Cobblers spoil the show

posted by John Winn

When the ambient temperature falls to 4c a snowflake icon appears on the instrument panel of my car and sure enough when I turned the key at 7:00 am yesterday morning up popped a reminder, as if one were needed, that it was cold. The snowflake did not disappear until I crossed the River Trent on my journey to Northampton to see the 'Rose among Shires', whatever that means, take on Hampshire on the fourth day of their Div Two Championship match. I had investigated the possibility of travelling by train but when the 'Train Times' app on my phone suggested a route via Manchester and Milton Keynes I decided that driving might be the better option.
I have been to the Wantage Road ground on a number of occasions, as far back as the 1970s when Northampton Town played there and to see cricket for the first time in 1994 for Northants v Middlesex when the home side included Lamb and Ambrose and the visitors Haynes, Frazer, Gatting and Tufnell. Man of the match, however was J.D. Carr, with a century in both innings, not enough to prevent a Northants victory by six wickets.
The casual paying customer is treated with some suspicion at the County Ground, probably because they are an unusual sight, but when it was established that I was not a member they prised £16 (no concessions) out of me which rather took the gloss of the fact that I had been able to park within 50 yards of the gate all day for nowt.
At the start of play yesterday the match was interestingly poised Northants holding a lead of 235 with 5 second wickets in hand. Captain Andrew Hall seemed to declare his side's intentions when he struck two fours in the first over but thereafter they rather lost their way, losing wickets and not scoring particularly quickly. These situations are always interesting for spectators allowing them to speculate when a declaration might be forthcoming and discussion among some long serving Northants' members was given added spice by the fact that one of their number had placed a bet that all three of the town's teams would win on the day, cricket, rugby union and football.
When the declaration did come it left Hampshire with half an hour's batting before lunch which it was generally agreed was about right, 297 off 70 overs. One dissenter, for whom I suspect joy is rarely unconfined, thought it 'too generous'. With Dawson removed before lunch and Terry shortly afterwards Hants never looked likely to make a decent fist of the chase, although Carberry played some enterprising shots including two sixes. When, in the last over before tea, he was given out lbw to a  ball which seemed to be going down legside any hope disappeared and local boys Willey and Brooks claimed the remaining wickets to leave Hampshire 117 runs short. The two teams now have one win each and both are on 32 points after four matches.
When I left at tea the gateman was still in his sentry box although by now he had reduced his asking price to £10,  for which sum any man, woman or child could get a full day's play at The Oval. Has it occurred to the authorities at Wantage Road that there might just be a link between admission charges and attendances?
Tuning to Radio Northampton as I made my way back to the M1 I heard confirmation of Northants' victory and success for the rugby team but alas for my betting friend a last minute goal was only enough to give Northampton Town a draw at Rotherham thus dashing his hopes of a treble. Cobblers!