Moonrakers and cuckoos

Posted by Peter Davies

Saturday 15 August

A Colne Valley journey. At Linthwaite for some reason there was no cricket when we arrived. Too much morning rain or a blank day on the fixture calendar? Not quite sure. Anyway the Manchester Road playing surface was in fine condition and looked a picture. At Slaithwaite the visitors were Skelmanthorpe. The home side were in the middle of a dramatic batting collapse and only veteran Chris Payne looked as if he was determined to stay around. But even he fell late on and looked very annoyed with himself as he made his way back to the pavilion. More than at any other ground I always feel like I'm going to walk behind the bowler's arm at Slaithwaite - and this I almost did on several occasions again at the bowling green end. Even when I'm so conscious of it - bizarre! Tea was being prepared in the Slaithwaite tea room - a very tradional affair with lots of salad accessories and some gorgeous, slightly ornate cake stands on display. The beef and onion rolls were very tasty and the cups of tea being dispensed spot-on. In the bar the barmaid on duty was dealing in beer, sandwiches and also pies. Lots of punters in and around - playing snooker, watching Gillette Soccer Saturday on the first day of the new Premiership season, and also keeping an eye on the cricket. The afternoon was now bright with plenty of blue sky. Hill Top looked in fine fettle and the new (and controversial) housing estate looked on from above.

At Marsden, Lepton were in town. The home side were batting and coming to the end of their innings. The views down the Colne Valley were at their awe-inspiring best - Pule Hill round to Scapegoat Hill. There were three tea ladies on duty - with a variety of sandwiches, some gorgeous-looking potato salad and plenty of varied cakes and buns on display. Marsden were building up to a big day the following day - the Paddock Shield final against Scholes, with the hope for good weather and plenty of spectators. But also fears that Pennine weather at its most raw might also play a part! Plenty of stories were doing the rounds in the clubhouse: of the Australian junior touring team who only recently rated Hemplow as one of their favourite grounds in the whole of the UK; of Phil Mustard's recent batting exploits for Lepton Highlanders - on the back of a deal with Colman's (get it??); and of Dickie Bird being very aware of Marsden's picturesque ground and its notorious summer climate! Marsden's bowlers were also doing their stuff on the adjacent green while the cricketers were in action. An MCC official told me that it would be beneficial and advantageous if the four Hemplow clubs - cricket, bowling, tennis and golf - talked to each other more, but as of yet this wasn't happening. Raffle tickets were being sold in the pavilion, Championship football was being screened on the TV in the bar, and just as we left the rains came down - another reminder of that distinctive Marsden weather.