WHAT DIFFERENCE A VENUE MAKES

By Brian Sanderson,

On Tuesday the sun was shining and set of to the Britannia Ground at Pudsey.Arriving at 11.45 for a 12.00 start the ground was full.A helpful young person shown be were to park the car.Yorkshire Seconds were playing Northampton Seconds in a forty over match.

Pleased to see people from Lancashire at the match including Ian from Lancaster.Yorkshire batted first with Sayers and Lyth.They put on a opening stand of 137 on a good batting wicket.We were able to get a drink of tea for fifty pence and sit in the sun.Yorkshire went on to score 244 for 6 but should have scored more.Dave Hodgson,groundsman from Kirkstall Education, arrived at the ground. He told me he had been involved in preparing the wicket. He had done a good job.

After the break Northants got off to a quick start until Joe Root got a wicket in his first over.When I left Northants were 72 for 5 however Lucas and Murphy enbled the side to get to 207.Yorkshire won a match.An excellent day was had by all.Ralph Middlebrook must have pleased with the match.

Next day I walked to Headingley for a three day match at Headingley.It was the same two teams.When the match started there must have been about fifteen people watching with about the same amount of security staff.Only eight overs was able to be bowled in the day due to rain.I left about 4.30 when the rain came again. The only plus was that I could watch the Test Match on the T.V.No-body enjoyed the day.

To-day I agained walked over to see the second day.During the morning Brian Senior counted the crowd which came about forty.Northants were batting .Yorkshire bowling was poor .We were joined in the evening by Jack Girling father.Jack had taken three wickets for 39.He had bowled one excellent ball which got a wicket and gifted two others.Ashraf caught one ball after he had thrown his hat off.At first we thought he was going to use the cap to catch the ball. It did not happen but he held the catch.Two other catches had gone down during the day.

Northants reached 293 for 7 when the rains came again.I wish that Yorkshire would play all their second team matches away from Headingley were there is no atmosphere and people will not turn out to watch matches here.

Good news in the last few days, Tony Hutton turned up at Weetwood for an hour. He is looking forward to going to Atherington in September.Hope to see you there Tony.