2012 ups and downs

posted by John Winn

As we begin to say goodbye to this soggy season I have yet to find anyone who can remember a wetter one, and all manner of statistics have been produced to support the notion that it has been the worst in living memory. Last week's Darlington and Stockton Times produced its usual admirable end of season summary of those leagues that fall within its readership area.

The NYSD championship went to Richmondshire for the first time in seventeen years and by a reasonably healthy margin. On the final  Saturday the Dalesmen got their expected win over bottom club Billingham Synthonia while nearest challengers, Darlington, who rather fell away towards the end of the season, lost to the team immediately below them, Great Ayton. Marske accompanied Billingham into Division One and they will be replaced by their neighbours Saltburn and Redcar. A visit to the two promoted clubs will make a good day out in 2013. It has been a particularly disappointing season for Marske as their second eleven will drop out of Division One along with Yarm.  The great escapees in the Premier Division were Thornaby who, revitalised by the return of their Sri Lankan pro won their last two games to escape relegation by two points.

Moving down the pyramid to the Darlington and District League I was delighted to see my faher's old club, Haughton clinch their first ever outright championship, (they shared it with Barton in 1969) when they beat East Cowton on the final day.Barton finished second, eight points in arrears. Haughton were skippered by 23 year old Mark Dobinson whose 45 set up the decisive win and I take particular pleasure in this because Mark's grandfather and I were cousins. Keeping it in the family, this time on my mother's side. My delight at Haughton's success was tempered by the relegation of Cockerton where I last played in this league, forty years ago. Promoted just a year ago Middleton Tyas finished bottom and they and Cockerton will be replaced by Barningham and Cliffe.

Finally to the Langbaurgh League where last day focus in Division One centred on the foot of the table for at the top Kildale had secured the championship the previous week, and the unlucky losers here were Hutton Rudby and Scruton with Stafford Place just squeezing under the portcullis before it fell. New Marske and Crathorne had already gained promotion from Division Two.

One league not covered by the Dand S is the Cleveland League whose results are typically reported by The Middlesbrough Gazette but despite searching the paper's website and the league's play cricket site I have been unable to find a complete final league table.

Finally something that slipped under the radar last week was York's victory in The Kingfisher Cup, their progress in which I have reported in postings throughout the season. They were very comfortaable winners over Wanstead and Snaresbrook form Essex. Played on Sunday September 16th at The County Ground, Derby, having lost the toss York held their opponents to 162 for 9 off their 45 overs, a target reached with 15.1 overs to spare and with 8 wickets in hand. Top performers for York were Tom Pringle who took 4 for 22 and Oliver Hairs with 68 not out off just 45 balls. Well done, York, their first title in this competition for 37 years.