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 !
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