Posted by Peter Davies
Scholes v Kirkburton at sun-drenched Chapelgate. The home side's innings was approaching completion with lots of booming sixes landing either in adjacent fields or in one man's unsuspecting back garden (he was doing a little bit of gardening as the hits landed). Lots of spectators by the sightscreen at the bottom end and by the other side of the wonderful new clubhouse. Huddersfield and Castleford were live on TV in the redeveloped building, with the Giants just about managing to squeeze past their Challenge Cup opponents. I bought a raffle ticket but didn't win the cooked breakfast on offer; in fact, the raffle seller said no-one had claimed it! Clifford Oldroyd is one of Scholes' most famous stalwarts. He's in his 90s and was sat on what he told me was his favourite bench: in the shade, by the sightscreen, at the bottom end of the ground. In fact, he said, the house that the sightscreen backed onto was the house he was born in! No wonder it had been second nature to devote himself to the cricket club for decades and decades; and over the years he'd done every job under the sun for the club. The clubhouse was full of excellent framed items: names of sponsors, benefactors and a very old club fixture list. Wasim Jaffer's name was also in lights - the club has a fierce sense of pride that one of their ex-professionals is now an Indian Test star. 'Hardworking' and 'polite' were two of the words most often used by locals about their most famous son. The views from the ground were at their most awesome - way on down the Holme Valley and taking in Hepworth and Hade Edge. Absolutely awe-inspiring.
Sunday 31 May 2009
Saturday 30 May 2009
From Hullen Edge to Hedge Top
Posted by Peter Davies
Elland v Micklehurst at Hullen Edge. A red hot afternoon and Elland's ground looking as gorgeous and expansive as ever. The FA Cup final was on in the bar so there were as many people in there as on the boundary edge - or so it seemed. Chelsea had just equalised Everton's first-minute goal and the scoreline was getting through to fielders on the boundary. There were posh fixture cards to pick up in the bar - and also official ECC ties to order if you were so inclined. Elland's workaholic tea lady said she catered every Saturday and Sunday - and even Bank Holiday Mondays. The business was hers - the money she made went to herself rather than the club. Elland CC VIP Denis Midwood was wearing a bright yellow t-shirt and looking very trim. He and others were handing out match programmes and collecting gate money - the first time in a long time I'd actually been asked for an admission fee at any local ground. £1.50 and very good value for that! It was possibly the hottest afternoon of the summer, so it was a good idea to shelter in the shade in front of the pavilion. Elland's junior coordinator, Adrian Finn, told me that the club's youth set-up had become increasingly important over the last decade. They had had the benefit of the input of ex-professional players such as Richard Blakey and Stuart Fletcher and the club also took advantage of the fact that, because of their geographical location, they could opt to play in Halifax or Huddersfield leagues depending on circumstances.
Then to Northowram for Hedge Top v Jer Lane and Fields v Batley - two matches for the price of one. At Hedge Top the batters were creaming the ball to all parts, with the home side's total approaching 400. A club record, some said. In the last few overs every ball almost was being dispatched to the fence or over it. Return to sender was the message etched on every mightily- hit cover drive or ferocious pull. Then Jer Lane were skittled out for a meagre score of around 100 - a game of two halves, as they say. Lots of spectators on the wall side of the ground, the views of Coley in the near distance and Huddersfield in the far distance sensational. The pavilion walls were adorned with Hedge Top teams past and present. The husband-and-wife catering team were in a friendly mood as they dispensed full teas and cups of tea. The pork pies and the yellow-coloured rice were very tasty...and that's not forgetting the custard pies! Huddersfield Phd student Dennis O'Keefe was talking churches and cricket on the sidelines - and he also managed to put away a couple of the custard delicacies.
Over the wall, Fields were going down to defeat rather meekly. Club officials were preparing for a BBQ and advertising their plans for a new village community centre - everything is in place, they said, but they're now working on the funding. Club president Peter Atkinson was ordering a pint in the pavilion, 'Mrs Cricket' Ann Greenwood was busying around, and the tea lady was making it be known that this was her debut in the kitchen! The bar sold J20s at £1.20 and all around the walls were framed coaching certificates. On Friday nights, the club has hundreds of local kids at junior practice. Hence the desire for better facilities. I usually wave to my friend Ian Rushworth fielding at gully when I arrive at Fields but he was away with the 2nd XI at Altofts. He's the sports editor of the Halifax Courier, so a good man to know!
Elland v Micklehurst at Hullen Edge. A red hot afternoon and Elland's ground looking as gorgeous and expansive as ever. The FA Cup final was on in the bar so there were as many people in there as on the boundary edge - or so it seemed. Chelsea had just equalised Everton's first-minute goal and the scoreline was getting through to fielders on the boundary. There were posh fixture cards to pick up in the bar - and also official ECC ties to order if you were so inclined. Elland's workaholic tea lady said she catered every Saturday and Sunday - and even Bank Holiday Mondays. The business was hers - the money she made went to herself rather than the club. Elland CC VIP Denis Midwood was wearing a bright yellow t-shirt and looking very trim. He and others were handing out match programmes and collecting gate money - the first time in a long time I'd actually been asked for an admission fee at any local ground. £1.50 and very good value for that! It was possibly the hottest afternoon of the summer, so it was a good idea to shelter in the shade in front of the pavilion. Elland's junior coordinator, Adrian Finn, told me that the club's youth set-up had become increasingly important over the last decade. They had had the benefit of the input of ex-professional players such as Richard Blakey and Stuart Fletcher and the club also took advantage of the fact that, because of their geographical location, they could opt to play in Halifax or Huddersfield leagues depending on circumstances.
Then to Northowram for Hedge Top v Jer Lane and Fields v Batley - two matches for the price of one. At Hedge Top the batters were creaming the ball to all parts, with the home side's total approaching 400. A club record, some said. In the last few overs every ball almost was being dispatched to the fence or over it. Return to sender was the message etched on every mightily- hit cover drive or ferocious pull. Then Jer Lane were skittled out for a meagre score of around 100 - a game of two halves, as they say. Lots of spectators on the wall side of the ground, the views of Coley in the near distance and Huddersfield in the far distance sensational. The pavilion walls were adorned with Hedge Top teams past and present. The husband-and-wife catering team were in a friendly mood as they dispensed full teas and cups of tea. The pork pies and the yellow-coloured rice were very tasty...and that's not forgetting the custard pies! Huddersfield Phd student Dennis O'Keefe was talking churches and cricket on the sidelines - and he also managed to put away a couple of the custard delicacies.
Over the wall, Fields were going down to defeat rather meekly. Club officials were preparing for a BBQ and advertising their plans for a new village community centre - everything is in place, they said, but they're now working on the funding. Club president Peter Atkinson was ordering a pint in the pavilion, 'Mrs Cricket' Ann Greenwood was busying around, and the tea lady was making it be known that this was her debut in the kitchen! The bar sold J20s at £1.20 and all around the walls were framed coaching certificates. On Friday nights, the club has hundreds of local kids at junior practice. Hence the desire for better facilities. I usually wave to my friend Ian Rushworth fielding at gully when I arrive at Fields but he was away with the 2nd XI at Altofts. He's the sports editor of the Halifax Courier, so a good man to know!
Cafe Launch
Thursday 28 May
Posted by Peter Davies
The Viaduct Cafe, Dean Clough Industrial Complex, Halifax for the launch of the 'Cricket & Industry in Calderdale' exhibition. The cafe was a wonderful setting - very posh and trendy - and the display boards looked good in the nearby thoroughfare which, it was claimed, carries 62,000 people per year to the Dean Clough toilets! Special guests were Halifax expert Dr John Hargreaves, ex-Mackintosh's worker and player Geoff Wright, and Todmorden authors Malcolm and Freda Heywood. Each spoke wonderfully about the importance of sport, and cricket in particular, in the context of the industrial north. There was wine - red and white - plus soft drinks and nibbles, and some good discussion about the significance of urban cricket and the role that industrialists and businesses have played in the growth and evolution of clubs. Vic Allen from Dean Clough offered some very kind words of welcome.
Posted by Peter Davies
The Viaduct Cafe, Dean Clough Industrial Complex, Halifax for the launch of the 'Cricket & Industry in Calderdale' exhibition. The cafe was a wonderful setting - very posh and trendy - and the display boards looked good in the nearby thoroughfare which, it was claimed, carries 62,000 people per year to the Dean Clough toilets! Special guests were Halifax expert Dr John Hargreaves, ex-Mackintosh's worker and player Geoff Wright, and Todmorden authors Malcolm and Freda Heywood. Each spoke wonderfully about the importance of sport, and cricket in particular, in the context of the industrial north. There was wine - red and white - plus soft drinks and nibbles, and some good discussion about the significance of urban cricket and the role that industrialists and businesses have played in the growth and evolution of clubs. Vic Allen from Dean Clough offered some very kind words of welcome.
Friday 29 May 2009
Cricket Diary 2009 - A trip north of the border
Longhirst Hall, Northumberland (below) and The Grange cricket club Edinburgh (above))
Posted by Tony Hutton
Sunday 17th May - En route for Scotland and yet another Minor Counties Knock Out match this time in the splendid surroundings of Longhirst Hall, near Morpeth where Northumberland are entertaining Staffordshire. The ground is set in parkland surrounded by trees in a large hotel and conference complex with multiple sports facilities which include two cricket grounds used by Morpeth C.C., a golf course and tennis courts.
From our hotel window we had a view of the ground and able to see the groundstaff at work early clearing the covers and plastic sheeting which had protected the ground from the overnight rain. A prompt 11 o'clock start was made despite some very damp patches in the outfield.
The visitors bat first with a much younger side than when I had seen them before. However the two young openers were soon back in the pavilion at 5-2. Batting was not easy and it was up to numbers seven and eight to rescue the position with the two highest scores of 28 and 29. McGuire who made 28 is only 17 and has already played for Notts 2nd XI. All five Northumberland bowlers took wickets with former Durham man Mark Symington having the best figures of 3-24, as Staffordshire were all out for 144.
Northumberland apart from opening bat Worthy with 30, struggled even more and lost wickets at regular intervals against the pace attach of Purser and left armer Willott. This time there was no middle order recovery and 48-6 became 70 all out. So Staffordshire took the points and deservedly so for an all action display in the field. Wicketkeeper and captain Goodwin taking four catches.
Staffordshire, with four succesive victories have now qualified for the quarter finals but sadly Northumberland look out of it.
However another splendid setting but with only a small group of enthusiasts there to enjoy the afternoon sunshine.
Monday 18th May - Next day on to Edinburgh where we were greeted by fairly persistent morning rain. Scotland were due to play Kent in the Friends Provident Trophy at the Grange ground not far from the city centre, but play seemed unlikely before lunch so it was an early tour of the shops. However it brightened up and I managed to get to the ground just as the players took the field.
Kent batted first, still with the threat of more rain about. So to my relief I had at last seen cricket at the Grange ground. My last visit for the Scotland v Australia game four years ago was abandoned without a ball being bowled despite a sell out all ticket crowd and planned TV coverage.
England prospect Joe Denley did not last long, clean bowled by a beauty from Sri Lankan opening bowler Weeraratna which took the top of his off stump. Another big name, Martin Van Jaarsveld went next for a duck, well caught by Scotland skipper Gavin Hamilton. This took place as two swans flew over the ground in formation and they returned for another circuit as if to celebrate the wicket.
Kent skipper Robert Key blocked it out for an hour and a quarter, but made only 14 before he was bowled by South African Jan Stander. Former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones was smarly stumped off spinner Majid Haq before the rain returned with Kent on a paltry 65-4 off 19.5 overs. As you will have gathered it is not only English counties that are awash with overseas players. Scotland has three South Africans and a Sri Lankan, but at least Majid Haq was born in Paisley !
The rain break lasted for a full three hours, long after I had departed to book into our hotel. However after tea the rain relented and the players returned for Scotland to achieve a rare victory thanks to the vagaries of the Duckworth Lewis system. However they did it in fine style knocking off 80-1 in just under 15 overs. The forecast for the next game in two days time seemed better so hopes were high for a full day's play on Wednesday.
Wednesday 20th May - The forecasters were right a fine sunny day brought out a good sized crowd as this time Scotland took on the might of Somerset or should it have been the foreign legion as the visitors captained by Australian Justin Langer also included three South Africans, a West Indian and a Malaysian. However they did not have it all there own way.
Trescothick went cheaply for 18, but the foreign contingent rescued them, Kieswetter 42, Suppiah 48 and Langer 39 being the top scorers. They finished on 220-8 off 50 overs and the Scottish bowlers all performed well to keep the score within reason.
Gavin Hamilton, opening the innings, got Scotland off to a good start with 29 and then another South African, Cameron Borgas took over. He has played in the Huddersfield League I understand and played a sparkling innings which kept his side in with a chance of another suprise victory. They were at one stage 160-5 and a close finish seemed likely. Unfortunately the last five wickets fell for only 23 runs as the tail subsided completely leaving Borgas not out 75 with eight fours and one six.
One final note was the appearance of a new name to me in the Somerset ranks, Max Waller, from Millfield School who is a leg spin bowler who bowled five overs without taking a wicket, but looks like one to watch for the future. So then it was off to Fife for some sightseeing and family history research by my wife who was a Campbell until she met me. Next time will be action much closer to home.
Monday 25 May 2009
Fireworks at Shepley
Posted by Peter Davies
Shepley v Meltham at Marsh Lane - a Bank Holiday 2nd XI encounter. Shepley were batting in muggy conditions and setting a decent target. Two batsmen reached their fifties in consecutive overs which meant that two different teammates had to circle the ground with cap in hand - with the second one apologising for bothering people for cash so soon after the first! Shepley were on their way with some excellent boundaries being hit square of the wicket. The Championship play-off final was blaring out from the TV screen in the bar - Burnley had just gone one-up v Sheffield United - and there was a decent-sized posse of spectators stationed nearby on the boundary's edge. In the tea room, three women were getting ready for the interval, with hot quiche, sausage rolls, pork pies and sandwiches on the menu. One guy I got talking to by the bar said that Marsh Lane was his 'spirtual home'. He had grown up in the village, in a house overlooking the cricket ground, and though he'd played only rarely he loved the atmopshere and peace he found at the place. He had an orange t-shirt and shorts on, and a pint in his hand, and, yes, he looked totally at home! He was also the guy who co-organises the famous Shepley village bonfire every November - a major undertaking.
Shepley v Meltham at Marsh Lane - a Bank Holiday 2nd XI encounter. Shepley were batting in muggy conditions and setting a decent target. Two batsmen reached their fifties in consecutive overs which meant that two different teammates had to circle the ground with cap in hand - with the second one apologising for bothering people for cash so soon after the first! Shepley were on their way with some excellent boundaries being hit square of the wicket. The Championship play-off final was blaring out from the TV screen in the bar - Burnley had just gone one-up v Sheffield United - and there was a decent-sized posse of spectators stationed nearby on the boundary's edge. In the tea room, three women were getting ready for the interval, with hot quiche, sausage rolls, pork pies and sandwiches on the menu. One guy I got talking to by the bar said that Marsh Lane was his 'spirtual home'. He had grown up in the village, in a house overlooking the cricket ground, and though he'd played only rarely he loved the atmopshere and peace he found at the place. He had an orange t-shirt and shorts on, and a pint in his hand, and, yes, he looked totally at home! He was also the guy who co-organises the famous Shepley village bonfire every November - a major undertaking.
Meltham in the sun
Posted by Peter Davies
Meltham v Elland in the Sykes Cup. A glorious Sunday afternoon with the home side struggling to reach 100 in their innings. The Ellanders were out in force either side of the scoreboard, with 'Mr Elland' - Derek Gledhill - in a deckchair on the right. Ex-Yorkshire and Lancashire pace bowler Stuart Fletcher was pounding in from the bottom end, with the very vocal Elland fielders exhorting him at regular intervals. ECC official Adrian Finn was circling the ground and, he said, he was beginning to think ahead to the club's 150th anniversary in 2010. A centenary brochure or DVD? That was the question. In the clubhouse the main bar area was cordoned off so a private party could go ahead, with the cricket fans consigned to the window area nearest the playing area. Still, they weren't happy - they said they didn't appreciate the fact that folk fetching and carrying drinks were constantly obscuring their view on the veranda. The tea room was doing good business: cheese and tuna sandwiches and also salad, cheese and onion pastries and a variety of cakes. Ex-Yorkshire and Warwickshire spinner Paul Booth was in attendance as was his dad - who talked to me about his pride at watching his son's career develop. Paul has now given up cricket to concentrate on his golf! He lives in Brighouse. His dad was a two-time Sykes Cup winner with Meltham and told me they were two of the proudest days of his life. He described himself as an ultra-patient and dedicated opening batsman.
Meltham v Elland in the Sykes Cup. A glorious Sunday afternoon with the home side struggling to reach 100 in their innings. The Ellanders were out in force either side of the scoreboard, with 'Mr Elland' - Derek Gledhill - in a deckchair on the right. Ex-Yorkshire and Lancashire pace bowler Stuart Fletcher was pounding in from the bottom end, with the very vocal Elland fielders exhorting him at regular intervals. ECC official Adrian Finn was circling the ground and, he said, he was beginning to think ahead to the club's 150th anniversary in 2010. A centenary brochure or DVD? That was the question. In the clubhouse the main bar area was cordoned off so a private party could go ahead, with the cricket fans consigned to the window area nearest the playing area. Still, they weren't happy - they said they didn't appreciate the fact that folk fetching and carrying drinks were constantly obscuring their view on the veranda. The tea room was doing good business: cheese and tuna sandwiches and also salad, cheese and onion pastries and a variety of cakes. Ex-Yorkshire and Warwickshire spinner Paul Booth was in attendance as was his dad - who talked to me about his pride at watching his son's career develop. Paul has now given up cricket to concentrate on his golf! He lives in Brighouse. His dad was a two-time Sykes Cup winner with Meltham and told me they were two of the proudest days of his life. He described himself as an ultra-patient and dedicated opening batsman.
Sunday 24 May 2009
Into Lancashire...
Posted by Peter Davies
The launch of the new Cricket Heritage Project-published book, You Couldn't Make It Up! - a history of Burnley CC authored by lifelong Burnley fan Tony Lister. Burnley were at home to Haslingden in the shadow of Turf Moor - the cricket ground borders onto the football ground a la Headingley. And football fever was sweeping the town, with the Burnley-Sheffield United play-off final scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday (this is why, the local paper explained, they failed to carry a report on the new book this week) . Maybe 40 or 50 people in attendance, with locals saying this was a poor turnout (with the Wembley event probably to blame for this). Haslingden were batting and losing wickets at regular intervals. The weather was drab - a mixture of gloom and drizzle. Tony, and also his mum and sister, were in attendance with loads of photos being taken of the author and his book. One of Burnley's famous old boys was also at the ground - all-rounder Jonathan Clare of Derbyshire. He is part of the golden Clare-Anderson-Brown-Brown generation of modern county cricketers who learnt their trade at Turf Moor. He passed on the news that Derbyshire's star bowler, Charl Langveldt, the South African, was out for the season. He also said Derbyshire's lower order were currently scoring more runs than the top order! Nigel Stockley came along too. He runs the excellent Lancashire League website and is going to publicise the book online. The book sold well and the club now have copies to sell to folk during the season.
The launch of the new Cricket Heritage Project-published book, You Couldn't Make It Up! - a history of Burnley CC authored by lifelong Burnley fan Tony Lister. Burnley were at home to Haslingden in the shadow of Turf Moor - the cricket ground borders onto the football ground a la Headingley. And football fever was sweeping the town, with the Burnley-Sheffield United play-off final scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday (this is why, the local paper explained, they failed to carry a report on the new book this week) . Maybe 40 or 50 people in attendance, with locals saying this was a poor turnout (with the Wembley event probably to blame for this). Haslingden were batting and losing wickets at regular intervals. The weather was drab - a mixture of gloom and drizzle. Tony, and also his mum and sister, were in attendance with loads of photos being taken of the author and his book. One of Burnley's famous old boys was also at the ground - all-rounder Jonathan Clare of Derbyshire. He is part of the golden Clare-Anderson-Brown-Brown generation of modern county cricketers who learnt their trade at Turf Moor. He passed on the news that Derbyshire's star bowler, Charl Langveldt, the South African, was out for the season. He also said Derbyshire's lower order were currently scoring more runs than the top order! Nigel Stockley came along too. He runs the excellent Lancashire League website and is going to publicise the book online. The book sold well and the club now have copies to sell to folk during the season.
West Indians and Scots
Posted by Peter Davies
Tuesday 19 May
An invitation from Yorkshire CCC VIP Tony Bowry to attend a Clubmark ceremony at Gildersome CC near Leeds...with the promise of two celebrity guests! Managed to find a bus from Huddersfield to Leeds that stopped near the cricket ground. An adjourned cup game was in progress but the weather was poor - drab and drizzly - and that's why the tie hadn't yet finished after several days of trying to reach a conclusion! People were beginning to congregate in the pavilion and a local Indian restaurant entrepeneur seemed to be masterminding the catering operation. Around 7.30 Mr Bowry arrived with his guests: Messrs Chanderpaul and Sammy from the West Indies tour party, which had just arrived at their Leeds hotel after the disappointment of the Chester-le-Street Test match. They were attired in official tour polo shirts and both seemed to be playing with their Blackberries. They were also fascinated by the match that was going on in the rain - even though it was about 10 levels down from their standard of cricket! They watched intensely from inside and then outside the pavilion, posed for photos, signed autographs, and then took part in the presentation of the Clubmark award. I got chatting with YCCC development coach Steve Archer, who said he lived in Huddersfield and was happy to give me a lift back home. We talked about Clubmark, Kirklees and Calderdale clubs, and also his journey from being a painter and decorator to working with local cricket clubs on their future development. Steve said he was 45 but I thought he looked about 32! We grabbed a samosa and spring roll and then headed back to Huddersfield.
Friday 22 May
The East Bierley Cricket Heritage Exhibition...four years too late! We should have done this display in 2005 with the rest of our cricket club exhibitions but we didn't realise that the ground was 75 yards inside Kirklees! So we ignored it, got reminded about it, and then did the necessary research in 2008 and 2009. A great opportunity because East Bierley are a big Bradford League club with a beautiful ground. The launch went well with fantastic buffet food courtesy of the EB tea ladies and some VIP guests including Alan Birkenshaw, Mike Baker and Bob Shackleton from the Bradford League and Scotland skipper, England Test cricketer and East Bierley star all-rounder Gavin Hamilton. He said a few words at the start and then took part in the end-of-evening picture quiz. Some of my female friends were drooling over his good looks and sportsman's body! He said he was disappointed that Scotland had now been overtaken by Ireland in the world of international cricket and that he was happy to take on the captaincy. I had googled 'Gavin Hamilton Scotland' the night before and the articles all said he was determined to give Scottish cricket a kick up the backside so that the country could revisit its former glories. They'd just beaten Kent in the Friends Provident so he was reasonably happy! The winner of the picture quiz was Ian Ormondroyd - Bradford City footballing legend and East Bierley's Bradford League representative!
Tuesday 19 May
An invitation from Yorkshire CCC VIP Tony Bowry to attend a Clubmark ceremony at Gildersome CC near Leeds...with the promise of two celebrity guests! Managed to find a bus from Huddersfield to Leeds that stopped near the cricket ground. An adjourned cup game was in progress but the weather was poor - drab and drizzly - and that's why the tie hadn't yet finished after several days of trying to reach a conclusion! People were beginning to congregate in the pavilion and a local Indian restaurant entrepeneur seemed to be masterminding the catering operation. Around 7.30 Mr Bowry arrived with his guests: Messrs Chanderpaul and Sammy from the West Indies tour party, which had just arrived at their Leeds hotel after the disappointment of the Chester-le-Street Test match. They were attired in official tour polo shirts and both seemed to be playing with their Blackberries. They were also fascinated by the match that was going on in the rain - even though it was about 10 levels down from their standard of cricket! They watched intensely from inside and then outside the pavilion, posed for photos, signed autographs, and then took part in the presentation of the Clubmark award. I got chatting with YCCC development coach Steve Archer, who said he lived in Huddersfield and was happy to give me a lift back home. We talked about Clubmark, Kirklees and Calderdale clubs, and also his journey from being a painter and decorator to working with local cricket clubs on their future development. Steve said he was 45 but I thought he looked about 32! We grabbed a samosa and spring roll and then headed back to Huddersfield.
Friday 22 May
The East Bierley Cricket Heritage Exhibition...four years too late! We should have done this display in 2005 with the rest of our cricket club exhibitions but we didn't realise that the ground was 75 yards inside Kirklees! So we ignored it, got reminded about it, and then did the necessary research in 2008 and 2009. A great opportunity because East Bierley are a big Bradford League club with a beautiful ground. The launch went well with fantastic buffet food courtesy of the EB tea ladies and some VIP guests including Alan Birkenshaw, Mike Baker and Bob Shackleton from the Bradford League and Scotland skipper, England Test cricketer and East Bierley star all-rounder Gavin Hamilton. He said a few words at the start and then took part in the end-of-evening picture quiz. Some of my female friends were drooling over his good looks and sportsman's body! He said he was disappointed that Scotland had now been overtaken by Ireland in the world of international cricket and that he was happy to take on the captaincy. I had googled 'Gavin Hamilton Scotland' the night before and the articles all said he was determined to give Scottish cricket a kick up the backside so that the country could revisit its former glories. They'd just beaten Kent in the Friends Provident so he was reasonably happy! The winner of the picture quiz was Ian Ormondroyd - Bradford City footballing legend and East Bierley's Bradford League representative!
Saturday 16 May 2009
Horribly cold and windy
Posted by Peter Davies
An unpleasantly cold and windy day. At Hall Bower, high up in the shadow of Castle Hill, the winds were even stronger than usual. The kind of weather when the bails fall off all on their own. Clayton West 2nds were the visitors and for the first time in a long while we arrived as the umpires, rather solemnly, were walking out to the middle at 1.30pm. It was quiet in the clubhouse. Sky's Soccer Saturday was offering Manchester United-Arsenal updates - the Premiership champions were about to be crowned - and the barman was selling the occasional packet of crisps. He told me that Huddersfield Town legend Andy Booth - the club's president - was rather shy about playing for his beloved Bower this season because of his new ambassadorial job at the Galpharm but was all set for the 2010 season. Clayton West stalwart Ian Gibson was circling the boundary's edge, getting a good view of his son opening the bowling. He told me that the club's success in the Huddersfield Central League in the 1980s and 1990s made them as disliked as Manchester United are currently in the soccer world. He also gave me a CWCC 2009 handbook - produced by he himself.
At Almondbury Wesleyans there was no let-up with the weather. Cartworth Moor were the visitors and the hardy visitors from Holmfirth were batting. Those not in the middle perched themselves on a bench on the opposite of the ground from the state-of-the-art pavilion - a real posse. Maybe they were huddled together to keep warm? In the kitchen five women were preparing teas: a very friendly lady called Julia and her mum, daughter, sister and friend. A real family effort. The cheese salad rolls were top-notch and there were even scotch eggs to go with them. The caterers were building up to teatime - when they would also serve pizzas (they said they also did chips sometimes). The new pavilion still has a wonderfully 'new' smell about it. So well kept and maintained. There were a few spectators on the veranda but not many. The Cartworth batters were hitting with gusto and were on the verge of setting a decent first-innings total.
An unpleasantly cold and windy day. At Hall Bower, high up in the shadow of Castle Hill, the winds were even stronger than usual. The kind of weather when the bails fall off all on their own. Clayton West 2nds were the visitors and for the first time in a long while we arrived as the umpires, rather solemnly, were walking out to the middle at 1.30pm. It was quiet in the clubhouse. Sky's Soccer Saturday was offering Manchester United-Arsenal updates - the Premiership champions were about to be crowned - and the barman was selling the occasional packet of crisps. He told me that Huddersfield Town legend Andy Booth - the club's president - was rather shy about playing for his beloved Bower this season because of his new ambassadorial job at the Galpharm but was all set for the 2010 season. Clayton West stalwart Ian Gibson was circling the boundary's edge, getting a good view of his son opening the bowling. He told me that the club's success in the Huddersfield Central League in the 1980s and 1990s made them as disliked as Manchester United are currently in the soccer world. He also gave me a CWCC 2009 handbook - produced by he himself.
At Almondbury Wesleyans there was no let-up with the weather. Cartworth Moor were the visitors and the hardy visitors from Holmfirth were batting. Those not in the middle perched themselves on a bench on the opposite of the ground from the state-of-the-art pavilion - a real posse. Maybe they were huddled together to keep warm? In the kitchen five women were preparing teas: a very friendly lady called Julia and her mum, daughter, sister and friend. A real family effort. The cheese salad rolls were top-notch and there were even scotch eggs to go with them. The caterers were building up to teatime - when they would also serve pizzas (they said they also did chips sometimes). The new pavilion still has a wonderfully 'new' smell about it. So well kept and maintained. There were a few spectators on the veranda but not many. The Cartworth batters were hitting with gusto and were on the verge of setting a decent first-innings total.
Wednesday 13 May 2009
Cricket Diary 2009 - County 2nd XI cricket
Welbeck Colliery cricket ground
Posted by Tony Hutton
Tuesday 12th May - Having introduced you at some length to the delights of Minor Counties cricket allow me to tell you something about county second eleven cricket. It is very similar in some ways, being played on attractive club grounds in front of small crowds of real cricket enthusiasts.
In other ways it is very different in that it is a proving ground for ambitious young professionals wishing to make cricket a career and also sometimes where the seasoned players come to end their playing time while passing on their acquired knowledge to the youngsters.
Having been foiled by the weather last week when Yorkshire's three day game with Middlesex at Todmorden was rained off on all three days it was off to pastures new once more.
Today provides the opportunity of visiting yet another new ground for me that of Welbeck Colliery cricket club in Nottinghamshire on the outskirts of Market Warsop, where Notts 2nd XI are taking on Leicestershire 2nd XI in a three day match. This is a fairly new sports complex built two or three years ago by a local benefactor and is a very impressive place with a huge pavilion, including a banqueting suite, two cricket grounds, bowling green, soccer pitches etc etc.
The problem for cricket watchers remains the strong easterly winds from which there is no escape, so eventually a retreat to watch from the car is called for. The first problem at such games is to find out the details of the players, often no official scorecard is provided. Today however the Notts scorer runs of a detailed team sheet on his computer and everyone is happy.
A good number of regular cricket watchers from Yorkshire have made the short journey over the border into Notts to watch and probably out number the locals. The visitors are pleasantly suprised to find no less than three former Yorkshire academy boys in the line ups. Greg Wood, a very good batsman/wicketkeeper asked to be released at the end of last season because of the lack of first team opportunities is here keeping wicket for Notts, who do not appear at present to have a regular deputy for first team captain Chris Read.
Leicester have two former Yorkshire academy players in Chris Allinson a clean hitting left hand bat from Guisborough who lost form last season and allegedly gave up his cricketing ambitions to get 'a proper job'. Perhaps he has changed his mind and is trying his hand with Leicester together with another Teeside product, Alex Roberts, who had done the rounds of county second teams and is also playing Minor Counties for Cumberland.
Roberts top scores with 49 in Leicester's somewhat disappointing all out total of 205, but Allinson sadly does not stay long. I remember his splendid straight driving in the under 17s cup final some three years ago now and wish him well. Greg Wood rounds off the innings with a good catch behind the stumps and hopefully some runs tomorrow may help to resurect his career too.
Cricket Diary 2009 - Minor Counties coninued
Posted by Tony Hutton
Sunday 3rd May - The trouble with being a follower of Minor Counties cricket is that you have to travel a long way to watch it. However it is usually worth the effort involved and today was no exception. Lincolnshire were entertaining Wales Minor Counties at Woodhall Spa a ground I was put off visiting last season due to an unfavourable weather forecast. As it turned out they played all day and a record breaking last wicket partnership won the game of the last ball.
Never mind the forecast is good for today and despite getting lost in the centre of Lincoln we make it for the eleven o'clock start. A pleasant ground with only one problem - the strong winds blowing. However we fortunately found the one sheltered spot under a hedge alongside the pavilion with an excellent view.
Coffee and biscuits freely available in the pavilion for the many people who had travelled long distances to be here. Ground-hoppers much in evidence and we are joined by Nigel Pullan another keen follower of Minor Counties cricket. Lincolnshire bat first and despite loosing an early wicket score at a good rate throughout the 50 overs with former Notts players Matthew Dowman and Vikram Atri making half centuries.
The innings of the day was played by Dowman with 78 off only 83 balls including seven fours and three sixes into the neighbouring gardens. It seems a long time ago when Dowman played for England Under 19s and despite good performances for both Notts and Derby never really fulfilled his inital promise. Paul Cook weighed in with 56 and Lincoln reached a useful score of 283-8.
The Wales side, which included several players on the Glamorgan county staff, started off in fine style with an opening stand of 121 in good time. One of the openers was an England Under 19 player of more recent vintage in Michael O'Shea who made 73 including three sixes. He was eventually bowled by Gareth Clough, also formerly with Notts despite his Pudsey origins.
No one else played a major innings, every one getting a few and the chase went right to the last over when Wales just fell 20 runs short. So another entertaining game in splendid surroundings with all sorts of other sports going on round about, including croquet. Woodhall Spa is a very attractive place and our walk through the woods during the interval, not only got us away from the wind, but showed us such unexpected delights as the Kinema in the wood and a bowls match going on in a woodland clearing with everyone dressed up in style.
Sunday 10th May - Third successive Sunday for Minor Counties knock out cricket. Will the weather hold again for a another longish journey, this time into Cheshire. One of the advantages of these Sunday morning trips is that there is very little traffic on the roads and we again make good time in getting to Christleton an attractive village on the edge of Chester.
Cheshire are taking on Oxfordshire today. The home side, having won at Cumberland a fortnight ago, are the favourites and Oxford, with no big names, are a bit of an unknown quantity.
Cheshire bat first and are given a good start by regular openers Goodwin and Leech. Veteran captain 'Albert' Hall increases the momentum with 72 off only 69 balls and Cheshire look to be heading for 300. However the two former Derbyshire men, Ben Spendlove and Nathan Dumelow both fail and the innings tails off a bit. The general feeling is though that a total of 284-0 should be a winning score.
Oxford's opening bat Jewell played a splendid innings of 47 but when he was out at 97-4 it seemed that their chase would be in vain. Wickets continued to fall despite a healthy run rate but at 193-7 it looked all over and one or two spectators drifted away. That proved to be a mistake as the game was turned on it's head by a dramatic turning point. The Oxford captain, and wicketkeeper, Ian Hawtin was not scoring very quickly but suffered a very unfortunate accident when as non-striker he was hit a very painful blow by the ball in the adam's apple region and had to retire hurt.
This brought in the powerful opening bowler, Daniel Rowe at number nine. He proceeded to lay about him like the village blacksmith and put on 62 with the help of number 10 Ryan in very quick time. Ryan was run out for 24, having hit two sixes, and last man Gilbert stayed with Rowe, who made the winning hit with an over and a half still left. Rowe went to 49 not out, with two sixes and four fours. A spendid effort to give Oxfordshire a most unlikely victory leaving Cheshire totally deflated.
So another great game in very peaceful country surroundings with a mixture of cloud and sunshine and thankfully no wind to speak of. The village of Christleton proved very attractive with a large duck pond and even a pair of swans nesting on a small island. In fact my directions to find the ground were 'turn right at the duck pond'. A welcoming pub provided an excellent meal after the game, but the highlight for my wife was the park and ride bus into Chester which gave the opportunity of yet another shopping trip.
Sunday 10 May 2009
Coaches and finals
Posted by Peter Davies
First up Barkisland v Birstall and then Stones v Sowerby Bridge. It was chilly at Scammonden Road, with a group of women on the boundary's edge all wearing blankets and lots of layers. The kitchen was doing a good trade under the watchful eye of its South African head tea lady. You couldn't eat what the players would be eating until after tea - but until then there were rolls and even hot sandwiches and chips on sale. Many home supporters were wearing club tracksuits; likewise the Birstall players wandering round the ground. Barkisland are proud of the fact that they installed the first electronic scorebox in Calderdale many years ago - and the yellow numbers were gleaming in the gloom. In front of the church the group of female supporters were drinking lager in their deckchairs and speaking of the family spirit at the club. One of their number was a specialist girls cricket coach - with 16 or so youngsters under her wing at Barkisland.
At Stones - not too far away but much higher - the Halifax League Sunday Section game was nearing tea. Stones were batting and the newly-extended clubhouse was looking majestic. The club is building up to hosting the Crossley Shield final in August - a massive coup for them. Hence the creation of a special sub-committee to organise things. There were cheese and egg sandwiches in the tea room - and also mini-scotch eggs, some gorgeous cheese quiche and some adorable little chocolate cakes. The tea lady on duty - also the club secretary - said she had instigated fruit today and was pleased that only three out of 22 apples had not been eaten. Success, she thought. On the boundary's edge, club stalwart Malcolm Ellis was remembering his early days as the club groundsman and some interesting players' nicknames. When you're at Stones you feel on top of the world - so high is the ground. There's only rugged moorland round about, plus the very high stretch of the M62 straight in front of you as you look out from the pavilion. There was an impromptu game of football at tea - with some young spectators using one of the sightscreens as the net.
First up Barkisland v Birstall and then Stones v Sowerby Bridge. It was chilly at Scammonden Road, with a group of women on the boundary's edge all wearing blankets and lots of layers. The kitchen was doing a good trade under the watchful eye of its South African head tea lady. You couldn't eat what the players would be eating until after tea - but until then there were rolls and even hot sandwiches and chips on sale. Many home supporters were wearing club tracksuits; likewise the Birstall players wandering round the ground. Barkisland are proud of the fact that they installed the first electronic scorebox in Calderdale many years ago - and the yellow numbers were gleaming in the gloom. In front of the church the group of female supporters were drinking lager in their deckchairs and speaking of the family spirit at the club. One of their number was a specialist girls cricket coach - with 16 or so youngsters under her wing at Barkisland.
At Stones - not too far away but much higher - the Halifax League Sunday Section game was nearing tea. Stones were batting and the newly-extended clubhouse was looking majestic. The club is building up to hosting the Crossley Shield final in August - a massive coup for them. Hence the creation of a special sub-committee to organise things. There were cheese and egg sandwiches in the tea room - and also mini-scotch eggs, some gorgeous cheese quiche and some adorable little chocolate cakes. The tea lady on duty - also the club secretary - said she had instigated fruit today and was pleased that only three out of 22 apples had not been eaten. Success, she thought. On the boundary's edge, club stalwart Malcolm Ellis was remembering his early days as the club groundsman and some interesting players' nicknames. When you're at Stones you feel on top of the world - so high is the ground. There's only rugged moorland round about, plus the very high stretch of the M62 straight in front of you as you look out from the pavilion. There was an impromptu game of football at tea - with some young spectators using one of the sightscreens as the net.
Saturday 9 May 2009
Joined at the hip
Woodfield Park
Posted by Peter Davies
Two grounds joined at the hip: Woodfield Park and Armitage Bridge. The players were on and off at Woodfield Park with drizzle and then heavy rain hampering things. The visitors were Edgerton & Dalton and their innings was punctuated by bizarre run outs, some massive hitting and regular dismissals. Chris Jones was one of the two men in white coats: his career as an opening batsman at Almondbury Wesleyans must be on hold. There were few supporters, just a married couple watching their son - and assisting with the scoreboard - and an elderly couple at the front of the pavilion seats. The pavilion itself is officially condemned and not in use, so for many years now a portakabin has been used for teas. Today there was plenty of pizza and a large number of cheese sandwiches all ready to be served. The portakabin walls were also emblazoned with the Woodfield Park cricket heritage exhibition display boards - a great sight! Wilfred Rhodes and George Herbert Hirst once guested for WP as 'ringers' so it's an historic place!
There is no quick way to switch from Woodfield Park to Armitage Bridge even though the two grounds are situated side by side. I tried a footpath recommended by the Woodfield Park scorer but this was too tricky under foot - in fact it was terribly messy and muddy. So I took the long way round - a 20-minute walk up the main road and then down into Armitage Bridge village. On the way I met a dog-walker who seemed to have a much better grip on local geography than I did. And then ABCC and Huddersfield League VIP Andrew Sugden in his car - leaving Armitage Fold after a spot of mid-afternoon cricket-watching. There was more drizzle at this ground. Kexborough had made only 100+ and so the home side were already at the wicket and crafting their reply. I was devastated to discover that I had missed tea and there were no leftovers available so I contented myself with a pint of diet coke and two hot cross buns and two small apple pies (available for free from the barmaid). Setanta Sports was blasting away in the bar and a succession of AB stalwarts were congregating outside the clubhouse including Robert Moorhouse, Richard Pearce, Dave Gronow and John Bunch. Tales were told of Ralph Beaumont's terrible accident on the club tractor - he steered it into the local river but was unhurt - and the wonderful Bridge Fold panoramas: one of the few grounds where you're challenged to see any other buildings so dense are the gorgeous trees surrounding and overlooking the ground. Schofield Haigh is the club's most famous old boy. Today they have a celebrity supporter in John Shires, sports reporter on ITV's Calendar programme.
Tuesday 5 May 2009
Cricket Diary 2009 - Minor Counties Knock Out
Posted by Tony Hutton
Sunday 26th April - The Minor Counties Knock Out competition group stages begin today. An early departure needed to get from Leeds to Kendal for an eleven o'clock start. However the weather is dry and no delays en route. Nice to see all the Cumberland regulars in attendance at the Netherfield ground for the start of their new season. None more so than old friend Gilbert Johnstone who as usual had all the information at his finger tips regarding the teams and where the new players have come from.
One of the problems of Minor Counties cricket is trying to get a settled side as so often many players first loyalty lies with their clubs when playing in Sunday cup competitions. Today Cumberland face Cheshire, one of the strongest of all the Minor Counties, who do seem able to get the same players to turn out regularly. So another old friend, team manager Sandy Scrimgeour is confident his side will do well.
Indeed the Cheshire openers get off to a brisk start and the first wicket does not fall until 68 runs are on the board. Then an unlikely collapse takes place and Cheshire slump from 92-1 to 102-7 thanks to some fine bowling by Alex Stead, from Pudsey St Lawrence, and former Yorkshire Academy boy, Dan Conway, now playing in county Durham. Never write off Cheshire though, the team manager says they bat all the way down and he is proved right.
The eighth wicket pair of Jason Whittaker and Dan Berry put together a stand of 84 before Whittaker was out. Berry continued on his merry way and the final over of the first innings proved decisive. It was bowled by Cumberland's one day captain, James Smith yet another from Pudsey St. Lawrence. The first ball was played for a single by debutant last man James Hawley, giving Berry the strike. He proceeded to hit three sixes and two fours off the remaining five balls and Cheshire somehow found themselves on 233-9 at the end of the innings.
Cumberland made a good effort to get the runs, with 70 from Alex Stead, 36 from Gary Pratt who also kept wicket splendidly, and 44 not out from Alex Roberts at the end. It was not quite good enough and Cheshire won by 18 runs. Dan Berry undoubtedly man of the match - he made 87 not out and then took 5-33. How Cumberland must be regretting that final over.
Cricket Diary 2009 - University action
Posted by Tony Hutton
Wednesday 24th April - Two games for the price of one today at the Leeds University playing fields, Weetwood. On the main ground Leeds/Bradford UCCE taking on Cambridge UCCE in the last of three days of cricket, made up of a one day game and then a two day game.
Leeds Bradford had the best of both games, winning the one-dayer in the final over thanks chiefly to Irish opening batsman Dougherty with 72. In the two day game two left arm spin bowlers held sway for once with Hawley and Woods giving Leeds Bradford the advantage.
However on the second ground the Leeds University side were playing Manchester University's second XI and unfortunately due to some sort of mix up no umpires had turned up. The Leeds captain walked along the line of ten or so hardened cricket watchers with a plea for at least one of us to umpire the game for the grand sum of £25. Suprisingly none of them grabbed his hand off, although offering to phone a friend, which also proved fruitless.
Eventually former league cricketer Brian Sanderson, and possibly the youngest of the gathered throng, who could not claim medical problems or failing eyesight volunteered to applause all round. Needless to say as the day wore on our attention wandered from the main match to see how Brian was getting on . The players all seemed very gentlemanly, unlike most league cricket these days, and Brian seemed to be having an easy time. He was at least consistent during the first innings, giving no leg before wicket decisions at all.
Things changed however, during the second innings when he gave no less than six Leeds batsman out lbw, including the captain. We feared that his match fee might be withdrawn, but it all ended happily, without acrimony, with a Leeds victory by three wickets and Brian got his well deserved money after doing both ends for almost 100 overs.
Wednesday 24th April - Two games for the price of one today at the Leeds University playing fields, Weetwood. On the main ground Leeds/Bradford UCCE taking on Cambridge UCCE in the last of three days of cricket, made up of a one day game and then a two day game.
Leeds Bradford had the best of both games, winning the one-dayer in the final over thanks chiefly to Irish opening batsman Dougherty with 72. In the two day game two left arm spin bowlers held sway for once with Hawley and Woods giving Leeds Bradford the advantage.
However on the second ground the Leeds University side were playing Manchester University's second XI and unfortunately due to some sort of mix up no umpires had turned up. The Leeds captain walked along the line of ten or so hardened cricket watchers with a plea for at least one of us to umpire the game for the grand sum of £25. Suprisingly none of them grabbed his hand off, although offering to phone a friend, which also proved fruitless.
Eventually former league cricketer Brian Sanderson, and possibly the youngest of the gathered throng, who could not claim medical problems or failing eyesight volunteered to applause all round. Needless to say as the day wore on our attention wandered from the main match to see how Brian was getting on . The players all seemed very gentlemanly, unlike most league cricket these days, and Brian seemed to be having an easy time. He was at least consistent during the first innings, giving no leg before wicket decisions at all.
Things changed however, during the second innings when he gave no less than six Leeds batsman out lbw, including the captain. We feared that his match fee might be withdrawn, but it all ended happily, without acrimony, with a Leeds victory by three wickets and Brian got his well deserved money after doing both ends for almost 100 overs.
Cricket Diary 2009 - League cricket underway
Posted by Tony Hutton
Saturday 18th April - The Airedale and Wharfedale cricket league got underway with a close game, the local derby between North Leeds and Adel at the Homestead ground, Old Park Road, Roundhay. This pleasant ground with short straight boundaries usually provides high scores and today was no exception. The unusually warm weather also contributed to the batsman friendly conditions.
The home side made a good score of 257-4 in the 50 overs with skipper Tom Jackson making 75 and Farhan Khan 77 not out. A man with much first class experience, Ismail Dawood, made only 13. However he may not play regularly as he is now on the reserve list of first class umpires and obviously wants to make that his new career.
In reply Adel got of to an excellent start, openers Mark Whitehead and Paddy Coughlin putting on 131 for the first wicket. Whitehead, returning to his home club after a spell in the Bradford League with Pudsey St Lawrence went on to make 94.
After two breaks in play, amazingly at this stage of the season, due to the bright setting sun behind the bowlers arm, it all came down to the last over. David Standring was crucially run out for 51 and in fact although nine runs were scored, three wickets also fell in the last over and Adel finished just five runs short, with eight wickets down. A great finish to the season's first game.
Sunday 19th April - As ever the first cup competition to start in Yorkshire is the Heavy Woollen cup, traditionally played for by clubs in the area of Batley and Dewsbury but now with a widening appeal. This is the oldest cup compeition in existence anywhere in the world, and the cup's history was entitled 'Only the Ashes is older'.
Today's game sees Undercliffe from the Bradford League take on Golcar from the Huddersfield League in bright but breezy conditions. This was no repeat of yesterday's result, proving a rather one sided contest. Undercliffe, helped by Yorkshire batsman Chris Taylor with 41, made a respectable 213-8. However Golcar, who did so well last season, were off to the worst possible start loosing their first six wickets for only 38. They recovered slightly to make 84 all out, but a very good win for Undercliffe.
Man of the match without much argument was Undercliffe's A. Duckworth, not only did he score 46 with the bat but destroyed the early batting with five wickets.
Not the best of weekends for Golcar stalwart David Thorpe, having seen Golcar loose in the league yesterday and Huddersfield Giants rugby league side heavily beaten by the Leeds Rhinos, today's result was the last straw. Things can only get better David !
Saturday 18th April - The Airedale and Wharfedale cricket league got underway with a close game, the local derby between North Leeds and Adel at the Homestead ground, Old Park Road, Roundhay. This pleasant ground with short straight boundaries usually provides high scores and today was no exception. The unusually warm weather also contributed to the batsman friendly conditions.
The home side made a good score of 257-4 in the 50 overs with skipper Tom Jackson making 75 and Farhan Khan 77 not out. A man with much first class experience, Ismail Dawood, made only 13. However he may not play regularly as he is now on the reserve list of first class umpires and obviously wants to make that his new career.
In reply Adel got of to an excellent start, openers Mark Whitehead and Paddy Coughlin putting on 131 for the first wicket. Whitehead, returning to his home club after a spell in the Bradford League with Pudsey St Lawrence went on to make 94.
After two breaks in play, amazingly at this stage of the season, due to the bright setting sun behind the bowlers arm, it all came down to the last over. David Standring was crucially run out for 51 and in fact although nine runs were scored, three wickets also fell in the last over and Adel finished just five runs short, with eight wickets down. A great finish to the season's first game.
Sunday 19th April - As ever the first cup competition to start in Yorkshire is the Heavy Woollen cup, traditionally played for by clubs in the area of Batley and Dewsbury but now with a widening appeal. This is the oldest cup compeition in existence anywhere in the world, and the cup's history was entitled 'Only the Ashes is older'.
Today's game sees Undercliffe from the Bradford League take on Golcar from the Huddersfield League in bright but breezy conditions. This was no repeat of yesterday's result, proving a rather one sided contest. Undercliffe, helped by Yorkshire batsman Chris Taylor with 41, made a respectable 213-8. However Golcar, who did so well last season, were off to the worst possible start loosing their first six wickets for only 38. They recovered slightly to make 84 all out, but a very good win for Undercliffe.
Man of the match without much argument was Undercliffe's A. Duckworth, not only did he score 46 with the bat but destroyed the early batting with five wickets.
Not the best of weekends for Golcar stalwart David Thorpe, having seen Golcar loose in the league yesterday and Huddersfield Giants rugby league side heavily beaten by the Leeds Rhinos, today's result was the last straw. Things can only get better David !
Monday 4 May 2009
Special day
Posted by Peter Davies
Cold and rainy at Illingworth St. Mary's for the Kevin Doherty Memorial Match. 'Kev', as he was known, was a very popular figure at Illingworth and, people said, he lived for his cricketing summers. There was a very good turnout for a match between Illingworth's 3rd XI and a Southowram-dominated visiting XI. The weather was poor but the game went ahead. In the pavilion there were spicy chips and some excellent flapjack. Martin Farrar, ex-Augustinians, was selling some of his cricketing prints and I purchased a rather fetching one of M.S.Dhoni - with a proportion of the takings going to a local charity. There were also visitors from Glodwick, Oldham. Dennis O'Keefe - who wrote his University of Huddersfield MA dissertation on ISM - was in attendance. This was a very good effort given he'd taken part in long run in Leeds in the morning! ISM officials Andrew Smith and Dorian Brooksby were in good cheer with the club celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and Andrew's new history of the club about to be published. Andrew's wife, Caroline - a senior ISM tea lady - was off-duty and enjoying the warmth of her car on the boundary's edge. Andrew said the church that ISM is connected to - Illingworth St. Mary's parish church - is set to close, but as a listed building will, whatever happens, always remain a focal point of the village.
Cold and rainy at Illingworth St. Mary's for the Kevin Doherty Memorial Match. 'Kev', as he was known, was a very popular figure at Illingworth and, people said, he lived for his cricketing summers. There was a very good turnout for a match between Illingworth's 3rd XI and a Southowram-dominated visiting XI. The weather was poor but the game went ahead. In the pavilion there were spicy chips and some excellent flapjack. Martin Farrar, ex-Augustinians, was selling some of his cricketing prints and I purchased a rather fetching one of M.S.Dhoni - with a proportion of the takings going to a local charity. There were also visitors from Glodwick, Oldham. Dennis O'Keefe - who wrote his University of Huddersfield MA dissertation on ISM - was in attendance. This was a very good effort given he'd taken part in long run in Leeds in the morning! ISM officials Andrew Smith and Dorian Brooksby were in good cheer with the club celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and Andrew's new history of the club about to be published. Andrew's wife, Caroline - a senior ISM tea lady - was off-duty and enjoying the warmth of her car on the boundary's edge. Andrew said the church that ISM is connected to - Illingworth St. Mary's parish church - is set to close, but as a listed building will, whatever happens, always remain a focal point of the village.
Sunday 3 May 2009
Match cancelled!
Posted by Peter Davies
Poor do at Augustinians where the Crossley Shield fixture was cancelled due (I found out later) to the home side only having three players. So we drowned our sorrows in the excellent clubhouse with a bacon sandwich and chips with extra ketchup. The bar was packed with loads of YMCA rugby guys watching the Giants play their 'Murrayfield Magic' fixture against the Celtic Crusaders. The tries seemed to be flowing!
From there to Warley for the game against Northowram Hedge Top. Paradise Lane is well named and the ground was looking wonderful in the May sun. Lots of undulations and curiousities but a very fine place to watch cricket. As you sit on the boundary edge you feel very close to the action because the playing area is small. Intimate venue is the phrase - you almost feel involved in the action. Club official Neil Lambert was dispensing fine cups of tea while freelance groundsman Mick Holroyde was wearing a dashing pink sweater for the second weekend in a row. Darren Gough had signed a bat that was now framed in the tearoom and veteran tea lady Michelle Oates - wife of club legend Andrew - told me the secrets behind the club's tea-making regime. By the scorebox Andrew's father John was in his usual viewing position - the scorebox, it seems, acts as a useful wind-break. Backing onto the ground are the local school and a church that has become a house - or, put more accurately, two houses.
At Copley the viaduct was looking its usual handsome self. The sun was shining and the buffet tea was very good value - sandwiches plus pasta and accessories and as many cakes as you could eat. On the boundary I met Peter Jowett, Southowram CC veteran and also the star of the 5th Pennine Cricket History Conference held at the University of Huddersfield in March. He was on superb form but regretting slightly his decision to hold a fundraising 'Pig Race' at the club's pavilion in June. The swine flu epidemic had come at exactly the wrong time! His son David - an obsessive darts player in his spare time - was in the Rams line-up. A BBQ got going in front of the Copley pavilion in mid-afternoon with a very charismatic guy drumming up business. When Copley came to bat, one of their batters had to use a runner - a relatively uncommon sight at this level of the game. On the veranda, Greetland stalwart and Huddersfield League umpire Les Forester was telling me about his computer problems and his plans to create a mini-archive of GCC cricket memorabilia. He was also very worried about the fate of his beloved Sunderland FC - due to play Everton that very afternoon as the Premier League season wended its way towards a climax. Not hopeful was his general state of mind.
We rounded things off at Blackley. The game there looked set for a decent ending but before we knew it the match was over. The ground was in full bloom and inside the newly refurbished pavilion, club officials were in good spirits having just been awarded the 2010 Parish Cup final. A great achievement - and the club are hoping to become regular hosts. They have a farmer's field ready for the massive parking requirements. They say they now just want a side that could plausibly win such a competition!
Poor do at Augustinians where the Crossley Shield fixture was cancelled due (I found out later) to the home side only having three players. So we drowned our sorrows in the excellent clubhouse with a bacon sandwich and chips with extra ketchup. The bar was packed with loads of YMCA rugby guys watching the Giants play their 'Murrayfield Magic' fixture against the Celtic Crusaders. The tries seemed to be flowing!
From there to Warley for the game against Northowram Hedge Top. Paradise Lane is well named and the ground was looking wonderful in the May sun. Lots of undulations and curiousities but a very fine place to watch cricket. As you sit on the boundary edge you feel very close to the action because the playing area is small. Intimate venue is the phrase - you almost feel involved in the action. Club official Neil Lambert was dispensing fine cups of tea while freelance groundsman Mick Holroyde was wearing a dashing pink sweater for the second weekend in a row. Darren Gough had signed a bat that was now framed in the tearoom and veteran tea lady Michelle Oates - wife of club legend Andrew - told me the secrets behind the club's tea-making regime. By the scorebox Andrew's father John was in his usual viewing position - the scorebox, it seems, acts as a useful wind-break. Backing onto the ground are the local school and a church that has become a house - or, put more accurately, two houses.
At Copley the viaduct was looking its usual handsome self. The sun was shining and the buffet tea was very good value - sandwiches plus pasta and accessories and as many cakes as you could eat. On the boundary I met Peter Jowett, Southowram CC veteran and also the star of the 5th Pennine Cricket History Conference held at the University of Huddersfield in March. He was on superb form but regretting slightly his decision to hold a fundraising 'Pig Race' at the club's pavilion in June. The swine flu epidemic had come at exactly the wrong time! His son David - an obsessive darts player in his spare time - was in the Rams line-up. A BBQ got going in front of the Copley pavilion in mid-afternoon with a very charismatic guy drumming up business. When Copley came to bat, one of their batters had to use a runner - a relatively uncommon sight at this level of the game. On the veranda, Greetland stalwart and Huddersfield League umpire Les Forester was telling me about his computer problems and his plans to create a mini-archive of GCC cricket memorabilia. He was also very worried about the fate of his beloved Sunderland FC - due to play Everton that very afternoon as the Premier League season wended its way towards a climax. Not hopeful was his general state of mind.
We rounded things off at Blackley. The game there looked set for a decent ending but before we knew it the match was over. The ground was in full bloom and inside the newly refurbished pavilion, club officials were in good spirits having just been awarded the 2010 Parish Cup final. A great achievement - and the club are hoping to become regular hosts. They have a farmer's field ready for the massive parking requirements. They say they now just want a side that could plausibly win such a competition!
Saturday 2 May 2009
Birchencliffe and Birkby Nuffield
Posted by Peter Davies
Two clubs - whose names both begin with 'B', who both play in the HCCL and who are big rivals - their grounds being just over a mile apart.
Birchencliffe's ground was looking superb in the May sun - with fantastic vistas over towards the Galpharm, Emley Mast and Castle Hill, and the very distinctive Mormon church just down the road. Old Halifax Road was in mid-distance and the golf club at Fixby just over the hill. Silkstone were the visitors and the home side were in all kinds of trouble, spooning catch after catch and subsiding to a paltry all-out total well before their overs were up. The ground is famous for its new chalet-like changing rooms/kitchen block, electronic scorebaord and kiddies play area. Lindley Swifts, a local rugby team, also use the facilities. The big family are the Smiths: Bob was away playing for the 1st XI, Janet was on teas duty - their son was in the 1st XI, daughter no.1 was scoring for the 2nd XI and daughter no.2 doing odd jobs around the ground. A great effort! Janet said she was famous for her 'new potatoes with mint sauce' and there were piles of Mr Kiplings apple pies also available. The social scene on the boundary edge was top-notch and there were also non-cricket-lovers drinking inside the old clubhouse.
A 25-minute walk...and Birkby Nuffield's gorgeous Rose Hill ground came into view. Fortunately or unfortunately, their game had just finished against Denby Dale. A rout for the Nuffielders. The players were just getting into their cars with their huge cricket bags. The pavilion had been painted white over the close season because opposition cricketers objected to the blue! And some excellent new nets had been built. The Hussain brothers seem to be the main organisers and the elder sibling, Mushtaq, told me they had a vision and a plan for the future. They had set up a new junior team, established a proper committee, and even Mushtaq's wife was chipping in - preparing the teas at home every Saturday morning before a permanent tea lady (hopefully) gets to work. Mushtaq's younger brother happens to be my dentist - his surgery is on Queensgate, Huddersfield - and Mushtaq told me he was currently in Egypt but texting him every day to find out the Nuffield cricket news! My dentist friend also wears the best and most stylish Italian shoes this side of Milan.
Two clubs - whose names both begin with 'B', who both play in the HCCL and who are big rivals - their grounds being just over a mile apart.
Birchencliffe's ground was looking superb in the May sun - with fantastic vistas over towards the Galpharm, Emley Mast and Castle Hill, and the very distinctive Mormon church just down the road. Old Halifax Road was in mid-distance and the golf club at Fixby just over the hill. Silkstone were the visitors and the home side were in all kinds of trouble, spooning catch after catch and subsiding to a paltry all-out total well before their overs were up. The ground is famous for its new chalet-like changing rooms/kitchen block, electronic scorebaord and kiddies play area. Lindley Swifts, a local rugby team, also use the facilities. The big family are the Smiths: Bob was away playing for the 1st XI, Janet was on teas duty - their son was in the 1st XI, daughter no.1 was scoring for the 2nd XI and daughter no.2 doing odd jobs around the ground. A great effort! Janet said she was famous for her 'new potatoes with mint sauce' and there were piles of Mr Kiplings apple pies also available. The social scene on the boundary edge was top-notch and there were also non-cricket-lovers drinking inside the old clubhouse.
A 25-minute walk...and Birkby Nuffield's gorgeous Rose Hill ground came into view. Fortunately or unfortunately, their game had just finished against Denby Dale. A rout for the Nuffielders. The players were just getting into their cars with their huge cricket bags. The pavilion had been painted white over the close season because opposition cricketers objected to the blue! And some excellent new nets had been built. The Hussain brothers seem to be the main organisers and the elder sibling, Mushtaq, told me they had a vision and a plan for the future. They had set up a new junior team, established a proper committee, and even Mushtaq's wife was chipping in - preparing the teas at home every Saturday morning before a permanent tea lady (hopefully) gets to work. Mushtaq's younger brother happens to be my dentist - his surgery is on Queensgate, Huddersfield - and Mushtaq told me he was currently in Egypt but texting him every day to find out the Nuffield cricket news! My dentist friend also wears the best and most stylish Italian shoes this side of Milan.
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