Posted by Tony Hutton
Wednesday 1st July - Just to expand a little on the excellent summary of the game between Huddersfield New College and MCC at Lascelles Hall. Peter Davies, who sadly missed much of the day due to work commitments, was only there for the last part of the game but obviously enjoyed the thrilling finish and as usual the food.
Earlier in the day the MCC captain, John Booth now of Slaithwaite, but formally with Lascelles Hall, seemed to have assembled a strong side to face the college boys who we knew very little about. That was soon to be rectified when it became apparent that most of them were playing good standard league cricket. The Walmsley twins from Bankfoot have been well known for many years in schools cricket and are now doing well in the Bradford League.
The others were all from clubs in the Bradford League, Huddersfield League, Central Yorkshire league and Yorkshire Premier league - so a very good standard. MCC as is the custom batted first and even without one of their leading players made a very useful 238-7. Top scorer was number three batsman, the left handed Taylor from Old Almondburians with 77 and skipper Booth did well with 60. The locals suggested he wouldn't declare until he was out and this proved to be the case.
The College started well with an excellent first wicket stand between Jack Pulley of Elland and Marcus Walmsley who put on 100 for the first wicket before Walmsley was out for 53. Pulley carried on to score a fine century before he was out at 190-5. A good long spell by veteran off-spinner Peter Hepworth seemed to be turning the game MCC's way and as wickets continued to fall the College were struggling at 201-9. However the last pair put on 38 to give New College a win by one wicket with time running out.
Always a good day out for me as I lived in the village for three years as a young boy and in many ways the ground itself has hardly changed in the amazing sixty years since I left.
Thursday 2nd July - a suprising sequel to yesterday's game. Commuting between Yorks 2nd XI at Headingley and Yorks Under 17s at New Rover, we were told that Leeds Metropolitain University freshers were playing a trial match for next season at Kirkstall. So we just called in for a quick look and to our suprise Leeds Met were playing the same Huddersfield New College side we had seen yesterday.
On inspecting the scorebook, we found that the Walmsley twins had both been dismissed for ducks and yesterday's centurion Pulley was also out with the score on 90-5. So we thought a low
scoring game we won't bother to stay, only to discover later that New College had recovered to 280 odd and presumably won the game. You never know !
No comments:
Post a Comment