A rainbow at the end

posted by John Winn

For reasons that will become apparent I decided to stay close to home yesterday and began by making the short trip to St George's Road, Harrogate for a first eleven match against Castleford. This was my first visit to Harrogate this season and therefore my first opportunity to see the new club house and changing rooms which serve both the main and secondary grounds. Although the new building does not fall within my definition of a 'pavilion' it is nevertheless a fine addition to the facilities.Despite this I still feel rather sad when visiting St George's Road for I remember being part of the large crowd that attended the penultimate county championship match played there in 1995 when Yorkshire overwhelmed Durham. It is, I think, safe to assume that such days will never return to this part of Yorkshire.
Harrogate were hoping to end the season by completing a fourth successive victory but it was not to be for they were bowled out for 139 with John Proud top scoring with 37. Curiously the ten dismissals included four lbws and two run outs. Castleford reached this modest target with 3 wickets to spare, a result that leaves both teams in the middle of the final table.
The secondary ground had more exhilarating fare on offer with Harrogate Strays entertaining Knareborough Forest in a local derby which for the visitors was of the greater moment. Victory would give them the possibility of promotion to Division One of The Nidderdale League and scoring at just under seven an over they rattled up 311 for 8 in their 45 overs which proved much too much for the Strays who managed only 76 in reply. Alas for Forest other results did not go in their favour and they will not accompany Spofforth into Division One next season.
From Harrogate I made the short trip to Knaresborough CC where the visitors were Bolton Villas, former stalwarts of the Bradford Central League until their election to the Aire-Wharfe in 2000. I caught the tail end of the home teams innings which closed on 169 for 9 to which 'Villas' replied with 147 for 6.
On my way back I popped in at Whixley , little more than a mile from my house and the fourth different league of the afternoon (Wetherby). Here the players were just leaving the field for tea with Whixley 158 all out against Sicklinghall. The visitors got home comfortably by six wickets, enough to secure promotion to Division One by the narrowest of margins.

Finally I turned up at Ouseburn CC where end of season celebratory barbecue was in full swing in recognition of the first eleven's first ever championship of the Nidderdale league. A second team match was in progress against Markington for whom opener Tom Lloyd had scored 120 in a total of 280 for 6. OCC had a good go at chasing this daunting total but fell 34 for short with 5 wickets down. The last over was played in pouring rain but with the sun shining through and a rainbow arched over the village. It reminded several of us of a one day international against Australia at The Oval in 1977 when the England fielders stayed on in heavy rain. It all made for a memorable end to my league cricket watching for the season. And the barbecue was splendid too!