12 HOURS OF SUNSHINE

By Brian Sanderson,

Looking at the weather forecast for this week Friday looked the best day to watch cricket at Derby.Opening the curtains this morning the sun was  shining and so I set of with Bob Procter to Derby.After a easy run down to the ground Bob was able to obtain two signatures from Ricky Pointing,the ex Australian captain. who was now playing for Surrey. He has scored 23657 first class runs at 55.27 average. On Derby side was Shiv Chanderpaul who has now scored 22182 first class runs at average of 56.01.He had scored another  century yesterday and was still not out.

Derbyshire were only two wickets down after yesterday and looked in no problem this morning.Until Meaker bowled a ball at Chanderpaul to be caught by Ponting.With Madsen they had put on a record third wicket partnreship for Derby against Surrey of 265.

After lunch with the new bowl Surrey seem to wake up for awhile and when Medson was out for 152 they were 337 for 6 after 88 overs with a prospect of getting full batting bonus points but this did not happen. Wainwright and Johnston seem to be unable to score fast enough.One of the crowd was David Byas, ex Yorshire captain, who is a umpire assessor now.

After tea with the sun still shining Johnston reached 72 with equal his highesr first class score and Derby were all out for 452.Surrey soon lost a wicket due to a stupid run out and finished on 35 for 1.

A excellent day and when will we see two players who have scored over 45000 runs  between them on a cricket field again.

The photograph is of the Derby pavilion.

Milestone for Chapple

posted by John Winn

Heavy rain in the Lower Ure Valley on Wednesday afternoon and evening had not entirely disappeared when I drove to York yesterday morning to take the train to Merseyside for the second day of Lancashire v Gloucestershire at Aigburth. The forecast was for light rain to clear and give sunny spells and such proved the case. Play began an hour late with Lancs resuming their innings which had been interrupted by heavy rain on the first day.

The hour's wait passed quickly enough in the company of some red rose pcws whose main concerns for the season centred on the vulnerability of Lancashire's top order. It had been found wanting on Wednesday when they had been reduced to 26 for 3 and 90 for 4 before being rescued by Katich and Croft. These two made a confident start but the dismissal of Katich for 96  led to the fall of more wickets and lunch was taken at 232 for 8.

Gloucestershire finished bottom of Division Two last season and may feel a  little heartened by their start to this one for their one win has at least placed them above three other sides. There are a number  playing in this match who are unfamiliar to me. The side retains only four of those who were involved in the exciting finish at Scarborough at last year's festival. including a new captain in MIchael Klinger who took the M5 from New Road to Nevil Road in the close season.

The pcws mood at lunch was that the best they could hope for was another batting point but led by Kyle Hogg the last two wickets added 88 to bring Lancashire to 310 all out.  Gloucestershire's hero was Craig Miles with a career best 6 for 88.  During the afternoon the weather forecasters had been vindicated by the appearance of the sun from time to time but it was never shirt sleeve order. During the break between innings the man next to me pointed out that Glen Chapple needed one wicket to reach 900 in first class cricket and to his delight (my neighbour's) and Chapple's it was not long arriving when Agathangelou clung on to a catch to dismiss Klinger in the third over. Credit to the pa announcer who was quick off the mark to point out the significance of this event and shortly after tea Chapple set out towards his thousandth when Dent was LBW at 43 for 2. 

The clouds which had been building up produced one of the briefest showers ever recorded but  Messrs Mallender and Dawood took the players from the field at 66 for 3 and at almost exactly the point when I needed to leave to catch my bus to Liverpool Parkway South Station.
The bus journey to this excellent transport hub takes only ten minutes, and the station gives access to a range of train and bus services as well as serving John Lennon Airport. I recommend it for any pcws travelling to Aigbuth.

While I made my way back over The Pennines, Gidman and Howell brought Gloucestershire back into the game with an undefeated stand for the fifth wicket of 77 which leaves the game nicely balanced and with the weather looking settled a positive outcome seems likely by stumps on Saturday.

The photograph is of Earby ,the  home club of Glen Chapple

NORTHALLERTON EVENING LEAGUE

By Brian Sanderson,

Yesterday evening I went with Ron Deaton to see the fixtures in the Walsh Cup which is one of two cups in the above league.It was raining when we sent off from Harrogate however when we left Ripon the rain had stopped.

The league consists of ten clubs ;

Leake, East Harsley, South Kilvington, Silton, Thornton-le -Moor , Ingleby Cross, East Cowton and Northallerton Rugby club.Northallerton cricket club had dropped out of the league last year.Leake,Ingleby Cross and Northallerton only play evening league.The other clubs play in the Nidderdale League, Langbourgh League and Nidderdale.

The first ground was Northallerton Rugby club however there was no match  and they should have been playing East Cowton.The wicket could not be seen from the club house however when we got closer the marking could be seen. It looked like it had not been used for a year.

Moving on to South Kilvington who were playing Ingleby Cross and they were playing. There is a new pavilion been built and the ground is next to A19 so there is traffic noise. One of the players said there had been two matches played on the Rugby club this year and the wicket was poor.When we were walking round the ball landed in the field full of cows so it was truely went to cowshot corner.

Moving on up to Leake who were playing East Harlsey.They only play evening cricket and the last time we visited this season Ripon thirds were playing on the ground.

Next match was Silton against Thornton-le-Moor. This is a ground we visited last year when the outfield had not been cut due to machine failure.However last night the grass had been cut on Sunday and looked a lot better. The photograph  is of the club house last year with the long grass.The away side had scored 75  and Silton won easily.There had to be a delay when one of the fielders had to put a bandage on his cut figure caused by a dropped catch.

The wind was very cold but it was good to see village cricket again.

Just a mention that we have had some visitors on the web-site from Russia. I hope they are also enjoying the site.

New league takes shape

posted by John Winn

In a posting made in February (Thank you, Murton CC, Feb 3rd) I outlined the major changes that were to be introduced this season in the organisation of league cricket in North east England, in particular the creation of a new league. The Durham Cricket league. This infant is the child of three parents, the Durham County, Coast and Senior Leagues and has twenty six members playing each other once this season and splitting into two for 2014.

Matches in the new league began at the end of April and with use having been made of the two bank holidays seven rounds have now been played, enough for a clear leader, Esh Winning, champions of the County League, to emerge and for the bottom two, Crook Town and Silksworth to be well behind the other twenty four. With 30 points available for a win things can change quite quickly but from their defeat by Marsden yesterday Silksworth picked up only two points and they find themselves winless from their seven matches as do three other sides.

It is a favourite saying among football mangers, especially those of struggling outfits, that in their particular league any team can beat any other team. in theory more often than practice I suspect. Looking at yesterday's results it looks as though the DCL is beginning to divide into 'haves' and 'have nots'. Of the thirteen games played yesterday only four ended in draws and in the nine where there was a victory seven of those went to teams who were in the top half of the table before play began. The two sides from the bottom half who came out on top did so against other teams from their half of the table.

Looking ahead to this Saturday's fixtures almost all pit clubs form the top 13 against those from the bottom. Form so far would suggest that results will increase the divide between 'haves' and 'have nots'. Burnmoor who lie second and last season were champions of the Senior League, will entertain Langley Park currently third from bottom and with only one win. If Langley's glass is half empty they may take some comfort from the knowledge that this season they will only face Burnmoor once.

JUNE FIXTURES

By Brian Sanderson,

A picture of the new scoreboard at Trent Bridge. Oh! that Headingley could be like Trent Bridge.

JUNE 1   DERBY  V  SURREY
         
        FULL LEAGUE PROGRAMMES.

I am going round East Coast grounds.

June 2 YORKSHIRE  V  GLOS     HEADINGLEY

     CUMBERLAND  V   HERTFORDSHIRE   PENRITH

    CHESHIRE   V  NORTHUMBERLAND  HYDE
    YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN  V  HAWKES   11.30.
    UNIVERSITY OF YORK   V  M.C.C

June 3   LEEDS AND BRADFORD  V  EXETER       WEETWOOD

JUNE 4   LEICESTERSHIRE SECONDS  V  YORKSHIRE SECONDS  GRACE ROAD.

JUNE 5  YORKSHIRE  V  NOTTINGHAM SCARBOROUGH  4 DAY MATCH

             LEEDS AND BRADFORD  V  LANCASHIRE   WEETWOOD

JUNE 6  SCARCROFT  V  NEW ROVER HEADINGLEY 20/20

JUNE 9  YORKSHIRE  V  LEICESTERSHIRE  SCARBOROUGH

          JOE LUMB  BARNSLEY  V  HALIFAX  BARNSLEY
                              DONCASTER  V  LEEDS  WARMWORTH
JUNE 11  MIDDLESEX  V  YORKSHIRE LORDS  4 DAYS.
           YORKSHIRE OVER 60  V  LANCASHIRE  ILKLEY

JUNE 13   YORKSHIRE OVER 60,S   V  NORFOLK   FISHLAKE

        NEW ROVER  V  HORSFORTH HALL PARK  20/20

JUNE 16  CHATSWORTH HOUSE  V  YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN

  JOE LUMB   AIREWHARFEDALE  V  HUDDERSFIELD   NEW ROVER
                        YORK  V  NORTH YORKSHIRE   STILLINGTON
                        AIREDALE  V  HEAVY WOOLLEN   GARGRAVE.
JUNE 17  GIGGLESWICK  V  M.C.C

JUNE 20   YORKSHIRE  V  MIDDLESEX   HEADINGLEY

                YORKSHIRE SECONDS  V  LANCASHIRE    MASKE
           KIRKSTALL EDUCATION   V   NEW ROVER   20/20

JUNE 21   YORSHIRE  V  SURREY    HEADINGLEY  FOUR DAYS

            NOTTINGHAM  SECONDS  V   LANCASHIRE  WORKSOP COLLEGE 20/20
            ENGLAND U19  V   YORSHIRE    LOUGHBOROUGH

JUNE   23  CUMBERLAND   V   NORFOLK   FURNESS

               CHESHIRE   V    WILTSHIRE   CHESTER

          YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN  V   WEST RIDING.

JUNE 24    ASHVILLE COLLEGE   V  M.C.C

         LANCASHIRE SECONDS  V   MIDDLESEX  LIVERPOOL

        NOTTINGHAM SECONDS  V   LEICESTERSHIRE   NOTTS SPORT CLUB

JUNE 25   364 LUNCH

    YORKSHIRE OVER 60,S  V   DERBYSHIRE   NEW ROVER.

JUNE 27   NEW ROVER   V HEADINGLEY/ BROOMFIELD  20/20

JUNE 28   ST PETERS  V  M.C.C

JUNE 30   YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN  V  SAINTS    11.30

Enjoy your cricket and always double check the fixtures.

Hope Brian Cobb has enjoyed his holidays.

FOLLOWING IN A HEADINGLEY GHOST

By Brian Sanderson,

On a sunny Bank Holiday Monday I decided to go an watch Yorshire under 15 against Wales after been advised of the match by Brian Workman.Ossett is a club were Fairfax Gill played who played  two matches for Yorkshire in 1906.Fairfax deid of his wounds on the 1 November 1917 having been shot in the head.You can read his story in the new Mick Pope book called Headingley Ghosts.Yorkshire struggled to find a image of him but earlier this year Ossett club found a picture of him in a group photograph.

This match was a two day match with 105 overs  to be bowled in a day.Wales had been defeated yesterday by Worcestershire so may be this is why they put Yorshire into bat.The Welsh bowling was very tight and they all bowled well with the wickets shared.Yorkshire scored 215 in 62 overs with the number 3 bat scoring fifty.It is a pity there is not a sheet with the players name on them.

At tea time we went home to watch the Test Match on the television.They were advertising tickets at £30 to-day which is still  priced to high.This is why the crowd was poor and Sky making sly comments about Yorkshire people  meaness.

Just a note to thank somebody from Taiwen for reading the blog and I hope he enjoys reading about two cricket supporters going round the country.

Goldsborough turn things round

posted by John Winn

After the rigours of scoring for four and a half hours on Saturday I decided a leisurely day was in order yesterday and made the short trip to Goldsborough near Knaresborough where the first round tie in the Atkinson Swires cup was a repeat of the previous day's league fixture with Helperby. Saturday's event had been a low scoring game with Goldsborough all out for 117 and with the visitors losing eight wickets before getting home. Top scorer for Goldsborough was West Australian Jack Joy.

Six overs had elapsed when I arrived at the Station Road ground with Helperby 26 without loss. The introduction of Ben Mackrill and Karthik Mani into the attack slowed the scoring rate and by the time drinks were taken after 21 overs the score stood at 80 for 2. The Goldsborough ground is a neat, tidy ground and recent events and successful teams are preserved in a good collection of photographs in the pavilion. There is a record of a match played against Great Ouseburn in 1842, a fixture that is maintained more than 170 years later in the Nidderdale League.

Checking the excellent league website this morning I saw that Helperby had made 204 off their 40 overs but Goldsborough had reached their target with three overs  and four wickets in hand. They will now play Blubberhouses away in the quarter finals. From Goldsborough I drove for about fifteen minutes to Spofforth on the Harrogate to Wetherby Road. Here the home team were taking on Alne in another tie in the same competition. The spacious and very well appointed School Lane ground is helpfully sign posted from the village main street. I had last visited it in 2009 when Spofforth were members of the Wetherby League of which they were founder members after the First World War. Their membership was not continuous, they spent some years in the Harrogate League, and in 2011 they sought a fresh challenge in the Nidderdale League and the two XIs were placed in divisions two and five respectively. This seems to have been the right decision for in their first season the first eleven were promoted and last year finished mid table in the first division. The second XI seemed to have found their niche in Div 5 when they finished eighth of twelve but are currently bottom and well off the pace.

A decent crowd had assembled to enjoy the cricket and sunshine and a flurry of boundaries in the last three overs took Alne to 219 for 5, Pete Carr top scoring with 71 not out. I took the time to investigate the clubroom and was gifted a copy of the excellent yearbook which contains the usual fixtures, averages and award winners and what looked like a very healthy balance sheet. When I left after about an hour of the home team innings they had lost a couple of wickets and I rather thought they might struggle to pass Alne's total but the scorecard on the website shows that opener Will Long made 126 and with 47 from Tom Clark who had taken 3 for 18 off his 8 overs ,Spofforth won by six wickets with an over to spare. They will visit Darley in the next round on June 23rd. Let's hope for a day like yesterday.

And finally despite the loss of Strauss to the first class game you may have noticed how cricket continues to be melodic with Wagner in New Zealand's test side, Elgar having replaced Pieterson at Somerset, what a pity he didn't go to New Road and Boult although suffering from a side strain also in action at Headingley. Let's hope he is soon able to take up the baton again.

CHRISTENING SUNDAY

By Brian Sanderson,

This morning I received a telephone call from David Thorpe to ask if I wished to take a trip to the Saddleworth League.I have been wanting to go to Friarmere ground  on the Saddleworth Moor so the answer was yes and there was a change of plan. Above is the picture from the pavilion at Fiarmere which is a beautiful sight in sunshine however it is another club struggling to keep going.

The match was Friarmere seconds against Uppermill seconds who had played the reverse fixture yesterday.Uppermill had won the reverse fixture yesterday in a close low scoring match . We talked to a Uppermill player who had played in the match and had taken six wickets. This was a player called Lewis who must have been in his 60.s and we saw a painting of him in the Uppermill pavilion when we called into the ground later in the afternoon.The ground is  hugh area with one boundary about 100 yards away and the other about 40 yards.There was only one umpire who came up to talkto us thinking we might be the other umpire.No we did not take up the job.
One famous name associated with the club was Ramadhin the famous West Indian bowler.His son is the Chairman of the club and we passed him arriving as we were leaving.

The next ground was Shaw who,s seconds were playing Heyside.The ground is a beautiful kept ground with numerous notices up stopping people,walking dogs,football and golf.As we got to the pavilion we meet Peter Davies and his father who were going on to Todmorden.Peter looked well and had been to Hanging Heaton yesterday.

Next ground was Heyside were we meet the first christening party who had taken all the parikng spots.We tried one spot but were met by a householder standing on his step challanging us to park outside his hoiuse but decided to find another spot.The match was the first team fixture of the same two teams at Shaw.Shaw had a professional from Namibia which was the first time either one of use had seen a cricketer from that country.

We soon moved on to get away from the crowd and went to Moorside who,s seconds were playing Austerlands.The area is shared with a bowling club and a new pavilion had been recently built.At this point we sat down to drink a cup of tea to watch Moorside get ready to bowl after been bowled out for 72.So I do not think it will  be a long match.

Moving on to Austerlands ground which is the highest cricket ground in England  at the height over 1,000 feet.There is brilliant views towards Warrington.Just before we arrived the cricket ball had smashed into the windscreen of one of the guests at another christening .You can watch the match from a grass mound and see the hills in the distance however it was very busy.

Moving on to Uppermill which has more brilliant views of the hills.Friarmere were batting a were three wickets for not very many.While we were there the batsmen played and missed on  numerous occasions.
As I had to be back home by seven for tea we went home.

It was good to see Peter and see some great views from the cricket grounds in the sunshine.Thank you David for the invitation for the idea and will visit the rest of the Saddleworth grounds soon.

Ihad a e-mail from Tony Hutton to say that Queensbury ground in Bradford is the higest ground in England.

Balancing the books

posted by John Winn

A few weeks ago I was asked by Ouseburn's regular first team scorer, Tricia Bryant, if I would stand in for her at yesterday's Nidderdale League fixture at Hampsthwaite. Despite the fact that I had last scored for a complete match in 1975 on a cricket tour to the Isle of Wight, I said 'yes'. As Saturday grew nearer I became more nervous and increasingly found myself between the hard place of having to shout 'bowler's name' for ones own team and the rock of hoping that Friday's awful weather would have left the Hampsthwaite ground underwater.

My preparation to avoid the first of these had been thwarted by last weekend's rain which caused the abandonment of Ouseburn's home match and with it my plan to watch the game primarily as an exercise in player identification. I was to some extent reassured by an email this week from Tricia informing me that Hampsthwaite's scorer was very experienced and would keep me right. And how. Dorothy Thwaite has carried out scoring duties at Church Lane for over 60 years and in 2006 was made a life member of the Nidderdale league in recognition of her services to cricket in the area which extend far beyond scoring, for Dorothy had an outstanding career as a player including representing Yorkshire Ladies. I was in safe hands.

On a beautiful afternoon Ouseburn won the toss and Tom (green helmet) and Sam (blue helmet) Parker set about Hampsthwaite's bowling with obvious enjoyment and I was grateful that my duties were restricted to operating the 'wickets' rather than 'total'. Dorothy cheerfully multitasked away and even threw in the odd yorker in the form of questions about current affairs, the state of play in the test match and the draw for the Atkinson Swires cup.* Anyone of these would have been enough to deal with for a man struggling to remember how to record five wides.

Exactly three hours after it began, Ouseburn's innings finished on 282 for 7 with Sam Parker having contributed 145, the great majority in fours and sixes. Dorothy lamented that he had been dropped on ten and felt sure that the total would be too many for the home team. Hampsthwaite were champions last year for the first time since 1952 but they are missing some players from that successful XI and after losing two early wickets never looked like batting out time, let alone threatening Ouseburn's formidable score. Four wickets for skipper Chris Morrison (red boots) and four for Sam Dale (left arm slow)  saw the innings close in the thirtieth over with Hampsthwaite all out for 75.

To my relief the two score books were in agreement with each other and the umpires. An interesting and enjoyable afternoon but it was with some relief that I handed the book to Jamie Bryant for safe return to his mother. Clubs who can rely on the dedication of people like Dorothy  and Tricia are indeed lucky, for although I enjoyed the afternoon next Saturday will see Ouseburn's book back in its proper hands and next Sunday's posting will be more representative of my typical weekend ramblings, and that's not just the prose.

*the KO cup for the top 16 teams in the previous season's Nidderdale League. First round today.

TRIP TO SOUTH YORKSHIRE

By Brian Sanderson,

As Ron Deaton was going to the Test Match this allowed me to take a trip to South Yorkshire.The first match I went to was Warmsworth against Bradfield in the South Yorkshire third Division.Jack Workman was playingand I last saw him at Carlton earlier in the week. Warmswoth ground is just off the A1 and you can hear the traffic from the ground.They have just been granted a £50,000 grant to improve the roof of the club house.

Warmsworth batted  first against a stuggling Bradfield side which are the bottom of the league.The weather was very sunny for a change which made any cricket ground looikng better.As I left Warmsworth looked like they would  score 250 which they did and bowled Brasfield for a low score.

Moving on to Conisborough who were playing Norton Oakes in the same league.I parked my car in the lane outside the ground but this caused the local residents to come out of their houses tell me I could not park here.The team has been at the present ground for over fifty years and people must realise when they buy houses near a ground people will park their cars near as possible to the ground.The ground has good views of the countryside and the clubhouse as just been recently rebuilt.

Moving towards I called into Wath upon Dearne who were playing Conisborough first team  who had scored 242.The playing field is a large area and very flat which is typical of ex mining club.

I called into Barnsley who were playing York in E.C.B Yorkshire Cricket League.There were two spectators I knew at the match which York won easily again.They are the best team in this league by a mile.The photograph above is of the ground at Shaw Lane.

Moving up the M1 I poped into Calder Grove who were beaten by Netherton in the Huddersfield Central League.The ground is dominated by the railway arches.There are another team that do well to keep going and are always at the bottom of the league.

The last match was at East Ardsley who were playing Birstall A. The ground is near the MI and has good views towards Wakefield.There was a number of car watching the match.

A interesting afternoon to some clubs I have not visited before.

On this day

posted by John Winn

Travelling conditions this morning are atrocious enough to convince me that a day at The Riverside today, now matter how intriguingly poised Durham's match with Middlesex might be, should be forgotten. With the decks at home cleared yesterday to make way for the trip today time is available for a posting recalling a match attended sixteen years ago at Archdeacon Meadow, Gloucester when Gloucestershire took on visitors Essex.

Gloucestershire have played on a number of grounds within the city of Gloucester, the first being Spa Ground where they played first class cricket from 1882 to 1923. The last game, between GCCC and Leicestershire, featured a young Wally Hammond and although his contribution was modest Gloucestershire won by five wickets. The ground today is the home of Gloucester City Winget CC, members of the West of England Premier League. The club was formed in 2005 by a merger of Gloucester CC and Winget CC.

Their third and fourth XIs play the matches at the Wagon Works ground which had replaced the Spa Ground in 1923 as the county's home in the county town. The romantically named ground in Tuffley Avenue was owned by the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company. There is still a link between the railway industry and the ground, albeit a somewhat tenuous one in that the pavilion for the adjacent bowling green started life as a railway carriage intended for the Central Argentine Railway but on its transatlantic journey in 1915 the ship carrying it was torpedoed. Two carriages were saved and brought back to the city to serve as pavilions and one still survives. 

The 155th and last first class game was played at Tuffley Avenue in May 1992, when  visitors Somerset won a tight match by 17 runs. A sixth wicket stand of 58 between Jack Russell and  Richard Scott had taken 'Glors' to within a sniff of victory but the last four batsmen, all victims of HRJ Trump, contributed zero runs between them and the last five wickets went down for just 14.

 Hammond played probably the most outstanding innings on this ground when he hit 317 against Notts. As recently as 2012 there were suggestions that Gloucestershire might return to Tuffley Avenue and indeed make it the county's headquarters. These ideas were precipitated by the club's financial misfortunes arising out of the cost of bringing the Bristol ground up to standard for international cricket, a not unfamiliar set of circumstances. With scaled down plans now approved a move back to Gloucester seems unlikely.

The Archdeacon Meadow ground is owned by King's School Gloucester and was first used by GCCC in 1992. No first class cricket has been played there since 2008. The cricket  I saw there sixteen years ago was fairly uninspiring: the first day had been washed out and Wisden says that the pupils at the school had, not for the first time, sacrificed their blankets to assist with mopping up .Essex skipper Paul Pritchard was critical of these sophisticated arrangements, and I don't suppose the boys were too chuffed either. Pritchard was rebuked for his tactics on the fourth day when the game petered out into a tame draw. One nice little touch was that the home team's number two and three batsmen both bagged a pair, Messrs Trainor and Cunliffe, with Mark Ilott the successful bowler on all four occasions. Jack Russell led a revival from 84 for 7 to 290 all out. On the fourth day 'the best of the Essex batting came from Stuart Law, with Grayson a stubborn partner'. (Wisden). Some spectators kept warm by wrapping themselves in blankets: school pupils looked on enviously.

Finally you may recall my reference to the wisdom of Dave Nosworthy, the Somerset Director of Cricket, in my most recent posting. It was with some anticipation that I looked yesterday to see how 'coach speak' might explain a defeat in under five sessions to Sussex. Perhaps not surprisingly the job had been passed to Head Coach Andy Hurry but fear not, for he too is fluent in the patois and his full offering can be found on the Somerset website. As a taster there is slots of 'going forward' whilst 'trying to turn things round', always a tricky operation but 'we will be practicing (sic) again on Friday to make sure we get our volume in and making sure we that we are positively reinforcing that this is the group of players that we want to keep going forward with'. Come back Dave, all is forgiven.

Durham hit good areas and are in the mix.

posted by John Winn

Middlesex travelled north to Chester le Street at the head of the championship table with opponents Durham having slipped to third whilst without a game last week. The several Middlesex players who took part in the corresponding match last season may just have had in the back of their minds memories of being bowled out on the third  morning and falling 16 runs short of victory. When skipper Rogers won the toss asking Durham to bat was probably not a decision he fretted over.

With Benkenstein ruled out by injury for the next few months Durham recalled Jennings but there was no place for Richardson for it was Borthwick who entered at three after the early dismissal of Stoneman. Any fears that Durham would be dismissed for something like the 102 they scored in the first innings last year were quickly dispelled and lunch was taken at 100 for 1, with Borthwick in particular having played very fluently and being 46 not out at the interval.

If the morning had not gone according to Rogers' expectations the afternoon appeared to justify his decision to field for despite some dropped catches in the slips Durham found themselves 149 for 5 when Mustard joined Will Smith who had batted patiently while wickets fell at the other end. The sixth wicket added 55 before Smith was out and although contributions from the last four batsmen were modest, enough support was given to Mustard for the second batting point to be gained.

During the afternoon I had been joined by my friend Pete Sixsmith who offered to ease my return journey by giving me a lift to Durham station. We stayed long enough to see Onions keep out the hat trick ball after Collymore had dismissed Thorpe and Wood but missed seeing Mustard go to his fifty with some lusty blows before being caught in the deep for 62.

Middlesex were faced with 8 overs batting before the close and the cake that had looked soggy at tea but had risen thanks to Mustard's efforts was nicely iced by Onions  who removed Rogers, previously averaging over 70 in the championship for 3 and Thorpe had Sam Robson, averaging over 80, for 1. Denly and Smith hung on to the close but Middlesex will start this morning still 248 in arrears. The forecast for Chester le Street today is for some heavy, possibly wintry showers borne on a strong northerly wind. Neither batting nor fielding will be pleasant and the thought of it being colder than yesterday has been enough to put me off making the trip north.

Most readers will be aware of the events at Cricket Field Road, Horsham yesterday where Somerset won the toss and were bowled out in a little over 22 overs for 76 with Magoffin taking 8 for 20. I have commented more than once on Somerset's problems this season, in particular how their batting line up, so strong on paper has struggled in the championship but been buoyant in 40 over cricket.. Sussex found themselves with a first innings lead as early as 2:30 and by the close had stretched it to  222 with one wicket in hand. To make Somerset's coach Dave Nosworthy's day the last wicket pair added an unbeaten 27 before stumps with one MS Panesar 17 not out. Nosworthy does a nice line in 'coach speak'. Gems like  'If we can get a little more discipline in the morning and hit good areas then we will be in the mix'. His comments yesterday evening were a little more straight forward. 'There are no excuses we didn't get it right'. Fair enough, Dave.

TRIP OVER THE PENNINES

By Brian Sanderson,

There was a chance to go to a new ground for me at Westhoughton near Wigan.The match was a forty over match between Lancashire Seconds and Durham.The forecast was that it would be wet in the morning and clearing in the afternoon.The match should have started at 12.00 but it did not start till 1.00 due to the rain.

The club was founded in 1856 and play in the Bolton Cricket League.It is a new ground as seen from the above photograph and is a large playing area but very open.This caused problem all day due to the cold wind blowing across the field.There was a good collection of Yorkshire and Lancashire P.C.W in attendance together with a person from New Zealand who had come over for the Test Matches.

Lancashire batted first and opened with Davies and Lilley who was captain for the day.Davies is a wicket-keeper batsman who was in the England under 19 tour to Australia. John Abrahams was there to see him as the manager of the England under 19 side.Davies scored a good 94  in a total of 236.

One of Durham,s opening batsmen was Ramanpreet Singh born in Newcastle. He also has been involved in England under 19 sides.He scored to-day 106.One of the Lancashire opening bowlers was Kabir Ali who has recently tranfered from Worcesterhire and has played 14 one day internationals for England so quite a contrast in experence.

I left abot 5,15 with Singh still batting but looked like Durham losing the match.When I looked at the Durham web site it stated that Durham wanted 16 of the last over and lost by 4 runs.Excellent day had by all.

JUNIOR CRICKET EVENING

By Brian Sanderson,

I was invited by Brian Workman to watch Carlton under 15 against West Bretton in the Gordon S.S.Cooper under 15 Championship Shield.Brian son was playing his first match for West Bretton.The match started at 6.30 in dark light with West Bretton batting.

It was good to see both sides had eleven men and there were two umpires.The crowd consisted of parents scattered round the ground which looks on to a rubarb field.At would stage the score did not look as they would reach a hundred but with a good finish this was achieved.

We were watch from behing the bowlers arm but next to a hedge which produced a number a midges as the evening went on.So we had to move round the ground to watch West Britton bowl and field very well and ran out a easy winners.

The night brought back memoirs of myself playing at this level at Colton but we rearly reached the total of a hundred but the pitch then were not covered then.

Nomadic Normanby

posted by John Winn

Saturday's rain and non-cricketing activities yesterday meant no cricket watching for me this weekend and with torrential rain wiping out all cricket in the North East on Saturday today's Northern Echo is sadly short of its normal excellent coverage of the weekend's league games. How glad the sports' editor must have been that there was still life in the football season.

One NYSD Premier  game was completed however, for it was played yesterday and was between Normanby Hall and Marton and was played at Redcar. With all their close rivals washed out the previous day here was an opportunity for Marton to extend their lead at the top of the table but they will have been disappointed to be on the losing end of a draw which gave them only six points to Normanby's 16.
There is a degree of irony in this because under normal circumstances the game would have been played  at Normanby on Saturday and would doubtless have  suffered the same fate as all other cricket in the region on that day.

Time for an explanation and for this we must go back to last September when the square at the Cricket Lane ground on the outskirts of Middlesbrough was re-laid only for the recovery to be set back by heavy rain later in the month. This means that Normanby will play all this season's home matches on the grounds of other clubs in the league and on Sundays. Hence yesterday's match being at Redcar. It is perhaps not surprising therefore that these long established members of the NYSD are still without a win after six matches but yesterday's effort will have improved confidence and today's table shows three clubs below them, all without a victory so far. Another plus for Hall was the availability of Yorkshire wicketkeeper Dan Hodgson who, with Andy Hodd keeping against the Unicorns, was not required at Chesterfield. Hodgson made 54 of his side's 177 for 9 and they fell only one wicket short of an outright win with Marton's last pair seeing out the last five balls to avoid defeat.

Finally back to a favourite grouse of mine (and of many pcws too), namely the poor coverage of the county championship by the national press. So poor was The Guardian's on Saturday that I was prompted to write to the editor complaining but my letter, not surprisingly, does not appear in today's issue. On a day when there was effectively only one issue of any weight to be settled in the Premier League and that only of concern to a corner of North London, the paper devoted seven pages to coverage of the league. In contrast, other than Friday's scorecards, there was no reference to the championship where on Friday two of the season's pre-season favouritesWarwickshire and Somerset had suffered heavy defeats, and a third, Surrey seemed likely to lose to Notts, which they duly did.

Bias towards football is not confined to the press for on a day of remarkable events at Lord's BBC  yesterday evening led with stories from the day's football before moving on to the test match. Fourtenn wickets in half a day and a decent test team bowled out in under two hours not a lead story? Bah.

Finally in a posting in March on the topic of the national cup competitions I promised that if you were interested in the outcome of the match in the Village KO in group 28 (Devon and Cornwall) between Calstock CC and Perranarworthal Cc this was the place to come then I am afraid you must be prepared for an anti-climax for Perranarworthal conceded. You saw it here first, or possibly not.

JACK LEANING DAY

By Brian Sanderson,

On a warm Sunday mornig I had a trip to York to see them play Elsecar who are in South Yorkshire Senior Cricket League Division 1. The match was the second round of the E.C.B National Cub Championship .Elsecar who were established in 1895 had beaten Sheffield Collegiate in the first round.Elsecar are coached and captained by Ian Swallow who was the former Yorshire off spinner and he  also played for Somerset.

York batted first with Snell and Leaning. The photograph above is of Jack Leaning who is a Yorkshire Second Team player aged 19.The pitch was slow and took spin straight away with the spinners coming on after about six overs.The spinners were Townsend,Shutt and Meadows who bowled 27 overs for 87 taking 6 wickets. The main run scorer was Jack Leaning who scored 86 with the Nick Kay but on the best stand of 45.York scored 181 in their forty-five overs.The feelings were that they should have scored at least twenty more runs.

York opened  the bowling with Daniel Wood who bowls left-arm spin due the pitch conditions.He bowled his 9 overs for 18 taking two wickets.The other opening bowler was Jonathan Moxon who is the son of Martyn who is the Director of Professinal Cricket for Yorkshire.He bowls right arm fast and took 3 wickets for 13.The bowler who took the most wickets was Jack Leaning bowling off-spin and took 4 wickets for 43.However the big talking point of the Elsecar innings was a disputed catch by Liam Mc Kendry off his brothers bowling. The umpires and Ian Swallow who was batting had to go over to the Elsecar team to calm them down.

Elsecar were bowled out for 153 with Ian Swallow scoring a good fifty.However it was a pity about the shouting of the Elsecar players about the catch.In the next round York play Treeton away.

CRICKET ON ANOTHER WET SATURDAY

By Brian Sanderson,

When I went out for my paper on Saturday morning the rain had nearly stopped after fourteen hours so time to find a cricket match.Looking at the Nidderdale Cricket League web-site I find that there are two matches on in all of the nine divisions.They were Dacre Bank and Ripley and as you can see from the photograph I went to Dacre Bank.

The ground is situated in Summerbridge just off the Harrogate to Pateley Bridge Road and is overlooked my a house were Herbert Sutcliffe was born.The club itself played it,s first match in July 1838 and claims to be  the oldest club in the area.The match was in the First Division of the Nidderdale League and the opposition was Blubberhouses which is a small village near Dacre.

We arrived just before 3 o,clock to find that the old pavilion had been replaced by a new structure.The ground is near the River Nidd which produced the river soil that the ground is based which enables the rain to run through easily.The match started at  and was reduced to 35 overs with Blubberhouses batting. We watch the innings from the side of the pavilion with our view sometimes blocked by players from other clubs who,s matches had been called off.

Blubberhouses highest scorer was Bash Khan who scored 56 with the help of a number of dropped catches.One of the Dacre bowlers was a leg-break bowler called Steve Lawerence who is the son of the late Johny Lawrence ex Yorkshire and Somerset bowler.Blubberhouses reached 151 for 7 in the 35 th over.

The took half an hour tea while we went back to sit in the car as it was getting cold.I switched the radio on to listen to Test Match Special.Agnew was asking Tufnell if he was a member of M.C.C. He replied that he did not know but thought he was not but he could get in the Pavilion as he knew all the attedants over the last thirty years. Also he knew which windows were open. Classic radio.

Beenwhile the fieldind side came with the umpires but the batsmen took another five minutes to show themselves.The time was 6 o.clock so we went home for tea with Geoffrey Boycott telling us why Bairstow got out in the Test Match.

I found this morning that Dacre was bowled out for 74 and Blubberhouses were top of the league.

FARNDALE EVENING LEAGUE

By Brian Sanderson,

On Friday evening myself and Ron Deaton went on a trip to see Farndale in the Feversham Cricket League.
We first called in to see Gillamore ground who also play in this League which is situated on the outskirts of the village.A square had been cut waiting for the first match.

Farndale is situated 5 miles north of Kirbymoor in North Yorshire and is well known for it show of daffodils.However yesterday we went to see Farndale against Slingsby in a 18 over cricket match.The wicket is situated in the sheep field who were grazing during the match and next to the River Dove.Farndale is split between two villages Church Houses where the ground is and Low Mill.We heard that there used to be a cricket team in Low Mill but that finished thiry years ago but the changing rooms were transported up to Church Houses and is used to-day.The field has a big slope down from the changing room to the flat wicket area with the river further on.The local rule was it was only a six if the ball cleared the field.

Farndale batted first with one of the Farndale players acting as umpire as the photograph shows.He acted as a fielder in the second innings to make the eleven up.Farndale managed to reach 86.We retreated to the car get warm with a cup of tea.

After the break Slingsby batted and were 50 fo 5 with about 8 overs to go. The last wicket was given stumped of a wide which confused the Slingsby player who was umpireing.He had to be told the rules from the Farndale umpire/fielder.The Slingsby captain who won the match with his one and only shot .Aswap to the leg-side.

On the way back the rain starte to fall which is still carry on now.

Derby Day

The King of Sports took precedence over The Sport of Kings when yesterday morning Cross Country Trains took me to Derby in time for the start of play on the second day of the match against Sussex. On Wednesday, Sussex captain, Ed Joyce, who was absent from the field yesterday, had done what all the five other captains who had called correctly that day had done, put 'em in. This could have come as no surprise to Derbyshire members; Madsen has lost the toss in every championship match this season and each time his side has been given first use of the wicket.

The loss of two wickets late on Wednesday evening saw The Peakites start the day on 158 for 6 and a reasonable repair job was mounted in the morning session to the point where the score stood at 216 for 7 but then Anyon took two wickets in two balls  and when Panesar had Footitt caught behind, the innings closed on 223 leaving Sussex half an hour's batting before lunch. In that time Footitt removed openers Nash and Wells and we dined at 38 for 2. At least those who had not already eaten our sandwiches did.

Derbyshire had opted to play four seamers in the match, leaving out David Wainwright, and with Palladino missing they gave a championship debut to Alasdair Evans and Mark Footitt made his first championship appearance for a year. All was going well in the afternoon with Footitt at the centre of things with another wicket and a spectacular catch and when Yardy was joined by Joseph at 109 for 5 it was advantage Derbyshire. This was turned on its head by a stand of 179 which exposed the limitations of the home attack, in particular the inability of anybody to bowl a consistent line and of the four seamers only Gronewald went for less than five an over. This led to frequent field changes, exacerbated by the right hand left hand combination and the over rate was showing minus three when at 'tea time' there were still ten overs to be bowled before the players' could have refreshment.

When tea was finally taken at 4:30 Sussex were only 11 runs behind. I left at this point and by the end of a day extended by the slow over rate and a heavy shower the visitors had built a winning position, leading by 105 with two first innings wickets remaining, assuming that Joyce will bat. It is not hard to sense that any early season euphoria at The County Ground has evaporated. During the afternoon the small crowd seemed to retreat into a mood that suggested they were already resigned to the  outcome of the season. Chanderpaul, in whom much hope (and money) has been invested looked uninterested as he trotted from third man to fine leg and back again as the strike rotated. Largely thanks to an unbeaten 87 against Notts he is averaging 37 in the championship but in five of his six completed innings he has not passed twenty. Perhaps today will be his day for if Derbyshire bat poorly again this match might not enter a fourth day.

 My friends from Sussex are not returning home until Saturday afternoon and may have mixed feelings about how long they would like the match to last but with Saturday's forecast anticipating rain they will probably settle for a finish today and the continuance of their good start to the season.

PLEASENT DAY OUT AT TRENT BRIDGE

By Brian Sanderson,

I had thought about going to Trent Bridge yesterday but the weather forecast said rain so decided to go to-day.They played all day yesterday but I was told there was a cold wind.To-day was warmier and again rain showers were forecast in the afternoon.

The two umpires came out in the morning but decided to leave the match ball in the pavilion.When it was found the last Nottingham wicket fell after the second ball.Leaving them with a total of 274.The announcer stated that there was a school team from Jersey in the ground and had been playing local Nottingham sides.I ,have never seen cricket in Jersey but Tony Hutton once spent a week watching a International tourament on the island.

I moved round to the Radcliffe stand as it was undercover and very near to the wicket.During the morning Surrey lost five wickets for 47 due to good bowling and some uneven bounce in the wicket at the Radcliffe end.During the morning Brian Senior turned up and was going to the Cricket forum at lunch-time.I went to the cafe and had a good lunch.

During the afternoon Gary Wilson,from Northern Island ,and Gareth Batty, from Bradford Yorkshire, but on a partnreship of 91 runs making the bowling look easy.When tea time was arrived I moved into the Nottingham cricket library run byPeter Wynne-Thomas.The library consists of 15000 cricket books which is the largest club collection in the World.Peter had been to the Melbourne Cricket Museum and they had 10,000 cricket books.I spent a very pleasent thirty minutes in the library looking at some 1930,s scrapbooks.

At the end of the afternoon Surrey were bowled out for 207 leaving Nottingham with a small lead.The photograph is of the stand to the left of the pavilion.

I must thank all our page viewers from America and Russia and hope they enjoy myself and John,s  visits round the cricket grounds.

Championship Round Up Part Two

posted by John Winn

In the Second Division Northants are setting a strong pace with three wins out of four. The Wantage Road outfit suffered last day misery in 2009 when a victory for Essex at Derby denied them promotion in circumstances which had they occurred at Newmarket would have brought a stewards' enquiry. 2012 was their worst season since their relegation in 2004 and, if one ignores the boundary between the two divisions, their worst since 1978. With Crook, Willey and Copeland nearing 60 wickets between them they have maximum bowling points and after a drawn opening game in Cardiff three thumping wins see them 23 points clear of second place Lancashire. Perhaps the horrors of 26/9/09 will be laid to rest this year.

Relegated one season after being champions Lancashire will be desperate to 'do a Yorkshire' and return to first division cricket in 2014. If an ability to eke out victories from impossible situations is the passport back to Division One then who can doubt that they will succeed for their wins against Glamorgan and Essex have come by 14 runs and three wickets respectively with the latter achieved with a ball to spare. Equal on 44 points are Gloucestershire and Hampshire.  Australian Michael Klinger, who was with Worcestershire last season, has two hundreds to his name and it may be that 'Glorse' may have more than a wooden spoon to show for this season's efforts. They have not played first division cricket since 2005. Hampshire finished fourth last year and would have hopes of improving on that but their only win this campaign was over strugglers Worcestershire.

Essex and Glamorgan have a win apiece and are separated by just two points but the Welsh side have a game in hand and they would have been third had they just scored 15 more runs at Colwyn Bay. The last three places are occupied by three winless sides, Leicestershire, Kent and Worcestershire. The Pears looked a very modest side when I saw them at Cardiff last month and there is a danger that they may lose their reputation as the 'yoyo' side of the championship simply by remaining in Division Two. I'm sure Steve Rhodes believes their position is a false one but we may have a better idea when they face Kent at Canterbury this weekend.

The forecast of sun and showers at Weetwood  yesterday proved correct but did not deter a goodly gathering of pcws nor did it spoil an entertaining and high scoring match. Durham II brought a strong side and it was a  third wicket partnership of 275 between Jennings and Richardson that saw them reach 296 for 3 off their 45 overs. The two South Africans each scored centuries as they had done against Notts II last week and although Richardson hasn't tasted championship action this season both will feel they deserve consideration for next week's Riverside meeting with Middlesex. Pleasingly Geoff Cook was there to watch.

Leeds/Bradford Universities were not daunted by such a large total and tucked into the opening attack of Claydon and Harrison. Some measure of control was restored by academy players, Max Morley and Josh Bousefield and Morley finished with 4 for 33 in the universities' total of 263 for 8. Morley is an interesting left arm spinner with a Huddersfield pedigree but who joined Durham last year. His surname was consistently spelt Morely on twitter yesterday but I have stuck with the handbook version.

It is a shocker in the Lower Ure Valley this morning and although there are a number of university matches scheduled in Leeds today it has not been difficult to decide to stay at home but tomorrow is a different matter. My Sussex supporting friends are at Derby and it would be nice to have a day there but racing at The Knavesmire is a counter attraction. Talk about swings and roundabouts for the train fare I save by not going to Derby may well end up lining the satchel of Honest Joe Johnson of Doncaster. Decisions, Decisions.

Championship Round Up

posted by John Winn

The County Championship draws breath today but just for a day for there are six matches starting tomorrow and with most counties having played at least 25% of their games it seems not inappropriate to take stock.

Durham's win over Surrey yesterday, their first ever championship victory at The Oval, sees them back on top of the first division. Not bad for a team tipped by Cricketer magazine to finish bottom and  who are unable to afford an overseas player or at least as skipper Collingwood said 'the ones we can afford are no better than the players we have already'. In winning three of their first five games they have far exceeded my expectations and continued the resurgence begun under Collingwood midway through last season. They now have over a week's rest before meeting Middlesex at Chester le Street next week, a rest that is apart from having to travel to Southampton for a YB40 game at the weekend.

Middlesex are in second place having played a game fewer than Durham  and with two wins to their name will be happy with their start and their trip to Taunton tomorrow is an enticing affair for Somerset are surely numbered amongst the sides who will not be happy with the first quarter of the season. Winless and with a loss to Durham and an escape against Yorkshire thanks to rain can hardly be what Dave Nosworthy expected.

Like Durham, Yorkshire may also feel things have gone just about as well as they could have hoped for, especially after the bruising start aginst Sussex. Tomorrow they enter the Bears' den and must face up to life, for the time being at least, without Root, Bairstow,  Bresnan and the injured Brooks. If Bresnan is left out of the England XI on Thursday might we see him dash up to Edgbaston to join in after four sessions?

Sussex are undefeated in their three games and will not be too fearful of taking on Derbyshire tomorrow. Notts must also be considered to have had a disappointing start with two defeats, both at Trent Bridge, but they too have played only three matches and welcome Surrey tomorrow. The men from Kennington are surely the biggest underperformers especially given their outlay on players. With Graeme Smith back in South Africa their first three against Durham read Burns, Roy and  Harinath with Wilson, who when promoted to three against Sussex scored a century, batting at seven. 'Marquee signing' Solanki is averaging over 40, but might be a little disappointed that he has not converted any of his seven innings into three figures.

Derbyshire like others in past seasons are finding the step up from second division hard to climb and although their batting failures have been highlighted they have collected only 50% of their bowling points which compounds their difficulties. There will be those who have them marked for an immediate return to the Second Division but they might take heart from Durham last year who failed to win any of their first ten games and yet still finished sixth, form they have carried through into 2013.

Second Division tomorrow, off to Weetwood this morning for Leeds/Bradford University v Durham II, sunshine and showers anticipated.

Weetwood tomorrow

posted by John Winn

LeedsBradford University have just confirmed on twitter (Monday 4:30) that the game at Weetwood tomorrow against Durham II will begin at 11:30 and will be of 45 overs duration

Cestrians beat the rain and Harrogate

posted by John Winn

After the sunshine of the bank holiday weekend it has been back to cold and wet weather since Friday and watching cricket has been a fairly miserable experience especially if you were a Harrogate supporter at St George's Road yesterday.

After a day off on Thursday I returned to Headingley on Friday having suggested not entirely seriously in my last blog that Yorkshire could conjure up a third championship victory of the season from their match with Somerset. And how close they came and it would only be the most ardent West Country supporter who would deny that they were saved by the weather. Persistent drizzle and poor light prevented play before lunch and persuaded many that they could find better things to do than hang about  the long room. This blogger very nearly joined that company for at 1:30 I decided I would go home but not until I had had a walk into the local shopping area and as I left I took a pass out ticket. No sooner had I climbed the hill than it did brighten a little and I returned to the ground to hear the announcement that play would begin at 2:10.

Most readers will be aware of what happened next, namely that Yorkshire took three quick wickets to leave Somerset 222 for 8 but then a partnership between Thomas and Brooks took them to tea at 243 for 8 at which point I decided, for the second time in the day, to go home and this time I did: the result of which was that I missed eight wickets going down as for the second time in eight days Brooks struck  a rich vein and with help from Patterson reduced Somerset to 46 for 6. Alas this time the fairy tale did not quite come true for Captain Trescothick found support from Thomas and saw out time until the captains shook hands with just three balls left. Somerset coach Dave Nosworthy was gracious enough to admit his side had been outplayed. He will be disappointed and I imagine not a little surprised that after four games his troops are without a championship win. They face an intriguing fixture with Middlesex at Taunton this week.

Saturday saw me in Darlington, primarily to attend a book fair at my old school where I was a pupil more than fifty years ago and where I taught for a while in the late sixties. I had not been in the building since the mid eighties and felt very nostalgic walking through its corridors again, Didn't have carpets in my day! After lunch with  my friend Mike Taylerson (our Hartlepool correspondent) we went to the town's cricket ground where Brian had been earlier in the week. Here Darlington II were playing their Marton counterparts in an NYSD Division One game with the home side batting and after a poor start recovering to make 175 all out, largely due to 86 from Callum Lethbridge. At one point Darlington had been 135 for 3 but were undone by young left arm spinner Harry Peacock who finished with 5 for 29.

The players had to leave the field for about 20 minutes during  a shower but the sun did shine at times and it was not unpleasant sitting at the front of the pavilion. We left shortly before tea but Darlington's total did not cause Marton too much trouble and they reached the target in the forty first over with Graham Shaw hitting an undefeated 108.

I had been looking forward to my choice of Sunday cricket for it presented an opportunity to see teams representative of two ECB premier leagues with Harrogate the home team and Chester le Street their visitors from the North East. It turned out to be a damp squib in more than one way. Harrogate were a little understrength, but they did have eight of those who had easily beaten Cleethorpes the day before and yet they were never really in the game. The Cestrians got off to a flying start led by Simon Birtwistle, former Durham II player and who had scored 122 not out against Durham Academy on Saturday and he received good support from all the top order including Durham Development player Usman Arshad. The more optimistic among the small group of home supporters who tolerated the light rain and cold wind, thought they might hold Chester le Street to 250 but 42 off 23 balls from Liam Simpson knocked that into a cocked hat and the innings closed on 300 for 7. It would be unfair to record any of the bowling figures.

If 300 was even a remote possibility then 'Gate need a good start and when opener Twigg went for 0 the tarot cards were indicating gloom to match the weather and with only George Ross making a decent fist of things Harrogate were bowled out for 90. Leading wicket taker was Chester and former Durham II skipper Quentin Hughes and as the tenth wicket fell  the rain increased to the point where the umpires would have had to enter the labyrinth wherein are kept the wet weather regulations for this competition.

During the game I bumped into Jennifer Ellison who informed me  that Tuesday's game between Yorkshire Academy and Hyderabad Under 19s had been cancelled which will come as a disappointment to a number of pcws. I note that the Indian youngsters' match with Lancs Academy has also been cancelled. Somebody suggested that they had arrived in England and, thinking it was winter, got straight back on the plane and who could blame them? There is alternative entertainment at Weetwood tomorrow with a one day friendly between Leeds/Bradford and Durham Universities. Also at Masham, Yorks over 60s take on Northumberland and Durham.

FIRST VISIT TO BRADFORD LEAGUE

By Brian Sanderson,

On a windy Saturday I first called into Weetwood to see Yorkshire Academy against Beverley Town.Rain was falling when the Academy went out to bowl with Coad and Shaw.Shaw got the first wicket bowling the opening batsman in front of his father.

Moving on to Idle who were playing Gomersal in the Bradford Cricket Second Division with the rain still drizzling.There was a delay for the scorers to set up the computor system which you can following on your computor.As you enter the ground you see a large slope up to the changing rooms.Gomersal batting first and the young opener Max Senior  scored  55.There was a odd shower during the innings but the umpires did well to keep the match going.You always thought Gomersal would score over 200 which they did scoring 207 for 7.

There was a cold wind blowing which made the rain clouds moving however during the Idle innings a very heavy rain storm stopped the match for fifteen minutes.Idle struggled against the steady bowling, Kitson been the best taking 6 wicets for 34.Idle struggled to reach 136 with the help of Scott Price scored 56.

Moving down the valley we went to see Green Lane against North Leeds in the Airedale Wharfedale League.. North Leeds were batting on a large field near the main road and were going to win the match.

The next match was Yeadon Seconds against Leeds and Bradford  in the Bradford first division.Yeadon had scored with 194 for 7.There had been rain which had caused lost some overs.Bingley were batting against ten men but only scored 159 for 7.

The photograph is of the Idle changing rooms at top of the slope.

RAIN

By Brian Sanderson,

Thurday morning started sunny but that soon changed.Somerset lost two wickets and the rain came.No further play at Headingley and people sitting in the Long Room talking about everything but the weather.

Myself and Andrew went to Leeds Private Lbrary in the center of Leeds.I would recommend it for the quietness and the stepping back to want England was fifty years ago.

The above photograph is of Headingley ground when it was purchased in 1889.There was a tennis court in the distance and everthing else was grass.How things have changed.

Time to declare

posted by John Winn

When Somerset were bowled out twice for under 200 in their first match of the season at The Riverside last month to give Durham an unexpected victory the cidermen were able to strengthen their batting for the next match by bringing in England opener Nick Compton and South African Alviro Petersen ; reinforcements most other counties could only dream of.

To what extent Somerset's batting line up  has affected the course of this week's match at Headingley is not clear. When on Tuesday morning Yorkshire, having won the toss, were 75 for 4 there were those around me who questioned the wisdom of batting first, but it would be a brave man who invited Marcus Trescothick to take first knock on a ground where in the previous match the first two innings yielded over a thousand runs.  Whatever the rights and wrongs of Gale's decision his critics were quietened by stumps and when at lunch yesterday Yorkshire's score was 371 for 7 the garden was rosy and the East Stand think tank could open the can of worms labelled  'the timing of declarations: a beginners' guide'. 'Now' said some i.e. Somerset would bat straight after lunch, 'no' said others,' not until 110 overs have been bowled, 29 off 3 overs will give another bonus point' and very much in a minority a  lone grump from the Lower Ure valley, 'runs on the board while we can'. In the end the grump seemed most in accord with Yorkshire's captain for not only did the white rose bat on, just missing the extra bonus point but the crowd were treated to some fine shots from Rashid*, career best 180, Pyrah 55 off 54 balls  and Breezy Jack Brooks hitting 33 including two sixes, before Gale declared at 505 for 5. .

 All of which seemed to suggest that batting was not too difficult and well as Yorkshire bowled and who, apart from a man in a white jacket, did not think Compton was caught behind off Brooks, Somerset did not lose a wicket until shortly before the close when Trescothick was lbw to bring Leach to the crease as night watchman. The effect of Leach's promotion is to demote Suppiah, an ever-present opening batsman in last year's championship, to number eight and with almost certain interruptions in play today Yorkshire will find it difficult to take a further 19 wickets in the match. But let us not forget what has happened on the fourth day of Yorkshire's last two championship matches, how many thought they would win at Chester le Street two weeks ago and then again at Headingley last Thursday? Certainly not the grump from the Lower Ure Valley.
* pictured above

ANOTHER RECORD AFTERNOON

By Brian Sanderson,

On a sunny Tuesday morning I was able to walk to the Headingley ground which made a change from driving as per the last three days.Andrew from London had come up for the match and some Bradford League matches this week-end.At William Roberts bookstall there is a half price sale so Andrew purchased a 1923 Wisden which included the name Henry Badger who played two matches for Yorkshire in 1921-22 as amateur.He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Oxford University.Another person I did not know about but his name is in Tony Woodhouse book A who,s who of Yorkshire C.C.C.

Yorkshire won the toss and decided to bat  to find themselves at 84 for 4  and prospect of Somerset batting to-day. Trego bowled well in his first spell taking the wickets of Lyth and Sawyers.However Ballance and Rashid but on a record fifth wicket partnership against Somerset  of 207 in 62 overs.This broke thr record of 167 set up by Bairstow and Ballance at Taunton in 2011.Ballance was out l.b.w to Kirby for 107 in 197 balls which caused Kirby to show his pleasure as only he can.

At the end of the day Rashid was on 120 off 209 balls and Yorkshire total on 332 for 5.The photograph above is Ballance celebrating his hundred and may he have many more.

Just a note to say Peter France did turn up to see his first championship match at Headingley since Len Hutton was batting.A long time between drinks but great to see Peter again.John Winn was also there after his trips round England and left me to do this blog.

A Teesside Trio

posted by John Winn

The North Yorkshire and South Durham League had a full programme of matches yesterday and I took the opportunity to visit three grounds, all fairly close together, where I had not seen cricket before.

First stop was amongst the industrial landscape of Billingham where Billingham Synthonia were hosting Seaton Carew in a Division One match. Billingham were relegated from the Premier Division in 2011, heights their opponents have not seen since for nearly ten years. The ground has a fine function room and among the list of captains displayed on the wall of the bar is that of the long serving Somerset wicketkeeper, Harold Stephenson.

The playing area at Chiltons Avenue is a large one and with the wicket pitched towards the dressing rooms the scorers were a very long way from the action. Billingham's openers Holmes and Clark put on 71 but that was about the height of it for the 'Synners' and they were bowled out for 177. Seaton Carew eased to victory in less than 34 overs and after four matches top the table.

From Billingham's ground it is little more than a few minutes drive to Station Road, the home of Norton CC. Norton have had an interesting last decade for they left the NYSD in 2002 for the rarefied air of the North East Premier League where they played until 2009 when they were relegated to the Durham Senior League for three years and now are back where it all started. But not quite, for they have started their second spell in the  NYSD in Division Two; still two promotions from where they were when they went into the Premier league.

Listening to a conversation between some local supporters the feeling is that promotion in this first season is a formality but at the cost of watching some poor cricket. If yesterday's match with Northallerton II is typical then this is certainly the case for when I arrived Norton were 202 for 1 off twenty five overs and about 50 minutes later they declared on  311 without further loss and the Thomas brothers at the crease. Matthew, who hit 96 on Saturday, was 137 not out and Nick 64 . This was enjoyed by a large Bank Holiday crowd but not by Northallerton. It would have been understandable if their thoughts strayed to ideas of better ways of spending the hottest day of the year. A job swop with some of the watching crowd perhaps? The North Yorkshire side were bowled out for 116 in reply, a result which  leaves Norton second in the table and Northallerton just one place off the bottom. Norton's membership of the NYSD goes back to 1898 and it does feel as if they are back where they belong, not least because membership offers so many games against near neighbours.

One such traditional opponent can be found across the River Tees in Thornaby where the locals play their Premier Division cricket at the Acklam Road ground: the third ground of the day and by a distance the best. Over the fence lie the fairways of  the Teesside Park Golf Club ('the best golf club in the north east') and the playing area is surrounded by trees and even has some well cared for flower beds, There is a traditional pavilion with a players' balcony and well appointed club and tea rooms. Thornaby joined the NYSD  a year after its formation in 1893 and just a year before visitors Guisborough, but last season they escaped relegation on a dramatic last day. Yesterday they rather let visitors Guisborough off the hook in allowing them to recover from 86 for 6 to make 184. In reply Matthew Connolly made 51 not out but with nobody else reaching double figures Thornaby were all out for 97 and after four matches they are bottom of the table and without a win.

The Acklam Road ground is a lovely place to watch cricket and I thoroughly enjoyed the hour I spent there on a warm afternoon. Looking at the collection of photographs in the club room I couldn't help thinking that Thornaby's heroes belong to the age of sepia and that the balance of power in the NYSD now lies away from the industrial heartland of Teesside in the suburbs, Marton CC top the early table, and in the small towns on the periphery, places like Stokesley, Great Ayton and Guisborough or further away in Darlington and Richmond.

ANOTHER HISTORICAL WALK

By Brian Sanderson,

I was orginally going to Harrogate to see the Academy however it had been postponed so I went to Darlington.They were playing Redcar in the North Yorkshire and South Durham First Division.

The ground is called Feethams is very close to the city centre.As you will see from the photograph the white stand behind the wicket is the old football stand.The football moved out in 2003 to a new ground and  the land has been left to overgrow.There has been talk of building houses on the land but there is diificult access to the land as it would have to come through the cricket ground. The ground is easy to get to from the A1  and you can park your car in the ground.

Darlington were batting on a hot sunny Bank Holiday afternoon and we watch the match to start with  from this position but soon had to move to some shade.The batting was very slow which was a contrast to yesterday however the bowling was good.The opening batsman score about 70 in forty overs but got himself out which caused a batting collapse as they started chasing runs. In the fifty over they were all out for under 170.

At tea time myself and my sister had a walk into the centre of Darlington.On the roundabout outside the ground is a model of The Rocket steam engine built  by George Stephenson in this town.His benefactor was Joseph Pease who was a Quaker industralist had has a statue of himself in the town.Walking back to the ground we passed Pease Darlington Free Library which was built by him and opened in 1884.Next to the ground is some cottages named after him.

Redcar who are newly promoted to the division started off confidently but soon lost a wicket. At this stage I had to go  home but there is no result yet on the League web-site so I do not know who won.I would recommend cricket  lovers to go to this friendly and beautiful ground.

I am going to Headingley to-morrow and I understand a Professional Cricket Watcher will be there for the first time. I am sure he will have a friendly welcome in the Long Room.

PRIESTLEY CUP FIRST ROUND

By Brian Sanderson,

I had better luck than John as I was able to see a match between Saltaire and Bradford and Bingley.

Arriving at about 1.40 after a good pub lunch the match was only two overs old and should  have started at 1.00.
Again the weather started off sunny but when we arrived the clouds came in again.

Geraldo,the Bingley scorer, said orginally the wickets had not been alined  correctly and they had to use Saturday,s wicket ater cutting and rolling the pitch.Bingley were batting and were going to get a big score with the help of very poor fielding.There was a opening stand of 154  with Slater scoring a hundred.At this time Brian Senior arrived after walking down from the bus station and need to sit down by the pavilion.The club has a famous history of great players including S.F. Barnes and Jim Laker.

My sister and myself decided to walk to Salts Mill over the River Aire as the temperature was cool and the home side poor.It is worth a visit into the mill to see the Hockney paintings and to see the video on the history of Saltaire.

When we returned Bingley had scored 428 for 6 and Atkinson had scored 108.In 14 overs they had scored 155.At this stage we decided to go home and it is sad for such a famous club to come to this situation.They were bowled out for 176.

As you can see from the photograph the pitch is a public park overlooked by the mill.Beautiful location if you can ignore the bike riders going repently round the pitch.

PART 2 OF SATURDAY

By Brian Sanderson,

A match I missed on my last blog was Great Habton against Forge Valley ThirdX1 in the Beckett League.
The ground is situated next to a stable for horses with the house looking on to the ground.A net is able to be put in front of the windows to stop any broken windows however it was not needed in this match.When we were walking round the ground one of the players had to fill a can full of water from the water tap of the farm for  the cups of tea.Also I had to show the toilets for the ground as per photograph. A bit rural but proper local cricket.

However the match was a tie both scoring 183 for 8.

Other resultsNawton Grange 106 for 8  Brampton 102 with Thornicroft taking 7 for 34. Surprise.

Flixton 189 for 9
Kirby moorside 164

Stillington 158
Selby 103

Hovington 150 all out
Dunnington 271 for 4

Huby 11 105
New Earswick 109 for 6

Thirsk Seconds  151
Marton cum Grafton  182.