool Ken, who seems to be casting his net even wider, reports that there is a full programme of Shropshire Premier League fixtures on Saturday 24th September.

Hopefully the weather will return to its normal September and October excellence by then.

Winter Well

2011-09-16T04:14:00.000-07:00

posted by john Winn

It was with mixed feelings yesterday morning that I made the journey for the second time this week to The Riverside. Even though we had known the day before that the title was beyond them I still wanted Durham to beat Worcestershire and thus gain their eighth victory of the championship campaign. Worcester, now safe from relegation at the start of play needed 359 to win with eight wickets in hand. To justify the 130 mile round trip, however, one doesn't want victory to come too soon , especially on such a lovely September day.
For the first hour Cameron and Ali made steady progress against the bowling of Onions and Thorpe but a change of attack precipitated another Worcestershire collapse, not quite as spectacular as Tuesday's but in relatively short time 128 for 2 became 213 all out. The initial strikes came from Claydon who removed Ali and Kervezee and the introduction of the spinners Blackwell and Borthwick meant that there were 8 down by lunch. Roach went first ball after the interval and although Richard Jones prolonged the inevitable with some bucolic blows off Blackwell by one 1:30 the Riverside season was over, Durham were top of the 'live table', albeit briefly, and 'winter well' was a phrase on many lips. Even the public address in thanking us for our support wished the decent crowd 'a comfortable winter': the kind of thing you might say to a hedgehog.
My friend Peter Sixsmith kindly gave me a lift to Durham station and a York train drew in as I reached the platform. This meant that I was home in time to see the last couple of hours of the battle for the championship on Sky TV. Sky tends to be a bit like Marmite, not many sit on the fence about it but would the BBC ever have had the means or the will to cover the last four days at Taunton and Southampton? I was a bit surprised that Sky put nearly all its eggs in The Rosebowl so that there were only two cameras at Taunton and Paul Allot had to describe Lancshire's triumph from the commentary box at The Rosebowl where he was one of a Sky team of least five, but perhaps I am being rather mean in making that criticism.
In my posting earlier in the week I expressed my concern at Warwickshire's 'cautious tactics' especially in not scoring more quickly on the second day.How they must regret this now. Like Tony I would like to add my congratulations to Lancashire, not least because the birthplaces of seven of the team have such a familiar Lancashire ring. Even followers from east of Todmorden might will take some pleasure from the fact that the eleven that completed the job yesterday included only two born outside the UK and not one designated as an 'overseas' player.
What of Durham? A poor August cost them the championship but 2011 marks their fourth top three finish in five years, by some way the most consistent team in the country. Four of the automatic choices of the current eleven are over 35, however, and Headingley does not have the monopoly on autumn rumours. Will Durham crowds see Steve Harmison in action again? He played only six championship matches this year but his strike rate was better than that of Onions, Claydon and Thorpe. Mark Davies is expected to announce his retirement, a very promising career blighted by numerous injuries,and there are rumours that Collingwood may be the next captain. Enough fodder to chew on there as the evenings draw in.
One last thought.In 1934 when Lancashire last won the title outright, 'Wisden' cost five shillings(25 pence), this year the cover price was £45. If Lancashire wait until 2088 for their next championship and the price of Wisden continues to rise at the same rate then the cricketers' almanac will then cost £8100.Watch this space.

Well done Lancashire

2011-09-16T03:55:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

It does not come naturally for any Yorkshireman to heap praise on Lancashire, but I think that yesterday's dramatic events at Taunton call for some reaction.

Watching events unfold over the last four days, thanks to Sky Sports, has been fascinating, as the games at the Riverside, The Rose Bowl and Taunton ebbed and flowed.

Lancashire have without doubt been the team of the season and have played positive cricket throughout, no doubt helped by playing all their home matches on out grounds with result pitches. Perhaps there is a message there for Yorkshire who could return to Harrogate, Abbeydale and Middlesborough.

However in the vital last matches, Warwickshire with whom I had a passing interest as a schoolboy, lacked that vital element or spark to take chances. Their substantial first innings score was compiled far too slowly and robbed them of the necessary time to bowl Hampshire out twice. The fact that their latest overseas import, Chanderpaul, played three big innings in recent weeks, was a big part in getting them near the title is in stark contrast to Lancashire.

For once they had a side with the majority of players being local lads and had little reliance on their overseas players. Of course we on this side of the Pennines will continue to remind them that two of their star men, Chapple and Keedy, are Yorkshiremen

That said Lancashire's positive approach to their last match, as it has all season, showed up Warwickshire's rather pedestrian style and they are worthy winners after all those years in the doldrums. So well done Lancashire and congratulations to all my many Lancashire friends who at long last can hold their heads up high and will no doubt continue to crow about their victory, and Yorkshire's relegation, throughout the long winter months ahead.

Championship goes to the wire again

2011-09-14T01:20:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn
Durham's virtually said goodbye to their hopes of a third title in four years when on Monday they were bowled out for 264 by Worcestershire at The Riverside thus surrendering three precious batting points.If they can beat Worcestershire then they retain a mathematical chance of the championship but not without events at Taunton and Southampton going in their favour.
Warwickshire's cautious tactics at The Rosebowl have made it almost impossible for them to lose their game with Hampshire but the same approach yielded just three batting points and may allow Lancashire to pip them at the post. For this to happen Lancashire must beat Somerset, an event which if still improbable, seems more likely now than it did twenty four hours ago.
Despite Monday's disappointing news from Chester le Street I travelled north yesterday in the hope that Durham's bowlers might make early inroads into Worcestershire's batting. Alas this was not to be, for the body language of the Durham players suggested that they knew they had blown their slim chances on Monday and that the fates were making doubly sure by denying Onions and Thorpe any fortune in the way of edges going to hand.Thus it was that Solanki and Cameron raised their second wicket stand to 138 before the latter was bowled by Blackwell but with tea taken at 255 for three it seemed almost certain that The Pears would get the 45 runs they need to effect a great escape that Steve McQueen would have been proud of. The game changed dramatically when Benkenstein belied his 37 years to remove Kervezee with a brilliant diving catch and the last six Worcestershire batsmen could only scrape 12 runs between them as Onions and Thorpe used the new ball to take the last five wickets for five runs. Last man out was West Indian Kemar Roach who joined Worcestershire in late August and has since taken 13 wickets. It was Roach who sealed Yorkshire's relegation when at 2:20 pm on Monday afternoon he sent Will Smith's middle stump cartwheeling.He will hope that his dismissal just short of the one point needed to send Hampshire down does not condemn his new county to join Yorkshire in Division Two next year.
If there is any prospect of a reasonably interesting day at The Riverside tomorrow then I shall return but for today I will content myself with watching events on Sky TV.If you were to pin me down then I would predict all three games ending in a draw and Warwickshire beating Lancashire to the title and Worcestershire getting the elusive point that slipped through their fingers yesterday.Don't go ringing your turf accountant however.

Yorkshire save their best for last

2011-09-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

Ballance and Bairstow leave the field after victory over Somerset at Headingley

Posted by Tony Hutton

Saturday 10th September - Yorkshire v Somerset at Headingley (Day 4)

John Winn set the scene perfectly for Yorkshire's last day of the season. Although technically not yet relegated even a win would mean Worcester needing only one point from their game with Durham next week.

John's suggestion that what was needed this morning was an early burst by Ryan Sidebottom came true with a vengeance. With only four runs added to the overnight score of 124-6 Sidebottom bowling up the hill from the rugby stand end had Thomas caught at slip by Lyth. Next ball, the first of Shahzad's over, the second of the South African duo, Meschede, was clean bowled and Somerset were 130-8.

The next over by Sidebottom completed the rout. Kartik caught behind by Bairstow off the first ball and Kirby plumb lbw to the fifth and Somerset were all out for 132.
The relatively small Saturday crowd could hardly believe their eyes and the public address announcer got in a mess with how many wickets Sidebottom had taken. However he soon got his breath back to announce career best figures of 7-37 and a total of eleven wickets in the match.

So far so good, but could Yorkshire chase the fairly modest target of 203 or could that awful collapse against Kent exactly twelve months ago be repeated. Root and Sayers predictably started slowly against the hostile opening attack of Kirby and Thomas. Root then began to play his shots and hit eight fours in well constructed 46 before Thomas had him lbw for the second time. 85-1 and acting captain Sayers looking as though he was determined to see Yorkshire home.

However he soon lost Lyth to an impatient shot after making only three in thirty three balls. Suppiah taking a stunning diving catch at mid-on worthy of a top goalkeeper. Sayers soon followed, another good catch this time by Trego at slip off spinner Kartik. This brought together Anthony McGrath and Johnathon Bairstow at 103-3and the pessimistic among us thought could this be the start of a collapse.

After a hesitant start McGrath, after a poor run of form, started to play the shots we know he is capable of and Bairstow, fresh from the award of the Player of the Season at lunchtime was his usual confident self. After a few scares along the way, particularly when Kirby and Thomas returned for a final fling, this pair took Yorkshire to the verge of a famous victory. Three fours in an over by McGrath, not all going quite where intended, off the perspiring and angry Kirby, seemed to turn the tide.

Bairstow went to his fifty and a thousand Championship runs, before McGrath was out for 44 trying to hit the winning runs and Ballance came in to complete the job. Some may say too little too late but at least this victory will give Yorkshire heart for the battles to come in the second division against some new opponents next season.

The rumour mongers have been active all week, mainly with suggestions of which players may leave, but the evidence is there for all to see, there is talent in this squad of players, with more waiting in the wings after a successful season for the Academy. Alex Lees, 12th man in this match, must be one who will come into the reckoning. Clearly something is missing, whether it be concentration, commitment or discipline and perhaps better leadership might be the key.

What else can be said other than this was Sidebottom's match. Eleven wickets and 27 valuable runs in the first innings. will have many people who expressed doubts regarding his re-signing (myself included) eating their words.

A rainbow at the end

2011-09-11T05:16:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn

For reasons that will become apparent I decided to stay close to home yesterday and began by making the short trip to St George's Road, Harrogate for a first eleven match against Castleford. This was my first visit to Harrogate this season and therefore my first opportunity to see the new club house and changing rooms which serve both the main and secondary grounds. Although the new building does not fall within my definition of a 'pavilion' it is nevertheless a fine addition to the facilities.Despite this I still feel rather sad when visiting St George's Road for I remember being part of the large crowd that attended the penultimate county championship match played there in 1995 when Yorkshire overwhelmed Durham. It is, I think, safe to assume that such days will never return to this part of Yorkshire.
Harrogate were hoping to end the season by completing a fourth successive victory but it was not to be for they were bowled out for 139 with John Proud top scoring with 37. Curiously the ten dismissals included four lbws and two run outs. Castleford reached this modest target with 3 wickets to spare, a result that leaves both teams in the middle of the final table.
The secondary ground had more exhilarating fare on offer with Harrogate Strays entertaining Knareborough Forest in a local derby which for the visitors was of the greater moment. Victory would give them the possibility of promotion to Division One of The Nidderdale League and scoring at just under seven an over they rattled up 311 for 8 in their 45 overs which proved much too much for the Strays who managed only 76 in reply. Alas for Forest other results did not go in their favour and they will not accompany Spofforth into Division One next season.
From Harrogate I made the short trip to Knaresborough CC where the visitors were Bolton Villas, former stalwarts of the Bradford Central League until their election to the Aire-Wharfe in 2000. I caught the tail end of the home teams innings which closed on 169 for 9 to which 'Villas' replied with 147 for 6.
On my way back I popped in at Whixley , little more than a mile from my house and the fourth different league of the afternoon (Wetherby). Here the players were just leaving the field for tea with Whixley 158 all out against Sicklinghall. The visitors got home comfortably by six wickets, enough to secure promotion to Division One by the narrowest of margins.

Finally I turned up at Ouseburn CC where end of season celebratory barbecue was in full swing in recognition of the first eleven's first ever championship of the Nidderdale league. A second team match was in progress against Markington for whom opener Tom Lloyd had scored 120 in a total of 280 for 6. OCC had a good go at chasing this daunting total but fell 34 for short with 5 wickets down. The last over was played in pouring rain but with the sun shining through and a rainbow arched over the village. It reminded several of us of a one day international against Australia at The Oval in 1977 when the England fielders stayed on in heavy rain. It all made for a memorable end to my league cricket watching for the season. And the barbecue was splendid too!

If ifs and buts.......

2011-09-10T01:51:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn

Travelling to Headingley on Wednesday morning the man opposite me on the train was holding a conversation on his mobile phone along the lines of ...'it will happen sooner or later, probably sooner and if the weather is OK then it will probably be on Friday so if you don't want to be there when it happens then you had better come tomorrow.'It would not have taken Simon Hughes to know what 'it' was but if there was any doubt then this was dispelled when the train stopped at Burley Park and the speaker alighted and turned to walk up the hill towards the cricket ground.
Writing this on Saturday morning 'it' hasn't happened yet and there is the slenderest chance that 'it' might not happen today but I advise any readers to brace themselves before reading the next sentence. Yorkshire's relegation may well be confirmed today, there I've said it. The supreme optimists among our readers will be considering the impact of a Yorkshire win today coupled with a Worcestershire loss and the possibility that 'The Pears' will get no points at The Riverside next week for those three things need to happen for Division One Cricket to be played at Headingley and Scarborough in 2012.'Nuff said'.
After the frustrations of Wednesday's and Thursday's showers and the frequent interruptions to play they caused, yesterday gave us a full day's play with, at times, some warm sunshine.Considering the situation Yorkshire supporters assembled in good numbers only to be let down by their batsmen who for the fourth time this season failed to get any bonus points.Spirits were lifted either side of tea when Sidebottom swept aside Somerset's inexperienced top order but two South Africans, Thomas and Meschede, will resume their partnership this morning with a lead of 194, just one less than Yorkshire's first innings total.An early burst from Sidebottom in what it seems likely will be seam friendly conditions and Yorkshire might still find themselves chasing a gettable fourth innings total. Let's hope so and let's hope they make a decent fist of it and reward those who turn up more in hope than expectation.

Just to tidy up Warwickshire are the 2011 Second Eleven Champions and look likely to add the County Championship to that next week.Warwickshire II beat Glamorgan II by six wickets yesterday.

Glorious Devon

2011-09-08T00:18:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn
Devon became Minor Counties Champions yesterday when they beat Cambridgeshire by 170 runs at March Town CC. Set 242 to win the host county were skittled for just 72.

Young ones provide great entertainment

2011-09-06T06:44:00.000-07:00

Grammar School at Leeds celebrate victory at New Rover

Posted by Tony Hutton

Monday 5th September

David English/Bunbury under 12 Yorkshire cup final at New Rover CC, Leeds.

The first of two schools finals to be played at New Rover this week was between the Grammar School at Leeds and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield. Most of the pre-match speculation had been about the uncertain nature of the start time.
However 12 noon, as advised by New Rover secretary, Mel Reuben, proved to be correct.

Unfortunately a very heavy shower just before twelve meant that the actual start became 1 p.m. However once under way the game was played out for the full 30 overs per side.
Both sides had come through five earlier rounds to reach the final. QUEGS batting first and put on 46 for the first wicket, with captain Harry Clibbens monopolising the scoring.

Clibbens was eventually out for 52 after a good partnership with number three George Charnock who made 39. At 93-3 QUEGS looked set for a big score but Leeds fought back well and the middle order collapse saw the score slump to 99-7, thanks to some good bowling from Winter and Winterbottom who both took two wickets.

It was left to number eight Thomas Macrow to rescue QUEGS. He made a fine 27 not out in a 47 partnership with Bennett for the eighth wicket. Final score 144-7.

After a fine spread at the tea interval, surprisingly the young lads did not finish all the food and it was left to the elderly cricket watchers to finish it off !

Leeds played cautiously at first against the accurate opening attack, but after the early loss of opener Dracup a good partnership between Oliver Robinson and Rahul Shah gradually increased the rate. When Robinson was out for a fine 54 at 89-2, the required rate was around six per over and despite the loss of two more wickets Shah took over and hit the winning four off the penultimate ball of the last over, to finish on 64 not out.

So a thrilling finish and full credit to both side for a really entertaining afternoon's cricket. The bowling was very varied with a good mixture of pace and spin, the fielding and throwing was excellent and we saw three good fifties from the batsmen. Thanks to Harold Galley, the hard working Yorkshire school's secretary, who produced a very informative programme yet again.

The individual trophies and the cup were presented by Yorkshire Academy's star batsman Alex Lees, who recently made his first team debut. Lots of proud parents, and grandparents, gathered round to take pictures and everyone agreed that we had been right royally entertained.

Updates

2011-09-06T03:25:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn

Woodhouses is a small village club between Manchester and Oldham and it is where Mike Atherton began his career. It now has another claim to fame for on Sunday it beat Sussex club Rottingdean in a rain affected Village Cup Final at Lords. The game was reduced to a ten over match with Woodhouses posting 112 for 1 to which Rottingdean replied with 54 for 8.

The Minor Counties Championship Final reaches the third of its allocated four days today. The match between Cambridgeshire and Devon is being played at March Town and at close of play yesterday Cambridge were 179 for 8 in reply to Devon's 228 (which included a six run penalty for the home team's slow over rate). Top scorer for Cambridgeshire was Nick Ferraby continuing the good form he showed for MCC in their match against the Nidderdale League at Burton Leonard last week.

Today sees the first day of the Second Eleven Championship final at Coventry and North Warwickshire. The start was delayed by thirty minutes and Notts II won the toss and asked Glamorgan to bat. The Glamorgan website looks as though it could be a good place to keep up with this one.

Finally if you are depressed by Yorkshire's prospects of avoiding relegation you may find some comfort in the comments of Sussex supporters on 'The Argus' website (the local paper in Brighton). They are very critical of the club, the players and Cricket Manager, former Yorkshire player,Mark Robinson.If a county's prospects can be judged by the mood of its supporters Sussex are very much part of the battle to stay in division one.

Yorkshire Academy finishing the season in style

2011-09-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

Yorkshire Academy v Scarborough (Yorkshire Premier League Cup Final) at Weetwood

A large crowd gathered at Weetwood, including many who had made the journey from the seaside through torrential rain in the York area. The Academy are really finishing the season on a roll, having beaten league champions elect York twice in recent weeks, they won away at Sheffield United on Monday and again at Castleford yesterday.

Not to be forgotten also many of the team were involved in Yorkshire's splendid national Under 17 county championship win at Leicester against Surrey on Friday.
Chasing Surrey's 325 they won in style by six wickets, with George Ross making a century. I only discovered the result on arrival at Weetwood, due to the sad lack of news in the press or any website.

However back to today, Scarborough batted first and Wainman was fit again to open the bowling with skipper John Blain, although Alex Lilley was still unfit. Blain got rid of dangerman Harland early on and the other opener Simpson was caught behind off Ben Coad for 23. Wicket keeper Tennant with 31, Lincolnshire Minor Counties player Bansil also 31 and skipper Rinke 21, all fell when they looked likely to stay longer.

So from 105-3 wickets began to fall with great regularity against some accurate bowling from all the Academy bowlers. Coad had the best figures of 3-17, but five different bowlers all took a wicket each and Scarborough's lack of scoring power is shown by the fact that there were no less than twelve maiden overs when the innings closed at 157-9 after fifty overs.

The weather improved from cloudy to bright sunshine as the Academy, as they have done so often recently, knocked off the runs with great ease. The power of Alex Lees, with over 800 league runs behind him, and the deft touches of James Tattersall, much younger and smaller, put on a match winning partnership of 142.

Scarborough's total was passed in only 28.3 overs with Lees 90 not out after another 90 at Castleford yesterday. Tattersall who starred with his spin bowling with five wickets yesterday, was out for 44 - yet another mature innings from the youngster.
Lees hit nine fours and three sixes into the woods at the far end.

So still in bright sunshine, John Blain was presented with the huge Solly Sports Cup by league secretary Colin Adamson and the large crowd gathered round the presentation area to take pictures of the winning side. As somebody said 'not bad two trophies in three days'. So Yorkshire's excellent batch of young players have brought some silverware to the club in a season which in other respects has been so dissappointing.

Adel try to escape the drop

2011-09-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

Saturday 3rd September

Adel v Collingham (Airedale and Wharfedale League)

Still unable to travel far from home, so very envious of Brian Sanderson's visit to the Esk Valley League. The game at Adel was very important for the home side lying next to the bottom of the league at the start of the day.

When I arrived the visitors were already 20-3 and Adel's Australian pace bowler Brad Robertson had taken all three. Opening bat Swain made 25 and number five Fairbank 21, but they were the only batsmen to reach double figures.

They reached their high point on 65-4, but the remaining six wickets fell for only eight more runs. Robertson finished with his best figures of the season with 6-22.
There were also two nonsensical run outs and Collingham looked to be just going through the motions with nothing at stake for them. All out 73.

Fortunately the tea had already been laid and it needed only a quick brew up for the earlist tea of the season at about half past two. The spectators, which suprisingly consisted of more from Collingham than from Adel, began making plans for an early finish.

This duly arrive by five minutes to four when Adel completed a very easy victory by six wickets, despite one or two unusual umpiring decisions. Stuart Howie top scored with 34 not out and the only bowler to achieve success was spinner Toby Jacklin, former Cambridge blue, who took all four wicket to fall for 27 runs.

Later in the day we learned that Adel's closest relegation rivals, Green Lane, had lost so Adel leap frogged over them out of the relegation places by just one point.
So, as with last season, Adel's fate depends on the last match of the season next Saturday at Beckwithshaw, the same venue as last season when the also just avoided relegation.

The other coincidence is that Green Lane have to travel to Collingham, so Adel will hope they put up a better show than they did today. However there was some good news in the fact that Adel's 2nd team clinched their league trophy - quite an achievement and possibly some of these players may be promoted next season. In addition the third eleven have won their section of the Sunday league and will be involved in the play-offs next weekend.

SUNSHINE IN RAWTENSTALL

2011-09-04T12:49:00.001-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

Looking at the BBC. weather forecast I decided to go to the Lancashire rather than to Wickersley.Bob Procter had not watched a match at Rawtenstall and who,s ground is situated on Bacup Road.They were playing Enfield and both sides were middle of the table.Since I had visited the ground a new clubhouse has been built and also a new refreshment shed.One disappointment in the clubhouse was there were no old pictures of the players or teams.

There were pools of water on old bowlers foot marks but with the help of the sun and sawdust they started at 1.00p.m.Enfield won the toss and bowled on a green wicket.
There was a slow start but soon wickets started to fall including Rawtenstall professional.He is a Sri Lankan named Nilantha Cooray who has not been resigned for next year yet.He was run out when the other batsman refused to run for a impossible single.He walked slowly off looking at the other batsman.Enfield professional Werner Coetsee bowled spin for the full innings taking three wickets for nineteen runs.
Rawtenstall were bowled out for 97 but the sun was shining.

We decided to watch the start of Enfield innings.They also struggled but The professional took control.We watched Cooray bowl one over of spin and decided to go to Todmorden. It this stage Enfield wanted forty runs to win with only one wicket down.I found at home they won by eight wickets.

Moving on to Todmorden who were playing Lowerhouse who needed seven points to win the league.When we arrived Lowerhouse had scored 127 with Todmorden professional taking six wickets for fifty-five in twenty five overs.Good bowling.Todmorden had lost three wickets for nineteen including the professional. There was a large crowd and had been drinking all afternoon which pleased Todmorden Committee.We stopped about one hour and saw four more wickets fall.Todmorden were bowled out for eighty-two with Lowerhouse winning the League.More beer would be drunk.

A good day in sunshine with good company.A day to remember in a dark day in February watching football on the television.

Disappointed in Derbyshire

2011-09-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn
A family celebration took my wife and me to her home village of Tideswell near Buxton today. Reading the 'Village Voice' I noted that Tideswell CC were due to play a team from the Manchester area in a friendly match this afternoon. So after lunch we strolled down to the cricket ground only to find the square roped off and a distinct end of season feeling in the air. The article from which I had drawn the information about today's intended game lamented that there had been a number of fixtures cancelled lately because opponents could not raise an eleven. A look at Tideswell's website reveals that they only play friendly cricket restricted to Sunday fixtures. It looks as though today's fixture had joined the list of cancellations and it is puzzling to me ,that Tideswell, a village of more than 1500 population should not play league cricket. Enquiries will be made.
There is an thriving league in the area. 'The Yorkshire and Derbyshire League' this season welcomed 6 new teams and 5 new clubs to 'boost numbers' to record levels. The 5 divisions cover 56 teams spread over Sheffield, North East Derbyshire and The Peak District.
In today's Observer a back page article by Vic Marks describes a 'gripping climax to the county season' with the championship, promotion and relegation issues still in the balance with two rounds of matches to go. Marks is a staunch champion of the county championship and in his article says that the 'two men and a dog' image of county cricket is unfair and that decent crowds do attend the matches whether at 'Worcester or Taunton, Liverpool or Headingley.'The photograph accompanying the article is of just such 'a decent crowd' at Scarborough for the match against Worcestershire in July. There is a degree of irony in the choice of photograph because it is of the popular side, probably the least tenanted part of the ground. Indeed one can imagine some editors using the same photograph to make just the opposite point. Marks also writes in The Guardian, The Observer's sister paper, whose coverage of county cricket in general and the championship in particular, is very poor. Perhaps Victor might have a word with his sports editor and point out to him or her just how fascinating a prospect the next two weeks hold.

VISITING ALL ESKDALE CRICKET LEAGUE

2011-09-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

After reading Tony Hutton visit to the above League some years ago,it has been my wish to visit the grounds.To-day I set-off at 8.30A.M and picked you the two Ronnies to visit all the grounds.Ron Deaton had done extensive research to find where the grounds were and the fixtures.In the Whitby Gazette for Friday , it gave the League table.The winner was Fryup and Mulgrave second.

The first ground we visited was Goatland which is situated behind a pub near a garage which is featured in T.V. show Heartbeat.They were playing Sleights this afternoon.

Second ground was Glaisdale were they were having yearly fare on the cricket ground.It is situated behind some houses and the ground can be entered by a gate next to a house garden.I parked the car next to the local shop and near the train station.

Third ground was Lealholm which entered through a lane opposite a small car park and next to bed and breakfast house.There were some train seats out side the pavilion and Ron Stansfield said they were very comfortable.

Fourth ground was Fryup.There is no village of this name put is found in the Great Fryup valley.The ground has excellent views but a poor pavilion.We found a stone roller with Fryup C.C. dated 1930.However they won the league.Where do the players come from?.

Fifth ground was Mulgrave which is situated in the village of Lyth.It is a new pavilion and we decided to have our sandwichs there.When we were eating the groundsman arrived and shown us in side the pavilion.It was built for £7000,000 and was money well spent.Most of the money came from the Football fund.

Sixth ground was Sleights who were playing Goatland who were bottom of the league.The ground is situated next to the river and has another new pavilion.We spoke to the Goatland opening bowler.His comment was that cricket was rubbish and football was his game.Good start talking to the players.

Seventh ground was Grosmont which is situated next to the railway station.They were playing Mulgrave and we meet their groundsman again.They lost seven wickets while we were there with two excellent catches.

Eight ground was Danby who were playing Lealholm who were batting.The ground is situated at the end of a country lane and one of the tea ladies said they did not get many visitors.No wonder if you did not know were the ground was you would not find it.

Ninth ground was Castleton who were down to play Fryup however the fixture was cancelled.Fryup had already won the League.

Tenth and last ground of the League was Westerdale who were playing Glaisdale.The home side had scored over 200 in the forty overs and tea was just finishing.The rain started to fall but they still carried on playing while we had tea including chocolate cake.After tea we decided to move on to a drier ground.

After passing through heavy rain and low clound we arrived at Pickering who were playing Hornsea.It was dark but no rain yet.The ground is next to the football pitch just off the main Malton road.After about fifteen minutes it started to rain.So ended our trip.

Mick Bourne and Brian Senior went last week when all the fixtures were rained off.
He telephoned me last Monday night and advised me not to go because of the difficulty finding the grounds.However Ron Deaton did a find job and sat-nev us to all the grounds.

Arrived home at 8.00P.M after a excellent day and a wish come true to visit all the Eskdale grounds.

Yorkshire seconds cruise to victory

2011-09-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of the game was regular cricket watcher John Taplin passing on words of wisdom to the England Under 18 hockey squad training nearby

Posted by Tony Hutton

Yorkshire 2nd XI v MCC Young Cricketers (Weetwood) - day three.

Yorkshire's last wicket pair added a few more runs this morning and set MCC the not too challenging target of 237 to win. A good crowd had gathered in fine weather, which improved as the day went on. Most of us anticipated a good day's cricket with possibly a close finish around tea time.

However our hopes were very soon dashed when the visitors slumped to 0 for 2 and then 7-3 to the opening spell from Wardlaw (two wickets) and Hannon-Dolby (one).
There was a brief recovery by Hose (23) and Ballard before Hose gave Brophy his third catch behind the stumps, again off Wardlaw. Clarke and Marsh (we think the son of former Kent wicket keeper Steve Marsh) both followed quickly and at lunch the score was 90-6 with Ballard still there.

At this point many of the spectators left for pastures new - mainly to Headingley where the final of the Greyfox Trophy for club sides of over fifties was taking place at 1 p.m. However the game at Weetwood did last for another hour or so, and when Ballard was out for a grafting top score of 44, this time caught Wardlaw bowled Jackson, number nine Dobb took up the challenge.

He hit a quick 35 not out of only 17 balls with five fours and a six, but it was all in vain as Wardlaw and Randhawa finished off the tail and Yorkshire had won by 74 runs mid way through the afternoon, when of course the weather was at it's best.

Wardlaw took the brunt of Dobb's assault and in the end his five wickets cost him 82 runs off only eleven overs. Randhawa had figures of 2-16 and all the other bowlers had one wicket each. So a useful work out for some of Yorkshire's youngsters, but it has to be said not much of performance from many of the visitors' side.
The chief exception being the South African Chad Barrett with 63 in the first innings and splendid figures of 5-35 in Yorkshire's second innings.

Finally thanks to John Winn for his exclusive revelation of the day one score at Leicester, no mention in the press or on either of the county websites although Surrey did at least have a preview of the game. All that remains now is what might be a long wait to discover the result of the game today.

Also a further word of caution for those planning to visit the two school finals at New Rover CC next Monday and Thursday. Despite YCB website saying Monday's game starts at 1.30 I have received an e-mail from the New Rover secretary which says that both games are due to start at 12 noon.

MCC and Grace (Road)

2011-09-02T00:55:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn

In 1994 as part of their centenary celebrations The Nidderdale Amateur Cricket League played an MCC XI at Dacre Banks. Sine then the match has been an annual fixture and this year was hosted by Burton Leonard CC near Ripon. As far back as 1850 the cricketing activities of BLCC were recorded in the 'Leeds Intelligencer' and a photograph in the pavilion shows 'Burton Leonard and Copgrove' as winners of The Ripon League in 1897. This league was short lived and the Burton Leonard club itself was dissolved in 1929 but reformed in 1947 and joined the NACL in 1949.They moved to their present ground in 1966 and currently run two teams in the league with the first eleven mid table in Divison One.
I was part of a decent crowd that assembled for the 11:30 start on Wednesday with MCC invited to bat in a 'time match', something of a rarity in club cricket these days.The league eleven was captained by Olly Uffindall, captain of champions elect, Ouseburn CC.
Star performer for MCC was former Leicestershire player Nick Ferraby, who plays his league cricket for Oxford CC in the Home Counties Premier League and is also part of the Cambridgeshire team that will contest the Minor Counties Championship final at March CC next week, when their opponents will be Devon.Ferraby's hundred helped MCC post 275 for three when they declared after 55 overs.The local men made a good start in their pursuit of this total reaching 55 for 1 at tea. I left at this point and do not know the outcome. The result will, I think, appear on the MCC website in due course.
Much of my afternoon was spent in the company of the doyen of pcws, Ian Cockerill who I last saw at Darlington in June. I was delighted, and amazed,to be able to inform Ian of two leagues in North Yorkshire of whose existence he was unaware, namely the Langbaurgh League and the Cleveland League, expect to see Ian pop up on some of those grounds in 2012!
After much humming and hawing since Tony posted the fixture I decided earlier in the week that I would yesterday take the train to Leicester for the first day of the Under 17 Final between Yorkshire and Surrey at Grace Road.Tony reported fully on Yorkshire's semi final victory over Warwickshire at Weetwood last month and he noted that some of Yorkshire's followers feared the final would be at either Canterbury or The Oval. One can see why they might have thought this for last year's final between Middlesex and Nottinghamshire WAS played at Canterbury and of course the Oval is Surrey's home ground, but the Under 17s never play there.
Signalling difficulties at Doncaster delayed my arrival at Grace Road until after twelve at which point Surrey's openers were still at the crease to the dismay of the Yorkshire contingent who were basking in lovely sunshine. The format for this competition is unusual but I think a good one with each side having 100 overs for their innings spread over two days. Not surprisingly the crowd was a small one with the number of Yorkshire supporters just shading those from Surrey.
Early in the afternoon it looked as though Surrey might post 400 but gradually the Yorkshire bowlers reined them in and Surrey would have been very disappointed, when after tea, they could not get he run rate above 3.4 per over. For sixteen year olds fielding for almost a full day in hot conditions must be very taxing but Yorkshire did not let their standards slip and kept boundaries to a minimum. I left at the fall of the eighth wicket and ten minutes later was joined at the bus stop by Jennifer Ellison who told me that Surrey had been all out for 327. Jennifer, like most of the Yorkshire contingent, was staying over in Leicester for the second day and they will feel optimistic about Yorkshire's chances. Signalling difficulties at Doncaster having been overcome my return journey was a smooth one and I was back in York by 8:30, pleased that I had overcome my prevarication and made the trip.

Patched up Yorkshire seconds aim for victory

2011-09-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

Yorkshire 2nd XI v MCC Young Cricketers at Weetwood, Leeds.

This friendly three day match started yesterday and got off to a bad start for Yorkshire when two of the team named on the scorecard turned up within minutes of each other with arms in plaster. Alex Lilley and James Wainmaa had both managed to suffer fractured bones in their hands.

However Yorkshire batted first and gave skipper John Blain time to regroup.
Opening for Yorkshire was Gerhardus Rudolph, younger brother of Jacques, who has been playing for Rotherham this season. He looked in good form and made a patient 40.

His opening partner, Alex Lees, went for 15 and Gerald Brophy for 25, before Hodgson who keeps wicket for Leeds/Bradford University came in to play the innings of the day. Unfortunately he got very little support from a very young middle order, apart from Oliver Hannon Dolby. Usually a number eleven he was promoted to the dizzy heights of number seven and stuck around with Hodgson for nearly an hour, scoring 13, which included a perfect cover driven four.

Hodgson went on to make 86, with ten fours and when he was out a last wicket partnership of 41 between skipper Blain and left arm spinner Oliver Jackson enabled the home side to declare on 268-8.

The MCC youngsters who had not really distinguished themselves in the field, struggled to 50-2 by the close with wickets for both opening bowlers, Wardlaw and
Hannon-Dalby.
On day two Hannon-Dolby continued his good work and took three more wickets, just missing out on a hat-trick. He had Ed Ballard, who had fielded sub for England in the Lord's Test, caught behind off his first ball. MCC slumped to 90-6 but were rescued by yet another South African, Chad Barrett, with a fine innings of 63. He was eventually the last man out with the total on 215 after a last wicket partnership of 50.

Left arm spinner Randhawa finished with 4-56 and Hannon-Dolby with 4-46. Also worthy of mention was another young left arm spinner, also from Rotherham, Oliver Jackson. He gave the ball plenty of air and finished with excellent figures of 10.1-3-18-1.

Yorkshire's second innings started in mid-afternoon and again Rudolph did well with 43, but this time Hodgson perished for a duck and the very inexperienced middle order again collapsed until the lower order came to the rescue and Yorkshire finished the day on 169-9, a lead of 223. So all is evenly balanced for the last day tomorrow.

Fixtures update

2011-08-30T02:34:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

Wednesday 31st August - Yorkshire II v MCC Young Cricketers (Weetwood, Leeds) - first day of 3 - 11.00.

Thursday 1st September - Yorkshire under 15s schools final - Leeds v Huddersfield at Methley CC - 12 noon

Friday 2nd Sept. - Greyfox Trophy final at Headingley - 1 p.m. Bradford Bhuddies v Fishlake - 30 overs per side

Sat 3rd Sept. - St Georges v Cambridge Methodists (Harewood House)

Sun 4th Sept. - National Village Final at Lord's - Woodhouses (Lancs) v Rottingdean (Sussex)
Yorkshire Premier League cup final - Yorkshire Academy v Scarborough (Weetwood, Leeds) - 12.00. Also a full programme of Huddersfield Central League games.

At the request of John Taplin - Yorkshire Council play off semi-finals - /wickersley v Elsecar and Methley v Wrenthorpe.

Yorkshire Council Supplementary cup final - Kexborough v Darton (Warmsworth CC).

Jack Lee cup final for Joe Lumb under 17s runners up - Huddersfield v Barnsley at Lascelles Hall.

County over 50s semi-finals (Yorkshire not involved) -
Gloucester over 50s v Kent over 50s (Gloucester City CC) and
Warwick over 50s vKent over 50s (Leamington Spa CC) - both 12.30 starts

Mon 5th Sept. Yorkshire Bunbury Schools Final at New Rover, Leeds - QUEGS Wakefield v Grammar School at Leeds - 1.30 p.m.(according to Yorkshire Cricket Board) - start time may change.

Tues 6th Sept. - County 2nd XI championship final (3 days) - Warwick II v Glamorgan II (Coventry and North Warwickshire CC)

Wed 7th Sept. - Yorkshire Academy v British Fire Service (Streethouse CC)
Over 60s County final - Essex Over 60s v Cheshire over 60s (Oakham CC) - 12 noon.

Thurs 8th Sept. - Lord's Taverners Under 14s schools final at New Rover, Leeds-
Shelley High School v Grammar School at Leeds. - Possibly 12 noon (never certain).

Sat 10th Sept. - St Georges v Otley Hawks (Harewood House) - 13.30

Sun 11th Sept. - Full programme of Huddersfield Central and Saddleworth cricket leagues fixtures.

Yorkshire Council play off final at Elsecar.

Mon 12th Sept - County 2nd XI trophy (1 day) final - Lancashire II v Notts II
at Aigburth, Liverpool

Mon 12th Sept. - last round of county championship matches start (Yorkshire not involved) - 10.30 starts

Saturday 17th Sept. CB 40 Final (Lord's)
ECB Club Knock out final at Derby - Shrewsbury v Cambridge Granta - 13.00

Arthington v Mutineers - 13.30

Sun 18th Sept - County over 50s final at Wormsley (Warwick or Derby v Gloucester or Kent
Huddersfield Central League - full programme of matches (last of season)
Arthington v Romany - 13.30

Mon 19th Sept. - Nidderdale Show XI v Craven League XI (Pateley Bridge) - 11.00
Cockspur cup T20 finals day at Chelmsford - live on Sky Sports - Ealing (Middlesex) v St Just (Cornwall) and Hyde (Cheshire) v Chester le Street (Durham)

Arthington festival will continue each Saturday and Sunday through to 8th October.
September games start at 13.30 and October games at 13.00

Yorkshire Academy do it yet again

2011-08-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

Torkshire Premier League - Yorkshire Academy v York at Weetwood, Leeds.

After their eventful win over York last Sunday at the same venue in the cup semi-final, the Academy entered this league game full of optimism that they could once again beat the top side in the league for the third time this season.

York could have used the excuse last weekend that they were not at full strength, but not today with the return of the league's leading bowler, left arm spinner Dan Woods, who was away playing for Cheshire last week.

York batted first and found themselves facing up to Ajmal Shahzad, who played for England not long ago. He was having a try out after injury and soon proved his fitness by clean bowling opener Simpson for nought. Ben Coad the left arm seamer soon got rid of the dangerous Duncan Snell, who was out lbw for only 5.

So with the score only 7-2 York really were in trouble but an excellent partnership between Liam McKendry and skipper Wood took the score to 77 before McKendry was well caught on the boundary off a dreadfully short ball from Ross. How often does the bad ball get a wicket ?

At this stage I left proceedings in order to watch the Rugby League Challenge cup final on TV. It proved to be a much closer game than expected with two bad refereeing errors robbing Leeds of possible victory. No doubt we will hear more from Brian Sanderson who went to Wembley to watch the game.

With help of the admirable Total Cricket Scorer website I was able to keep up to date with events at Weetwood and to my great surprise found that Coad had taken 6-31 and reduced York to 138-9 when rain stopped play.

It rained for quite a long time and as a result many league games throughout Yorkshire were abandoned. I had switched my attention to the T20 finals on TV by this time but shortly before six o'clock realised the rain had stopped so checked on Total Cricket Scorer and sure enough, after a gap of almost three hours, play had re-started at Weetwood. York had been bowled out and the Academy had just started their reply.

Back I went, and after some confusion the electronic scoreboard got the overs remaining right and revealed that only 26 overs remained - so roughly half the overs York had taken to make 143. Shahzad opened the batting presumably in a pinch hitter role but was soon bowled by Kay for only 9.

The dangerous Woods, who played his university cricket on this ground, opened from the other end with his left arm spin. With his track record in this league you would have put money on him bowling the young Academy side out or at least in containing their victory charge.

He did in fact get the next wicket getting the prolific Academy captain Alex Leeds lbw for 26. Jack Leaning, in excellent form recently, carried on the attack and kept the rate around the required six an over. However when given out lbw to Kay for 44 he showed his displeasure in no uncertain manner. According to one York supporter he hit the ball harder than some of his fours.

Lilley had already gone cheaply, also to Kay, so 115-4 with only four overs remaining and thirty more runs required looked a difficult target for youngsters Ross and Tattersall. Leaning had already hit Woods for one huge six and Ross proceeded to hit two equally long hits to turn the game and the match was won with a four off the first ball of the last over.

Ross finished on 40 not out, a real match winning innings and Tattersall kept his head at the other end with ten runs off only nine balls. Alas poor Woods, taken off with two overs remaining with figures of 11-0-51-1. So another excellent victory for this very young side. As last week when Lilley bowled them out, Coad this time was the match winner with the ball.

They can look forward to the Yorkshire League cup final against Scarborough with some confidence. It seems likely that this will be played at Weetwood on Sunday 4th September.

QUARTER FINALS

2011-08-29T03:07:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

Looking at the weather forecast I decided to go to see two Yorkshire Council Championships Quarter Finals.The first one was Whitley Hall against Methley,The ground is situated in Ecclesfield which is on the outskirts of Sheffield.There a new pavilion and the ground slopes down to the carpark.There are trees at the back of the carpark with excellent houses overlooking the ground.

The match was a forty-five over match and started at twelve.Methley won the toss and decided to bowl.A quick fell and then the best stand of the match between Siddall and Longhurst brought the score up to 56.Then Purdy, Rickers and Connolly stopped the scoring and started to take wickets. They bowled twenty-one overs and only conceed forty-one runs.So Whitley were bowled out for 104 with twelve overs to spare.

During the interval children were playing cricket on the pitch instead of football. Good to see.

When Methley batted they also lost a quick wicket but Khan and Holliday steady the ship.Holliday looks a good keeper and a good bat.The only downside was the programme did not have the names of the players.

Moving on to Elsecar and Streethouses match.Elsecar club was established in 1854 and is near the Heritage Centre.Streethouses had scored 162 before we arrived. Elsecar was batting with Ainsley Swallow scoring a good 37 in the score of just over 40.During the innings Bob Procter had a excellent strawberry trifle and I had a slice of peach flan.Excellent fare.Elsecar looked like they were struggling until Afzal came in to score a quick thirty.Elsecar won the match and move on to the semi-final next week.

We were very lucky with the weather as there was no rain with the occassional sunshine.Back to the stadium to-day.Oh-dear.

Sunshine and Showers

2011-08-28T01:13:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn

Yesterday I fulfilled a promise I made to myself at the beginning of the season and travelled along the A59 to see, for the first time, Lancashire League cricket. Poor weather caused the abandonment of a visit I intended to make a few weeks ago but with time running out, at least for this season, I decided that the prospects for cricket yesterday in that area were good enough for me to travel.
The top attraction was at Thorneyholme Road, the surprisingly rural home of Accrington CC. Situated on the edge of town and easily accessible from the M65 the ground was yesterday host to Accrington's first eleven match with Lowerhouse, 'second v. top'. Nearing the ground I passed through a heavy shower which delayed the start by 15 minutes. Accrington soon lost their openers and 'House' Pro, South African Francois Haasbroek went onto take seven wickets as Accrington were bowled out for 155 with veteran Graham Lloyd top scoring.Lowerhouse fell 23 short of this total but their lead at the top of the table still suggests they will be champions for only the second time in their history.
As a further shower threatened to halt play I left after an hour and headed for Burnley where the rain was torrential and on reaching the ground, which is immediately adjacent to Turf Moor, the home of Burnley FC, it was no surprise to find the covers on and large puddles on the outfield. I decided I would cut my losses, and save my £2 admission, and made the short journey to Nelson. The contrast could not have been greater, for here, at the Seedhill ground, the sun was very warm and about 30 spectators were enjoying the home team's dominance of Rishton's rather feeble batting. I enjoyed a cup of tea in the opulent clubroom where the honours' board listed the many well known professionals the club has employed over the years. At the centre was a photograph of the greatest of them all, Sir Learie Constantine, Nelson's 'pro' for many years in the 1930s. Evidence of Constantine's genius is provide by the statistic that Nelson are the only club to have won the league four years in succession, 1934-37.
With Rishton bowled out for 115, which Nelson subsequently knocked off for three wickets,I moved along the valley to neighbouring Colne. Here my timing was spot on for for the players had just finished tea in the 'award winning tearoom', and I was allowed to run amok amongst the remaining sandwiches and cakes for just £1. I note from the excellent league handbook that Colne last year surrendered the title of 'best tearoom' to Ramsbottom. On yesterday's evidence the winners in 2007, 8 and 9 are fighting to eradicate this stain on their aprons.
The match being played here was a second eleven game between Colne and Rawtenstall and I watched, along with about six others, the visitors begin their chase of Colne's 158. In the tearoom there was an photograph evocative of a different age.It was taken at a match between Colne and Nelson in 1929 when the object of the spectators' curiosity was the first appearance at 'The Horsfield' of Sir Learie.Not only is the ground full but there are no spaces on the stone wall that surrounds it.
Driving back across The Pennines the evening sun continued to shine but descending into Harrogate from Blubberhouses I met with more rain and reached home to hear from my wife that there had been a thunder storm in the locality during the afternoon. Given such capricious weather I was grateful that I had seen cricket on three new grounds and that on two of those a sun hat would not looked out of place.

Always look on the bright side

2011-08-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

Having just read John Winn's tale of woe regarding events at Headingley yesterday, I am glad I did not return after lunch to see Yorkshire's second innings. As I write it is still raining in Southampton where Worcester were in sight of victory against
Hampshire.

Without wishing to enter into a debate on the current state of Yorkshire cricket, all I will say is that relegation will not be the end of the world and could give Yorkshire's squad time to re-group and develop the considerable talents that do exist.

On a personal note I shall be pleased to see some new teams and new faces being entertained in Yorkshire and possibly even a trip to Lord's to play Middlesex.

However, it has not been a good week for cricket in Yorkshire generally with the second XI going down to defeat at Worcester in their three day game, after declaring on the last day. The star performance in the game was that of Yorkshire's under 17 captain, Jack Leaning, with 150 not out. This after winning the one=day game with some good bowling from one of the forgotten men, Oliver Hannon-Dolby.

There were defeats also for the two Yorkshire seniors sides, the over 50s losing their quarter final away to Gloucester and the over 60s losing their semi-final away at Essex.

Now for the good news, the Under 15s lost very narrowly in their knock out final at Oakham School and the Under 17s are through to their final against Surrey at Leicester on 1st and 2nd of September.

So let's look forward to what is still to come. In the world of Minor Counties cricket Berkshire beat Hertfordshire in the one day final at Lord's. The championship play off final, over 4 days, will be played at March Town between Cambridgeshire and Devon.

The county second X1 Trophy semi finals will be Somerset v Lancashire at Taunton Vale on Monday 29th August and the following day will see Notts play Glamorgan at Trent Bridge. I am advised by John Winn that the second XI three day final starting on 6th September will be between Warwickshire and Glamorgan at the Coventry and North Warwickshire ground.

More locally The Olicanian cricket club's festival was due to start today, but their
planned junior tournament no doubt fell foul of the weather.There is cricket on their attractive ground every day until next weekend, with the highlight being the Aire Wharfe third teams cup final between Thackley and Guiseley on Monday 29th August.

Several other cup finals will be played this Sunday, 28th August, including the Bradford League's Priestley cup final at Bingley between East Bierley and Pudsey St Lawrence starting at 1 p.m. Also the under 17s Joe Lumb final is being played at Stamford Bridge, between York Senior League and North Yorks and South Durham League.

The Wetherby League are staging two eveing league cup finals at Old Modernians ground in Leeds on Sunday. The senior evening cup final sees Kirk Deighton take on Sicklinghall and the reserve evening cup finals sees Kirk Deighton's second team play Leeds Police.

Later next week the annual match between the Nidderdale league and M.C.C. takes place at Burton Leonard CC (between Harrogate and Ripon) on Wed 31st August - 11.30 start. On the same day Yorkshire 2nd XI take on M.C.C. Young Cricketers in a three day friendly at the Weetwood ground in Leeds.

If the last game finishes early I understand that the final of the Greyfox trophy, for over 50s club sides, is taking place at Headingley on Friday. As this tournament had been shrouded in mystery I am unable to advise the finalists.

All these games are of course an alternative to going to support Yorkshire at Edgbaston, but as John Winn has already said not really an enticing prospect.
However, whatever the outcome of the county championship relegation battle, always look on the bright side - there is plenty of cricket out there to enjoy as long as the sun shines.

P.S. I now find that play has started at Southampton, but Hampshire have not yet lost another wicket. There does not appear to be time for Worcester to snatch victory, but stranger things have happened.

You never know

2011-08-26T00:24:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn

'....they knew they were going down long before survival became impossible with defeat in their penultimate game at Edgbaston.' Wisden Cricketers' Almanac 2003.
The 'penultimate game' was played in September 2002 and despite scoring over 800 runs in the match defeat by six wickets condemned Yorkshire to second division cricket in 2003.
Next Wednesday at Edgbaston Yorkshire begin their 'penultimate game' of this season's campaign.Given yesterday's events at Headingley this must seem as enticing as spending Boxing Day with relatives with whom one has just spent a particularly disappointing Christmas Day. A quick trawl this morning of various media sources' descriptions of yesterday's play, including the YCCC website, finds liberal use of words and phrases like 'brink', 'trapdoor', 'very fragile', 'virtually condemned', 'staring in the face', etc.Yet shortly after lunch yesterday when Root wrapped up the Warwickshire tail, and is there a message in that for Yorkshire's management, all that was required to save what had become an unwinnable match was for the home team to repeat what they had done in their first innings i.e. bat for 94overs.Given today's weather this would probably have been more than enough to give them them the draw and seven points from the match.A quick 'vox pop' in the ten minutes between innings, however, found few members who were confident that this could be achieved. When, with the fourth ball of his first over Keith Barker had Rudolph caught behind the few became very few and when shortly afterwards both scoreboards read Yorkshire 25 for 4 the very few probably became none. The fall of each wicket seemed to jolt the memory of a number of supporters that they had a bus to catch, a dog to walk, a meal to cook, a lawn to mow, anything thing in fact but watch more humiliation.
All this on a lovely sunny afternoon at the end of three days when only ten minutes' play had been lost to rain. Are things so bad? Yes, I hear you say. Can nothing save them, no would be the commonest reply for when yesterday afternoon the majority expressed no faith in the batting, one can't help feeling that whatever the captain or coach might have said the team were similarly lacking belief. The rumours that have circulated for the last three days in themselves justify setting up a separate website and it is not, I believe, the purpose of this blog to discuss such matters in any detail. Suffice to say they seem to focus around dressing room unrest and several players who would prefer to wear another county's cap next season, which, if true, easily transfer to poor performances on the field especially when the opposition are in an excellent position to pip Lancashire for the championship.
Before closing let me suggest a few straws readers might like to clutch.
1) There is a 99% chance of rain in Southampton today
2) Bairstow will be back from his pointless trip to Dublin. Yes I know The Bears will be reinforced too, but Yorkshire's need is greater than Warwickshire's.
3) Hampshire's last three games are against Somerset, Lancashire and Warwickshire.
4) Worcestershire's remaing opponents include Lancashire.
5) Yorkshire still have 48 possible points to play for.
6) Yorkshire don't play in the last round of matches in the second week of September which is notorious for rain. OK I made that up but 50% of optimism is based on wild speculation.
7) When in 1999-00 in a Test match between Australia and Pakistan in Hobart Adam Gilchrist joined Justin Langer at the crease Australia were 126 for 5 needing a further 243 to win. Langer welcomed the incoming batsman with the words 'You never know.' Gilchrist hit 149 not out off 163 balls and Australia won by four wickets. You never know.

Two for the price of one

2011-08-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

Saturday 20th August
Adel v Otley and Adel 'A' v Apperley Bridge.

Back to watch my local club, Adel, my first visit since July 2nd. Nothing much has changed. The two leading bowlers Shires father and son were missing to attend a wedding and the batting was not at full strength either.

Otley started well with a quick 40 by opener Missett who was the victim of a run out mix up and what looked like being a big score failed to happen. Most of the batsmen got double figures but only Benton with 36, including a huge six into the churchyard, got much further. One of the replacement bowlers, Kirkham, who I had not seen before, bowled at a lively pace and got three wickets. Otley finally all out for 193 in 49 overs.

This meant that Adel had an extra over to bat which was to prove crucial at the end. Adel started badly with five of the top six going quickly against the opening attack of Halloran and Dobson. Number five Robinson made 32 and an eighth wicket partnership between Grey (27) and the aforementioned Kirkham (23) made Adel at least in with the chance of a draw.

However after the last pair of Robertson and Stubbs had withstood all the bowlers for six or seven overs and looked like saving the game, the final ball of the 51st over saw Robertson, the Australian, bowled by Giles and Otley took the full six points at the last gasp.

While all this was going on we took the opportunity of also watching some of the action on the adjacent pitch bwtween Adel's third team and Apperley Bridge (formerly BT Bradford) in the Dales Council league.

The visitors, a wholly Asian side, were knocking up the runs with great gusto and the players were cheering on their No.3 batsman Mohammed Kursid who reached 72 with only four overs remaining. With his teamates consistently advising him of his score he got to 96 with only one ball remaining, but sadly failed to make contact.

The final score of 241-8 proved too much for Adel who were all out for 140, despite a brave 77 from James McFarlane. We were told by one of the visiting players that this was their 24th game without defeat. They have already won the Dales Council cup and will be promoted from Division B to Division A next season. Obviously a team to watch, although they pointed out that they were unable to celebrate for at least another two hours as they are currently fasting for Ramadan.

York wide of the mark

2011-08-22T00:24:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn

On Saturday my wife sponsored the match ball for the Nidderdale League match between Ouseburn and Goldsborough. The visitors batted first and an aggressive approach saw the score rise quickly but the innings declined from 98 for 1 to to 160 all out, largely due to some excellent bowling from Chris Morrison who took 6 for 29 off his 12 overs. He was well supported by some good catching and ground fielding.
When Ouseburn batted last week's hero Tom Parker went early but skipper Ollie Uffindall and Jamie Bryant put together a century stand and the league leaders went on to win by 8 wickets with 14 overs to spare, a result that leaves Ouseburn needing just one win from their last three games to take the championship. It would be fitting if that were to come at nearest rivals Pannall next week.
If Ouseburn's victory was comfortable it was nothing compared with the game I attended at Weetwood yesterday, a semi final in The Yorkshire League KO cup between the Academy and York. On a beautiful afternoon the Academy had its usual core of dedicated support. York won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that clearly had some juice in it and were soon reduced to 16 for 2.A stand of 63 for the seventh wicket between Ryan McKendry and Richard Love brought some respectability but a final score of 138 was never likely to be enough. Yorkshire's bowling hero was Alex Lilley who took 7 for 10 off his 7 overs.
The early loss of Jonathan Tattersall was York's only success for the other Alex, Lees, and Jack Leaning hit off the runs with 17 overs to spare. The winners will play Scarborough at home on a yet to be decided date.League leaders York, clearly not at full strength were plagued by wides, conceding 23 runs this way. Chief culprit was Jake Murphy who bowled ten wides, costing 14 runs.The two sides meet again next Saturday in a league match when York will be very anxious to avenge yesterday's defeat and the one handed out to them by the Academy at Clifton Park in May.
Towards the end of York's innings Tony Hutton appeared at the ground for a brief spell and then returned later to see out the game. It was good to have the opportunity to have a long chat with him and see that his recovery from shingles is continuing.

HISTORY LESSON

2011-08-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

Recently I purchased a postcard , 1913 of the Ramsbottom side who play in the Lancasgire Cricket League.The professional for the side was Emmott Robinson who played there from 1908 to 1913.When he fist play for the club he was twenty-four years old.He played 413 matches for Yorkshire and played until he was 47 years old.

The Ramsbottom ground is just before the East Lancs Railway and behind the old mill.
Would you believe it there is a football next door.There is a beautiful pavilion which had a picture of Emmott and his record for the club.Also there are pictures of other club professional together with pictures of the team down the ages.A excellent collection which should be done by other clubs.

Ramsbottom were playing Haslingden on a warm day.The opposition batted first and struggled against good bowling and a green wicket.They scored 130 with Mo Intiaz scoring a good 51 . There was a big six hit by Moneeb Ahmed which landed on the factory roof. The lending league wicket taker Fielding took another four wickets.

After tea Ramsbottom soon lost a wicket but Webb and Stewart won the match with overs to spare.

On the way back home we called into Rawtenstall and Bacup but the matches finished early.We noticed that there was a match on at Walsden and were entertain by Allan Stuttard.

It was a interesting day seeing were Emmett played.

Cricket veterans get top billing

2011-08-21T02:03:00.004-07:00

England over sixties prepare to do battle with the Aussies

Posted by Tony Hutton

Friday 19th August 2011 - England over sixties v Australia over sixties at New Rover cricket club, Leeds.

A good crowd had gathered in bright sunshine at the pleasant Richmond Oval, looking spick and span as ever thanks to the hard working groundsman Keith Boyce.
A television van from BBC's regional 'Look North' programme had appeared, the flags of the two nations were proudly displayed in front of the pavilion and all was set for a major cricketing occasion.

Unfortunately no big names from the past were present, but all the veteran club cricketers from both countries were treating this as the real thing. The early BBC interview set the tone when the Australian representative was asked 'How does it feel to be facing the number one Test cricket nation in the world'. He surprising managed to compose a reply that was suitable for live television.

England batted first in this 50 overs per side match and opened with one of the two Yorkshire representatives, Miles Rawlings who still plays regularly for Harrogate's third eleven, and Bob Newman from Essex. However disaster struck early on when a misunderstanding led to both batsman ending up at the same end and Rawlings, who still scores prolifically in all forms of cricket, was run out.

In at number three came Bob Eames all the way from Devon. Someone said it probably took him longer to get here than the Australians ! One of the players said they thought Eames was originally from Yorkshire and he seemed to confirm this by scoring a splendid century. Understandably the fielding was not of the highest quality and it was suggested that the outfielders should be given motorised scooters. The bowling too was not threatening, but even so this was an excellent innings in any form of cricket.

The other opener,Newman, had gone for 25, and Eames had been joined by Graham Swann's father,Ray Swann from Northants. These two certainly put the Aussies in their place by putting on a 200 partnership and England ended with an impressive total of 284-4. Swann, who by this time looked exhausted managed to get strike for the last ball of the innings on 99. To everyone's dismay, although he did make contact, the ball went straight to mid off who caught it.

Surely if the Australian fielder had understood the spirit of cricket he would have dropped it ! However a great knock - Swann's 99 coming off only 87 balls. During the interval, when many of the spectators took advantage of the mobile fish and chip van, doubts were expressed about the fitness of the Aussie batsmen after their gruelling time in the field.

Sadly this was how it turned out. Thanks to some very tight bowling and some excellent wicket-keeping from England's captain Richard Owen from Derbyshire,who completed no less than four stumpings, seven of the first eight batsmen went for single figures.

The exception was vice captain John Bell from Queensland, who got his head down, despite batting with a pronounced limp and declining the use of a runner. Thanks to his efforts, he finished on 58 not out, and number nine Ken Last from Tasmania who made 38, Australia finally reached 149-8.

The other Yorkshire representative, Phil Taylor who is well known in Bradford League circles, bowled a tight spell 0f 10-5-16-0, Kevin Anderson from Essex took 3-31 and Powell from Cheshire and Pratt, also from Essex, both took two wickets.

So a great victory for England and the celebrations continued while Mr Ogden of BBC Look North attempted to give the evening's sports news live from New Rover. While interviewing representatives from both sides, the groundsman's dog appeared and looked as if he was about to pee on the presenter's feet. One of the technicians grabbed her mobile phone to photograph the event, but the dog eventually walked quietly away !

The Australian tourists now move on for a second international with England at Sunbury on Thames on Thursday and then England have a game against Wales at Llanarth CC, near Raglan on the following Sunday, 28th August. In this final match Alan Hampshire, once of Yorkshire, now of Derbyshire, will be playing for England.

Veteran cricketers

2011-08-21T02:03:00.003-07:00

Veteran cricketers

2011-08-21T02:03:00.001-07:00

IS THE FOOTBALL SEASON OR CRICKET ?

2011-08-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

To-day I went with the two Ronnies to Darlington again to try and visit all the grounds of the Darlington and District League.The weather was fine and warm.

First ground was Shildon Railway who were playing Willington in the Durham County League.The ground is adject to a football ground and they also share the clubhouse.
The home side was batting but struggling.Speaking to the locals Shildon was struggling to get a team especially this week as Newcastle were playing Sunderland at football.
The ground is situated next to the railway line and is a large ground.The old pavilion is still standing because they could not afford to pull it down.They were complaining they were not receiving any money from the E.C.B. to help grass root cricket.

Next ground was Bishop Auckland were the seconds were playing Wolviston.The ground is on the edge of the city centre and use to be next to the football ground.The football side have moved grounds and has been replaced by sheltered housing.There is some excellent pictures in the bar area including a picture of Herbert Sutcliffe.
The lads were watching the football on the television.

The third ground was King James who play in the Darlington and district League.It is situated next to The Bishop Auckland Rugby Union ground.The match was off because they could not rise a side due to football.

Fourth ground was Witton -le- Wear who were playing Cliffe, my favorite ground in the league.The ground is situated down a lane next to the river.The electricity is created by a dymano.It is a large flat field and a pavilion with iron bars on the window.The bowling of Witton was poor and Cliffe looked like they would score 200.One of the players said they had only one good bowler.

Moving on to have some tea we arrived at Evenwood were the seconds were playing Mainforth.Sky T.V. had been there last weekend looking at a local cricket club.There is a new pavilion with iron bars on the window.There was a football ground next door.
Mainforth had only ten players including a young fifteen year old girl who was playing her first match.Players had decided to go to the football.

The last ground was Barningham who were playing Middleton in Tees, it is called the Deer Park.Beautiful ground surround by sheep and cows with the manson looking over the ground.Half the ground is in Durham and the other in North Yorkshire.The home side was batting chasing 113.They were 50 for 2 when we arrived and within a few overs they were bowled out for 72. A young leg-spinner took six wickets. A good finish to the day just two more grounds to see cricket on to finish the Darlington and District League ie King James and Catterick.

Lancashire won and Yorkshire drew.Looking to spend a week in Worcester next summer.

Optimism dashed

2011-08-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn

I thought I had enjoyed the last two days at Scarborough in the company of two friends from Sussex who follow their county to most of its away venues but by the time I got home this evening I began to think I had got things wrong.On the one hand what was not to enjoy? Joe Root, whose career many of us have followed through the academy and second eleven, made his maiden first class century and was eventually dismissed for 160, albeit in controversial circumstances. As my view of 'the catch' was obscured by the sight screen I can offer no opinion on its legitimacy but it occurred when the balance of the game was moving in favour of Yorkshire. Root and Ballance had added 190 for the fifth wicket and reduced the first innings deficit to 53 when Root was out and from here Yorkshire lost their remaining wickets for 43 runs.
First ball after lunch Ballance who was closing in on a well deserved century, pulled a long hop into Goodwin's hands at long leg, the Sussex players, thirsty after one ball in the field, celebrated with a drink, and by mid afternoon they were batting again.
Although I left the ground shortly after tea I did so thinking that if Yorkshire were able to prise out two or three Sussex batsmen before the close at not too steep a cost then Saturday might offer an interesting day's play, which indeed they did.At stumps Sussex had a lead of 136 with seven wickets in hand. A conversation with three fellow train travellers however, put my guarded optimism into a completely different light. Firstly the point was made that today had been the sort of day that nobody should have to pay to watch for the run rate had been slow, (2.73 per over) and that neither side really had showed much interest in winning the game. To make matters worse Worcestershire were making a decent fist of chasing 329 to beat Lancashire so we must face the ignominy of hoping our red rose rivals win a game that will take them to the top of the table in order to save Yorkshire from relegation. From this point the discussion widened to include various suggestions as to how such turgid days as today can be avoided, these suggestions included the return of the heavy roller to break up pitches to enable spinners to thrive and even a return to uncovered pitches. If the worst happens and Sussex bat themselves to safety tomorrow at a scoring rate similar to today's and Worcestershire's remaining five wickets get the 126 they still need for victory then the memory of two days at my favourite ground in lovely sunshine in the company of long standing friends will be as nothing.

MATCHES AT BOTH COASTS

2011-08-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

On Thursday myself and the family went to Scarborough.I saw the second day of the Yorkshire match.The forecast was dry with a chance of rain.

Yorkshire managed to bowl out Sussex.Pyrah and Rashid doing the damage.There was a good crowd which had not been put off my yesterdays play.The Yorkshire supporters are brillent in turning up eventhough Yorkshire are not playing well.

During the morning Trevor Jesty,the umpire, had to go off because he was feeling ill.He was replace firstly by Craig White and then a local umpire.

In the afternoon Joe Root went to his maiden century and had a good stand with Garry Ballance,the latest Harrow educated Yorkshire player.The weather was fine but the match seemed to be going to a draw but was pleased to see Joe Root century.

After fish and chip tea arrived home about nine o,clock.

Next morning at eight forty-five, I set off with Bob Procter to Blackpool.This was the third day of the Lancashire and Worcester match at Stanley Park.Going into the match one of the Lancashire P.C.W.said that there may be further matches at out grounds for Lancashire next Year because Old Trafford is still being improved.Watch this space.

Lancashire were three wickets down with Brown and Croft batting.I felt that Lancashire would score over three hundred and then start to bowl Worcester out.However I was wrong seven lancashire wickets fell before lunch.They finished at 248 only Brown looked in control.

After lunch Worcester lost their first wicket to Chapple.What are Lancashire going to do when Chapple finishs.Solanki and Ali put Worcester 116 for 2 at tea .They looked in control until Keedy got Ali wicket.It started to rain so we decided to leave the match.

Arrived home about seven-thirty to find Worcester score was 207 for 5 so the rain must have stopped.Solanki had reached his century.Lancashire must be favorite now five wickets had fallen.Their attack was poor apart from Chapple and Keeedy.Lancashire must win this match to give them a chance to win the Championship.
We will see to-morrow.

Back in action

2011-08-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

As Brian has reported, a slight improvement in my health problems has meant that I can now return to my more normal way of life at least for the odd hour or so at grounds near to home.

Unfortunately travelling any distance is still out of the question, so what should have been one of the highlight weeks of my season, taking in visits to Colwyn Bay, Blackpool, Chesterfield and Scarborough just has not happened.

However, the last two days have seen an interesting game at Weetwood where Yorkshire Under 17s were taking on Warwickshire in the semi-final of their national two day competition. I have greatly enjoyed meeting up with so many of my cricket watching friends, who I had not seen for about eight weeks, after the longest mid-season break ever known.

Warwickshire batted on Tuesday and after a solid start, when they put on 79 for the first wicket and progressed to 127-2, suffered from a mid innings collapse which saw them reduced to 163-8. However a ninth wicket partnership of 46 took them to respectability and a final total of 214 all out in 95 overs.

Throughout all the clatter of wickets, Warwickshire's number three batsman with the unlikely name of Jamie Klapper remained unperturbed and was 58 not out at the end of the innings having batted for three and a quarter hours - a real marathon.

Yorkshire's best bowler was spinner Johnathan Booth who finished with excellent figures of 19.4 - 10 - 24 - 5. It has certainly been a spinners wicket here at Weetwood throughout the season, yet it is often late in the proceedings when they
appear.

When Yorkshire batted on Wednesday the opening pair of Henry Chadwick and Johnathan Tattersall were content to take things very quietly against the duo of left arm
pacemen who had bowled out Northants for only 50 last week. The tactic seemed to be to see off danger man Jack Grundy in his opening spell and similar tactics were employed later in the innings when he re-appeared to finish with figures of 14 - 7 - 12 - 1.

With 100 overs in which to reach their target Yorkshire's tactics worked perfectly despite the loss of two wickets, including skipper Jack Leaning, just before lunch.
Again it was the spinners who took the wickets and George Ross followed soon after so that from 80-0 Yorkshire suddenly found themselves 108-3.

Throughout all this Tattersall remained immovable and played the perfect sheet anchor role, a real lesson in concentration which reminded some of the watchers of the young Joe Root, who was to distinguish himself at Scarbrough the following day.
Joined by wicketkeeper Wilson, they put on a valuable fifty partnership.

When Wilson was out Tattersall was on 70 not out and when joined by Rhodes suddenly started to go for the runs, including four fours in an over. Suddenly Yorkshire were in sight of victory before tea and with ten required Tattersall was on 99 not out.
We were not sure whether he knew this or not as the Weetwood scoreboard does not show individual scores. Rhodes hit a four, only six required. The spectators wondered whether Tattersall would not get the strike and be stuck on 99.

However it worked out well with Tattersall going to a highly deserved century and winning the match in the last over before tea, with still 25 overs to spare.
At last a great victory for a Yorkshire side and they now go forward to play Surrey in the national final on September 1st and 2nd at Grace Road, Leicester.

This is the venue shown on the Yorkshire website, despite many of the parents present thinking it was going to be the Oval or Canterbury.

Good to be back.

POOR DAY AT THE OFFICE

2011-08-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

Unlike John Winn I want to the East coast to see Yorkshire and Sussex.The weather was cool in the morning with a cool breeze which stopped blowing in the afternoon.

Sussex won the toss and batted.I meet Andrew and Colin from London who were stopping to watch the match.Colin had not seen Yorkshire this year and was pleased with the morning session when Yorkshire collected four wickets.Hopes were rising for a Yorkshire day.

After lunch all changed Yardy and Brown put on a stand of 198 with both players reaching their centuries.Brown innings was of good quality whilst Yardy was more workman like.Yorkshire bowlers did not look like taking a wicket.At tea people were not happy.

After tea the new ball was taken and Brown was caught out.Pyrah was Sidebottom opening partner which shows what Rudolph thought of Asraf and Pattinson.No-body was happy at the end of the day apart from the Sussex supporters.Surprised to find Sidebottom bowling figures were 20-9-30-4.Excellent figures ,pity no other bowlers could help him.

There was a good crowd for the first day but I think it will be less to-morrow.We will see and Sussex bat on.

Fresh air and fun

2011-08-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn

A friend of mind, a Nottinghamshire member who I usually meet up with once a year reckons the saddest day of the cricket season arrives when we reach the last page of fixtures in Playfair. Sad to report then that this week we have reached just that point and there was certainly a hint of autumn in the air when I left home at 7:15 this morning to drive to Blackpool for the Lancashire v Worcestershire game. This is the sixth and last of my 'listed matches' for this season and I have been very lucky, for only one day, that at Trent bridge in June, has been rain affected.
Listening to Radio Lancashire as I reached 'the other side' the forecast promised plenty of sunshine.This proved to be the case and even if the breeze from the sea was a little cool at times it was nevertheless a good day to watch cricket from the excellent vantage point of the south end at Stanley Park. The last time I saw cricket in Blackpool, in 2007, 18 wickets fell on the first day and only one of those before lunch. If today's events were not quite so spectacular Lancashire still found themselves four down at lunch but were then rescued by Croft and Maharoof in the afternoon. Croft, Blackpool born, scored a century which included four sixes, being particularly severe on Ali and Choudry.
Lancashire lost their remaining wickets quickly after tea but soon had 'The Pears' in tatters at 21 for 5. Kapil and Andrew brought about a revival to finish on 77 for 5, but Worcestershire will start tomorrow over 200 in arrears on a wicket, which without being devilish will almost certainly produce a result if the weather allows, which it probably will. If the result goes in the hosts' favour then Lancashire will have taken a big step towards the championship, especially as Somerset were restricted to only half an hour's play at Taunton today in which they lost their two openers for twenty runs.
I enjoyed the company of some Lancashire pcws today, one of whom by coincidence had been at the game I attended at Methley on Sunday.Also close by were two Worcestershire visitors who see the second relegation place as a battle between them selves and Yorkshire. After a disheartening day at Stanley Park their spirits will have been raised somewhat by the news from the opposite coast, namely Sussex's revival at Scarborough. I will be at North Marine Road tomorrow, let's hope I can lift the petals of the white rose.
An added bonus today was the opportunity after tea to drive a couple of miles to St Anne's CC where Lancashire II were taking on Durham II in a SET three day game.I spent an hour there enjoying a cup of tea in the splendid club house. The cricket was rather turgid but Lancashire's batsmen had built up a commanding position when I left at six o'clock. Once I left the M55 and M6 behind I enjoyed the drive home through Craven and North Yorkshire in lovely evening sunshine. Let's hope there is as much fresh air and fun at Scarborough tomorrow.

SURPRISE VISITOR

2011-08-16T10:32:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

This morning I went up to Weetwood to see Yorkshire under17 against Warwickshire in a two day semi-final.The weather was overcast and the match started at noon.As I arrived Tony Hutton also arrived.Pleased to see him again at a game of cricket.

Yorkshire won the toss and choosed to bowl on a green track.Warwick started well with the Yorkshire bowling being poor.At lunch Warwark were sixty for one.The main bowlers for Yorkshire was Coad,Shaw,Gibson, Whiles and Rhodes.They are all right arm medium bowlers so the bowling was much the same.

After lunch Yorkshire pinned Warwick back to only scoring 65 runs in the two hour session and losing five wickets.We were joined by Mick Bourne who had been down to Arundel to see a cricket tournament and kept us entertained.There was a strong cool wind blowing from the west which made watching uncomfortable.

After tea Yorkshire took another wicket which made them favorite at the present time.However we do not know how strong the Warwick bowling is.

Going to Scarborough to-morrow so hoping the weather is warmer and Yorkshire play well.

Captains Courageous

2011-08-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn

Today I ventured into what is, for me, rarely visited territory,namely the Central Yorkshire League, for the final of the league's KO cup, aka the Jack Hampshire Trophy, to be played on the ground of last year's winners Methley CC. This year's finalists were Wrenthorpe, last year's losers, current league leaders and favourites, and mid table Townville.
A large crowd gathered on a warm and initially cloudy afternoon, but which later turned to lovely sunshine,to see Wrenthorpe put into bat and make 213 for 9 off their 40 overs. I reported on a match featuring Townville in April when they defeated New Farnley in an early round of the National Club Championship. On that occasion I described their behaviour in the field as 'boisterous'and to avoid digging further into the barrel of euphemisms suffice to say the decibels have not declined over the intervening four months.
Wrenthorpe's innings was dominated by skipper Gary Fellows, tersely descibed in the match programme as '(Right Hand Bat/Right Arm Medium) Capt', who scored 110 before he was dismissed in the penultimate over at which point he had scored 60% of his team's runs. This left just ten balls in which number nine Joe Ellis tried very hard to emulate Praveen Kumar's feat at Edgbaston yesterday of hitting a six into a pint of beer (now there's an idea that might brighten up Saturday evening TV, I'm sure Charles Colville could be persuaded to compere). Ellis's hitting resulted in 25 off the last ten balls and a total that a sizeable gathering of Townville supporters seated near me thought was achievable if the openers made a good start.
Alas such a start was not forthcoming for 'big dog {John Trower}..a solid opener who loves a cover drive' was caught behind first ball off Ellis and with a highest partnership of only 47 Townville's innings never really threatened to match that of Wrenthorpe. Top scorer for Townville was skipper Tim Walton with 61 but when he was out in the 31st over the game was up,in spite of a last wicket stand of 28 between Liam Booth and Dean Woolsey.370 runs had been scored in the afternoon of which the two captains contributed almost half.
Countryfile's 'all important weather forecast' this evening suggests a better week lies ahead and don't be surprised if the word 'coast' appears at least once in the titles of my postings for both Blackpool and Scarborough feature in my itinerary.
You have been warned.

NASSER HUSSAIN AT CHURCH

2011-08-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

With Bob Procter ,we decided to go to Church who play in the Lancashire League.They were playing Todmorden who were second in the league.On the way we passed through heavy rain but it was dry at Oswaldtwistle.Last week Church had lost in the cup to Ramsbottom.

Todmorden batted first on a green wicket.The ground slopes down from the pavilion.The Church professional Anwar bowled off-breaks and used the slope to help him spin the ball.At the other end Jamil bowled medium and collected four wickets for twenty -four runs in fourteen overs.Todmorden lost wickets consistently and the professional Abbas was caught off the first ball by Nasser Hussain.The Todmorden captain A.Sutcliffe batted well to get to fifty-one in the forty-nineth over so bring the team score to one hundred and twenty-three.

The sun came out during the break and Abbas opening the bowling .He bowls left-arm spin but could only manage one wicket for forty runs in his eighteen overs.The Todmorden side starting shouting for leg-befores which caused the umpires to ask the captain to keep the appeals to a minimum which they did.Then when the opening batter was caught by the captain, he cheered the result close to the batsman face. Agaiin the umpires had a word with the captain asking him to calm down.

Beenwhile Anwar was dropped twice but collected fifty runs to win the match by six wickets.Also he run out Nasser Hussain who was not happy.

Pleased the umpires stepped to stop any problems. It is a pity this was not yesterday.

A excellent day with good company and excellent views to the hills.

CANCELLED MATCH

2011-08-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

This morning I decided to start at Weetwood were The Academy were playing Sheffield Collegiate.As usual Mollie and Jenny had set up their chairs waiting for the match to start.Sheffield batted first and were in trouble in the next few overs .They lost three quick wickets including Billy Root who is now playing for Worcestershire.He was cleaned bowled by Wainman.Looking later Sheffiekd were bowled out for 76 with Lilley taking four wickets. The Academy won by six wickets.

Moving on to East Bierley who were playing Pudsey Congs.Pudsey Congs batted fist and soon lost wickets on a green wicket.There were a lot of shouting for L.B.W.,s.Eddy Walmsley was given out caught but stood at the wicket along time and walked slowly off. Andy Siddall did the right thing and told him to leave the field.Then Burzler was given out L.B.W. and walked to the umpire to say that was a bad decision. These incidents should not happen but the umpires were not will to stop it.

Ther was a last wicket stand of fifty between Roberts and Hewitt with Roberts finishing on 39 not out.Excellent innings.

At tea time we heard that the match between Manningham Mills and East Bierley second team had been stopped at half-time by the umpires.The home team had made marks on the pitch.More will come of this.

East Bierley batted and agained lost wickets. It was a century stand between Rennison and Owens which helped to win the match by four wickets.The batting was very slow and boring.Brian Cobb and Harry joined us for the second half. He had been to Idle to watch Bowling Old Lane.

Hoping to-morrow cricket is better.

LAST DAY

2011-08-13T01:04:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

Friday was a cloudy morning in Headingley.It was the last day of the Northants match which did not start until 11.30 as the umpires Malone and Parker decided it was raining.I was joined by David Thorpe for the first time this match.Northants batted on to reach 304 for 8 and declared.This left Yorkshire to reach this total in 80 overs asboth teams had decided just to play a one innings match.

Joe Sayers was soon out for 2 caught off his glove bowled by Burton who has just sign another contract with Northants.David Alexander Burton has played for Surrey , Sussex,
Essex, Glos, Middlesex ,Leics and Northants. He is only 26 years old so he has been busy in his career.He collected three wickets for 34 runs.Lucas bowled very well but could not get a wicket.In his eleven overs he only conceed 21 runs.

I counted the crowd in the afternoon and came to under 40 people.Again Mr Girling turned up to watch his son bat.He scored no runs in forty balls and struggled.

Yorkshire managed to reach 138 for 5 due Brophy scoring 65 not out.So Yorkshire struggled to a draw.We heard from John Blain that Yorkshire under 17 were playing Warkshire on Tuesday and Wednesday at Weetwood subject to the weather.Another fixture in a busy next week of cricket.

WHAT DIFFERENCE A VENUE MAKES

2011-08-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

On Tuesday the sun was shining and set of to the Britannia Ground at Pudsey.Arriving at 11.45 for a 12.00 start the ground was full.A helpful young person shown be were to park the car.Yorkshire Seconds were playing Northampton Seconds in a forty over match.

Pleased to see people from Lancashire at the match including Ian from Lancaster.Yorkshire batted first with Sayers and Lyth.They put on a opening stand of 137 on a good batting wicket.We were able to get a drink of tea for fifty pence and sit in the sun.Yorkshire went on to score 244 for 6 but should have scored more.Dave Hodgson,groundsman from Kirkstall Education, arrived at the ground. He told me he had been involved in preparing the wicket. He had done a good job.

After the break Northants got off to a quick start until Joe Root got a wicket in his first over.When I left Northants were 72 for 5 however Lucas and Murphy enbled the side to get to 207.Yorkshire won a match.An excellent day was had by all.Ralph Middlebrook must have pleased with the match.

Next day I walked to Headingley for a three day match at Headingley.It was the same two teams.When the match started there must have been about fifteen people watching with about the same amount of security staff.Only eight overs was able to be bowled in the day due to rain.I left about 4.30 when the rain came again. The only plus was that I could watch the Test Match on the T.V.No-body enjoyed the day.

To-day I agained walked over to see the second day.During the morning Brian Senior counted the crowd which came about forty.Northants were batting .Yorkshire bowling was poor .We were joined in the evening by Jack Girling father.Jack had taken three wickets for 39.He had bowled one excellent ball which got a wicket and gifted two others.Ashraf caught one ball after he had thrown his hat off.At first we thought he was going to use the cap to catch the ball. It did not happen but he held the catch.Two other catches had gone down during the day.

Northants reached 293 for 7 when the rains came again.I wish that Yorkshire would play all their second team matches away from Headingley were there is no atmosphere and people will not turn out to watch matches here.

Good news in the last few days, Tony Hutton turned up at Weetwood for an hour. He is looking forward to going to Atherington in September.Hope to see you there Tony.

Compensation in Lincolnshire

2011-08-07T22:57:00.000-07:00

After torrential rain in the lower Ure valley at lunchtime on Saturday seemed to wipe out all hope of seeing local cricket I was surprised to find that I need have travelled no further than Harrogate to see a match in the afternoon. With the available Saturdays beginning to run out I was annoyed that I had not looked further afield.
Yesterday brought compensation however, when a family celebration took me to my niece's home in Lincolnshire, where after a splendid lunch a family group were able to watch her two sons, my great nephews, playing for Fulbeck in The Lincoln and District League Division Three.Three of course really means four, there has to be a premirer division. With my brother and sister present it occurred to me that it would have been in the 1950s when the three of us last watched organised cricket together.
Yesterday Fulbeck were away to league leaders Aswarby and Sleaford Albion, who play at Aswarby Park which is just off the A17 south of Sleaford.It is a parkland ground which one reaches by driving across a rather bumpy field. We arrived for the closing overs of Aswarby's innings when some lusty hitting brought them to 121 for 8 off their forty overs. Not too difficult a target one might think but a stroll out to the middle in the tea interval showed a wicket of a sporty nature, one for which helmets were invented, and an outfield which would encourage the lofted shot and at the same time tempt fielders to wear gum shields.
Fulbeck's bright start lasted little more than two overs and the fall of the first wicket brought older g-nephew(known as Batesy) to the crease. He defended his first ball in a classical style ,the second singed his eyebrows and the third shot along the ground to have him lbw. Twelve for two became twelve for three in the same over and this brought in younger g-nephew (also known as Batesy) at number five.Batesey the younger demonstrated a sound defence but had still not got off the mark when it was time for us to leave with Fulbeck on 21 for 4. I was informed later in the evening that they had been all out for 70 with Nick (a rarely used alternative to Batesy) top scoring with 20, a creditable effort on such a wicket.
This week sees my wife and I in The Lake District for a few days, sadly Cumberland are away, but with the forecast continuing unsettled especially in the north I will probably come to regret even more my lack of enterprise on Saturday.

RETURN TO PUDSEY

2011-08-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

On a wet Saturday morning the decision were to watch a match gets interesting.Originally I had planned to go to the Huddersfield League but could not find what matches were starting.Due to the Bradford League web-site you can see when matches start.

At 1.40 I found that Pudsey St. Lawrence had started against Farsley and Farsley were batting.My grand-mother living in Pudsey and my father was brought up there so it is nice to go back to Pudsey.

The crowd was not great but gradually people started to arrive including Raymond Illingworth who played for both clubs but now supports Farsley.He was vocal talking to Clough on the field wether the bowler was bowling leg-side wides.

Farsley collected there runs quickly in a 46 over match.No batsman reached fifty and the highest score was Simpson with 49.Ingram reached mid-twenties before been caught at point.He is still about fifty runs short of 1000 runs for the season.They reached 256 for 7.

After tea Pudsey soon lost a wicket but Robertshaw and Hester put on a stand of 107.However it left Pudsey to get 140 runs in twenty overs.It would not be easy but they had wickets in hand.The wickets soon fell mainly to Lumb who took four wickets.

The weather was now cloundy and cold plus I wanted my tea so I left with 14 overs to go.Pudsey lost the match.

Season So Far - Part 2

2011-08-03T15:10:00.000-07:00

Posted by Peter Davies

Saturday 4 June

A tour of Leeds grounds with Mick Bourne. He knows these places so well and it was great to get the benefit of his knowledge as we travelled around. Kit was Woodhouse, Whitkirk, East Leeds, Amaranth, Crossgates and Colton Institute. Really interesting stuff. Some nice food too – and we met some interesting characters along the way.

Friday 10 June

What a game! A late decision to go to Old Trafford for the 20/20 game against Yorkshire and probably the best limited-overs game I’ve seen for a long while. It ebbed and flowed throughout – with Rafiq cleverly winning the game for the visitors with some amazing improvised strokes in the last over.

Saturday 11 June

A tour of Scarborough League grounds in the company of our good friend Brian Heywood, who now lives over there.

Saturday 18 June

I attended a film course in Bradford in the morning and early afternoon, so I met Dad when it finished and we popped into Lightcliffe on the way back home. Wakefield Road was looking glorious. No sign of our friend Bob Horne, but as always a very pleasant visit. We also popped into Brighouse on the way back into Huddersfield. Always a pleasant place to visit and I even enquired about how much it would be to hire the function room which looks out onto the ground. Quite reasonable, I thought. Then a final stop at Blackley, looking glorious in the mid-summer sunshine.

Sunday 19 June

A couple of hours at Golcar – a very busy, sunny afternoon. Met David Thorpe and enjoyed sitting on one of the picnic tables outside the pavilion.

Sunday 26 June

A short visit to Almondbury Wes followed by an even shorter sojourn to Cumberworth.

Saturday 2 July

A super Halifax tour calling in at Greetland, Barkisland, Elland and Blackley. I had plenty if reading matter with me so I had a really good time. Trying to get into Dickens so dipped into a book that allegedly makes him simple. Not so sure about that!

Sunday 10 July

Popped into Shepley for half an hour. Said hello to Ian Watkinson and enjoyed the mid-afternoon sun. Did a couple of laps of the ground.

Tuesday & Wednesday 12 & 13 July

Met up with Brian Heywood at the ground for days two and three of the game. Stayed over at his place – very pleasant indeed. Yorkshire went on to win this game – Worcestershire, as ever, look a pretty poor team at this level. A few wobbles for the home side, but Gale and his middle-order batters eventually saw them home.

Saturday 16 July

A Bolton tour in the company of my good friend Malcolm Kinder. We did six or seven grounds and Malcolm, an ex-league umpire, seemed to know everyone at every ground we visited. Amazing.

Thursday 21 July

Headingley for the Roses Match. Arrived late because I fell asleep on the train from Halifax to Leeds (I’d had a lunch date in Halifax) and had to get a train back from Cross Gates to Leeds. When I arrived Yorkshire were fighting back with Richard Pyrah close to his century. But Lancashire finished them off. They then, worryingly, lost three wickets before the close.

Saturday 23 July

A whistlestop tour of the Saddleworth |Club in the company of league official Phil Taylor. We did 14 grounds – an amazing effort: Uppermill, Friarmere, Heyside, Hollinwood, Bamford Fieldhouse, Glodwick, Saddleworth, Shaw, Staley, Micklehurst, Moorside, Droylsden, Austerlands and Greenfield. Amazing effort.

Tuesday & Wednesday 26 & 27 July

Southport for Lancs v Nottinghamshire. This venue is a lovely one and one that I associate with my youth – lots of trips up the coast from Manchester. Really beautiful place and so good that Lancashire are now playing games here again. Lots of wickets falling and nip and tuck in terms of the overall balance of the game. Doesn’t look great Lancashire with their shaky batting.

Sunday 31 July

The Heavy Woollen Cup final at Spen with my local side Shepley in contention for the trophy. Really pleasant afternoon: a full house, Huddersfield League president Roger France doing the rounds with his wife Judith, and Alan Birkenshaw on the PA. We had a cup of tea and had a look at the club bookstall just outside the tearoom. Had a lie down on the boundary edge and very much enjoyed the atmosphere.

Season So Far - Part 1

2011-08-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

Posted by Peter Davies

Saturday 2 April

The first day of my cricket-watching year and, as ever, it was New Rover where all the Professional Cricket Watchers headed. Tony Hutton, Mick Bourne and Brian Senior were all in attendance – with lots of sandwiches available too!

Friday 8 April

Lancashire v Sussex at Liverpool. The first of many visits, hopefully, to Lancashire’s new home ground, at least forn Championship cricket. Really love Liverpool. Really peaceful and relaxed. Not unpretty either. Stayed over in a Speke B&B and enjoyed the second day too. Dad came over for both days – very good effort. Went to nearby Speke Airport but was disappointed to discover there was no viewing area. Was looking forward to seeing some planes landing and taking off.

Saturday 16 April

Linthwaite – a traditional early-season venue for us. And this time there was a game going on! Had a sit by the factory wall and enjoyed the views up to the Transpennine rail line. Linthwaitwe’s ground always feels very closed – with all the tall trees hiding the ground from the main road. Then up to Slaithwaite for a short visit. Had a sit in front of the pavilion ands, again, enjoyed the magnificent Colne Valley views. Then finally Marsden – a Colne Valley hat-trick.

Sunday 17 April

A short visit to Kirkburton, looking radiant in the early-season sun. Had a cup of tea and sat in my favourite chair, close to the garage on the right-hand side as you enter the ground. Very sunny and pleasant.

Wednesday 20 April

Lancashire v Somerset at Liverpool. Second visit of the year. Now becoming a habit. Lancashire have had a good start to the year but Trescothick’s men could be serious challengers. But the home side are playing with a lot of confidence, especially at Liverpool. Could this be the secret weapon that brings them the Championship?

Sunday 24 April

My first one-dayer at Old Trafford for quite a while. Not over-keen on them. Also don’t like the idea of the Unicorns. But a pleasant enough day with Lancashire coming out on top. But all very low-key.

Friday 29 April

A day out with my Dad. We’d heard so much about Westhoughton – a possible Lancashire first-class venue? – and it didn’t disappoint. Very nice, but obviously not yet ready for first-class cricket. But the ground took an age to find – wedged in as it is in the midst of a modern housing estate.
New Rover

Saturday 30 April

Copley and then Mytholmroyd. Nothing beats the arches at Copley – and nothing beats the excellent teas at Mytholmroyd. Really sunny day. We sat by the pavilion at Mytholmroyd and parked nearby.

Thursday 5 May

My first-ever visit to Barnsley – for a 2nd XI county game – and what an impressive place it was. Met Brian Senior in the food bar at lunchtime – he wasn’t very pleased at all with how long it was taking for his food to arrive. Sat outside and met other Professional Cricket Watchers including Tony Hutton and his wife. Hurried back to the bus station with Brian after the game.

Saturday 7 May

Denby Dale then Kirkburton. Two of our big favourites. Both looking good.

Sunday 8 May

Lancashire v Glamorgan at Old Trafford. I was at unive3rsity in Cardiff and Swansea so I would say Glamorgan are my second favourite county. But not today!

Saturday 14 May

A Huddersfield League afternoon, popping into Lepton, Lascelles Hall, and Kirkheaton. Saw the FA Cup final at Lepton and very sad to see the damage caused at Lascelles Hall – but good to see a new pavilion building had been erected.

Thursday 19 May

Lancashire v Yorkshire at Liverpool so a trip across to Merseyside with Dave Thorpe – very kind of him. Lancashire had a good day and should hopefully wrap up a win some time soon. Funny to witness a Roses game at an outground but a nice novelty. Dave and his mate Graham sat by the main entrance – I wandered round a bit for a lie down, especially when my head pains came on.

Saturday 21 May

A trip to Mirfield Parish Cavaliers. We sat in our usual spot – just as you enter the ground from the main road and the odd little entrance by the scoreboard. I wasn’t feeling very well so we didn’t stay long. Not even time for a world-renowned Cavaliers tea! Then to Hanging Heaton where we bumped into the ubiquitous Brian Senior, rucksack on his back and strolling the streets of Batley like a seasoned Professional Cricket Watcher, which of course is what he is. We bought him a tea and he bought us some apple pie – so a fair deal all round.

Saturday 28 May

Our two favourite grounds: Denby Dale and Skelmanthorpe. Very close together and both top-class venues. We have our favourite benches at both grounds and really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

YORKSHIRE CRICKET ARCHIVE MEETING

2011-08-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

I had another visit to Scarborough to-day to watch England Lions against Sri Lanka A.

The weather was sunny to start with in the morning and joined up with Bob Proctor and his son.The pitch looked drier than than the last Yorkshire match.England had been bowled out for 299 and Sri Lanka were batting.

The opening bowling of Dernbach and Harrison was not impressive which was not helped by Kieswtter stumping.The best bowler was Meaker who I last saw at York where he had to be taken off bowling when he bowled two beamers in one over.His figures today were 11-5-27-1.
Yesterday afternoon two fifty year old men striked across the ground before being taken away by the police.I understand it was not a pretty sight.

After lunch the weather was cloundy and Borthwick bowled his leg-spin very badly.The Sri Lankians hit two big sixes with one going through a open window in the pavilion.
A good sight was a wheelchair that was pushed behind the bowlers arm as he was bowling.Never seen that before.

After tea thunder could be heard in the distance and England took the new ball. This produced 5 wickets falling in 33 runs and the rain came down.Sri Lanka were 329 for8.

During the match I saw PaulDyson,David Allan and Howard Clayton who are all in the Cricket Archive Committee.A poor drive home on the A64 again.

Championship hotting up.

2011-08-03T08:22:00.000-07:00

posted by John Winn

Yesterday offered the first championship cricket at The Riverside for six weeks. In the meantime Durham have maintained a slender lead at the top of the first division courtesy mainly of a win at Liverpool but suffered a heavy defeat at Taunton two weeks ago when for the second time this season Mustard invited Somerset to bat and Marcus Trescothick duly cashed in.Yesterday's visitors were Notts, last year's champions but this year rather let down by a fragile early order.
Mustard has been remarkably lucky with the toss but I was somewhat surprised to find that on an extremely sultry morning, Durham had taken first innings. The morning's play was probably just shaded by Notts,with Durham losing three wickets. Collingwood's dismissal for nought provided something to stir the breathless air for he was clearly not impressed with the decision which gave him caught behind and he appeared to exchange words with the umpire on his way from the middle.
The afternoon session was spoilt by the weather when shortly after two o'clock the almost inevitable heavy shower sent the players to the dressing rooms and even though the rain soon stopped, the light remained very poor and in total twenty three overs were lost.
Durham's man of the day was Michael Di Venuto who almost batted through the shortened day only to be out for 132 just before the close. Adams was particularly impressive for Notts and his four wickets were well deserved.
In fifth place in the table at the start of this match last year's champion's are probably resigned to a mid table position this campaign but any one of the four teams above them could take the pennant and of course the current match at Liverpool, now in its third day, is crucial. As I write Lancashire lead The Bears by 190 runs with seven second innings wickets still to fall and could set a very difficult last day's target for the visitors.Somerset, who earlier today were in a dire position against Sussex, have been rescued by Buttler and may well continue their good run of form which has gone a long way to offset their poor start to the season.At the other end Yorkshire appear to have put themselves in a position where they should at least deny Hampshire their first victory of the season.
Yorkshire are the odd men out in the top division at the end of the season for they will complete their programme before the last round of matches. Let us hope that during that week all their followers will be able to relax and take a purely academic interest in Durham v Worcestershire and Hampshire v Warwickshire.

Thanks to Brian

2011-08-01T12:13:00.001-07:00

Posted by John Winn

Earlier this season I was told that this would be the last Ampleforth College Festival but the matter had slipped from my mind until I read Brian's posting last night. Not having been before and knowing that this was a favourite venue of many pcws I hastily made plans this morning to drive the twenty miles from home ,by a really pretty route through the Hambledon Hills, and arrived just as the first innings of today's four games were coming to an end. The setting is indeed magnificent and the sun shone on the idyllic scene.
The key games today, the last day of the under 15 competition, were between Durham and Essex and Yorkshire and Cardiff/Glamorgan. Yorkshire's hopes of winning the title depended on them beating the youngsters from South Wales and hoping that Durham would beat Essex.In the end Essex won a low scoring game by three wickets and Yorkshire's comfortable victory was to no avail.
There were goodly number of spectators watching each game, mostly very committed parents, and it is sad that such an important competition in such a lovely setting should come to an end. Thanks to Brian I was there for the last rites.One little thing that intrigued me was that I was able to keep the Yorkshire players waiting to bat up to date with the score from Trent Bridge. Every bulletin I announced was met with the same question, 'How many has Tendulkar got'? If they were hoping that he might get his elusive one hundredth international century then of course they were to be disappointed. Call me old fashioned but I just wanted him to be out.

LORDS TAVENERS FIXTURES AND JOE LUMB

2011-08-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

I have been to Ilkley to day to see Aire-Wharfedale under 15 against Huddersfield under 15.Huddersfield score 182 in forty-five overs and Aire-Wharfe were being beaten easily when I left.

More fixtures

To-morrow Sheffield v Airewharfe Eckington
Upper Wharfedale v Huddersfield Earby.
Leeds v Halifax Methley.
Nidderdale v Wetherby Bilton.
Wednesday Huddersfields v Sheffield Skelmanthorpe.
Airewharfe v Upper Wharfedale Otley
Bradford v York Pudsey St. Lawrence
Wetherby v Scarborough Thorpe arch @ Boston Spa.
Leeds v Nidderdale Morley

28 August Joe Lumb Final York v Barnsley at Clifton Alliance

4 September Jack Lee Final Noth Yorkshire S.D v Huddersfield Thornaby.

Enjoy your cricket.

MORE FIXTURES

2011-07-31T12:25:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

There is a Australian touring side coming in August. Fixtures below.

7 August Knaresborough Forest 2P.M
8 August Thornton- Watless 4.P.M. 20/20
9 August Bilton 2.P.M.
11 August Harrogate 2 P.M.
14 August Goldsborough 11A.M
16 August Spofforth 2.P.M
17 August Stafford Bridge 2P.M.
18 August Ilkley 2 P.M.

NO ICE CREAM

2011-07-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

This year is the last year of the Ambleforth Cricket Festival so I had to go.There were four of us including Brian Senior, David Thorpe and Graham, a friend of David.The sun was shining and was very warm.The Abbey is home of the Benedictine monks since 1802.The view of the four cricket grounds is excellent.

There are eight teams playing and split into two groups.In the first group Essex were leading and Yorkshire second.In the second group Durham were first and Cardiff second.
Yorkshire were playing Durham who scored 202 in the first innings.Essex were playing Cardiff and scored 211 in their innings.

At lunch time we went to Gilling East village which has a excellent pub and The Church of the Holy Cross.The clock in the tower was bought and placed there through the efforts of Prince Ranjitsinhji, the cricketer.He often lived in the village in 1889.He organised cricket matches at Gilling in which county cricketers played, to rise money for the clock and the repair of the tower.After lunch we went to see the cricket ground which is now in a school.

Going back to the Abbey we called into the Tea shop and David wanted a icecream however they did not sell them.He had to settle for a chocolate cake.

Going back to the cricket matches we saw Essex beat Cardiff. The coach for Essex was Keith Fletcher who still looked well.Yorkshire won their match by three wickets and overs to spare.

I would recommend people to go to the Abbey to discover the grounds.Thank you for Tony Hutton for taking me the first time.

In the footsteps of Nico

2011-07-31T00:41:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn
Back from a few days holiday either side of the English-Welsh border I am grateful to Brian for keeping the blog going. My wife and I did over seven hundred miles as we travelled to, from and round Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and mid-Wales.Reading his postings it seems as though Brian has done almost as much.

In 'Two Men and A Blog', Tony and Peter's account of their 2009 season,Tony introduced me to the delightful books of Nico Craven, since when I have read two of them. Craven died last year and his work and life were sufficiently admired for him to merit obituaries in the national press.Despite living in Cumbria and in his later years being in poor health, Craven's cricketing year centred on his visit to The Cheltenham Festival (cricket not racing), held each July. I last saw cricket in the college grounds in 1999 when Worcestershire were the visitors and it was not entirely by chance that when the fixtures showed that this year would provide the opportunity to see one of my 'listed matches' in such splendid surroundings, a day in Cheltenham was somehow included in our holiday plans.
Thus at precisely one minute to eleven last Wednesday morning I took my seat with probably a couple of thousand others, mostly with unfamiliar accents, to see Gloucestershire take on Surrey.Cheltenham has every right to call itself a 'festival'; eleven days cricket squeezed into twelve calendar days and with various marquees occupying about 150 degrees of the circle.In addition there were plenty of food outlets and even a military band playing in the lunch interval.The former England and Gloucestershire wicketkeeper, Jack Russell had many of his paintings for sale and there was an interesting tent in which an array of second hand cricket books was on offer. Alas,and this was the only disappointment of the day, no Nico Craven among them!
The match itself came to an exciting climax yesterday with Surrey winning by two wickets and lifting themselves into a challenging positon for promotion from the second division. Two other points of interest emerged from the game yesterday. Firstly a rare instance of a batsman being given out for 'obstructing the field' in this case Mark Ramprakash, who 'had a long conversation with the umpires before trudging off'. The second event is more disappointing, namely the announcement by Jon Lewis, who made his debut for Gloucestershire in 1995 and played in his only test match in 2006, that he will be joining Surrey for the 2012 season.
To keep banging the drum for the County Championship, this last week has seen cricket played on four 'out grounds' which has produced exciting finishes and spectacular collapses. Tuesday sees the start of six more matches. I shall be at The Riverside where Durham,leaders only by the narrowest of margins, take on Notts, and Yorkshire travel to The Rosebowl for a match the significance of which is only too apparent.

ANOTHER NEW LEAGUE

2011-07-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

Another Saturday and a trip up to Darlinton area with the two Ronnies.The first ground was Sedgefield which is situated near the Racecourse.The Seconds were playing Hartlepool Seconds in the North Yorkshire and South Durham League Divison 2.The first thing you notice is the number of different flowers in the ground.There is a new scoreboard and a new pavilion.There is a large field next to the ground which is used for parking for the horse racing.It is a large field but the wicket looked very dry.
However overall a very nice ground.

The second ground was a contrast Trimdon which is situated in a school playing field.
They were playing Catterick Village in the Darlington and District League.The view from the entrance is a view of electricity pillons stretching into the distance.
We heard that Trimdon Collery play on the same ground as their pavilion was burnt down.

Moving on to Mainforth who were playing Esh Winning in the Readers Durham County League which none of us had heard of until to-day.Yasim Martaza, spin bowler, for Esh bowled out the home side for 75.The ground was the enterence to the pit which now is closed.It has been grassed over with again numberous flowers. There is a new pavilion and the old pavilion is the bar which had numerous old photographs of the old teams.

Next ground in the same league was Tudhoe who were playing Willington.Simon Davies from the home side had scored 328 in a 45 over match this season.When we arrived they had scored 240.It was tea-time and Tudhoe were due to bowl with Shawn Findlay, from West Indies , opening the bowling.He looked quick but no wickets fell while we were there.A nice ground.

Contrast again Spennymore were playing Cliffe.We heard later that the last time a player played there a burnt out car was on the ground.The pavilion has grill all round the building and looked like a prison.Spennymore were being thrashed so we moved on.

The next ground was Gilling West were Richmondshire Fourth were playing Barton Seconds.The ground is very nice but has no running water eventhough they have a tap.The neighbour will not allow it eventhough they have offered to pay for the water.This ground is used by Richmond when the main ground is being used.Barton won the match which was a thiry-five over match eventhough the league plays foty-five. They make up their own rules in this League.

Moving a few miles down the road we saw Richmond Seconds beat Seaton Carew Seconds.
We watched the match from the club house looking across to the Church and Castle.
Very nice.

End of another Saturday seeing contrasting grounds in sunshine.Even Ron Deaton took his sweater off.

WEST COAST VISIT

2011-07-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

On a sunny morning at Skipton Ron Deaton join me to go to Southport were Lancashire were playing Nottingham.The weather forecast said there would be light rain at 1.ooP.M.

Lancashire required 258 to win the match in the fourth innings.The highest score of the match was by White who had scored 53 so the bowlers were winning.We sat down next to a man who had been born in Southport but it was his first match at the ground for fifty years.

No Lancashire batsmen were happy and at lunch they had scored 79 for 4.There was a good crowd and we managed to get a sets next to the scoreboard and on alleviated view.
All the professional cricket watchers from Lancashire were there including Jeff from Stockport.

Brown was soon bowled after lunch for the Lancashire highest score of the innings of 23 in 75 minutes.We spoke to the groundsman in the tea tent who confirmed the ball was swinging and there was nothing wrong with the wicket.Lancashire were all out for 128 by 3.30 and there batting was not good enough.

This my be the last Championship match at Southport which will be pity and all the spectators enjoyed the ground.It did rain about 2.00P.M. but the umpires were keen to resume play quickly.Well done.

FIXTURES FOR AUGUST

2011-07-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

I have put together some fixtures for this weekend and August.Hope Brian Cobb finds it interesting and I am sure it will not be as good as Tony Hutton,s fixture earlier in the season.

I found out yesterday that Lincolnshire lost by one run at Cleethorpes.

In the Wath Cup on Tuesday evening Helperby beat Blubberhouses by 24 runs.

28 July Peter Bentley Cup Spennithorne v Birstwith at Dacre Bank 6.15.
Ambleforth starts.

31 July Gomersal v Shepley at Spen Victoria 12.00.

1 August Lancshire v Warwickshire Liverpool 4 Days.
Derbyshire u17 v Yorkshire u17 Denby 10.45.
2 August England Lions v Sri Lanka A Scarborough
Durham v Nottingham
3 August Yorkshire under13 v Derbyshire under13 Denby Dale.
Derby Seconds v M.C.C. Universities Belpher Meadows.
4 August Semi-Final Yorkshire under 15 Silsden
5 August Final Yorkshire under 15 Methley
7 August Gomersal v Pudsey St. Lawrence Lightcliffe 1.00 P.M
Burley v Follifoot Colton.
Shepley v Skelmanthorpe Skyes Cup Final.
9 August Yorkshire Seconds v Northants Pudsey Congs
Yorkshire under 17 v Cheshire under 17 Weetwood.
Galphay @ Winksley v Spofforth Kirkby Malzard 6.15
10 August Yorkshire Seconds v Northants Headingley
Yorkshire under 14 v Barmy Army Colts Yorkshire Methley
14 August Derby v Yorkshire Chesterfield.
Bilton v Beckwithshaw Otley
Scholes v Slaithwaite 1.00
Yorkshire under 13 v Lancashire under 13 Harrogate 10.45.
16 August Brophy X1 V Dunnington 2.30.
Derby Seconds v Nottingham Denby.
Lancashire Seconds v Durham Lytham.
17 August Lancashire v Worcester Blackpool
Derby v Northants Chesterfield.
Yorkshire under 19 v Lancshire under 19 Elland 2Day.
18 August Saints v Sratford Harrogate 1.30.
19 August England over 60 v Australia New Rover.
21 August Cumberland v Northumberland Barrow
Cheshire v Oxfordshire Alderley Edge.
Wrenthorpe v Whitley Hall Hanging Heaton 1.00
Atkinson / Swins Cup Masham 2.00
23 August Yorkshire under 15 v Warwick Elscar 11.30.
Yorkshire under 13.B v West Yorkshire under 13 Old Mods.
28 August East Bierley v Pudsey St. Lawrence Bingley 1.00
29 August Crowther Cup Final.
31 August Yorkshire Seconds v M.C.C. Y.C Weetwood.

Iam sure there plenty more matches that Ihave not mentioned including League games.
Hope the weather stays fine.

MINOR COUNTIES

2011-07-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

With the weather fine myself and the family went to Cleethorpes.Here Lincolnshire and Hertfordshire were playing a three day Minor County Eastern Division Championship match.At the start of the match Lincolnshire had 38 points and Hertfordshire had 30.

As I approached the ground I notice Ken walking to the match.The last time I had seen him was at Weetwood for the Yorkshire under 17 match.Walking to the pavilion I saw Mick Cowan, ex-Yorkshire fast bowler in the 1950,s,who had come with his grandsons.

On Sunday Hertfordshire had scored 314 in 88.2 overs so collected three bonus points with Lincolshire collecting four.Lincolnshire were three wickets down for 55.It would require some good batting.However this did not happen with them been bowled out for 209 so only collecting one bonus point.Houston was the top score with 48 so he came to the rescue.

One of the spectators was the son of Ginger Evans who had played for Glamorgan in 1950. He had recently died and there was a obituary in the Wisden Cricketer.So I told the son to speak to Mick Cowan who had played against him.

Hertifordshire batted again with a 105 run lead.They also found it difficult and were 142 for 9 at the end of the day.Shepherd had taken three wickets for twenty-three.

The weather was find but again tld breeze across the ground but we were able to watch the match protected by a hedge so keeping warm.The ground is only five minutes from the sea-front and it is a pity there are not more grounds in seaside resorts.

LANCASHIRE LEAGUE

2011-07-24T13:19:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson

To-day I went we Peter Mann to one of my favorite grounds Todmorden.I think everybody soon go at least once a year to this delightful ground.

The match was Todmorden against Nelson in the Lancashire League.These matches relay on the professionals for the sides.Todmorden had Qaiser Abbas who is a left hand bat and left arm spin bowler.He has played one Test match for Pakistan against England.Whilst Nelson had Ben Laughlin who has played 5 O.DI for Australia.He is a right arm medium paced bowler who was a had been playing for Netherfield.His father played in this League in 1977 .

Todmorden batted first and lost three quick wickets to Laughlin.However Abbas and the captain but a stand to-gether. Abbas scored 62 with some wild shorts before he was bowled by Laughlin who finished with five wickets. Todmorden score was 181 and the locals wanted more runs.

At tea-time I was able to speak to Malcom Heywood who with his son has writted a book about the history of Todmorden.He will be speaking at Peter Davies mettings at Golcar in March.

Nelson started well but Abbas started taking wickets.There was some poor batting and when we left eight wickets had fallen with Abbas taking six. Laughlin scored about twenty caught with a excellent catch on the boundary.Nelson needed over 60 runs in six overs with eight wickets down when we drove out of the gates.

The teams in the Lancashire League rely on the profeessional to win the matches and in this match Abbas was the difference between the two sides.The teas were excellent with home made fruit pies with cream.What more could you ask for.

COUNTRY LANES

2011-07-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

Ron Deaton had organised another trip to the Darlington and District Cricket league.
However I first popped into Headingley to see the start of the fourth day of the Roses Match.Gale and Sidebottom were batting well when Sidebottom decided to try drive a ball off Chapple to be caught at slip.As I was leaving there was a roar and found out later Gale was out L.B.W.

We arrived at Middleton in Teesdale about two o,clock and they were playing the top of the League Haughton.The ground is behind a Fire Station and has good views into the hills.The Zambian for Haughton opened the batting but soon had to retire. He had conjunctiuitis and good not see properly.He was hoping to return to bat but we will have to see the web-site if he did return.

Moving on to Lands were the second team were playing St. James who had nine men a girl playing.The ground is about 1000 feet high and is always windy.It is large ground with a resonable pavilion.The home team were batting and were 90 for 2 when we left.

Moving to the west of Darlington we went to see Middleton St. George who were playing Barningham.It was tea time when we arrived and the home side had scored 183.I won the domino card and collected £10.Barningham looked a poor batting side and had lost four quick wickets when we left.

Moving over the river Tees we finally found the East Cowton ground which is situated behind some new houses.They were playing Lands first team who were fielding.On three sides of the ground is farmers fields.We left at the drinks break and it looked like Lands soon win.

On the way to Scruton ground we passed Cattrick ground but the match had finished.
Scruton were playing Norton in The Langbarough League.The home side had batted and scored 169 but Neston soon lost there wickets when we arrived so losing the match. The ground is a new ground with a excellent pavilion.

During the trip we heard Yorkshire lost as was expected.Seems funny a batsman scores 100 and the bats number eleven.The sun shone all day and was a excellent trip. We have seven more grounds to visit in this League.

Ebb and flow

2011-07-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn

About two o'clock yesterday afternoon the tide of The Roses' Match, which in the morning had flowed strongly in Lancashire's favour, was arrested and in quick time reversed, by aggressive batting from Pyrah more than ably supported by Sidebottom. With help from Tim Bresnan, both with bat and ball,Yorkshire found themselves at close of play in a position where a third championship victory of the season was a possibility.
In yesterday's posting I suggested that the morning session might'well determine who would take the winner's points'. So what has gone wrong, for there will be few cricket followers who would be prepared to say that, probably before lunch tomorrow, the Lancashire team coach will not be heading westwards along the M62 with a victory that will see them at the top of the championship table.
Yet all did go Yorkshire's way before lunch today with five Lancashire wickets falling in the session but just, as on Thursday, the afternoon saw a dramatic reversal of fortune, so did today and again it was brought about by two batsmen in the side primarily for their bowling.For Pyrah and Sidebottom read Mahmood and Hogg.The third fifty of Lancashire's innings came up at almost a run a ball with both batsmen playing aggressive but orthodox cricket.The introduction of Rashid was something of a gamble, but it brought instant success when he bowled Mahmood in his first over and not long after the innings closed when Hogg was run out.
This set Yorkshire 289 to win when at lunchtime something closer to 200 had seemed a real possibility. During an extended interval caused by rain and bad light, I spent time in the long room with Brian Sanderson and others closer to the heart of Yorkshire cricket than me and I had the temerity to suggest that the target might be fifty too many.To my surprise I found that the consensus was that the deficit was at least 100 if not 150 beyond Yorkshire's capabilities.
At close of play Yorkshire are 148 in arrears with only four wickets in hand. I will spare you the details, for they are available elsewhere and some may prefer not to know them but suffice to say when Gale and Sidebottom resume the innings tomorrow then should the best happen one or more of Yorkshire's remaining batsmen will have achieved great things. Those among the excellent crowds on Thursday afternoon when Yorkshire were 45 for 8 made alternative plans for Saturday may tonight feel their forward planning was sensible.

Pyrah's technics

2011-07-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn

'For those who like that kind of thing, that is what they like' The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Muriel Spark.

For those who like county championship cricket today is what they like. Sixteen wickets, almost three hundred runs and a game so poised that tomorrow's first session may well determine who takes the winner's points.
Yorkshire wrapped up Lancashire's first innings quickly enough but home supporters, of whom there was a goodly gathering, had to try and eat lunch with the board reading 45 for 6 and Kyle Hogg having taken five wickets and twice been on a hat trick.Discussion in the long room was subdued, a tad bitter and the most pessimistic were making plans for Friday, let alone Saturday. For those for whom the glass is half full things could only get better, but they would have to wait until they had got worse for before two o'clock the score was pessimists 45 optimists 8 and Sidebottom had joined Pyrah at the crease.
By tea 45 for 8 had become 217 for 9 with the home crowd having spent the afternoon bobbing up and down to acknowledge a succession of milestones. Pyrah's fifty, the hundred partnership, Sidebottoms' fifty, the avoidance of the follow on,Pyrah's hundred, his first in the championship, the 150 partnership, to name but a few and not necessarily in that order. I was not alone in thinking that their teammates might have applauded their efforts from outside the dressing room, rather than from behind glass.Perhaps they were blushing at their pre- lunch collapse.
When Sidebottom was finally dismissed there followed something akin to 'Stars in their Eyes' with Ian Wardlaw announcing 'Tonight Matthew I shall be Tim Bresnan', for it was Tim who emerged from the pavilion, released by England but arriving in time to bring up the rear for Yorkshire and together with Pyrah add another 30 valuable runs.When 'Rich' was last out Lancashire's advantage had been cut to 89 which they extended to 122 by the close, but not without the loss of three wickets. Two of the three went to the late running Bresnan courtesy of catches by McGrath and in the last over Shazad removed Brown to set up an intriguing day tomorrow.
Having left at six I heard the closing overs on local radio where the feeling was that Yorkshire would not wish to chase more than 250 in the last innings. With Root, Gale and Ballance each on a pair I think most who were there today would agree.

PETER,S LEAVING DO

2011-07-20T01:02:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

In the morning I called up to Weetwood to see Yorkshire under17 against Durham under17.

When I arrived there were no spectators but four arrived later including Jenny, Malcolm and Ken.Also a person from Redcar who had not been to Weetwood before.The Durham coach informed us the Durham lost on Friday at St.Peters however in the Yorkshire innings there were seven overs with seven balls so he was claiming a tie.
At lunchtime when I left Yorkshire were 90 for 3 in the two hour session.The match is a two day match.

In the afternoon I went to Huddersfield to Peter Davies leaving party from the University.David Thorpe, Brian Senior and Mick Bourne were also there.Afterwards we went to a Indian resturant which Peter paid for. Thank you Peter and all the best in your retirement.

Entertaining Andrew

2011-07-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

It was good to hear from Tony and I wish him all the best.From Wednesday until Sunday I have been with Andrew Wickham watching cricket.Andrew lives in London but was born in Harrogate.He decided to come up last week to watch Yorkshire Seconds against Ireland A. instead of going to Scarborough.He will be going to Scarborough in August.

Wednesday,Ireland A won the toss and decided to bat.The sun was shining but there was another cold wind.The new pavilion barely finished and we were able to watch the laying of the grass in front of it .They reached 260 before the innings ended shortly before 4pm.No partnership bettered the eighth at 58 , wicket keeper Rory McCann was unbeaten at 40.The best bowling figures came from Moin Ashraf who took 3-44. Wardlaw looked fast and the slip fielders struggled to catch the ball of him due to his speed.
We saw Sayers caught on the boundary of his first ball.
So we moved off to see two matchs in the Wensleydale Evening League.We had lunch at the pub at Thornton-Watlass who were playing Eryholme.There are a number of trees in the field which caused the ball to strike them by the home side batsmen.They scored 114 and we moved on to Masham.I found out later Eryholme won with six overs to spare.
Masham were playing Spennithorne on the pretty ground.Thev away side had scored 110 which was enough to win the match.There were more enthusiasm in this match than Harrogate.

Thursday. Arrived at Harrogate to find that Brophy had scored 101 while we had been in the Dales.Half the grass had been laid down.Brophy was soon out but we were able to watch Lees reach his century.After lunch he was out for 138 but Wainwright was batting very well. Comments by the Yorkshire players was that he looked like a white Brian Lara.He reached 180 runs in 179 balls.Yorkshire declared at 537 for 7.Two Irish wickets fell during the tea session.We moved on to watch Northallerton against Spennithorne in the Peter Bentley Cup.Spennithorne had sored 137 for 5 and when we arrived Northallerton were batting.Two batsmen reached 33 but five players were out for a duck.The home side lost by 27 runs so we went to the bar. There I started talking to a Leeds Rugby supporter who had seen the 1952 Cup Final.A very interesting conversation.

Friday.The match started at 10.15 so the Irish side could catch the early evening flight . There was no difficulty in this as they were all out by Noon.So we went to St. Peter.s to watch Yorkshire Under 19,s against Durham Academy who were batting.
We had leave early so I could watch Leeds v Hull at Rugby.

Saturday. We went to Hanging Heaton against Farsley.There was talk about the ten point deduction to Farsley for fielding a uneligible player.There was a delayed start due to rain and surprisingly Farsley batted.They reached 129 in 34. 2 overs with Mark Lawson taking three wickets.All the Farsley supporters thought they would lose however this was not the case. Ingram taking four cheap wickets after his run out while he was batting.

Sunday. Hoped to watch Saltaire against Bankfoot but the rain stopped that so we moved on to Headingley. Yorkshire were batting against Middlesex in a forty over match.Yorkshire reached 196 with the help of Lyth and Ballance.I had to take Andrew to his train while Yorkshire lost the match.

A busy few days and now I can write the blog and print out the matches we saw.

A canine repast

2011-07-17T03:25:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn

Having been frustrated by a washout at Ouseburn yesterday, where my wife would have been match ball sponsor, but surprised to find that a match was played at Alne just four miles away, I have now gone almost a week without seeing any cricket. With the weather forecast suggesting that unsettled conditions will persist in the week ahead it may be a few days before I can report on any live cricket watching.
Once a year I try to meet up with old friends from my time living in Sussex with Grace Road our usual venue. This year we are due to meet on Wednesday when Leicestershire are due to play Sri Lanka A but with long journeys involved, especially for one friend coming from the East Sussex coast, the prospect of midweek rain may cause an abandonment of our plans. Headingley will of course provide me with a very acceptable alternative and a much shorter journey.
At the beginning of June I suggested in a posting that 20/20 cricket might be losing its charm. This was based on the slender evidence of seeing Lancashire's game with Leicestershire and having to play spot the crowd. I also confessed in the same posting that I had enjoyed the match and on the principle that one might as well be hung for a sweater as a pair of socks I now admit that I have watched a further number of games, some of which have been entertaining and in some cases have been watched by packed houses.As most followers will know the game has now reached the knockout stage, that didn't take too long did it? Only 144 matches.
The SKY commentary team has on more than one occasion said that the southern group has been the stronger. If this is true then Hampshire will be firm favourites to triumph in the final next month. Despite a two point forfeit from last season they have topped the 'stronger' group by three points and at home won seven out of eight with one no result. In the quarter finals they will host Durham, who have not been impressive, and so will expect to pass through to Egbaston in late August. But here's my point, and you may have wondered if there was ever going to be one, Hampshire have so far failed to win a game in the championship and despite their captain's assurance that all will be well they may just be playing second division cricket in 2012.By way of further illustration of the disparity of form in these two contrasting styles of the game then one would could point to the neighbouring counties of Leicestershire and Northants. Matthew Hoggard's boys find themselves with a home draw in 20/20 but with just one win in nine in the four day game whereas Northants top the second division table with five wins but have been dismal in 20/20.
Of the four counties with home draws in the next stage of 20/20 I suggest only Sussex will be satisfied with their season so far in first class cricket and that might have been different if they had not won a tight game with Hampshire last week.
There are six championship games this week all beginning on Wednesday which has a nice familiar ring to it and the competition has a relatively smooth run in to its climax in eight weeks.
Just in case you were thinking we were back to the good old days I was speaking to a friend from Durham this morning who said he was debating whether to go to The Riverside for the Clydesdale Bank 40 game this afternoon, a competition in which most counties have not played for eight weeks.This means that when Durham's opponents Surrey take on Middlesex at Guildford next Wednesday in the championship they will have played in three different competitions in less than a week. What a dog's breakfast!
The same friend did say one remarkable thing this morning and that was when I told him I had a grand day out at Scarborough on Monday, he said 'I know, I read it on the blog.' Blimey!

Medical bulletin

2011-07-16T02:52:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

First of all apologies for my lack of input during the past couple of weeks, but unfortunately the symptoms of my shingles attack have got worse rather than better and it looks very much as though my cricket season has ended rather prematurely.

To add to my problems, my wife has now snapped her achilles tendon and will have her leg in plaster for the next twelve weeks. However we now have a large stock of equipment in the shape of a stair lift, wheel chair, zimmer frames, bathroom seats etc etc. which makes life easier for her.

I have at last caught up with all the recent blogs from Brian and John and although cricket is currently near the bottom of my list of priorities it was good to have a phone call from Brian Senior up dating me on all his recent trips including a good three days at Sedbergh.

We have been helped by two recent visits from my son and the good news is that he and his family will be returning from Dubai to live in Leeds as from the end of August. Eldest grandson Sam has already been accepted by the Grammar School at Leeds.
So a lot to look forward to - Hope to have Sam performing for Adel Under nines next season.

Despite our problems, there are always people worse off and in particular Peter Davies who is leaving the University of Huddersfield with an ill health pension. I am so sorry to be missing his farewell party, but know that he is full of plans for the future and has already put together a full programme of speakers for his new cricket society, the Pennine Cricket Society to be based in Huddersfield, next winter.

Good luck to Peter for the future and hopefully at some stage he will be able to resume his blogging career.

Some York Cricket History

2011-07-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

Last month I was quite rightly taken to task by a blog reader for a mistake when when writing about Keith Gillhouley, namely that I called him Kevin. By way of an apology I said I would at some point reveal an interesting link between Keith and the history of cricket in York.
In researching Keith's career from 'Cricket Archive' I discovered that the first record of him playing in a representative match was in August 1952 for Yorkshire Juniors against Durham Juniors at Wigginton Road, York, now the site of York Hospital.Keith took 6 for 25 in a one innings match and scored 13 not out in a one wicket win for Yorkshire.
As I suspect many followers will know (if we have many followers) Wigginton Road was the home of York CC until 1967 when they moved to Clifton Park on land obtained from Clifton Hospital. The Cricket Archive data base shows cricket played at Wigginton Road as far back as 1864 when the Gentlemen of Yorkshire played the Gentlemen of Notts. The ground was actually known as the Yorkshire Gentlemen's Cricket Ground until 1932 when they moved to their present ground at Escrick and York CC moved in. One first class match was played there, in 1890 when Yorkshire beat Kent by 8 wickets.
Yorkshire II played there occasionally between 1927 and 1959 in The Minor Counties Championship and on the last occasion, when they played Cumberland, Yorkshire's first three batsmen were HD Bird, JB Bolus and PJ Sharpe and one H Halliday top scored for the visitors.
The last match of note to be played at Wigginton Road was in 1967 between a full Yorkshire eleven and The International Cavaliers who won by six wickets. The two undefeated batsmen were Clive Lloyd and Ted Dexter. Don Wilson took 3 for 26 with Kanhai and Sobers amongst his victims, not a bad finale for a ground with over a hundred year's existence.

LONGEST ALBANIAN RIVER

2011-07-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

I also went to Scarborough on Monday and three interested items happen as well as the cricket.John might have heard on the microphone one of the quiz questions for Tuesday night which was what was the longest Albanian river.Answer later.When I arrived at the ground I saw Graham Eccles on the gate.Graham was Leeds Rugby second row forward in the 1980,s and ex steward of Leeds Supporters Club.He now lives in Bridlington and was offered a job for four days.The last interesting happening was watching Shahzad dancing while listening to his I-Pod while fielding.

After travelling 430 miles in three days I went with Ron Stansfield to Weetwood. The match was 2nd Eleven Championship match between M.C.C. Universities v Nottingham.When we arrived there were six spectators including Jenny and Nottingham were batting.The opening batters were Akil Patel, who is the brother of Samit, and Karl Turner who played for Durham last year.They put on a stand of 130 for the first wicket before Patel was out.

After lunch we were handed a print-out of the players and noticed Billy Roots name on the sheet.Talking to Paul Johnson ,he said that Billy had been released by Yorkshire and was playing his first match for Nottingham.He was down to bat 5.
Ali Brown came into bat three who is 41 years old.He scored 60 quickly and Turner batted on.Next came Elstone who also hit a number of boundaries but was caught out on the boundary.Next came Billy Root but was soon out caught in the covers.Poor Lad.

We left at tea with the score 340 for 4 with Turner still not out over 100.

The answer to the river question was Drin.

Hoping Tony Hutton is well and is reading the blog.

Grandmother scrubs up well.

2011-07-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn
If one heard that one's grandmother had had a face lift then one might be a trifle nervous that on next seeing her she might look like breast of mutton desperately trying to pass itself off as spring lamb. Scarborough cricket ground and I have a relationship that goes back sixty years for it was on the 15th of August 1951 when I was VERY young that I first saw cricket at North Marine Road and when by a nice coincidence Yorkshire played Worcestershire. Yorkshire, missing Hutton, Lowson, Watson and Brennan, all on test duty at the Oval against South Africa, lost by 8 runs when with half an hour to play they had looked certain winners. It would be nice to say that I remember being gripped by the excitement of the finish but a lie, for I have only the vaguest memories of a large cricket ground and none whatsoever of the cricket. But I was there and today I was there again and it was good to see the ground looking splendid in the sunshine after its tasteful renovation and that seemed to be the opinion of most people I spoke to or overheard. Indeed one man gazed so fondly upwards in the gents' loos on the popular side that he might have been admiring the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Normally I travel to Scarborough by train but as I mentioned in yesterday's posting, today I was able to take advantage of a lift with my friend John Gawthrope who also provided us with a splendid picnic lunch.
Depite the fact that the season has passed its halfway point Scarborough serves to reunite old friends who have not met since last year's festival, so unusual as it might seem, I heard the question, how was your winter?
A pleasant start to the day came when Andrew Gale presented Johnny Bairstow with his county cap and Gale's next important duty was to win the toss and put Worcestershire in on a pitch with more than a tinge of green. This worked even better than one dared to hope for by lunch Worcestershire were 60 for 6, despite some dropped catches in the slips.Batting became easier after lunch but when tea was taken early because of a shower Worcestershire were 8 down and shortly after tea Lyth and Root set about chasing a modest 168.Tragedy struck when Root was run out without facing and Lyth's dismissal made it 15 for 2. Gale and McGrath showed enterprise and put on 92 in 19 overs the highlight of which was when Gale struck Ajmal for five consecutive fours.
John and I left at six o'clock just as McGrath was lbw and by stumps Yorkshire had lost two further wickets to end on 135 for 5 and this important game in the balance, no pun intended.The first session tomorrow will be critical.
One mystery arising out of the renovation which intrigued me during the day was the purpose of a rather grand set of wooden steps leading up to the first floor of the pavilion, by the side of which was a stern warning 'Authorised Personnel Only'. As nobody climbed these steps between the hours of 10:00 and 18: 00 I can only assume no such authorised persons were present.
All this warm sunshine, large crowd and gleaming paint were in contrast with a couple of hours spent at Manningham Mills yesterday on a cold cheerless afternoon when Pudsey St Lawrence triumphed in an exciting finish to reach the final of The Priestley Cup where they will meet East Bierley. Scotchman Road could do with a bit of Tesco's cash if there is any left over after Scarborough's face lift.

BIRTHDAY TREAT

2011-07-10T13:25:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

To-day was a special day in my calendar. My birthday and a trip to Sedbergh School.The ground is my favorite in the North of England. The match was the first day of Cumberland against Bedfordshire in the Minor County Championship.

The forecast was a threat of a shower about 1.00P.M however this did not happen and the sunshined all day.Before lunch myself, Brian Senior and Peter Mann sat looking at the cricket facing the school.Cumberland won the toss and put Bedfordshire in to bat.They soon lost the wicket of Simpson to Marcus Sharp.Up to lunch Stubbings and Kettleborough batted slowly.

We retired to The Red Lion for Sunday lunch which was excellent espically the beef.We started talking to a music master at the school who orginally came from South Wales and his ofice looks on to the cricket pitch.He told us that the school brass band had played twice at Lords during a Test Match.

After lunch Stubbings reached 60 in about 52 overs whilst Kettleborough was out for 48.It looked like Bedfordshire would reach over 300 however mainly due to Lowe, who took five wickets, they only reached 288.We watched the action looking at the fells were sheep grazed.

Cumberland innings did not go well and at the end of the day they were 61 for 3.Brian Senior was stopping to watch the whole match and soon see a result.

I would recommend that everbody spends at least one day at Sedbergh watching the cricket and eating the Sunday beef.

Two Sams mash Masham.

2011-07-10T04:44:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn

Friday's heavy storms caused me, like Brian, to rethink my plans for yesterday's outing. I had intended to head north to the fringes of the North Yorks Moors National Park covering clubs in three different leagues but that can wait until conditions are more settled.Instead I decided to stay very close to home and spend the afternoon at Ouseburn CC where the first team were entertaining Masham. The ground had had a good soaking on Friday and there had been seepage under the covers but play started on time and when I arrived the league leaders were struggling at 22 for 3, a situation which appeared more dire when I heard that top all rounder Olly Uffindall was absent from the team.
In the next two hours however, OCC lost only one wicket while adding 249 runs. A fourth wicket partnership of 96 between Chris Morrison and Sam Dale set the recovery well under way and when Morrison was out the two Sams (Dale and Parker) picked up their muskets and blasted some ragged Masham bowling to all parts, chiefly the neighbouring corn field.In Masham's defence they were short of three regulars but the later bowling could not contain the big hitting and even with nine men on the boundary the spate of runs could not be staunched.
272 was always likely to be too many for a Masham side containing three juniors and so it proved but an obdurate second wicket stand of 69 between Andrew and Adam Smith gave the visitors a chance of a losing draw and it was not until the 44th over that the last wicket fell.
Tomorrow is one of those extra special days in the pcw calendar, cricket at Scarborough,and Yorkshire face the only team they have beaten in championship cricket this season, Worcestershire, in what, if a ridculous football expression is adapted, is a forty eight pointer. Those Yorkshire members who welcome Rudolph's return, and judging by conversations at the U17 game last week not all do, will regret that his second coming does not start until next week.The forecast is good and I am to be chauffered by my friend John Gawthrope, roll on!

HISTORY TRIP

2011-07-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

After a rainy Friday there was a change of plan. Orginally we plan to go to Darlington and District League however it was changed to visit clubs round York due to the weather forecast.

Myself and two Ron,s,Stansfield and Deaton,set off to Thirsk.On the way there was a very heavy rainstorm and it looked worse over Easingwold.However when we got to Thirsk the rain had passed and the match would start on time. The club was formed over 160 years ago. In the bar is a excellent picture of George Freeman who played for Yorkshire from 1865 to 1881.Also a plaque for Thomas Lord who found The Lords ground in London.He was born in Thirsk.

The match was Thirsk Seconds against York1V in The York and District Senior League.There are eight Divisions in the league.The ground is in the middle of the racecourse.York batted first and lost a wicket so we moved on.

Next ground was Stillingworth who were due to play Pickering Seconds but when we arrived no-body was around.There had been a large amount of rain in a short time. Another mystery.

Moving on to Sherrif Hutton which is situated next to a 14th Century Castle and had been owned by Richard 111.It was recently up for sale for 1.3 million pounds.
The rain caused a delay in the match and tea was taken early.So Ron Deaton and myself went one mile down the road to see Sherriff Hutton Bridge Seconds against Yapham.This club was established in 1949 and won the National Village Compertition in 2005.

Returning back to Sherriff Hutton the match had just stated with New Earswick batting.We were offered some jam scones with our cup of tea.They were very nice.

The next ground was New Earswick were the seconds were playing Londesborough Park seconds.New Earwick is a village that was built by Joseph Rowntree for his workers.

Next match was Rowntree Seconds against Carlton Towers Seconds.The pavilion has all the windows boarded up and is in poor state of repair.Nestle will not allow the player to repaint it and are looking to sell it to York Council.To see a ground in this state is heart-breaking.

Next grounds were situated next to each other at Heworth were the first were playing Easingwold.Across the road Heworth Thirds were playing University of York Staff.This was in the York Vale League Divison 2.

On the way back to Harrogate we called into Acomb were the seconds won the match against Fenners Seconds on the last ball of the match.This was at 7.35.Odds at arriving at a match like this must be quite high.

Another excellent trip with a lot of history to see and hear about.

McGrath shows form and fitness.

2011-07-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn

I went to Clifton Park, York yesterday where Yorkshire II were playing MCC Universities in the SEC. When I arrived Yorkshire were approaching 100. with two wickets down, Root(J) and Geldart back in the pavilion and McGrath and Lees making slow progress in the middle. There was a good crowd in attendance,not Stamford Bridge size, but much above average for second team cricket.There were plenty of familiar faces, including fellow blogger Brian Sanderson who was justifiably excited by a scrap book donated to the county archive by the family of the late Frank Smailes.
Progress after lunch resumed at the morning's tempo, somewhere between largo and adagio. In other words 'less than riveting'. Fortunately I was in the company of two of my regular comrades from Headingley and the conversation covered a variety of topics including the Wetherby bomb scare, which went national today, and the bus wars, also in Wetherby, featured on 'Look North,,but unlikely to go national and Darlington's forthcoming encounter with Braintree Town, definitely not going national.
More seriously, at least from a cricketing point of view, we remarked that it was eight weeks since we had last had the opportunity to watch YCC in championship action at Headingley since when Yorkshire have played at Liverpool,Taunton,Hove and Chester le Street. In some ways following the championship this year has been like watching a character in a play who dominates the first act, April to mid-May, disappears except for brief appearances in the second act, mid June and mid-July at which times he is competing with a rowdy chorus for our attention,and then returns to dominate the third act in August and September.
Of course many will be looking forward to Scarborough next week,myself included, a Monday start just to keep us on our toes, but for many members championship cricket at HQ is the bread and butter of the summer and it will be another two weeks before Lancashire come to call, ten weeks since Hampshire left town.
In 2012 there will be fewer 20/20 matches which should one hopes, make for a more balanced programme of home and away games.As for Clifton Park, Yorkshire did up the tempo to allegro and Lees will be black and blue from self inflicted kicks after holing out to a long hop when on 79. Patchy rain arrived exactly as forecast at tea-time but McGrath went on to make 186 and Yorkshire declared on 403 for 6.MCCU used nine bowlers which suggests they were not at their strongest.

CUP SHOCK

2011-07-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

I have just return from Harrogate were Bardsey and Studley Royal were playing in the Addison Cup Final. It was a twenty over match with Bardsey full of League professionals.
Ron Deaton arrived who played on the ground in the 1960,s.It has changed a lot since then and espically after the fire three years ago.Yorkshire won three County Championships on this ground and used to hold over ten thousand people.Now there was about one hundred watching the match and a new pavilion is being constructed.

Studley Royal won the toss and fielded.Bardsey struggled apart from Ba-Ba Butt who scored 44 out of 121.They did not run their runs fast enough and waited for another batsman to get a large score.

Studley Royal were in no problem and lost only three wickets reaching the total.There was only one team playing to-gether and wanting to win the match.At the interval I won the raffle again.It will help out Wombwell Cricket Society.

TWO WINNERS

2011-07-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

To-day I returned to East Bierley who were playing in The ECB National Club Championship against Hyde who play in the Cheshire County Premier League.

In the scorecard it shown the name Oliver Ashford but he had been injured at Blackley on Monday playing for Huddersfield New College . He was replaced by D.Abbott who played in the second team.Hyde won the toss and decided to bat .The first ball from Hutchinson bowled Twiney without playing a shot.When Robert James Joseph Woolley came in the score was 63 for 4.He plays for Lancashire Seconds and is right hand bat and right arm medium bowler.His age is 20 and was born in Ashton under Lyne.He finished on 140 not out with 19 4,s and 2 six,s.The Hyde total after 45 overs was 271 for9.The best bowler being Goddard , taking 3 for 53 in his nine overs.East Bierley stuggled to get a good fifth bowler.

After tea East Brierley lost there first six wickets for sixty in thirteen overs.Woolley taking three wickets.There was some excellent catchs taken .When I left East Bierley they were 165 for 9. Looking at the computor and total scorer the score had not moved.Something wrong with the web-site.

During tea I won a bottle of wine in the raffle which will go to prize at Wombwell Cricket Society during the winter.

ARGUEMENTS IN THE PARK

2011-07-03T02:58:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

With Ron Stansfield I set out to Saltaire Park in the Bradford League.The last time I played here was over twenty years ago.Ron remembers watching a match here during The Second World War.Two of the famous players who played here was Sidney Barnes and Jim Laker.It is good to see photographs of both players in the improved pavilion.

Saltaire are second in the Second Division and Spen Victoria are tenth in the League.Saltaire won the toss and batted.The first wicket fell quickly with a caught behind.Then the fun started ,Burton appealed for a L.B.W which the umpire turned down. Burton refused to take his cap and sweater and stormed off to third man.A few overs later Burton obtained two L.B.W from the same umpire and the Saltaire batsman stood there and then storm off shouting at eveybody. As soon as he got to the pavilion he kicked a chair and stormed into the changing rooms.

Then Gomwe and Hicks put on a stand of 109, with Gomwe finishing on a excellent 94 not out.The Saltaire total got to 220 for 8 in the fifty overs.Tea was taken.

Round two Spen Victoria batted and again a wicket fell quickly.Only Deegan looked comfortable against te bowling.One of the Spen Players was given out L.B.W and was swored at when he left the pitch. Burton came into bat and the problem started again. He had to be pushed away from attacking one of the bowlers.When Burton was out the Spen innings soon finished on 94 in 32 overs.

It was nice to go back to the park but I did not enjoy the agruements on the pitch. I think the umpires should have been more strict.Hope to have a quieter at East Bierley to-day.

A hidden gem

2011-07-03T01:07:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn

En route to post code LS8 yesterday I called at The Grammar School at Leeds at Alwoodley Gates where I was surprised to see so many cars. They had been attracted by something described as 'Junior Fun Day', a title which to a former schoolteacher, has the ring of doom. My interest was in a fifty over game between TGSAL and Manchester Grammar School. MGS cricketing alumni include Mike Atherton, Mark Chilton and John Crawley and of an earlier vintage, David Green. The pedigree of these four batsmen has, in some measure at least, been passed on for by the time I left the MGS openers were close to a century stand off 20 overs.
My first call in North Leeds was at the Leeds Police ground where the police were hosts to Shadwell in a Wetherby League Division One Fixture. Shadwell batted first and looked uncertain against the police bowling. I enquired of a boundary fielder if the police were, in fact, all police. No was the reply, criminals are welcome.Not having brought my kit I left.
From here it is but a short journey to 'The Homestead', the ground of North Leeds CC, on the edge of Roundhay Park. Aire Wharfe League here and the second teams of North Leeds and Rawdon were in opposition with the visitors batting. A small but growing crowd were enjoying the sunshine and some were alarmed at the rate of Rawdon's progress although it was under four an over. While I was there a second wicket fell,what looked like a straight forward caught behind, but the young batsmen paused, turned up his hands in supplication and set off for the pavilion at something of the speed of Thomas Gray's ploughman.It is not I think my imagination that this lind of dissent, for what else can it be, is increasing in the game at all levels.I was pleased to read that the Essex captain, James Foster has been disciplined by his county as well as the ECB for questioning an umpire's decision last month.
I returned home via Boston Spa and visited another new ground, one visited by Tony last month, that of Thorpe Arch and Boston Spa CC and situated in Thorpe Arch Village behind The Pax pub (Sorry no cricket parking), access being gained through the pub car park where a small gate opens onto a delightful scene and on a day like yesterday it was good that the far side of the ground offered some shade. Founded in 1873 TABS, as they are known, must have been spoilt for choice when they entered league cricket. They are but a few miles from Wetherby, the River Wharfe flows within half a mile of the village, but in 1963 they joined The York Senior League which for their two teams involves travel as far as Goole, Hull, Hornsea and Scarborough where the first were playing yesterday.
Yesterday's visitors were Pocklington II who were making merry and eventually closed on 269 for 5. I was surprised by the unwillingness of the TABs skipper to post fielders on the boundary as the score mounted but I need have had no worries for the home team reached their target with five wickets in hand.Almost 550 runs, beautiful sunshine and a gem of a ground, what more could the decent size crowd have wanted?
As has become my routine this season I finished up at Ouseburn CC, the fourth different league of the afternoon, where the seconds were taking on Hampsthwaite.We are now into the fourth month of the season and all Ouseburn's home fixtures have been played to a conclusion, a tribute to the excellent weather. Long may it continue, but I don't say that too loudly in earshot of those whose livelihoods are dependent on arable farming, some of whom are always among the spectators at the Great Ouseburn ground.

Fixtures update

2011-07-02T01:30:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

With a proliferation of fixtures heading our way during July, I will try and do regular updates to satisfy our voracious readership.

Here is the first one for followers of the Joe Lumb under 17 competition. All games start at 13.00.

Sun 3rd July - Sheffield v Bradford (Whitley Hall)
East Yorkshire v Huddersfield (Welton)
Pontefract v Leeds (Brodsworth)
Halifax v Wtherby (Sowerby Brdige Church Institute)

Sun 10th July - Aire/Wharfe v Sheffield (Tong Park Esholt)
Heavy Woollen v York (Gomersal)
Leeds v Nidderdale (Whitkirk)
Barnsley v Halifax (Cawthorne)
Wetherby v Doncaster (St Chads)

Sun 17th July - Sheffield v York (Killamarsh)
Leeds v Huddersfield (Colton)
Nidderdale v East Yorkshire (Follifoot)
Doncaster v Scarborough (Warmsworth)

Sun 24th July - Bradford v Heavy Woollen (Undercliffe)

Sun 31st July - Bradford v Aire/Wharfe (East Bierley)
Heavy Woollen v Sheffield (Moorlands, Mirfield)

Semi-finals will be played on Sun 7th and 14th August, with the final on 28th August.

The Jack Lee Tophy Final for the two runners up will be played on 4th September

Cardiff steal the show at Lord's

2011-07-01T06:36:00.000-07:00

Posted by Tony Hutton

Monday 27th June - M.C.C. Universities Challenge Final at Lord's
Durham M.C.C.U. v Cardiff M.C.C.U.

As previously pointed out the top six cricketing universities play each other in a two day competition which encourages sides to bat for 100 overs and play something more akin to proper cricket, than the usual limited overs thrash.

All well and good until we get to the final which reverts to the 50 over one day format. Durham must have been favourites for their ability to score around 400 runs in almost every one of their two day games. However always a great pleasure to be at Lord's and for me the small crowd which enables a leisurely walk around the ground and it's various attractions is a big advantage. To add to the occasion the women's university final was being played on the Nursery ground between Loughborough and
Leeds Met Universities.

In the main match Cardiff, who have improved considerably in recent seasons under coach Kevin Lyons, formerly of Glamorgan, batted first. Their openers put on 47 without any problem before Jones was out for 20 and Siddique followed immediately for a duck. Their main man, Ryan Bishop, who hails from South Africa, continued to dominate proceedings and when he was joined by Irishman Balbirnie they put on a fine partnership of 104.

Bishop was eventually stumped for 88 and Balbirnie caught behind for 73 both off spinner Watkins, who proved to be Durham's best bowler with 3-44 in his ten overs, although opening bowler Deuchar was the most economical with 0-22 in his spell. Some late hitting from Tom Friend, who comes from the Isle of Wight, took the Cambridge score to 255-7 in their fifty overs.

Due to the very slow over rate in the women's match it was possible to watch the end of the Loughborough innings during the men's lunch interval. In front of a respectable crowd, which I was told was the biggest ever seen for cricket on the Nursery ground, Loughborough just failed to reach 300, with the scourge of Leeds Met once again the immaculate Tamsin Beaumont with yet another century to add to her collection.

Back to the men's match and Durham's prolific top three batsmen looked well capable of knocking off the runs. Chris Jones of Somerset, Luc Durandt from South Africa and Greg Smith from Leicestershire have all scored consistently all season, but sadly today was not to be their day. Cardiff's ploy of opening the bowling with one seamer, Reed, and one spinner, Ransley, paid off.

Reed had Durandt caught for only 13, Jones was caught behined of Ransley for 32 and Smith made only 18 before falling lbw to Friend. Worse was to follow as Durham slumped from 92-3 to 105-6. The game looked as good as over but as so often the case the tailenders came to the rescue with two wicketkeepers, Smith who kept today and Jamie Atkinson at one time wicketkeeper for Hong Kong, put on a partnership of 66 before Smith was bowled by Balbirnie for 22.

Then a stand of 42 between Atkinson and Watkins took Durham to within reach of victory, Atkinson playing the leading role and the equation had gone down to a run a ball off the final six overs before Atkinson was ninth man out for a splendid 62. Two runs later it was all over - Durham's powerful batting side bowled out for 228 and Cardiff the winners by 27 runs.

If there was a man of the match award, it would surely have gone to Tom Friend, who not only scored a vital 42, but also took 4-48. So Cardiff are top of the University cricket tree, some consolation for losing the one day BUCS final to Cambridge at Wormsley last week.

On the way out, Leeds Met women were still batting against Loughborough, but no chance of reaching their target of 298 to win. We later learned that they were all out for a respectable 207.

Sparse up north

2011-07-01T03:52:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn

An article by David Hopps in today's Guardian 'sport', otherwise swamped by Wimbledon, points out that although England began their 2011 domestic season in May it has taken them until July 1st to travel further north than Lord's when they pitch up at Headingley for the ODI against Sri Lanka. In a year when no test match will be played further north then Trent Bridge, the northern cricket watcher who enjoys international cricketer is restricted to an ODI at Chester-le Street, a T20 and LOI at Old Trafford and today's game. If international cricket with its high prices and beer garden atmosphere is not your cup of tea, or pint of lager, but fancy seeing some of the world's best cricketers when they are merely called 'The Indians' then be prepared to travel to Leicester or Northampton or Taunton or Hove or Canterbury.If you studied geography more than forty years ago you will have got my drift.
By now you may have sensed that this a source of irritation to this blogger, but it doesn't end there. For the pcw none of this may apply;they have other less high profile cricket to watch using Tony's excellent fixture lists published on this website.Just in case however you thought you might like to see the South African Under 19s who are to play their England counterparts in seven limited over games then there are two opportunites at Arundel, two more at Canterbury and one each at Northampton, Edgbaston and Taunton. Ring any bells?
Just one more little rant before I finish.Last week England's women played in a quadrangular T20 tournament and as you have probably sensed what's coming I will spare you the details, but suffice to say Chelmsford was their northern outpost. Things do get a little better this week with LOI women's games at Chesterfield and Derby and improve further at the end of this month when Sri Lanka A visit The Riverside and later Scarborough.
The imbalance of representative fixtures has been niggling away at me ever since the fixtures were published but it tookk Hopps' article today to make me express it through a posting. is is gratifying therefore that today's Daily Mirror features an interview with Tim Bresnan in which the all rounder 'has hit out at the lack of international cricket in his home county'.In the accompanying article The Mirror says 'the real injustice...this year sees thre days of cricket shared between Leeds. Manchester and Durham(sic), while fans in the Midlands and the South have 36 days to choose from'.

REVENGE FOR CULLODEN

2011-06-29T01:45:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

On a sunny Tuesday I wandered up to Weetwood to see Yorkshire Academy play Scotland Academy.Yorkshire had three new players;

James Stuart ,allrounder ,from Doncaster.
Matthew Simpson,Fast Bowler, from Saltaire.
Daniel Hodgson,wicket-keeper,from Leeds and Bradford University.

It was a fifty over match with Yorkshire batting first.Lees and Gildart shown aggression against the bowling.However three wickets fell for 80 and was left to Hodgson and Stuart.They put on a century stand with good batting.Stuart was first out for 50 and left Hodgson to score over 80.The final Yorkshire score was 287.A good score.

At half-time Tony,Jenny and myself went to New Rover.The match was Yorkshire over 60 against Cheshire over 60.Cheshire were batting with two wickets down.The Yorkshire captain had to go off injured.After a slow cricket Cheshire reached over 170.It was good to see players of my age still playing.

Moving back to Weetwood we found Scotland wanting 140 in twenty-five overs with five wickets down.With standy batting they got the toal down to wanting 20 over 4 overs.Wainman,the left arm quick bowler,started to bowl leg-side wides which helped Scotland win the match.

Excellent match and good to see Yorkshire introducing some League players into the side.

A historic day at Stokesley

2011-06-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

Posted by John Winn

My confidence that The Northern Echo would reveal the result of yesterday's Wilkinson cup game at Great Broughton was misplaced.Nowhere in their detailed coverage of the weekend's local cricket could I find any reference to the outcome. When I returned home this evening however, the Langbaurgh league website confirmed what I suspected yesterday, namely a comfortable win for The Durham Senior League: by eight wickets with almost half their forty allotted overs to spare.
This morning I drove back up the A19 excited by the prospect of seeing history made at Stokesley where the ambitious and progressive NYSD club were hosting the first professional cricket at their well appointed compact ground. Odd perhaps that it should not involve Yorkshire but it was Durham who were the home team with Derbyshire the visitors in a SET northern section game.Derbyshire won the toss and chose to bat against an experienced Durham attack with Mark Davies and Chris Rushworth opening the bowling and Ruel Brathwaite first change. Derbyshire soon found themselves two down but mounted a good recovery through Slater and Dale.In front of a decent crowd, between 100 and !50 at a rough estimate, and on an extremely warm morning, some big hitting by Derbyshire's middle order saw them to 195 for 6 off their 40 overs.
During the afternoon an explanation emerged for the absence of the Wilkinson Cup result in the local press. A Stokesley member to whom I got chatting was kind enough to approach Chris West who is the Echo's local cricket guru and he confirmed that the result had not been rung through. Chris must be a very busy a man on Sundays for in today's paper detailed accounts of the weekend's cricket in six different leagues appeared under his name.
In their reply Durham soon lost Mark Stoneman but Ben Raine and Gareth Breese pushed the rate up to five an over. Raine is not yet twenty and Durham must hope he can step up to first team cricket when veterans like Di Venuto and Benkenstein eventually retire.Raine brought up his fifty and Durham's hundred with a four but both batsmen were dismissed in quick succession leaving Harmison and Richardson at the crease. The target appeared a comfortable one but some spots of rain were enough to persuade me that a thunder storm was possible so I left for home when Durham were 124 for 5.

BERGER BITES BACK

2011-06-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

On a warm Monday I set off with Ron Stansfield to Blackley.The ground is situated just of the M62 over looking Elland and they are in the Halifax Cricket League.However we were going to watch Huddersfield New College against Bedford School in the School Sport Magazine National U17 Cricket Cup.

We were joined by David Thorp ,our Golcar representative,to see Eddy Wilson play for Huddersfield. He plays for Golcar, Yorkshire Academy and Second Teams and is a wicket-keeper however to day he started as a fielder.

Bedford started well and Huddersfield could not get a wicket so Eddy bowled left-arm spin. Even his father did not know he bowled spin however he got a wicket.Then the wicket-keeper hurt his hand and had to retire so Eddy took over the gloves.He stumped two batsman and caught another.However overall the fielding was poor in the last few overs so enabling Bedford to get to 256 in forty overs.

After tea Eddy and the wicket-keeper set off at a good pace until the wicket-keeper was out.They needed about 130 in twenty overs.Then Eddy was out bowled by the left-arm spinner causing Huddersfield to struggle against good bowling.

As we left Huddersfield needed 40 off 4 overs with three wickets to fall.After a stressful journey home, I had a message from David. Huddersfield had won with balls to spare."Berger" had scored the winning runs.Earlier he had conceeded over forty runs in his four overs of bowling.He did say he was a batsman not a bowler and this came true.The headline was choosed by David.

REVISITING GROUNDS

2011-06-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

By Brian Sanderson,

On a sunny Sunday morning I set out to Weetwood were the Yorkshire Academy were playing Appleby Frodingham in the Yorkshire Cricket League.Mollie was sat on the pavilion front and Jenny was sitting in the sunshine.Mollie had been to Barnsley to see the Academy lose in the last overon Saturday..She gave the players a large bag of sweets and settled down to watch the Acacdemy bowl with Coad and Wainman.Peter Mann arrived from Burley to tell us of their victory yesterday.

We both then set off to Hoylandswaine who were playing Slaithwaite in the Huddersfield Premier League.The ground slopes away down to the houses at the bottom of the field.There is a brillent view of four Power Stations in the distance.The home side batted first and soon start taking control of the match.One of the openers was John Sadler who has played for Yorkshire Seconds,Leicestershire,Derby and England under19 .
He was out in the fourth ball of the final over after scoring 162 .The number three was Alex Morris who has played for Yorkshire, Hampshire and England under 19. He scored over one hundred not out and put on a stand of 241.The home side scored over 300 in the fifty overs.There was numberous six,s over the nearby houses.

After tea they soon had Slaithwaite 53 for 8 when we decided to leave.It was not a competative match however Slaithwaite did not pay their players.

Moving on to Cawthorne were they were playing Clayton West in the Earnshaw Cup.The ground is situated at the end of a dirt lane which opens on to a large cricket pitch. The pavilion is built of wood and also the scoreboard which also harbours the groundsman mowers.They had scored 165 which one of the home playerssaid was not enough. However Clayton West lost eight wickets winning the match.

Looking at Total Scorer when I arrived home the Academy won by eight wickets .I had visited the Huddersfield grounds two years ago on a end of season trip.However both sides had moved from The Huddersfield Central League to The Drakes Huddersfield League since Ivisited them last.

The lure of lunch

2011-06-26T11:52:00.000-07:00

In 2010 my wife saw one day's cricket: the first day of the test match between Australia and and Pakistan at Headingley. The promise that I would stand Sunday lunch and today's high temperatures were sufficient incentive for her to agree to see some more cricket. The game in question was a Round 1 tie in the Decorum Wilkinson Cup Competition which is open to all leagues in the North East.
Today's tie played at Broughton and Kirby was between The Inshore Fisheries Langbaurgh Cricket League and The Warmseal Durham Senior Cricket League.How's that for a snappy title?
The match should have been played last Sunday but after the Durham side had made the journey down the A19, heavy rain washed out proceedings.
After a traditional Sunday roast at The Bay Horse in Great Broughton we drove the short distance to the Kirby Lane ground with its splendid views of The Cleveland Hills. A crowd of about fifty were enjoying the warm sunshine and witnessed The Langbaurgh League disintegrate from 51 for 1 to 114 all out in the last of their forty overs.
Langbaurgh's record in this competition is quite impressive. Winners in 1976, the second year of its existence, and 1983, they were joint winners in 2000 with today's opponents when the final was not played due to bad weather. Last year they defeated The West Tyne league in the first round but were easily beaten by The Durham Coast league in Round 2.
Langbaurgh's batting today, which veered from well struck boundaries to air shots, with not much in between, suggested that the Durham League are more likely to travel to the Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League in Round 2.Tomorrow's Northern Echo will reveal whether my prediction is correct.
An excellent spread awaited the players in the pavilion but we made our home via the attractive Georgian town of Stokesley still replete from our lunch. I shall be back at Stokesley tomorrow as Durham, intent on colonising this part of Yorkshire, take on Derbyshire in a SET game. For her next cricket my wife is pencilled in for a day at the Cheltenham Festival in July, my presence is in permanent black, heavily underlined.For Liz, Cheltenham's shops will offer a tempting alternative.