Together with three Brians, Messrs, Cobb, Sanderson and Senior, I journeyed to Huddersfield yesterday to meet with our guide for the day, David Thorpe who conducted us on a tour of several grounds in the Huddersfield Central League. This was our last opportunity to see league cricket this season and for me at least, totally new territory.
To start our afternoon we drove through 'Last of the Summer Wine' country to the sunlit Holmbridge ground where the home club were taking on Heckmondwike and Carlinghow United CC (trying get that on a cap). For David this was a return to fields of glory for it was here that he had scored his first century but yesterday centuries seemed unlikely as Holmbridge slipped to 22 for 3 despite the short boundary on the river side. So short that the umpire could lean against the fence forming the perimeter. Mr Senior having taken lunch from the fruits of the hedgerow we pressed on up the valley sides to Upperthong and their Wickens Lane ground.
This was another lovely ground with views across the valley and in a little over twenty years this enterprising club has built itself a home with splendid facilities and they have plans for expansion. A thriving junior section and dedicated helpers will see them join the Huddersfield League in 2014 and they should continue to prosper. Good to see Peter Davies enjoying the cricket here and to see a copy of his history of the league in the club house. Not a batter's day here either for the homesters' second XI were struggling against the Upper Horton B attack
Onwards we went to what David had described as 'match of the day' and the theme tune played across our lips as we parked up at Thurstonland for a Premier Section match against Mount which would decide the league title. A large crowd had gathered on a lovely afternoon and there were many familiar faces amongst them. Mount's innings was coming to a close and although what we saw represented a recovery from 14 for 5, 68 all out did not seem to be enough. At the opposite end from the pavilion the club had adopted a belt and braces approach to sightscreens for in addition to the usual wooden affair the stone wall had been painted white. With the paint left over the off and leg side walls had had white lines painted on them to guide the outfield mowing. Genius.
This was one of those occasions when it was tempting to tear up the afternoon schedule and sit back and enjoy the Thurstonlanders reply but it was not to be for we headed for Old Almondburians CC. This club is linked to the nearby King James's school which dates from 1606. Here we realised that the sands were running fast through the league cricket egg timer and that we could not keep up for with OA chasing a modest 66 by Leymoor, a few lusty blows saw the home team win by 8 wickets and in just 15 overs. A tricky twisting journey had been rewarded with just two overs of action but at least we had the memory of another lovely cricket ground.
During the course of the afternoon we had learnt that the match between Birkby and Rose Hill and Edgerton and Dalton had been switched to Broadoak and here our luck finally ran out for we arrived too late to see even one ball. Another bowlers' match had seen the visitors 58 all out and another 8 wicket victory. The B teams of these two clubs were playing the reverse fixture and our next journey took us well away from the sort of rural delights we had enjoyed throughout the afternoon to a ground overlooking the town centre but with a siege mentality as the inspiration for its architecture. At least here there was the prospect of a close finish with E and D 78 for 7 and chasing 127 and the eighth wicket pair looking as though they might pull it off. A change to leg spin turned the game on its head however and the curtain came down on our afternoon and the league cricket season when a fine catch in the deep, a clean bowled and an lbw brought about a hat trick and Edgerton fell 36 short.
There was one last visit planned but we were not hopeful that we would be in time to see any cricket and such proved to be the case for all the sporting interest at Birchencliffe's Halifax Road ground was focussed on the football on the TV and we could not even find the result of the game with Crigglestone.*
On our way home we agreed that Holmbridge (pictured) was the 'ground of the day' and that without David's guidance we could not have used the time so profitably. Thanks to Brian for the photographs which he posted last night and my apologies to Brian Cobb for spoiling his evening by revealing the result of the Manchester derby. I also gave the result of Thurstonland v Mount where a six wicket win for the home team gave them the championship. This disclosure did not seem to have such a depressing effect.
* the website reveals a win for Birchencliffe
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