THIRD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

By Brian Sanderson,

The forecast was showers however decided to go down the M1 with Ron Stansfield.Coming off at junction 36 and followed the Deane Valley road and turn left at B6096.We arrived at Wombwell Main Cricket Club who are in the second division of the Pontefract League.The ground is a large area with a slope up to the wall next to the entrance and a football pitch next to it.

When we arrived Wombwell had only eight men with another coming.They were playing Hatfield Town who were tenth in the league.Hatfield batted first and were progressing well against some good bowling. Suddenly another Wombwell player arrived and a wicket fell to a catch at second slip.I found out later that Hatfield reached 103 but Wombwell won with seven wickets down.

Going back to the motorway we came off at Junction 38 to go to Darton.The entrance to the ground is not sign posted but there is a recycling symbol pointing to the entrance.Going up a winding dirt road we arrived at the match. The pitch is next to the motorway and so is very noisy. It is a large flat ground with trees surrounding it.They were playing Whitley Bridge and they were bowling.The bowling was very gentle and Darton were 100 for 3 as we left.The final score was Darton 205 and Whitley Bridge winning with four wickets down.

Travelling cross country we went passed New Millerdam we noticed a cricket match on so we pulled in. It was Plewick against Hundhill Hall. The first person I saw was John Taplin scoring in his book.Another large ground with a new pavilion.A bonus ground for us.They were in the fifth division.

Moving on we arrived at Crofton who were playing Ackworth who were the league lenders by one point from Conisbrough.The ground is on the right hand side from Walton and is another large area.The pavilion acts as changing rooms for the soccer who were playing .Ackworth reached 247 for 9 which was a excellent total. There were telephone messages coming from the Conisbrough match and it would that Ackworth would win the league if Crofton did not reach their total.

At tea-time Nigel Pullan arrived to see the match after being at Allerton Bywater and Frinkley Colliery.Crofton started slowly against good bowling. The first wicket fell with the batsman playing on.The pitch had a uneven bounce and was hard to score runs quickly.Crofton managed 114 for 9 with the opening batsman getting 62. So Ackworth won the league.

Another good day with four new grounds and another Championship win.