Chilling Out at Kirkburton

Posted by Peter Davies

Saturday 4 September Part 2

From Skelmanthorpe we journeyed the two miles or so to Kirkburton, another undoubted 2010 favourite.

It's always very relaxed and chilled out at Riley Park - very spacious and a real feel of 'Englishness' all around with the church and the very green environs. Again, like Skelmanthorpe, it's a very well appointed ground and, ditto again, I always sit on the same handsome and sturdy bench between the garage and the scorebox.

I liked the climate on Saturday as well. Just right for me: cool, bright and very English in all respects. I don't need heat, sun or, for that matter, rain or the cold. Having come out of hospital, the climactic conditions and the lovely and leisurely atmos at the ground was so perfect.

Had a couple of cups of tea with my Dad, with the extremely helpful tea lady happy to brew up AFTER it looked as if she had done her stint in the kitchen. I always seem to see Steve Ireland in the bar area: really nice guy and someone who is obviously trying to steer his club into a very bright future - see, for example, the planning drawings etc that are always very visible on the clubhouse walls.

It was such a nice afternoon that we decided to stay right to the end of the game - something we should do much more often. Kirkburton cantered home with a few wickets to spare with their young batsmen showing virtually no nerves in the final half hour. In fact, it was all very easy.

The club's scorebox seemed to be out of order so a makeshift one had been erected near the garage, with both scorers sat outside. A lovely afternoon - just what the doctor ordered!