Heavy Woollen Cup first round

Yeadon's cricket ground is in close proximity to Leeds/Bradford airport

Posted by Tony Hutton


Sunday 17th April

After a morning in the sunshine at Headingley, with Yorkshire seemingly heading for defeat despite the return to form of Johnny Bairstow, I took the alternative course to John Winn by moving on to Yeadon in the afternoon.

The home side from Bradford League division two were underdogs facing Baildon from division one. This was in the first round of the Heavy Woollen Cup which is reputedly the oldest cup competition in England. Indeed the competition's history a few years ago was entitled 'Only the Ashes are older'.

The original competition was mainly between clubs from the Central Yorkshire League, in particular the area around Batley and Dewsbury, but the net has widened in recent years with clubs from the Bradford and Huddersfield Leagues entering, together with
Barnsley of the Yorkshire Premier league.

Traditionally the first round in the middle of April is played in freezing cold weather, but none of that today - sunshine all the way. Baildon batted first at the White Swan ground, which has one of the largest playing areas in Yorkshire. They started well and had progressed to 86-1, before a sudden flurry of wickets following my arrival reduced them to 102-7.

With Brian Senior, Mick Bourne and Peter Mann, the conversation flowed and with all of us having been to different games yesterday there was lots to talk about. In particular Brian was probably the most fortunate in seeing Farsley's tremendous last over victory over Bradford and Bingley.

Things then began to turn in Baildon's favour, Harry Smallwood having seen brother Tom dismissed cheaply, went on the attack and scored a fine 50 off only 60 balls with seven fours. With good support from the tail he took the final total to 196 all out, which many people including myself thought might be a winning score.

Yeadon however had other ideas and openers Raheem and Calum Goldthorp, teenage son of skipper James, put on 77 before both fell on that total. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals and at 112-6 it looked all over for Yeadon. New recruit Ben Elvidge, newly signed son of a former Yeadon player, took the lead and a quick 46off 49balls with two fours and a six turned the tables. Halliday gave good support with 33 not out and Yeadon won by three wickets with just three balls remaining.

Other suprise results including a great win by Bradford league second division side Spen Victoria over Barnsley who included three current Yorkshire players, Ballance, Rafiq and Hannon-Dolby, together with two former players in Widdup and Wilkinson.

Wrenthorpe also went out - well beaten by Delph and Dobcross. So their dream of five
consecutive wins in this competition went out of the window. The second round will be played on Sunday 8th May.

ee