CAR FULL ON A SATURDAY TRIP

By Brian Sanderson,

My first port of call was to pick Ron Stansfield up at Horsforth and on to Bramhope to pick up Bob Procter.Next stop was Bilton to pick Ron Deaton and set off to Newby Hall.
On the second pitch Burton Lenard 3rd X1 were playing Studley Royal 5th X1 on Newby Hall second ground.This was 9thDivision of the Nidderdale League match and all the grounds would be in The Nidderdale League.

On the main ground Newby Hall were playing Knaresborough Forest in Division Two.The grounds are situated in the grounds of Newby Hall.Both grounds were in excellent condition.Talking to the Burton Lendarn fielder they were 15 players short in the three teams and his grand daughter was playing her first cricket match to make up the eleven.

Moving on to Dishforth where they were playing Bishop Monkton in Division 5.The ground is situated next to the airfield and in the distace you can see the White Horse on the hill side.Next to the ground is a football pitch were the groundsman was marking out the pitch. Walking round the ground you could see rabbit holes in the outfield.

Moving on to get a cup of tea we went to Helperby who were playing Killinghall in Division 1.This is a excellent ground with trees surrouding two sides of the ground which enabled us to get out off the wind.There is a woodern pavilion were we purchased four cups of tea for a pound. Compare that to Headingley prices.Ron spoke to the President of the club who was a local farmer.The ground is leased and they have numerous junior teams. A excellent run club that was thriving.

The next ground was Boroughbridge who were playing Studley Royal third team in the 5th Division.This was another ground which was next to a football ground.They were struggling to keep young playersThey had at one time played in the York League which is a higher standard but had gradually slipped down the league.

The final ground was Marton-cum-Grafton who were playing Arthington in the 7 Division.The ground used to be a quarry and had been filled in.The ground is leased from he council.There is a small changing rooms with windows broken.I spoke to one of the Marton fielders who had started to play again after two years and was over fifty.He was the third youngest player in the team.One of the Arthington Umpires was Denis the seventy year opening bowler for Arthington.Arthington were also struggling to get eleven men and the groudsman had to play to make up the team.

Some teams were thriving but other were struggling to get eleven people for a side.