Midges and snoozes

Posted by Peter Davies

Sunday 12 July

Could England save the first Ashes Test? Would radio reception in the Calder Valley enable us to keep in touch with goings-on in Cardiff? The big questions of the day. It wasn't looking too promising as we meandered through Sowerby Bridge en route to Grassy Bottom, Triangle. England were losing wickets and the reception on my digital radio for Radio Five Live Extra was worryingly poor. By the time we arrived at Triangle for the Crossley Shield semi v SBCI, the reception was non-existent so we consoled ourselves with a cuppa and a scone with jam and cream. Yummy indeed! The Triangle tea ladies were out in force, with club stalwart Ken Beaumont sitting in the set of seats next door to the pavilion. Triangle were on their way to a score approaching 300 with the help of some poor SBCI fielding and - obviously - their small, high-scoring ground. Triangle players Gary Rodger and John Moore said hello to me as they circled the perimeter of the ground - which was looking gorgeous in the July sun.

At Sowerby Bridge the radio reception was much better so we found a deserted spot on the top boundary and spread ourselves out. My dad fell asleep for what seemed like hours. Midges are an occupational hazard at Walton Street - there were lots being very annoying by the river and even on the top boundary there seemed to be plenty about. Stones were the visitors today - a mixture of experienced pros and young guns. The away side reached an average total in their overs but there was nothing average about the homemade cakes in the pavilion. Many had been individually iced with cricketing or, even better, Sowerby Bridge CC-related motifs or images. Very impressive - and the senior tea lady on duty was rightly proud. There were a couple of mini-showers but nothing too serious. The Stones CC secretary/tea lady was also present on a fact-finding mission: Stones are staging the Crossley Shield final in mid-August, while Sowerby Bridge are hosting the Parish Cup final in early August - with the former trying to pinch ideas off the latter!