Stainborough v MCC (top), Middleton Tyas (middle) and Eryholme (below)
Posted by Tony Hutton
Tuesday 4th August - Yorkshire under 17s v Cheshire under 17s (Hullen Edge, Elland)
Not a game of any great memories or indeed individual performances but important in terms of the result which meant that the Yorkshire side qualified for the nation semi-finals of this one day cup competition.
Yorkshire opened steadily with Calum Geldart and the younger of the two Root brothers, Billy.
The laid a sound foundation but apart from Alex Lees who top scored with 47 the others never really found the momentum for a big score and they settled for 207-8 off 50 overs.
Cheshire also batted confidently but not particularly quickly, loosing wickets at regular intervals and it wasn't until a rain interruption reduced their target to 183 in 44 overs, that they seemed to be in with a chance. In the end they fell only nine runs short.
During the rain interval one or two of us left for pastures new and arrived at Spen Victoria, where another Lord's Taverners under 15 game was just resuming after rain there. Another delightful ground, with good raised vantage points and excellent refreshment facilities which would satisfy even the galloping gourmet Peter Davies.
Bradford under 15s bowled out Halifax for only 115 and knocked them off to win by seven wickets. A young man by the name of Kang scoring an impressive 88 not out, but nobody seemed to know who he was.
Wednesday 5th August - Stainborough v MCC and Yorkshire under 17s v Cheshire under 17s at Clifton Lane, Rotherham - day 1 of 2.
Another wet and showery morning which resulted in a change of plan around lunchtime. Along with Brian Senior we set off intending to make a brief stop at Stainborough, who were celebrating their 150th anniversary with a game against MCC befofe moving on down the motorway for an afternoon at Worksop College where Notts 2nd XI were playing Durham.
The first bit went according to plan. Despite some light drizzle we were welcomed at the gate with a complimentary programme , which not only listed the teams but gave an interesting history of the club. In addition play started on time at 11.30 with team photographs taken,
refreshments available and everything very well organized. So after an hour or so we left rather reluctantly to press on to Worksop.
Here we were greeted with a sad site. Covers still on after heavy overnight rain and a half-hearted attempt at mopping up on the edges of the square going on. Brian decided to partake of the school dinners, while I had my picnic in the car, but the prospects were still poor, with lots of head shaking from the ground staff.. So we decided to try our luck elsewhere and headed for
Rotherham.
Here at the ground shared with Rotherham Rugby Union club the sun was shining and the two day game in the under 17s county championship was in full swing. As on Monday Cheshire batted consistently, but seemed to feel unhappy with one or two umpiring decisions. One young man was heard to say 'You can tell were playing in Yorkshire'.
Thanks to a fine second spell from opening bowler Moin Ashraf, who took 5-22, the tail did not last long and Cheshire were all out for 223. The following day Yorkshire managed to get first innings points thanks to a century from captain Geldart, but did not manage sufficient bonus points in the second innings to qualify for the national play off final.
Although we were not there on day 2 it apparently ended with Cheshire declaring and leaving Yorkshire the unlikely target of 100 runs off only six overs to achieve the number of points they required. They did make a very creditable 76-5 in that time, but sadly not enough.
Saturday 8th August - Darlington and District cricket league.
This is a league I knew nothing about at the start of the season. When viewed from afar Darlington is probably a town most people associate with railways and industry. In fact this league not only straddles both sides of the Tees, i.e. North Yorkshire and Durham, but contains some of the most picturesque village grounds you could wish to see. After a brief foray earlier in the season to such places as Raby Castle, Aldborough St John and Cliffe, which are all paradise for photographers, I decided to extend my knowledge with a few more grounds today.
So in just under an hour's drive up the A1 arrived at the starting point of Scotch corner. For those of you with knowledge of the motorway services here you will see a sign before you turn into the service area to Middleton Tyas. Go through the village and turn left towards Barton (another ground there by the way). On the right hand side you turn into the grounds of Middleton Lodge. You will find a beautiful tree-lined ground, with cattle grazing at the far end, a perfectly rural scene such a short distance from the busy A1 and it's roaring traffic. Wickets fell
regularly in what was to be a low scoring game, the home side 118 all out winning by 42 runs.
Back into the village, turn left and head for Croft-on-Tees home of a motor racing circuit.
Cross the river and turn immediately right, follow the road round to a tree lined avenue on the right where you will find the ground of Rockcliffe Park cricket club, which is adjacent to the Middlesborough FC training grounds. Again still very rural with lots of trees on the pavilion side of the ground, but much house building taking place in the vicinity. Still a good place to watch cricket. Runs a plenty being scored by the home side against local rivals Middleton St George.
Back over the bridge, heading south towards Northallerton, until you see a left turn signposted Eryholme. Having studied the map to find the ground, I could see this road was a dead end and the ground itself was situated in one of the huge loops of the River Tees. So it proved through a quiet village with no shops or pub, just a small church, until you eventually arrive at a closed and gated bridge across the Tees no longer in use. Keep going just a little while longer, past a sign that ominously says 'Ford only' and you arrive at this long narrow ground bordered by the tree lined Tees on one side and fields of crops on the other.
Runs were being scored at a rapid rate by the visitors. Aldborough St John, with long delays while the ball was retrieved from the farmer's fields. Later research revealed that Eryholme were bottom of the league and the visitors ran up the impressive score of 319-5, with their opening batsman, J. Stapleton making 128 not out. Needless to say Eryholme came a bad second, but a place to savour all the same. This really was cricket off the beaten track with a vengence.
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