Grace and relish

Posted by Peter Davies

Saturday 8 August

Batley, Mount, Hopton Mills - a North Kirklees tour. Batley were playing Scholes at Mount Pleasant (a ground W.G.Grace once played on) in the Central Yorkshire League and the home side were batting. Not many spectators - just one or two by the main entrance. The Batley players were congregated in the viewing area outside the pavilion. The Batley and Mount clubs have always been close - and are also close geographically - but it looks like some kind of merger has taken place with some ex-Mount players now turning out for Batley and several key Mount officials working hard in the kitchen. And, uniquely perhaps, those slaving away on the catering side were all men! Farid Karolia was in charge, ably assisted by at least two others. They were making chips, beefburgers, a rice dish and salad, with fruit salad to follow. I know Farid quite well on account of his Mount CC connections (he was a co-founder) and because of this friendship he kindly offered me a burger and chips in advance of teatime and a bowl of fruit salad. I could hardly refuse...and he even did a bowl of fruit salad for my dad, who had nipped off to get some photocopying doing. The burger was very spicy and I passed on a type of relish sauce that would have made the whole experience even spicier!

It was also teatime down the road - literally - at Mount. Crumpark were the visitors at Hyrstlands Park in the Dales Council. The council-owned ground was looking good and the sun was shining down seriously. Farid's brother was masterminding the Mount catering operation in the small room that doubles as a tea room inside their multi-purpose clubhouse building. Over the past few years I have come to realise that it is an Asian custom to smother guests with hospitality and food. I had just experienced this at Batley and the same was to follow at Mount. I was gifted a cup of tea and a box of mini-Swiss rolls, which I shared with my dad. Beware anyone who turns down any such hospitality! We sat on the banking and watched Crumpark begin their reply. Some amazing views out over Batley and Dewsbury - awesome in fact, with the area's textile heritage really obvious from the buildings all around. Mount have had plans to redevelop Hyrstlands Park but it now looks like they will be moving to Staincliffe, notwithstanding also the kind-of merger with Batley. Hanif, the club chairman, was away with the 1st XI, I was told.

Late afternoon at Hopton Mills, one of the most picturesque grounds in the area. It is set on its own 'estate' at the end of a long, winding road. There is even a monkey tree by the pavilion! The home side were entertaining Moorlands. In fact, the visitors were on the verge of claiming victory during our stay. They had racked up a 200+ score and the home side were struggling. Just like England in fact who, on our mini-radio, were in the process of losing five wickets for 20-odd in reply to Australia's massive 1st innings total at Headingley. Poor do! Lots of spectators at Woodbottom, on all sides of the ground in fact. A really beautiful place to watch cricket - so much so that my dad fell asleep doing so! The bar man was working hard inside the 'bungalow' pavilion and there were mini-pork pies, scones, jam tarts and mini-chocolate rolls available gratuis for any latecomers. I was frustrated by the fact that the boundary rope was set right on the edge of the grass so there was no room to lie down - but I got over my disappointment with a very cool pint of diet coke.