Grassy Fields of The Dales.

Posted by Brian Sanderson.

On Wednesday evening I sent off with Ron Deaton to the Dales.The first match should have been Draughton against Hebden.However we found the field but it had not been cut so the match was off.
So moving on to Harden who were playing are old friends Cracoe with the umpire who wears black pads.The ground is just over the bridge on the right hand side.Cracoe were batting and playing thirteen players.It was very dark as the sun was behind the hills .Another Hebden player arrived from the farm near the ground and soon caught a catch.There were two girls playing and both had a bowl.One of them just stood there a threw the ball.
Moving o to Appletreewick who were playing Burnsall. The ground is through the village next to a caravan park and the river which attracted the midges.The pavilion was a old ice cream van were the scorer tried to keep out of the way of the midges.Burnsall were batting and hit the ball into the river and about five people dived in to rescue the ball.
Some of the rules were,
1- not out on the first ball
2- No L.B.W.
3-you have to run first boundary.
4- If the ball rebounds from the wall on the other side of the road you have to run. and does not count a boundary.
Moving on to Hebden we found Draughton playing.The ground is situated behind the second farm.It slopes down to the farm.Draughton had been bowled out for 56 and Hebden won in the tenth over.

Another interesting evening of watching rural cricket.