RECORD BREAKING DAY

By Brian Sanderson,

I went with my sister to a sunny Headingley and less windy than yesterday.All eyes were on Chesney Hughes again after yesterday and how many more runs could he score on a flat wicket.The answer was 270 not out which consisted of forty fours and three sixes. However he fell five runs short of the highest score by a Derbyshire player who was George Arthur Davidson in 1896 against Lancashire.He only scored two other centuries for Derby and finished with average of  26.95. I think Chesney will finish with a better average and score more centuries when his career has  finished.

The photograph above is of him smashing another boundary.

Derbyshire finished all out in the afternoon at 475 and a drawn match looks on the card.

Yorkshire started with a opening partnership of 126 with Lyth out for 69.Root finished at the end of the day on 75 and Yorkshire were 164 for 1.On this flat wickets other records could fall during the next two days with the weather forecast good.

John Winn went to watch another Lancashire Seconds against Yorkshire at Northrop Hall and then going on to Colwyn Bay to see Lancashire.

A MAN FROM ANGUILLA

By Brian Sanderson,

After the fine victory against Durham ,Yorkshire supporters were looking forward to the Derbyshire Championship match.It started to rain about 9.30 at Headingley this morning which caused the match to be delayed by forty-five minutes.This gave be a chance to talk to Paul Dyson who helps to put the statistics for every Championship match at Headingley and this was the 500th.Also there for the morning session was Tony Hutton who had been up to Weetwood for the 20/20  University matches. The cold wind was blowing from the North.

The Derby Team consisted of :

Billy Godleman from Islington who was soon out when Derby were put into bat.

Chesney Francis Hughes  from Anguilla West Indies who scored his highest Championship score of 171 not out  beating last season 167. This is the highest score by a Derbyshire player at Headingley.The highest scorer  for Derbyshire against Yorkshire was John Dreman Eggar born in North-West Frontier Province in India, he scored 219 at Park Avenue Bradford in 1949.They also scored their highest score in Yorkshire of 491 in that match.

Wayne Madsen from Durban South Africa who I first saw at Darlington in a Second Team match in 2009.
To-day he was involved in a second innings partnership of 258 which is the highest  second wicket partnership by Derby at Headingley.

Shivarine Chanderpaul from Guyana and 146 test matches for West Indies however he soon was a wicket for Rashid.

Wesley Durston from Taunton who did not last long to-day.

David Redfern from Shrewsbury who is not out over night.

The total overnight is 302 for 4 and a vital first session to-morrow.

I must mention that I saw Brian Cobb for the first time this season who said some nice things about the blog.

The picture is of Headingley in 1900 .Notice the sightscreen.

MAY FIXTURES

By Brian Sanderson,

Here are a few fitures to see this month subject to the weather.

1 MAY-YORKSHIRE V DERBYSHIRE  THIRD DAY HEADINGLEY

           YORKSHIRE SECONDS  V  LANCASHIRE SECONDS  SECOND DAY  NORTHOP HALL

2 MAY  AMPLEFORTH  V   M.C.C

             WICKERSLEY  V M.C.C

3 MAY  LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMER SCHOOL  V  M.C.C


5 MAY  GLAMORGAN  V  YORKSHIRE COLWYN BAY

            PRIESTLEY CUP
           JOE LUMB  AIREWHARFE  V  YORK   GUISELEY
          NATIONAL VILLAGE CUP-  MOORS HOLM  V  OUSEBURN ALNE  V  STAXTON.

         COLTON  V  ACKWORTH BARDSEY  V  OLD SHARLSTON
      YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN  V  CAMBRIDGE METS.

6 MAY  YORKSHIRE LEAGUE FIXTURES

         MANNINGHAM MILLS  V   NEW FARNLEY   PRESTLEY SHIELD

7 MAY  YORKSHIRE  V  SOMERSET   HEADINGLEY  4 DAYS

POCKLINGTON SCHOOL  V  YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN

LANCASHIRE OVER 60,S  V   YORKSHIRE  COLNE

REPTON SCHOOL  V  M.C.C

8   MAY  SILCOATES  V M.C.C

9 MAY  SEDBERGH  V M.C.C

SHADWELL  V  NEW ROVER  20/20


12  MAY   YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN  V  YORK WANDERERS

              HEAVY WOOLLEN SECOND ROUND
           HARROGATE  V  CHESTER -LE- STREET
           YORK  V  ELSCAR
          HUDDERSFIELD CUP MATCHES

13  MAY   HYDEARABAD  UNDER 19  V  LANCASHIRE   SOUTHPORT

              LANCASHIRE SECONDS  V  YORKSHIRE   LIVERPOOL   FOUR DAYS


14 MAY   YORKSHIRE OVER 60,S  V  NORTHUMBERLAND / DURHAM   MASHAM

15 MAY  NOTTS  V  SURREY   4 DAYS

              BARNARD CASTLE  V  M.C.C

16 MAY  NEW ROVER  V  HORSFORTH  20/20

17 MAY  CLITHEROE  ROYAL GRAMMER SCHOOL  V  M.C.C

18 MAY  ROYAL HOUSEHOLD  V  YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN  LONDON

19 MAY  UNICORNS  V YORKSHIRE  CHESTERFIELD

            SCARBOROUGH COLLEGE  V  YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN

        CUMBERLAND   V  CHESHIRE   KENDAL
      YORSHIRE WOMEN  V  WARWICKSHIRE   HARROGATE   11.00
     SECOND ROUND PRIESTLEY CUP


20 MAY  LOUGHBOROUGH    V  M.C.C

21 MAY  DERBYSHIRE OVER 60,S  V  YORKSHIRE  SHIPLEY HALL

            LANCASHIRE SECONDS  V   DURHAM  WESTHOUGHTON

22 MAY  LANCASHIRE SECONDS  V  DURHAM  THREE DAYS  OLD TRAFFORD

23 MAY   YORKSHIRE OVER 60,S  V  HERTFORDSHIRE  ACKWORTH
             WOODHOUSE  V  NEW ROVER 20/20

24 MAY   LEEDS AND BRADFORD   V   M.C.C    WEETWOOD

             BANKFOOT   V  M.C.C

26 MAY   NORTHUMBERLAND  V  CHESHIRE   JESMOND

          JOE LUMB  HALIFAX   V  NIDDERDALE  S.B. C.I.
                              PONTEFRACT   V   LEEDS   FEATHERSTONE.

27 MAY  OLD AMPLEFORDIANS  V  YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN  

                     CLEETHORPE   V  ACADEMY

28 MAY  YORKSHIRE SECONDS  V  DERBY   HARROGATE  FOUR DAYS
                YORKSHIRE OVER 60,S    V  SHROPSHIRE   FISHLAKE

29 MAY   DERBY   V  SURREY   FOUR DAYS

                Y.C.C.C   V  YORK UNIVERSITY
30 MAY  LEEDS AND BRADFORD   V   OXFORD  WEETWOOD  TWO DAYS

              YORKSHIRE  OVER 60,S  V  SUFFOLK   ACKWORTH
            NEW ROVER   V  LEEDS POLICE  20/20

WATCHING FROM THE CAR

By Brian Sanderson,

It was a early start this morning as I was invited to the Chairmans Lunch at York by Robert Procter.Arriving at the right time Robert was at the bar and his father,Bob,was sat down.The lunch was at 12.30 so we were able to eat before the match started.York were playing Beverley Town Cricket Club in the Kingfisher National Knockout competition.. Beverley in 2012 enjoyed a great year of celebrations to mark 150 years since the modern club was founded.The club  have senior teams operating in the York Senior Premier and first Divisions of the East Yorkshire Alliance Premier and First Divisions.

York batted first with Duncan Snell who is a prolific left-hand batsman and is 3rd highest run scorer in the Yorkshire League. His partner was Jack Leaning who is a Yorkshire Seconds player.They put on a stand of 120 when Snell was out.Jack Leaning was next out with the score being 153 in the twenty-fifth over of a forty-five over match.At this point I left York to see a more competative match at  Harrogate were I sat in John Winn,s car because of the cold wind and rain showers.

York finished on 409 for 3 with Ollie Hairs on 208 with 15 fours and 14 six,s. Then bowled Beverley out for under 100 so I finish watching the most exciting match.

Picture is of York new pavilion.

Headingley to-morrow.

Close finish at St George's Road

posted by John Winn

The first round tie in the National KO Cup between Harrogate and South Shields produced a tense finish for a very small crowd at St George's Road this afternoon. South Shields finished eighth in the ECB North East Premier League last season and were well beaten by Sunderland in their opening match of the 2013 campaign yesterday. Harrogate by contrast have got off to a good start with wins in their first two matches and with their batsmen showing good early season form.

Captain of Shields today was Matthew Muchall, brother of Durham stalwart Gordon. When I arrived at the ground Muchall with four wickets had done much to reduce Harrogate to 61 for 6 and although  a stand between Budgen and Owram added 32 the innings closed on 109. I put it to a (the?) South Shields supporter in the interval that this should be a manageable total but he expressed doubt on the grounds that the Tyneside club's batting began and ended with the opening pair. Such pessimism proved well founded. for only three Shields players reached double figures, the opening pair and skipper Muchall. The innings was anchored by Chris Watson with 34 off 75 balls and as long as he was there it looked likely that the Harrogate's total could be overhauled. Alas he perished to a caught and bowled when only 16 were needed and then Hutton who had given him support in a partnership of 14 was unforgivably stumped exposing a very inexperienced last pair and when last man Willis was out they were still three runs short.

Harrogate skipper Ryan Bradshaw kept faith in his spinners and Laws finished with four wickets as did opener Ashley Griffin whose victims were all in the top six. Credit must be given to the umpires who, apart from one break of about ten minutes, kept the players on the field on a cold, very windy afternoon with spells of drizzle alternating with some heavier bursts of rain. I was joined at the interval by Brian Sanderson who had come from Clifton Park, York where the holders York CC were taking on Beverley in the battle of the Minstermen and in  what has proved to be the mis-match predicted by the blog when the draw was first known. York won the toss and batted hitting up the astonishing score of 409 for 3 off their 45 overs with Oliver Hairs making 208 off 92 balls with 15 fours and 14 6s. The latest Beverley score I have is 87 for 6 off 26 overs.*

As South Shields make the 80 or so mile journey back to Tyneside this evening they will doubtless reflect on how close they came to victory in  a game which even with seven wickets down Brian and I were backing them to win but they can look forward to the by-election on Thursday which if the result is a close as today's match will have the political world in turmoil.

* Beverley were all out for 91, a losing margin of 318.

A master class from Joe Root

posted by John Winn

On Friday evening I tore up detailed plans for a Saturday watching NYSD league cricket and early yesterday morning saw me heading up the A1 towards The Riverside encouraged to think I would see an exciting day's cricket with all four results possible. Collingwood's declaration on Friday evening had taken me by  surprise for at tea it looked as though Durham could bat Yorkshire out of the match. The loss of an hour or  more's play may have influenced his decision as may a forecast for Saturday which suggested that there would be interruptions in play, especially in the morning.

As I drove through North Yorkshire I met with a very heavy shower but by the time I had crossed the River Tees the sun was shining, the roads were dry and in the event there was never any serious threat to a full day's cricket. Meeting my friend Michael Taylerson we decided to sit at 'the wrong end' and took up a position with our backs to 'the best view in county cricket'* where we sheltered from the cold wind and although most of the reasonably sized crowd kept their coats on it was not unpleasant watching.

After half an hour Yorkshire were reduced to 21 for 2 and it began to look as though their innings might replicate their efforts on Thursday and that a mid afternoon finish was a possibility. One man made sure that this was not to be the case for England's Joe Root demonstrated beyond any doubt why he can be thus described. The situation was tailor made for his calm approach to batting and by lunchtime, despite the loss of Gale just before the interval, the balance of the game seemed even. By tea Root had gone close to 150 and although neither had looked secure Bairstow and Ballance had given him enough support to see Yorkshire 212 for 4 and needing 124 off 34.

I was not alone in being puzzled by Collingwood's tactics in the afternoon for although it was clear there were few devils in the pitch his persistence in bowling Borthwick, who went for more than five an over, served only to bring down the run rate. When the new ball became available Root greeted it with a crashing square cut for four which brought up his 150. By now he had been joined by Rashid who showed a positive approach but not quite as frantic as his first innings effort and runs came fast enough to bring the run rate down to two an over and the result a formality with 20 off ten needed. There was still one surprise to come, and that was the biggest of the day, namely the dismissal of Root for 182 with the scores level. A magnificent effort. Enter Bresnan and with no pussyfooting he smashed his first ball for four to send The Doncaster Rovers' supporters sitting near me into raptures for the second time in an hour.  

There is only a day's respite for both teams. Yorkshire will be at Headingley tomorrow with heads held high and feeling that Derbyshire provide an opportunity to make it successive wins. Durham by contrast travel to Trent Bridge, heartened to some extent by the knowledge that most of their batsmen have shown some form but surely feeling that here was a game that should never have been lost and yet one that from early afternoon they never looked like winning. For me I felt privileged to have seen Root's innings and having enjoyed a day that reminded me why I prefer this form of cricket to 50 over or T20.

Throughout the afternoon twitter had kept me informed of events at Heritage Park, the temporary home of Darlington 1883 FC, where a victory over Team Northumbria was enough to give my team the championship of The Northern League and we now go forward to the Evo-stik Northern Premier Division One North. There's a possible link between the sponsor's name and Root's innings but time is short for I'm off to Harrogate this afternoon to see them take on South Shields in the National KO cup so I'll leave it to the readers to make one  up for themselves.

* Lumley Castle

TRIP ROUND NORTH LEEDS

By Brian Sanderson,

Saturday morning routine is to check the weather forecast,It said  heavy rain clearing in the late evening in the Leeds area.I set out about noon with dull clonds and  another cold wind.Arriving at Weetwood to see the Yorkshire Academy playing Sheffield United everbody was trying to get out of the wind and wrapped up for winter.The Academy were bowling and  collected two wickets by the time I walked round the boundary.Ian from Lancaster was parked next to my car and had come from a tennis fnals and was working his way back home via cricket matches.

Picking up  Ron Stansfield and Mick Bourne we set off to Alwoodley where Ron last visited over fifty years ago when he was playing .They were playing Upper Wharfedale and bowling. however the rain started to fall so moved on to Old Leo,s who play in the next field next to Rugby Union field which was been ste up for a match.The outfield looked in good condition and the wicket looked firm.

Moving on about two miles to Shadwell against Headingley Bramhope who were batting. This is the first time I had watched cricket on this ground as was only established about two years ago as the old ground was sold for housing.Orginally the field was used to grow potatoes during the Second World War and  were Reg Parker,ex Holbeck wicket-keeper and Adel supporter guarded the prisoners.

Moving on to another new ground were I had not seen cricket from Scarcroft who were playing Old Mods.Walking round to the pavilion Mick met the Scarcroft scorer who he had known for a number of years.Scarcroft ground  is next to Y.E.B offices and can be seen from the Wetherby Road.Drinks were given out after twenty-three overs eventhough the wind was very cold.

Moving on to Scholes  ground which is situated on a unmade road  which go to Berwick.I used to walk down this lane collecting blackberries about fifty years ago.There is a new pavilion been built since then but the surroundings have not changed.

Another two miles to Barwick were they were playing St. Chads Broomfield who play about one mile from my house.St Chads were batting and one person scored a century against some easy bowling.Chance to have a cup of tea and see a plaque with Darren Gough name on it for opening the Pavilion.

Moving back towards Leeds we called into Amaranth ground in Crossgates.This ground is near the engineering works of Barnbow which produced war materials and tanks during the Second World War.They were playing Rufford Seconds who looked like dropping out of the Wetherby League last season but now have recruited some new players.

About half-mile away is the Crossgate ground were I played a few matches over fifty years ago.They were playing Kirk Deighton A and beat the by seven wickets while we were there.

The last ground was North Leeds which is the picture at the top of the blog.They were batting against Esholt and Tong Park and were nine wickets down when we left. Looking at totalscorer web-site it still shown North Leeds innings at 51 for 0.The web-site should show up to date scores but not in this case.

Arriving home just after 6.30 P.M.Six and half hours of enjoyment and fresh air.

Shirt sleeve order (for a while)

posted by John Winn

Grand Central Trains and Boris Johnson combined to get me from York to The Oval in a little over two and a half hours on Wednesday in time to hear the call of play as Surrey took first knock against Sussex. Despite a queue at the gate I was able  to purchase a scorecard (50 pence), and take my seat as Rory Burns and Graeme Smith made their way to the middle and the early dismissal of the South African captain revealed a good knot of Sussex supporters to my left who were clearly delighted to see the back of him for 3. I was joined by my Sussex friends after about half an hour's play but the rest of the morning was pretty turgid stuff with Surrey unable to get the run rate above two an over. The early introduction of Panesar did at least help the over rate and 32 overs were bowled before lunch.

We were invited by the excellent pa to walk on the outfield in the interval, which I did and thought how many village clubs would be happy to have a square in such good condition. The day was pleasantly warm and after lunch, for the first time since last September, the blogger's pullover was removed. The tempo speeded up after lunch when Solanki joined Gary Wilson and they took the score to 181 for 2 at tea. Several times during the day we were reminded or warned, depending on your point of view, that Thursday was the annual school children's day and that something close to 5000 small people would be in the ground. Personally I congratulated myself on choosing the first day rather than the second for my visit.

Solanki was dismissed first ball after tea. He had batted beautifully for his 51 but I feel it is a matter of regret that he could have been tempted away from New Road after such long service to The Pears, who, judging by the first couple of matches, are going to struggle without him.

 By virtue of their Sussex membership my friends were able to access the pavilion bar and I benefited in the form of a pint of 'proper beer'. A fish and chip stall was doing good trade despite the £7:50 price tag or £3:00 for a portion of chips, a reminder that perhaps we are not 'all in this together'. The day turned cooler nearer tea and the pullover was restored but it was a pleasant afternoon for watching cricket with no threat of rain.

We were entertained by some lively and witty home supporters who were sitting behind us and they rejoiced when Wilson reached only his second first class century. If Graeme Smith has not yet hit the jackpot with the bat the new skipper can take some share of the praise for Wilson's success for Smith had pushed Wilson up the order when Harinath had been injured in the nets before play. Will he hold his place when Ponting comes?

 When I left at five Surrey were building a strong position at 240 for 3 but Sussex fought back to capture four more wickets by the close. You will probably be aware of yesterday's events which seem to have left the game well balanced and with some showers forecast for tomorrow it is hard to see either team achieving a win. The 6:30 East Coast service saw me into York a minute after 8:30 and unable to resist a little smugness that having booked my train tickets on February the first the day had turned out well and that I was now just 18 short of seeing the 153 games needed to complete the full set of my listed matches.

BEST VIEW IN CHAMPIONSHIP CRICKET

By Brian Sanderson,

To-day I travelled up to the Emrites Durham International Cricket Ground or to me Chester-le-Street with Ron Stansfield.Yorkshire were playing Durham in a four day Championship match.Yorkshire have to win after their defeat by Sussex.Root and Bresnan were playing for the first time this year with Lees and Brooks not playing.

We watched  the match from the pavilion which is at  mid-wicket however we were protected from the cold west wind with Durham batting.The first person we meet going into the ground was Joe Root,s grandfather who I had met at the Lancashire match last week.The photograph is the view from were we were sitting which is the best view in Championship cricketBy lunch Durham were 94 for 2 with prospect of more runs to come.

However  after lunch Yorkshire took another five wickets for 18 runs with prospect of Yorkshire batting soon.However ,with the help of "Colonel "Mustard who scored 70 runs , Durham scored 237 . This seemed about sixty runs too much when seven wickets were down.

A Durham spectator next to me travelled from Lindisfarne to watch the matches subject to the tide.We left about 5.30 with Yorkshire two wickets down including a poor run out of Jaques.Weather to-morrow is forecasting  rain in the morning which could effect the result of the match.

FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN WARM IN EIGHT MONTHS

By Brian Sanderson,

A car full of five people set of to the best county ground in Yorkshire,Scarborough.It takes about one and half hours by car from Leeds but when you drive to the town everbody are happy to go.The weather was beautiful with the sunshining which was a contrast to yesterday.

The match was Yorkshire Seconds playing Lancashire in a three day friendly.Yorkshire were batting first with Lees and Sayers with about twenty people watching the match which is a shame.I talked to a Yorkshire member who did not know the match was on  so something must be wrong.

By lunch-time Yorkshire were four wickets down  in thirty-three overs and scoring ninty runs.I went into the pavilion which have some beautiful photographs but they are in refective glass which makes it hard to see and will ruin the pictures due to light effecting the tone.

After lunch the sun was shining and people started taking off their weather clothing and enjoying the sunshine.Sayers and Leaning put together a centurty stand but both got out and Yorkshire collapsed to 201 for nine.Then Coad and Randhawa put on a last wicket stand of 47.

We decided to go home when the Yorkshire innings ended as I am going up to Durham to-morrow.Hope the weather  stays the same  as to-day.

Windy Weetwood

posted by John Winn

'There's cricket at Weetwood today. Looks like a nice spring day so pop in and watch'. This is a tweet I received from LeedsBradford MCCU yesterday morning and having been tipped off by Tony Hutton on Friday that there was indeed such a match I made my way over to Weetwood arriving just as wickets were pitched at 11:45 for a 45 over game. Let's get the 'nice spring day' out of the way first. Friday was a 'nice spring day', Saturday ditto and Sunday not too bad but yesterday we were back to a biting cold wind across the steppes of the University playing fields, three sweaters if you had them and for the tiny handful of spectators, reluctantly watching from the car.

The match was between Leeds Bradford MCCU and MCC women who included a number of the  MCC Women's Young Cricketers squad in their XI. They were captained by Sarah Taylor who has played four test matches, 60 ODIs and 24 T20 internationals for England women and who made the headlines earlier this year when it was announced that she might play for Sussex II men's team this year, although the prospect of this seems to be fading. At the weekend Sarah made her debut for Birmingham Premier side Walmley CC and top scored in a losing cause.

This was a rare opportunity to see some of the pick of the English women's game for they play very few of their 'out matches' in the north of England although I note they have two games in the north west in August. Next week  they take on Japan* in London at a venue to be confirmed. Two of the brightest stars opened the batting, Tammy Beaumont (England and Kent) and Danni Wyatt (England and Notts) and the pair added 180 at 6 an over before Wyatt was out for 80. This brought 'gifted all-rounder' Natasha Miles to the crease. Natasha was born in Hong Kong where she played in the men's leagues when only 15. By now Brian Sanderson and I  had retreated to the car and felt sure that the visitors would easily pass three hundred but to their credit the Leeds' women stuck to their task against very talented opposition. With  Beaumont reaching 102 the final score was 290 for 5. Leeds did not help their cause by bowling 33 wides thus adding 5 and a half overs to the time they had to endure the freezing temperatures.

After lunch we were joined by Tony and much of our conversation was about the number of bizarre scores from local league cricket at the weekend, especially the very low ones, indicative of the lack of preparation time ground staff have had. No complaints about the Weetwood wicket but 290 always looked way beyond the universities. A hospital appointment took me away shortly after four but by following the tweets of some of the MCC players it has emerged that Leeds did indeed fall short. Estimates vary within the range of 130 to 100 runs. What is not in doubt that the tweeters had not experienced such cold conditions before!

The Leeds Bradford women travel to Durham tomorrow for the first of their BUCS fixtures. It is likely to be a little warmer but the place to be tomorrow is The Oval where 20c is a possibility. That is where I shall be meeting up with my Sussex friends who never left the long room at Headingley two weeks ago. Definitely a factor 30 day in the south. I shall report in due course.

*Both the Japanese men's and women's teams are touring the UK next week. Full details are on the ICC website.

Nice people in Glasshouses

posted by John Winn

Before setting off on my excursion to Wales I had spent some time drawing up a list of matches that I might visit yesterday, the first day of league cricket. Reading Brian's posting from yesterday I realised I had had a lucky escape for my plan had been to visit four grounds in The Craven area, at two of which, as Brian has reported, there was no play. My late return from Cardiff had persuaded me that I should stay nearer to home and headed instead for the only two grounds in the Nidderdale League that I had not previously visited.

My first venue was the lovely ground at Glasshouses deep in the valley of the River Nidd. Parking the car at 1:45 I was surprised to hear the call of play for the scheduled start was 2:00. The visitors were Raskelf II, alas with only nine men due to the calls of football and the London Marathon, and having been given first use of a slow wicket they were soon in trouble at 5 for 4 off 6 overs.South African Paul Nel  finished with 5 for 5 and in 45 minutes play Raskelf were 'all out' for 28 with opener Baker hitting all but five of those. Extras came next with four.

During the innings I had visited the pavilion where there are some grand old photographs recalling Glasshouse's glory days. They were founder members of the league in 1894 and although they now run only one team and are in Division Six they still can lay claim to the highest number of league titles, 19 in all. In the pavilion there were copies of the Glasshouses Chronicle, the club newsletter published last September and giving a full account of the 2012 season when a couple of late victories kept them in the division. The newsletter also thanked Eileen for her 'world class teas' and sure enough there was Eileen,  preparing the day's fare. With the fall of wickets Eileen's buttering arm went into overdrive but she was given respite by the easy decision not to take tea at the end  of the first innings, it was only 2:30 after all.

For the duration of the home team's reply I sat with very long serving groundsman Ken Hainsworth who told me that so wet had been the wicket this morning that he had not been able to cut the wicket until 11:00. I very much enjoyed my chat with Ken, who filled me in on some of the history of the club but Glasshouses took only five overs to knock off the runs without loss and the winning hit was made at three o'clock by which time I hope Eileen was ready.

Too soon after lunch for me to tackle even a 'world class tea' I set off over the hills to Ripon and onto the village of Melmerby and a rarity these days, a new cricket ground, the home of Wath and Melmerby CC, who were entertaining Harrogate fourths in a Division 5 match. Plenty of history here too for Wath CC were in abeyance from 1995 until 2008 when they added Melmerby to their name and built the new ground on the edge of a trading estate in Melmerby, which lies a little west of the A1 on the Ripon to Thirsk road. I suppose the Witherick Lane ground will never have the charm of Glasshouses but it is a large playing area which looked in very good fettle yesterday, despite the cold spring. Promoted form Division 6 last year W and M got the new campaign off to a good start with an 8 wicket win over Harrogate.

Onto my local club Ouseburn where it was tea time and where visitors Spofforth had been bowled out for 134. Good to see plenty of old friends who had wintered well and despite losing early wickets to a very aggressive Spofforth team a fine 76 not out from Sam Dale, who had also taken 4 for 32, saw them home by three wickets with time to spare. Ouseburn are without an overseas player this year but Spofforth have New Zealander Will Long who took two wickets in his opening spell. Ouseburn begin the first season for as long as anyone can remember without 'club stalwart' Jeff Gill who died in December. Jeff would have been very pleased by the fast firm track prepared by groundsman Edward Pearson.

Finally a somewhat strange start in the Wetherby League. A few months ago I made a posting in response to an article in my local paper which suggested that Vale of York side Rufforth might go out of business. Down to a handful of players and missing key officials they had already decided that they could not run two teams and with the loss of players there was serious doubt that they could get eleven together. I was pleased therefore this morning to see  that Rufforth had turned out two teams both of which had won. A sad note, however was that in Division 6 Green Hammerton's second string had conceded. Let's hope that's down to football and marathon commitments and that next week they will be at full strength.

Away to Wales part 2

posted by John Winn

Walking through the attractive Bute Park adjacent to the Swalec Stadium I noticed a large queue of people waiting for the opening of the RHS Cardiff Flower Show. No such demand at the gate of the Stadium as I purchased my ticket, had the barcode swiped and agreed with the gatemen that the weather was much improved  with the warm sunshine no longer chilled by a strong wind.
 I had made  my way to the ground in good time in order that I might visit the recently opened Museum of Welsh Cricket. The museum is situated above the members' lounge and has some fine displays of old photographs and other memorabilia focussing on Glamorgan cricket. There were excellent videos on the careers of two of Wales' greatest sportsmen, Maurice Turnbull and Wilf Wooller and a display case devoted to one who might have become such, but whose life ended so tragically last year, Tom Maynard.

Play began on time but just to prove that nothing lasts for ever, even summer in Cardiff, there was a short break in play when a brief shower drove the players from the field. The pace of play was much as the day before but some last wicket frolics from Cosker and Reed added 36. Reed's innings in particular seemed to give pleasure to his teammates who cheered enthusiastically from the players' balcony when he edged a four through the slips. The tall quick bowler's batting average last season was under four from seven innings and he more than doubled his higest score before being bowled by Russell. This left Worcestershire a tricky little spell before lunch and in that time they lost Pardoe for 0.

I had lunch in a pub just fifty yards from the ground, Y Mochyn Du, translated for me by the ever helpful gateman as The Black Pig as he supervised the swiping of my ticket and on my return to the ground (barcode swiped again) advised me of other places where I might have taken lunch.

Worcestershire's batting line up for the first time since 1994 does not contain Solanki, lured to The Oval by Surrey's youth policy, think Lewis, Smith, Ponting and Keady, and this has rather left skipper Mitchell and Moeen Ali as the mainstays. Mitchell made ten off sixty seven balls before being well caught by Bragg. This brought new overseas player and former Sri Lankan test batsman, Samaraweera to the crease. On a pair he took time to get off the mark but he was not out at the close when Worcester were 14 ahead with five wickets in hand. I left at 5:30 to catch the 5:55 train which was on time in two languages. I could not, of course escape the ground without one last encounter with my friend the gateman and my ticket was swiped for the fourth time that day. First Great Western and Cross Country trains combined to get me back into York spot on time at 10:30 and relieved that a 'hen party' that had boarded at Sheffield was only going as far as  Leeds.

FOUR MEN FROM THE EAST

By Brian Sanderson,

To-day was the first day of the League cricket so Ron Deaton had planned  a  trip round the Dales and the sun was shinning, what more could you ask for. The four people were myself, Ron Stansfield, Ron Deaton and Nigal Pullan.

The first match was in the second division of the Nidderdale League at Bolton Abbey. Their opponents were Ripley who batted first. As we were walking round the ground a helicopter landed  near behind the sightscreen.There are some beautiful views of the hills in the distance.Nigel was watch a match for the first time  at this ground and voted as the best scenic ground of 2013 however there are many more to see.

Moving on down the valley we stopped off at Skipton who were playing Illingworth.Behind the bowler arm at one end was a Rugby Union match on and a football match at the other side of the hedge.A busy day in Skipton.Next door to Skipton ground is Skipton Church Institute ground who were due to play Haworth West End in Division 5 of the Craven League.However there was no play and the rugby posts were on the outfield.Skipton scored 238 for 4 after a number of dropped catches with.Illingworth finishing on 88 all out as per the League web-site.

A few miles down the road we stopped off at Thornton in Craven who also play in the Craven League.However after speaking to the groundsman it seem that all league matches had been cancelled due to the poor weather. However there was no warning on the cricket web-site.

Next stop was Barnoldswick who play in the Houldsworth Ribblesdale Senior League and were playing Brooksbottom who are a new side in the league. They are situated in Summerseat near Bury and batted first to score 184.The league had also accepted  Euxton club and in 2014 the league will be split in two.The standard of the cricket was good and the ground was in good condition.One of the famous players was Bernard Ready who played for Lancashire. There are some excellent photographs in the bar area and Ron  got a  large plate full of sandwiches. Barnoldswick finished on 155 as per web-site.

The last match was Earby against Ribblesdale Wanderers also in the Ribblesdale League.There famous current player is Glen Chapple who helped them win a cup and league double in 1991 which is celebrated with photographs in the bar.The ground is in  a basin with a knocked down cotton mill over the beck where the ball was deposited at least twice during the home team innings.Ribblesdale had scored 234 for 8 with the help of a young Australian who name as yet I  have not found out.Barnoldswick finished on 155 so losing the match. It is a ground I would return to watch good cricket and good views.

Overall a excellent start to league cricket and the Ribblesdale looks a good league.

Away to Wales (part 1)

posted by John Winn

Encouraged by a weather forecast that suggested an improvement towards the end of the week Thursday morning saw me on the 8:45 train from York to Cardiff (change at Bristol Parkway). This was the first opportunity of the season to see one of several of my listed matches 2013 has thrown up. I walked through the gates of the Swalec Stadium just as play resumed after lunch. 'Walked through the gates' is something of a simplification because I had followed the instructions of the two gatemen to purchase a ticket in the shop then return to them to have the barcode swiped: a system designed for an ashes test but retained for the one man and his dog (no dogs allowed) size of crowd that had come to see the second day of Glamorgan v Worcestershire, That rite of passage over I sought a seat where the sun might shine on me but where I was protected from the wind. Denied access to anywhere behind glass this was impossible. The wind did not blow from one point of the compass to another; it blew round and round a stadium filled to about 2% of its 15000 capacity, seeking whom it may discomfort.

Glamorgan had bowled out their visitors on the first day for 123 and during an absorbing (i.e.slow) afternoon when the run rate hovered round two and half an over and the over rate was held back by the use of four seamers with the veteran Alan Richardson leading the attack. Runs did come, mainly from Marcus North and later from Allenby and Wagg so that by the close Glamorgan had a lead of 112 with three wickets to fall. The players were on overtime thanks to the loss of some time on the first day.

I had last visited the Swalec in 2009 when it was still basking in the glow of the dramatic test against Australia earlier that year. When it is in championship mode it is somewhat less hospitable, at least on the face of things. Lots of areas are closed off and this is made clear by notices like 'stand closed' 'keep out', 'no entry', and my favourite 'this toilet is drained down for the winter'. Things were not quite as bad as these warnings might have suggested for at tea the excellent public address informed us that refreshments were available to all spectators in the members' lounge 'while stocks last'. Finding my way in there I enjoyed a cup of tea in a china cup for £1. Headingley please note.

I left at six when there were still twelve overs of the daily ration to be bowled. Even on exit one cannot escape the gatemen for I had to delve in my bag to find my ticket to have it scanned again. Don't ask why, I don't know, but there will be more of these officials in part two. In the meantime the cricket season starts for at least the third time in the last fortnight this afternoon with the opening league cricket programme and having been away for a couple of days I have some catching up to do before heading out.

PROBLEMS CAUSED BY HEAVY RAIN

By Brian Sanderson,

Waking up on Friday morning I was meet with rain which had not been  forecast.So I thought I would call in at Kirkstall Educational ground ,which is nearby, to see Dave Hodgson, who is the groundsman.He soon told me that there had been another robbery at the club and the television had been taken.Part of the ground  was waterlogged which surprised Dave as he was expecting to start rolling the pitch for to-morrow.He had looked at the forecast last night and it was expected it to be dry.

Moving on to Weetwood were Leeds and Bradford University were playing Cambridge University in a two day match.Arriving there there was no play due to the rain which had also surprised the Weetwood groundsman. The match did not start until 2.30 with Cambridge two wickets down from last night.Zafi who was playing his first match for the University had taken both wickets.The crowd numbered six including Tony Hutton and myself.

The afternoon was still cold with occasional sun but Leeds and Bradford made Cambridge struggle.Brian Senior wandered into the ground wrapped up for winter as he has not been well.Tea was taken at 4.35 with Cambridge 80 for 6  and the match would go on to 7.00 P.M.However I left as I am going to watch the Rugby League Challange Cup,cheering for Leeds Loiners.

The photograph was taken in 1930,s at Weetwood when Yorkshire used to play a pre-season match against Leeds University. The facilities for the spectators have not changed since that time.

NETS AT HEADINGLEY

By Brian Sanderson,

A easy walk to Headingley to see the second day of the friendly match between Yorkshire and Lancashire.The umpires came out early but after ten minutes decided to go back to the pavilion because of bad light.

Yorkshire were batting with Root and Lyth. Joe ,grandfather , was watching him from the warmth of the Long Room. He had been out to see Joe play in India during the winter.Four wickets fell by lunch in a cold wind.

After lunch Ballance was run out.However myself and William Roberts was looking at information about Billy Bates who played in 1880.s.He took a hat-trick in Ashes match  in Australia.He lost an eye  during his last tour to Australia while pratising in the nets,and never playing first-class cricket again.Another lost name in the history of Yorkshire cricket. Meanwhile  Bairstow and Rashid were scoring quick runs.

After tea I watched Bairstow and Rashid getting centuries before retiring not out.The final score was Yorkshire 381 for 8.There was an unusual site in the ground when all the flags were half-mast for a non-Yorkshire person. Baroness Thatcher.

TALKS WITH CRICKETERS

By Brian Sanderson,

The weather forecast was sunny but windy at Hartlepool where Yorkshire Seconds were playing Durham in a friendly.The club was founded  in May 1855.As you walk in the gates  on the right is a new furnished pavilion which is shown in the above photograph.The orginal was 100 years old.

Durham were batting and we were met by Ian Dewes with a scorecard showing the Yorkshire scorer as M.Snook however he retired two  seasons ago  and Howard Clayton is now second team scorer.Walking round the ground I  sat next to Derek Soakell who played in the match when Durham beat Yorkshire in the Gillette Cup on the 30 th June 1973 at Harrogate.It turned out that he played for Durham from 1966 to 1973.Also he played for Northumberland from 1970 to 1972 and he was a professional in the surrounding leagues.Also joining  us was the Chairman of Northumberland Cricket club.The two hours up to lunch soon flew by with cricket talk.

After lunch Derek was talking to Mike Gough who played for Hartlepool and is the father of Michael Gough ,the first class umpire.During the afternoon we were joined my John Winn who had travelled up by train.One of the name mention was Peter Kippax who played a number of years at Hartlepool with Mike Gough.
One of Mike opening partners was Tony Vann who was a member of the Yorkshire Committee and ex Chairman of the Northern Cricket Society.The pair were known as a  artistic opening partnership ie Van Gough.By this time it was tea-time.

After tea I was joined by Paul Farbrace who had just been to Sri Lanka and Barbados on cricket tours with Yorkshire.To-day he had gloves on and well wrapped up for the cold. Myself and two Durham supporters listen to his ideas on present day cricket.After he left I wondered over to chat to Jack Leaning who was fielding on the boundary.This week-end he will play his first league match with York in the Yorkshire League and next week he will be playing at Scarborough with the Yorkshire Seconds.Then over to Cheshire to play Lancashire.

All this time Durham reached 307 for 7 with Gareth Breese scoring 110 when they declared and I left the match.Excellent cricket  talk and I borrowed the title from a Old Ebor book. That is worth reading.

It's a knockout

posted by John Winn

Last year I tried to keep blog readers informed of the progress of the ECB National Club Championship competition, and yesterday saw the Preliminary Round stage which had been added this year due to the high level of entries. 38 teams were competing for a place in the first round. Driving the ten miles or so from my home to Easingwold the car thermometer showed temperatures not reached since last September but a strong wind and occasional spots of rain meant that the deck chair stayed in the boot. Last season Easingwold finished eighth in the premier division of the York Senior League and yesterday faced opposition from division two of the Nidderdale League, a contest one expected  the hosts to win.

Having parked  in a  street adjacent to the well appointed ground as  I walked through a snicket from which it is possible to gain access a loud appeal was  heard and having missed the first ball meant I had missed the first wicket:  Easingwold skipper Martin Piercy caught behind for 0. Such was the strength of the wind the sightscreens had been tethered to heavier objects to prevent them blowing over and although it was not cold neither was it pleasant to sit outside and I settled for the shelter of the excellent club house. Easingwold soon  lost two more wickets and at 24 for 3 it looked as though Forest might spring a surprise but that was as good as it got for the visitors. A partnership of 73 between big hitter Paul Skilbeck and anchor man Jonathan Marwood tilted the balance of the game and with Marwood unbeaten at the end of the forty five overs on 87 Easingwold's innings closed on 231 for 7 and the body language of the KFCC players as they left the field suggested that they did not fancy their chances. The Nidderdale outfit had not helped their cause by conceding 33 extras, 25 of which were wides and as one of their players ruefully remarked they had given Easingwold four extra overs. He might have added 'which they probably did not need'.

Forest too lost an early wicket, Horsman out for 6 but with left handed opener Matthew Parker striking some nice offside shots when I left with the score at 20 for 1 it looked as though Forest might make a decent reply. Had I stayed another half hour or so however, I would have seen nine wickets fall, only two batsmen reach double figures and KFCC all out for 42 and a crushing victory for Easingwold by 189 runs. A knockout indeed. Easingwold are at home again in the first round on April 28th, but will face far more formidable opposition when Chester le Street travel down from County Durham. The Cestrians finished third in the North East Premier League Division  1 in 2012 and will start firm favourites.

This competition, like most other cricket was badly disrupted by the weather last season and it is pleasing therefore to record that all yesterday's preliminary matches were completed albeit with one as the result of Swansea club, Gowerton CC conceding their match against Hatherley and Reddings.

THORNCLIFFE CRICKET CLUB

By Brian Sanderson,

Recently I received a bag full of membership cards and  minutes books for the above club.As I  forgo reading the morning paper ,I started scanning some of the cards.The club was established in 1870 but there is no memorabilia for  that time. The earlist card was 1890 but no fixtures enclosed,However in the 1896 book was a list.

April 25 -Elsecar, May 9 - Shire Green , May 23 - Barnes Green, May 20 - Stead Lane

June 13 - Wortley  June 15- Elscar  June 16 - Thorpe, June 20 -Wentworth.

June 27- Ecclesfield, July 4- Wortley,  July 11- Barnes Green  July 18- Stannington.

July 25 - Wentworth  Aug 1 -Kimberworth. Aug 8- Shire Green , Aug 15 - Ecclesfield.

Aug 22- Kimberworth  Aug 29- Stannington.

Most of these matches were in the Chapeltown and District League which is no longer in extinction. I feel it is very important to keep records of old clubs and leagues.Unless it is done now more club records will be lost and peoples memoirs of the clubs will also be lost.

So please League and clubs keep your records safe and also scan them so other people can see them. Also I would be interested to now of any records of the above cricket clubs.

Deck chair given a short airing

posted by John Winn

Yesterday morning's temperatures were high enough for me to disturb the deckchair from its winter hibernation and take it with me on the short journey to Clifton Park for the friendly game between hosts York CC and their visitors from South Manchester, Didsbury CC. As I arrived the players were taking the field, ten minutes earlier than scheduled and with a fifty rather than forty five over game in prospect. York had won the toss and batted on a greenish looking track and lost an early wicket when Leaning was bowled for 5 but thereafter partnerships of 46, 63 and 94 took them to 209 for 4 from where 300 seemed a reasonable target. And so it proved with a final score of 303 for 8, with Collins and Kay the main contributors.

 Some of Didsbury's fielding showed early season  rustiness and only skipper Nick Anderson, who at times may have thought the umpire's finger was also in need of WD40, achieved an economy rate of under 5. The two teams had played a T20 * match the previous evening which York had won comfortably and the homesters may have thought at tea that a double was within their grasp.        


 At the beginning of the afternoon the weather was such that the deck chair did not seem out of place and  heartened by news of Somerset's collapse at The Riverside, this blogger was in something close to clover  but well before the York innings finished I had sought shelter in the bar. There I was able to pass the time with the sage of Headingley, Bob Proctor and two other generations of his family.

The interval was my queue to depart and take the A19 to the village of Raskelf, near Easingwold where the Nidderdale League club were entertaining, in what has become an established annual fixture, Vale of Leven CC from the west of Scotland. It was almost tea when I arrived and Raskelf reached 220 for 3 off 35 overs with 4 men 'retired out' .Entering the club house I was warmly welcomed by chairman Peter Sigsworth who pointed me to the website for a detailed history of the club. Theirs is an unusual story for in 1963 their original ground was sold for building and the club was in abeyance until 1993 when it became part of a village hall/ multi sport facility on the outskirts of the village. They entered league cricket in 1995 by joining the Pilmoor Evening League and two year's later embraced Saturday league cricket with a successful application to the Nidderdale. Had I thought to ask I would have been interested to know why they chose a league in which most clubs are 'over the water', rather than the more convenient York League. I suppose one answer might be that it is not so 'convenient' when you have to travel to the east coast.

The playing area at Raskelf is very large and with light rain starting the view from the car park was not a good one and I headed for home as the Dunbartonshire club's innings began. By the time I crossed the toll bridge over the River Ure the rain was steady and I was not surprised when Total Cricket Scorer showed the game at York had been abandoned with Didsbury on 161 for 6 and somewhat behind the clock. I would not be surprised if the Raskelf fixture had met a similar fate to enable  the Scottish lads to get an early start for their planned night out in Harrogate.

Finally a week or two ago I set a hare running by suggesting that it might not be possible for Hartlepool CC to host Tuesday's three day fixture between Durham and Yorkshire Seconds. Bypassing our Hartlepool correspondent I this evening telephoned the club and they confirmed that the match will be played at the attractive Park Drive ground. Good news, may see you there.

*they actually played an 18 over game

FIRST TRIP INTO THE VILLAGES THIS SEASON

By Brian Sanderson,

On a beautiful warm morning walked into the Headingley ground without using my ticket as it was free.Purchased a scorecard and obtained Brooks and Plunkett signatures on it as it was their Yorkshire Championship debuts also it was Yorkshire lowest total against Sussex at Headingley.

Settled down to watch the fall of Yorkshire final two wickets with Tony Hutton.The match only lasted thirty minutes when Ballance who  had scored 63 was caught by Brown,the Sussex  wicketkeeper.Yorkshire losing by an innings and twelve runs.Many words will be spoken and written about the poor effort by Yorkshire.

However the quick finish allowed me to watch some friendly local matches with Mick Bourne..By this time the cloud had arrived and rain was forecast,Mick set a quiz question in the car which was who was on top and bottom cricket first division at the start of the season. Answer at the end of the blog.

First match we went to was St Georges who play at Harewood House ground against a Selby X1.The last time I was at the ground there was a fair on with a helicopter fleights as per photograph.The first person we meet was Steve Bindman who could not get a match to-day. During the season he will be playing for Cawood and Cambridge Methodists also any other clubs who want him.There was a cold breeze blowing across the pitch whilst St Georges were batting.A walk round the boundary was enough to move on to Collingham.

The next match was Collingham were playing Cleckheaton who play in the Bradford League.As we arrived Tony Hutton was parking his car.Cleckheaton were batting and had scored 140 for 2   but soon lost wickets. However one shot was hit for six strikeing a tree branch and a young lad caught it .Soon the rain started to fall so we moved on to our third match.

That was Spofford against Kirk Deighton were we had a chance to have a cup of tea.There was a number of cars at the ground watching Kirk Deighton  bat scoring 170.We then moved on but the rain stopped us watching any more matches.

Lets hope that rain does not dominate 2013 season. Answer to the quiz question was Derbyshire top with Durham bottom as they had been deducted points before the season started for exceeding the salary cap for 2012.

Trials of a groundsman

posted by John Winn

I dashed back from a couple of days in the Lake District on Thursday morning, dropped off the suitcases at home then straight to Headingley to meet up with my friends from Lewes, Barbara and Terry. Keen Sussex followers they were understandably chipper and returned south yesterday with a win almost in the bag. We will meet again at The Oval at the end of the month when Surrey take on Sussex, one of my 'listed matches' for this season.

Whilst in The Lakes my wife and I visited Cockermouth, one of our  favourite towns, the birth place of Wordsworth and a town that has gone a long way towards recovering from the disastrous floods of November 2009. We went our separate ways for half an hour and I took the opportunity to walk across the road bridge that crosses the River Cocker to visit the ground of Cockermouth CC where I fell into conversation with the president, groundsman and all other sorts of other things for the club, in short Mr Cockermouth Cricket, Ray Benham. Ray gave me some of the history of the 'Sandair' ground, how much of the spacious playing area had been allotments at one time, how cycle racing had been an attraction and how deep the water had been after the Cocker broke its banks in 2009. Look for  dramatic aerial views of the ground under water on the club's website.

Recovery from the floods did not mark  the end of the groundsman's travails for while walking down the high street I had spotted a placard for the local paper which referred to vandals causing damage to the cricket ground. The relevant article showed a picture of Ray pointing out the damage to the square done by some late night revellers who had driven a car back and forwards and which brainless activity has cost Ray the use of eight  wickets for the the next few weeks. On top of all this the absence of anything approaching spring has added to Ray's problems for the grass both on the outfield and the square stubbornly refuses to grow and the first match of the season against the Cumbria Cricket Board U17 XI is fixed for today.

Cockermouth are members of the North Lancashire and Cumbria Premier League and despite having two points deducted for a  slow over rate they topped the league by just one point from Furness CC in 2012. They begin the defence of the title at Workington a week today. Before then Ray needs some rain, but not too much and temperatures sufficient to make his beloved ground look green again. You and groundsmen up and down the country, Ray.

As I type this early morning mist is clearing from the Lower Ure Valley. I'm off to York to see some of their match against Didsbury but if you are based further west then Harrogate take on Alderley Edge from the Cheshire County Cricket League. 1:00 start at St George's Road.

THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER

By Brian Sanderson,

Friday morning was cloudy and damp so there was no play before lunch.In the morning I had a telephone call from the Yorkshire office for a image of D.C.F.Buton,ex Yorkshire captain who was in charge of a ChampioNship side.

The cricket started at 1.20 in the afternoon with Yorkshire facing a battle.Yorkshire soon started to lose wickets and I was joined by John Winn.He very kindly brought article from the history of Darlington Cricket Club about Herbert Sutcliffe played at the ground in 1941.The bright spot of the early batting was Phil Jaques who scored 57.Panesar bowled very well and caused all the left-hand batsmen problems with out taking a wicket.

It was Ballace and Sidebottom showed what could be done and tea arrived at 4.45.Only one person in the Long Room due the correct time of tea.During the tea -time I purchased the book Cricket in Doncaster and Distict from William Roberts . Half-price ! It shown a image of Hirst, Rhodes and Haigh for Kirkheaton against Doncaster between 1904 and 1909.I wish they were playing now.

After tea the weather got duller and spinners had to be put on. However there was a period of sunshine when the quicker bowlers came back and Sidebottom was out.During this time I was joined by Steve Mann who is the Chairman of the Members Committeewho is also a Leeds Rugby Supporter.Also nearby was a lady from Yorkshire Southern group who I spoke to recently.

At the end of the day Yorkshire was 221 for 8 and a short day in prospect on Saturday.

There is a match at Pudsey St. Lawerence against Farsley statring 12.30.

Also enclosed is this fixtures of Woodhouse School this month :

20 APRIL V GIGGLESWICK  12.00

24 APRIL V  ST .AIDANS  1.30

27 APRIL  V LEEDS G.S. 11.30.

Went to the rugby in the evening another long day.

FREEZING SECOND DAY AT HEADINGLY.

By Brian Sanderson,

Looking at to-day,s Daily Telegraph under Andrew Collomosse report on Yorkshire first day.It stated that the lowest score by Yorkshire was 111 but this was only at Headingley.In the match Albert Walter Hilton took 7 for 47 bowling his left-arm medium pacers.He only played four seasons for Sussex which the Yorkshire  match was his first-class career best. After he left Sussex he played two seasons in the Lancashire League at Burnley.The photograph above is of Burnleys ground at Turf Moor next to the football ground. However the lowest score by Yorkshire against Sussex  in Yorkshire was 61 at Dewsbury in 1891 and 42 at Hove in 1922.

To-day weather was freezing so I decided to watch the match in the Long Room behind glass. The batting highlight of the day was the partnership between Ed Joyce and Ben Brown both scoring over 90 runs.After lunch Brooks took four wickets to boost his confidence.Sussex been bowled out for 356 and Yorkshire hoping that the weather helps them.Lees was out before the umpires took them off when the rain started to fall. Good to see John Winn back from his break in the Lake District.

Yorkshire Academy are playing Barnard Castle School on Sunday if you want a ride out with the weather forecast sunny.

Interesting visitors

posted by John Winn

I can now confirm that York CC will play Didsbury at Clifton Park this weekend.

Firstly in a T20 match starting at 5:00pm on Friday then

 on Saturday at 12:30 in a 45 over game.

They will also play Pudsey St Lawrence on Sunday, again at Clifton Park, with a 12;30 start.

If these tempt you to visit York at the weekend then you might also consider looking in at Raskelf CC who will entertain Vale of Leven CC on both Saturday and Sunday. Details of start times are not known. Vale of Leven play in the Western District Cricket League and their ground is Lesser Milburn Park, Alexandria in West Dunbartonshire.


Raskelf play in the Nidderdale League on Saturdays and in the Pilmoor Evening League. The post code for their ground is YO61 3LG. It is about 20 minutes drive from Clifton Park

FIRST DAY OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP

By Brian Sanderson,

On a beautiful April day I walked through the gates of Headingley for the first Championship match.Good news as I reached the Long Room William Roberts ,the bookseller,was offering his stock at half price.Purchased some photographs of Yorkshire players.

Brian Workman and his son had come up from Sheffield to watch the match.We moved out side to sit in the sunshine and the person we sat near was Alan Studdard. I saw Alan last at Pudsey were he was speaking about Lancashire League.The sun was very nice along with the company.At lunch Yorkshire had struggled to 40 for 4 and the first  boundary coming after seventy minutes.

After lunch I strolle  back from home .Yorkshire soon closed their  innings at 96 in 46.2 overs.Not a good start to the season but at tea-time I  went round to the bookstall.Vivian and Geoff were just finishing selling  the books to help Yorkshire cricket.They do a exellent job with very little help.

After tea the sunshine left and a cold wind got up.Went inside to sit with Ron Deaton to watch the cricket in the warmth.Nash, the opening bat,scored 80 and looked in good form.Bad light took the players off at 5.30 with Sussex 104 for 3 with Sidebottom taking all three wickets.

The photograph above is of Hove when I went to watch them three years ago.Worth a visit to the ground as you can watch the cricket in a deckchair and is near the sea..

For P.C.W. St Georges are playing Selby on Saturday in Harewood Park.Good place to watch cricket.

MY SISTER BIRTHDAY PRESENT

By Brian Sanderson,

This is a photograph from the new pavilion at Headingley looking towards Emley Moor.You can pay extra this season to see this view.

Yesterday was my sisters birthday so I invited her across to Headingley with the sunshining.Yorkshire were still batting as as we came through the gates Lees had scored his maiden first-class century.As we setting down to be entertained we were joined my Jerry,our Middlesex supporter.He was going down to London on the coach at mid-night. Good luck to him.As we walked home for lunch Lees was out and Gale came in to bat.

Returning after lunch Yorshire had declared and I  had a chance to speak to Peter Dibb about the coming season.Outside Andy from York had wintered well but complained about the lack of Rugby League during the coming winter.Further down the East Stand Brian Senior was wrapped up for the cold and heard that the New Rover match had been cancelled  so I had to stop at Headingley for a bit longer. Plunkett and Patterson were picking up easy wickets on the pitch.

Met John Fuller from the Cricket Yorkshire web-site who had been up with us at West Yorkshire Archives last week .He is now the press officer for Leeds and Bradford University so the web-site is worth watching.

I was able to watch Jack Brookes take a excellent catch before I had to take my sister to the Ripon bus.However Leeds Rugby were playing at 6.45 across the ground so a early tea weas required.
As the Rugby followers will now Leeds won a good match against Warrington.

One minus for the day was that I could not purchase a scorecard in the afternoon as the ticket office was shut maybe to get away from people complaining about not getting their season tickets.Hope to go on Wednesday if my ticket has arrived.

Suddenly it's summer

posted by John Winn

You wait 174 days to see some cricket and then the next day you're almost spoilt for choice and to make things even better, after a long spell of cold easterly winds, it felt noticeably warmer than the day before.

I began my day with the short trip to Knaresborough Forest Cricket Club and their attractive Union Ground, situated behind the Union pub on Thistle Hill from the garden of which there are good views of the cricket. The occasion was  a friendly with Pontefract League outfit Knottingley CC, promoted to Division Two for 2013. Knaresborough Forest were founded in 1949 and were the dominant side in the Nidderdale League in the sixties and seventies, winning 16 championships in 27 seasons. Last season saw them occupy a mid table spot in Division Two. Next Sunday they will make the short journey to Easingwold for a preliminary round match in the National Club KO .Practice needed before then and considering the ground was under snow less than a fortnight ago it looked a treat in yesterday's sunshine as the home side batted first.

One of the Knaresborough opening bowlers showed early season rustiness with a mixture of high wides and wide highs in his first two overs  for which he profusely apologised before being rested.  Knottingley  made a steady enough start and did not lose a wicket during the half hour I watched. I took the opportunity to have a word with the groundsman who was fielding on the boundary and congratulated him on the transformation he had managed in little over a week.

I had intended to make my next stop at New Rover but unlike at  Knaresborough Forest, heavier snow had made it impossible to get the ground ready and they had cancelled the two friendlies arranged for this weekend. They are however hopeful of playing the two games fixed for next Saturday and Sunday and their website confirms that the Aire Wharf league will begin on Saturday April 20th, as planned.

On to Headingley arriving just in time to see Yorkshire begin their second innings after a slightly delayed lunch. As predicted the students had had a torrid time with the bat and had been bowled out for 118, a deficit of 123 to which Lees and Lyth steadily added throughout the afternoon's play. The second day crowd was noticeably smaller than Friday's but even more noticeable was that nearly all were sitting in the sunshine which was evident throughout most of the afternoon. The better prepared were applying their factor 30, thought to be a record north of the Trent for April.  The students fielded keenly but the Yorkshire openers were in little trouble and today Gale declared at 289 for 2 and the universities fared only a trifle better this afternoon being dismissed for 121 in the second innings. Plunkett with 6 for 33 staked  his claim for a place in Wednesday's XI to face Sussex . With Brooks capturing 3 wickets in the Leeds/Bradford first innings both the close season recruits will feel they have made a good start.

I left Headingley at tea and caught the commentary on the Grand National: the horse I held in the pub sweep resumes its employment with Steptoe and Son tomorrow. It was just a couple of minutes diversion on my route home to call again at KFCC to find  a small crowd had assembled soaking up the rays and some soaking up pints from the bar. Knottingley had managed 227 for 4 off 40 overs and Knaresborough were 50 for 2 off 18 in reply, a little behind the clock. I have not been able to find the result today but note KFCC have another 'warm up' next Saturday when they will visit Headingley CC with a 2:00 start. Another game of possible interest to pcws on Saturday is between York CC and Didsbury from Manchester. Alas the York website does not say whether it is at home or away. I have emailed the York Secretary for clarification and will post his response here before Saturday. Didsbury are members of the ECB Cheshire County Premier League and would be attractive visitors to Clifton Park. They finished eighth (out of twelve) last season.

Finally an announcement from the Central Yorkshire League that the  'week one' fixtures which have been postponed en bloc will now be played on May 11th with the cup ties arranged for that day put back twenty four hours to Sunday May 12th.

Snow at Hove but sunny Headingley.

posted by John Winn

My local radio station this morning announced that Durham and Yorkshire had warm up matches today ready for the start of the new season next week. Despite an admonitory tweet from this blogger they repeated the mistake in the next bulletin. Today is the start of the first class cricket season with six counties taking on MCCU sides. Warm ups they may be, although that is just about the last thing they are if you take into account today's temperatures, but rightly or wrongly, and most people I know think wrongly, they have first class status and thus mark the start of the season. BBC Tees take note.

A hundred and seventy two days older than when I lost saw any cricket I travelled to Headingley not too worried whether the games were first class or not and in plenty of time to see Leeds/Bradford MCCU take the field well protected against the cold and in front of a decent gathering of the faithful, some hardy enough to sit outside the warmth of the long room. Amongst those who had gathered were many  familiar faces who seemed to have wintered well. Some were even kind enough to say they had enjoyed the winter postings on the blog. There were one or two surprises in store for us; the doubling of the price of scorecards, the unavailability of year books, sold out but more in stock tomorrow but no bigger shock than to find after about twenty minutes of the new season had elapsed Yorkshire had gone from 9 for 0 to 10 for 4 and it looked as though we might get the chance to see the two new signings, Plunkett and Brooks, in action both with bat and possibly ball before lunch.

Bairstow and Ballance mounted a modest recovery but another collapse brought Sidebottom to the wicket at 65 for 7. As on several occasions last season, however Ryan showed how his batting, if not his hairstyle, has improved, and with Ballance he added 156 for the 8th wicket .Ballance was then well supported by Brooks and with extras showing good early season form, the ninth wicket did not fall until 244, as did the tenth.

In the five matches that started today, there was no play at Hove due to rain and snow, the county sides batted first, perhaps this is protocol but in most cases the students appear to have acquitted  themselves quite well for even at Durham where new parent Ben Stokes hit a hundred, the county side had been in trouble at 40 for 3. One suspects that the universities will not find batting easy. The season has started with some cricket grounds under snow, piles of it by the road in some places and with overnight frosts the norm, a bizarre set of conditions and I didn't hear anybody today recall seeing  anything quite like it. Tomorrow presents an opportunity to see some club friendlies and after a call at Knaresborough Forest I will probably go on to New Rover where Wakefiled Thornes provide the opposition.

lost grounds

posted by John Winn

The fiftieth anniversary of the publication of The Beeching Report last week was not an opportunity the BBC was likely to pass up and at least three times on one day I saw some nostalgic footage with voice overs by Cliff Michelmore and shots of John Betjeman on various, now long defunct, country railway stations. It put me in mind of the lyrics of a delightful Flanders and Swann song, Slow Train which includes reference to several stations which fell under Beeching's axe. The song's opening line is 'Miller's Dale for Tideswell', a station particularly evocative in the Winn household for it was where my wife caught the train that took her to secondary school in Buxton.The station closed in 1967 and the pupils were taken the eight mile journey by bus. but the buildings survive and the track bed is part of the Monsal Dale long distance path that uses the former Midland Railway route.

Not all the 31 stations listed by Flanders and Swann were closed, ten survive to this day and fortunately for pcws one of the survivors is Chester le Street which will disgorge many passengers when an Ashes test is played at The Riverside for the first time in August. Where CleS was spared others with delightful and romantic names like Mow Cop and Scholar Green, Tumby Woodside and Trouble House Halt are no more. Researching nineteenth century cricket, in particular the archive of 'The Ripon and Richmond Chronicle' has produced many references to places where cricket was played 150 and more years ago but like the station at  Cockermouth for Buttermere the grounds have been put to alternative uses.

Many of the 'lost grounds' were country house grounds at places like Baldersby Park (near Thirsk), Old Sleningford Hall (close to West Tanfield), Grimston Park ( a mile south of Tadcaster) and Maunby Hall (near the confluence of the Swale and Wiske rivers). They sound like lovely places to play or watch cricket. There is an account of York travelling to play against Grimston Park arriving at Ulleskelf Staion in 1868 where they were met by Lord Londonderry's 'four in hand' for the two mile journey to the ground. When Londonderry (Catterick) played Leeming CC in 1859 at Newton House Park, luncheon was provided by the Duchess Dowager of Cleveland who was loudly cheered when she arrived to watch the match in her donkey cart. Must have been a decent lunch.

Not all the reports I have read describe games in country estate parks or have references to nobility. A more down to earth encounter took place in 1868 at the Victoria Grounds near Boroughbridge Station between the 'Woodyard Men' and the 'Brickyard Men' of Messrs JW and W Green with the spoils going to the Brickyard. Another match that intrigued me was that between High Coniscliffe, just out of Darlington on the Barnard Castle road and where I have found no other record of cricket being played, against Drapers' Assistants, who cutting their coats according to their cloth ran out winners.

To access these events I have used micro film records which provide by no means a complete record. Some years are missing altogether, some are incomplete and the cricket reporting is far from systematic but some of the descriptions of matches are delightful. Such a game was that between New Marske and Upleatham in July 1868 where the wickets were 'pitched in a  cart track and the ball behaved in a most capricious and tantalising manner, making obtuse, right and acute angles'. Scores were low.

Finally thanks to Brian for posting April's fixtures .In Friday's posting  I made reference to a picture of Knaresborough Forest's ground covered in many parts by snow last week but passing by on Friday afternoon I saw the groundsman cutting the square so things are looking up but disappointingly, yet understandably the Central Yorkshire League has postponed all its first week's fixtures, scheduled for April 13th, to allow more time for ground preparation.