When last weekend the weather forecast showed some settled dry weather for the week ahead I booked some accommodation in North Wales and Tuesday morning saw me on my way to watch cricket on two new grounds. First stop was in Flintshire, about 15 miles west of Chester at Northop Hall CC, who compete in the Liverpool and District Competition First Division and who, for three days this week are hosting a game between Lancashire II and Yorkshire II.
I arrived at Northop shortly after the start of play with Lancashire batting and already one wicket down. I immediately fell into conversation with the groundstaff who I congratulated on the appearance of their well appointed and well presented ground. They remarked that had I been there at the beginning of April, rather than on the last day of the month, I would have seen the field covered in a foot of snow. Even more credit to them for getting it in such good nick.
The Smithy Lane ground enjoys splendid views, for to the west across the Wirral peninsula and the Mersey estuary are visible Liverpool's two cathedrals and in the opposite direction are the mountains of North Wales. Lancashire made steady progress through Smith and Agathangelou and lunched at 86 for 1. The loss of Smith immediately after lunch brought in Clark who had written himself into the record books at Scarborough the previous week by hitting six sixes in an over. He was clearly of aggressive intent but his ambitions were cut short by an lbw decision which brought on a fit of dressing room door slamming. Randhawa, who had played Malcolm Nash to Clark's Gary Sobers at North Marine Road was probably relieved to see the back of his assailant.
During the tea interval I chatted with club secretary John Isterling who supplied me with a fixture card and explained that the club's participation in an English league was not popular with Cricket Wales but the club had entered the competition for better grounds and better cricket and he could not see the situation changing. Two other Welsh clubs, Prestatyn and Colwyn Bay are also members of the league. Northop Hall run three elevens and four junior sides and as I left the ground at six o'clock the under elevens were arriving for net practice. The club has a professional arriving this weekend, from Pakistan by the name of Khan, which as somebody said is probably saying they know somebody from Wales called Jones. By stumps Lancashire had declared on 329 for 8 and Yorkshire were 23 for 1. The sun had shone all day on this super ground and for the pcw I spotted an extra fixture when on Tuesday June 25th Northop Hall will entertain a touring team from Melbourne, the Australian Cavaliers, who are regular visitors to the UK and a strong side.
Having stayed overnight in the village I had a 30 mile drive along the A55 to Rhos-on-Sea, and the Penrhyn Avenue ground of Colwyn Bay CC, where a championship match with Lancashire is to be followed by a forty over game with Yorkshire on Sunday. Arriving early there was plenty of street parking close to the ground and when the gates opened at 9:30 I shelled out my fifteen quid and chose a position sheltered from the chilly breeze. The ground has virtually no permanent seating but chairs are provided all round the ground.
The two sides had not met on this ground in championship action since 2001 and there was a good representation of red rose supporters and judging by their accents the Liverpool branch was there in good number. As the crowd grew I found myself sitting near a Welsh speaking contingent but who when joined by a non Welsh speaker changed languages. I enjoyed their experiences of annual visits to this part of Wales which for all of them were not to be missed. In particular they blessed their good fortune on being there on such a lovely day for last year's four day game with Yorkshire had been ruined by rain. Not surprisingly their conversation touched upon Rugby Union and the composition of the Lions' party. That it should have included more Welshmen seemed to be the gist of it.
Lancashire won the toss and by mid afternoon had been bowled out for 123, A typical 'out ground' score? Yes, but not I think a case for the pitch police, good bowling with some swing and one or two poor shots. Paul Horton's decision to shoulder arms to the second ball of the day and be bowled off his pads can hardly be blamed on the groundsman. Glamorgan fielded well and while it is perhaps not coincidence that Goodwin wears forty on his shirt he belied his years with an athletic catch to dismiss Croft.
In reply Glamorgan found it tough going but at stumps they were only 13 in arrears with six first innings wickets standing. Good to see Jimmy Anderson bowling in county cricket and his three wickets were gained at a cost of less than two an over. I started the 150 mile drive home at five o'clock reflecting on two lovely days spent watching cricket in the sun on two new grounds and although I didn't quite get to Bangor I certainly had a wonderful time.
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