Some ups and downs

posted by John Winn

I have in my possession some fixture cards which belonged to my father and they are a partial record of his time spent playing local cricket in County Durham and North Yorkshire. The oldest is for the 1932 season, a season which began on May 7th and ended on the last Saturday in August, just sixteen weeks. How times change! This blog reported on the season's opening league cricket in Yorkshire in the middle of April and as Tony reported earlier in the week Blackpool Ken has passed on information about a full programme in the Shropshire Senior League today. No need for the pcw to travel that far however, for cricket will continue at Arthington until the second week in October.
Today's game in the festival was between Arthington and The Jesters and pcws were there in force, including fellow bloggers Tony and Brian. The home team batted first and after a cautious start raised a respectable 160 off their forty overs. As Tony left at the tea interval to test his skill at pin the tail on the donkey Peter Davies and Mick Bourne arrived with Peter leading the way to the tea table. Good to have the chance to talk to him and share notes on strategies for surviving retirement. 'Watch cricket and then count the weeks until the next season'*. Simple.
After seeing The Jesters get off to a flying start I made the short journey to Harewood where St George's were entertaining Cookridge Hospital. After one over the players adjourned for tea, taken halfway through the second innings. After a chat with Ian Cockerill who intended to stay put and see the last overs of cricket at Harewood for this season, I made my way home.
If you were wondering what was the link between the title of this posting and its content then your patience has been rewarded. Yesterday's Darlington and Stockton Times rounded up the end of season cricket in three of the many leagues which have been covered on the blog this season: The NYSD, The Darlington and District and The Langbaurgh. Champions of The NYSD are Marton, runners up Hartlepool with Northallerton and Bishop Auckland relegated, to be replaced by Sedgefield and Thornaby.Bishop Auckland might feel somewhat unfortunate for they are the first team to be relegated without finishing bottom, a second relegation place having been inaugurated this year.Rockcliffe Park head The Darlington and District with Richmondshire and Barningham relegated and Middleton Tyas and Brompton on Swale promoted from Division B.Finally in The Langbaurgh League Hartlepool Power Station retained their title with East Harsley second.Crathorne and Norton are demoted to Division Two and they will be replaced by Stafford Place and Ingleby Greenhow.
* 26 by my reckoning