Warming up for the World Cup

Posted by Peter Davies

Saturday 5 June

Three gorgeous Calderdale grounds. Initially, Mytholmroyd, a beautiful Calder Valley ground. It always seems to be sunny when we visit and the amazing backdrop - of assorted greenery - always looks spellbinding.

The batting side were racking up a 300+ score, with boundaries - fours and sixes - being scored all around the ground. Some very big hits and it reminded me what a small ground it was. We sat by the pavilion, amid a posse of local cricket-lovers and had a cup of tea.

Mytholmroyd also do magnificent teas and we queued up for ours with a few balls to go before the interval (they're also a club who refuse to serve punters before the players have had their refreshments). The tea was magnificent - maybe 15 delicacies to choose from including hams, other meats and a variety of sauces plus all the usual salad accessories. Magnificent. Then for sweet there were a variety of cakes. Outstanding.

We moved on to SBCI, high above the Calder Valley and boasting some of the finest views in Calderdale. There were many spectators in and amongst including a posse of very attractive young women, positioned immediately in front of me.

I enjoyed watching the game from my vantage point, and then took some photos of the items on display in the pavilion and the many spectators in evidence. The lads were engaging in a spot of football-style banter, as if warming up for the football World Cup. The tea lady in the pavilion was clearing up after tea and giving off the impression that her work was done for the day.

Finally, Blackley, looking beautiful in the early evening sun. I popped into the clubhouse and said hello to head tea lady Julie Pearson at the bar and also asked if she and fellow BCC loyalist Steve Williams would come to our university Cricket Research Centre as guests one Thursday during the close season to talk about Clubmark and Cricket Development Groups, and she, pleasingly, said yes.

Then we moved round to a bench near the players' pavilion and watched the game from a new angle. The last-wicket Blackley pair were making a valiant effort to overhaul Thornton's 120 all out and ended up 111 all out. So near but yet so far.