FINAL MATCHES OF 2012

By Brian Sanderson,

A tale told by Alan Suddart at Pudsey on Friday. October is a month that a cricket follower finds that his wife left him in April.

This weekend was the final matches at Arthington.On Saturday I travelled through rain to the match against Cambridge Methodist.They were playing  and  there was a few spectators as some were watching football and Brian was at Melton jazz weekend.Addington were batting with and were only one wicket down.Steve Bindman was bowling for Methodists and bowled four overs of good lob bowling.Steve will play for any side that is one short and plays for three indoor cricket sides. I was with Michael Swaby who was the son of Alan who I  knew for over forty years but had died on Wednesday.

Michael like all new visitors is impressed by the views and the entertaining cricket in October.Arthington scored 188 and won the match by forty runs with the match finishing after six o,clock.

To-day I set of in sunshine to watch Hawksworth playing  which may be their last match  as there is talk of them joining Arthington next season.They play at the moment in the Dales League and batted first to-day.They were soon losing wickets to Denis Nash and Mel Wood.Spectators included the missing supporters from yesterday together with three people from Lancashire together with Steve Bindman who cried off playing due to flu.Also two twins from Doncaster who we found out work for Rington Tea.
During the first over their was thirteen players on the field and in the second over was transferred to Hawksworth making a twelve man match.

Hawkswoth reached 144 in the forty over due to a good tenth wicket partnreship of  forty runs.Mick  Bourne went round with ticket for the raffle with the money going to Arthington.After tea  the rain came in which forced a number of spectators to leave which two people missed  two prizes in the raffle.During the innings we could see numerous rain-bows in the distance which caused the team off the field twice.It became very cold by the time Arthington won the match by six wickets.

Rain was falling heavily as we left with summed up the cricket season of 2012.