Pcws came to Arthington in good numbers yesterday but from wherever they came they remarked on the wind that blew and how it had not been like that at home.. To the list of famous winds like the Chinook and the Mistral can now be added one, yet to be named, but which was difficult to escape in Lower Wharfdale yesterday. After deliberation it was decided that even if it meant sitting in the shade the warmest place would be in the lee of the hedge that runs along one side of the ground.
The visitors yesterday were King James from Bishop Auckland who on Saturdays play in the Darlington and District League. Arthington batted first and made a good start but were pegged back and lost wickets in the second half of the innings to some good spin bowling. The visitors responded well after tea in pursuit of 187 and when five wickets were down a close finish looked likely but the sixth wicket pair saw King James home with out further loss. Do not think, however, that the early evening was without incident for the low sun was so much in the batting side's eyes that all the bowling was done from the east end to avoid the dazzle. This was a unique incident as far as anybody could recall. Whether there are plans to turn the square through 90 degrees to avoid any repetition is not known.
As ever over the two days conversation ranged over many subjects. One name that cropped up on Saturday was that of pre war occasional Yorkshire cricketer Jim Smurthwaite. By Sunday we were able to put flesh on Jim's bones for as John Rex had indicated the previous day he had one moment in the sun. This was at Bramall Lane in 1939 when his five for seven hastened Derbyshire towards 20 all out but Jim's fame was that of a shooting star for in the second Derbyshire innings Smailes took all ten. Smurthwaite was from the Middlesbrough area and a potent force in post war NYSD cricket.
Another name mentioned yesterday was that of Harold Wagstaff and when this blogger had the temerity to ask who he was Messrs Sanderson and Thorpe, with timing of which Morecambe and Wise would have been proud, threw back the question with a mixture of incredulity and indignation. The blogger will do penance by attending an event as part of the Huddersfield Rugby League Heritage Project.
This morning pcws will wake up to five weekdays without cricket and although there are still two. possibly three, more weekends at Arthington, today marks, if not the end, certainly the beginning of the end of the season. Six months before anymore days at Headingley, Riverside, Trent Bridge or wherever, a sad day in my calendar.
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