NEW LEAGUE

By Brian Sanderson,

Yesterday i sent off with the two Ron,s up the A1.The league we went to was The Darlington @ District Cricket League.It consists of three leagues.The first two leagues have twelve teams and the third eleven.

The first ground was Aldbrough St. John who were playing Haughton.It is situated on the village green with a small stream on the West side.We spoke to one of the home players who said the groundsman played for the second team and so the first team got the worst pitches.We had arrived early and gradually the players arrived.As one umpire arrived the match started at 2.15.Haughton bowled first and one of the bowlers was a Zambian who had been in this country for fourteen years. His previous club was Masham.

Moving over the AI we went to Barton who were playing Cockerton.Barton had spent over 100,ooo pounds on improvement to the ground.There was a new pavilion, the pitch had been turned round and the ground had been leveled.The home team were batting and there were two rain breaks.

Next ground was in a stately home at Middleton-Tyas who were playing Cattrick Village.They were taking tea and eventually it stopped raining and the home side resumed batting.One of the players scored a hundred.There are five trees inside the ground at on end so no six,s can be hit at that end.

The next ground was Rockcliffe who were playing Middleton.St. George.The ground is next to the Middlesbrough Football training pitch.They also had finished tea and waited for the rain to stop.We had a cup of tea and some sandwichs.The home side were batting chasing a score over 170.They seem to be going well.

Moving down the Northallerton road we went to Eryholme who were playing Cliffe.
The ground is at the far end of the village and has a wheat field at two sides.Eryholme were struggling to get eleven players and consisted of a lot of teenagers.They had scored 131 but Cliffe had scored over a hundred with no wickets fallen.

The last match was Brampton on Swale against Ingleton.Both these sides are in the second divison.The match was restricted to 35 over match. The home side had scored 172.The ground is situated in a mixed sport complex.Ingleton looked like they would win the match but started to lose wicket mainly due to some good catches.In the last two overs Ingleton required 18 tto win in two overs with wickets inhand.However due to good bowling on the wet pitch the home side won.

Arriving home at 9.30. It was a long day but seeing a new area made up for this.