Rain thwarts Scotland

posted by John Winn

After a day catching up in the garden, my usual train when heading north, the 9:32 from York, conveyed me to Durham in under three quarters of an hour this morning for the third of three 50 over games being played at The Racecourse between Durham II and Scotland A. With Monday's and Tuesday's games having gone Durham's way this was a dead rubber and Durham's team was slightly under strength compared with the two previous days.

I always enjoy walking through the city centre in Durham with its magnificent cathedral standing proud and on the 20 or so minute walk I passed several nostalgic reminders of the year I spent there gaining a teaching qualification which the present Secretary of State would probably regard as superfluous. My feeling was that the day would brighten to something like yesterday but the forecast was for rain about tea time.

I arrived just in time for the 10:45 start and Scotland A had won the toss and elected to bat. They got off to a cracking start with Calum MacLeod, currently on trial with Durham, leading the way. No scorecards were available but I had copied the Scottish squad from their twitter feed and it reflected the ethnic mix of the squad with Alasdair and Hamish playing alongside Safyaan and Majid. The visitors were eventually all out for 253 with one ball to spare. Top scorer was Michael Leask with 56 and George Munsey hit 52. Durham could be pleased with their fielding and skipper Poynter had a good day behind the stumps.

During the lunch interval I walked over to the adjacent ground, the home of Durham City, which I had visited last year for the first time. Here an inter-collegiate match of a decent standard was being  played. Poynter and Singh opened for Durham but went cheaply and they soon fell behind the clock. The afternoon had grown cold and at 50 for 4 I decided to make my way back to the station and by the time I arrived there, breathless from the steep climb from the town, spots of rain were falling. This eventually brought the game to a halt at a most frustrating time, at least for Scotland for Durham were on 108 for 9 when the game was abandoned. Majid Haq took three wickets and the others were shared by Evans, Gossain and Burnett. Evans had been impressive in removing the two openers. Breeze top scored with 38. His presence today suggests he will make way for Sangakkara when Yorkshire visit The Riverside on Sunday.

So the forecast was right and as Brian has promised it doesn't look too good for tomorrow. I note that Johnny Bairstow played at Sedbergh today and his finger feels good. How long before we see him back for Yorkshire? And who would make room for him?

For connoisseurs of rollers this one at The Racecourse was made by George Pike

BUSY CRICKET ACADEMIA IN LEEDS

By Brian Sanderson,

It was the third day of the Second team Roses match with the match in the balance.The main Lancashire batter was Stephen Parry who  was England spinner in the 20/20 compertition a few months ago.He was facing Tim Bresnan who had been involved in the Ashes.

Looking at the scoreboard this morning we noticed they had not changed the overs from last night.

So it shown that there was only 7 overs to go in the day at 11.44. A slight error.As you will

see the scoreboard shown another error when Lilley wicket was credited to Robinson but Bresnan was bowling.Bresnan bowled well and he looked fully fit.All through the morning the score from Lords was  relayed round and Yorkshire first were going to lose. Just before dinnertime Lancashire were bowled out.

The Yorkshire bowling figures still not show Bresnan last wicket and also Ashraf too the last wicket not Coad.Lancashire finished on 163.

Another error on the scoreboard after lunch shown the over remaining as 51.4 which was in correct.However Tattersall grated his way to a fifty which helped Yorkshire win the match. A good match with the pitch being bowler friendly helped to move the match on.

As you will see from the photograph Yorkshire won at 3,33 while the first team had lost at Middlesesx with the best bowling attack in the first division.

Moving on to the next match at Kirkstall Educational ground about ten minutes walk away from Headingley.The match there was Leeds Met against Durham Second team.Leeds @ Bradford University were playing Durham University at Weetwood.Leeds University were playing at New Rover  and the final school matcH was Leeds Grammar School  against M.C.C..

As you can see Durham were batting and struggling against Leeds Met. Dinner called so I left this match.

Weather forecast is poor to-morrow so Leeds @Bradford two day match may struggle to start at Weetwood.However weather forecast have been wrong before,

A KENTISH MAN SHINES IN ROSES MATCH

By Brian Sanderson,

After I left yesterday Gale was out in the last over of the day for  40 caught by Davies behind the wicket.
To- day was a misty morning but prospects of warm sunshine.Yorkshire stuggled in the morning against a swing ball and wickets fell consistently included Bresnan. During the morning the umpires complained to the groundman that the batsman were put of  by dark windows in the pavilion so a white sheet was hung over the Trueman stand blocking our view of half the ground.

The photograph above shows the new sightscreen.At lunch the score was as the photograph below.

Jack Leaning had batted all morning to score  26 .Jack plays at the weekend at York C.C.C. in the E.C.B Cricket League.After dinner it was Oliver Robinson who dominated the scoring.He was born in Maidstone and had previously played for Kent before  moving to Yorshire in 2013.He is a right hand bat and bowls medium pace.Together Leaning and Robinson put on a stand of 124 before Robinson was out for 75 L.B.W to Clark. The innings was just under two hours.Leaning went on to score 60 in  238 minutes. The innings was very slow but Yorkshire needed him to stay there. Yorkshire were out for 273 with the help of 42 extras at 3.40.The over rate for Lancashire was very poor and Yorkshire were left to bowl another 14 overs
till tea and as you can see from the photograph Lancashire were 31 for 2 with Bresnan taking two wickets.As you can see also the time was 4.38 when they went for tea with another 32 overs to bowl which would been a finish after 7.00.However with the loss of another two Lancashire wickets the umpires came off for bad light at 5.50.

The score at the end of the day was 77 for 4 with Clark still in with 27.The forecast  for to-morrow at this moment is fine in the morning and rain coming in the afternoon but we will see. There was bad news coming from Lords with Middlesex scoring easily against Yorkshire chasing 400 runs.

MAY FIXTURES

MAY 1-LEEDS @  BRADFORD UNIV  V  DURHAM UNIV   WEETWOOD   TWO DAYS

        M.C.C V WATH COMPREHENSIVE

       2 - YORKSHIRE SECONDS  V  LANCASHIRE SECONDS TWO 20/20 HEADINGLEY
            ERMYSTEAD V  M.C.C
      4-DURHAM  V  YORSHIRE FOUR DAYS
         CUMBERLAND  V  NORTHUMBERLAND          K ENDAL
        ROMANY  V  KIRKLINGTON
     6-  YORKSHIRE SECONDS  V   DURHAM    YORK TWO  20/20
          DERBYSHIRE   V   LANCASHIRE        GLOSSOP  TWO 20/20

     7- LEEDS MET  LADIES  V   LOUGHBOROUGH
         M.C.C   V  BRADFORD GRAMMAR
        M.C.C  V  SILCOATES
   8-  LANCS SECOND  V  DERBYSHIRE SECONDS  OLD TRAFFORD  TWO 20/20
        M.C.C  V  SEDBERGH
    9- YORKSHIRE SECONDS  V  LANCASHIRE  ABBEYDALE    TWO 20/20
        HIGH FARNWORTH  V  SLINGSBY  6.00P.M
   11- YORKSHIRE  V  WARWICK   HEADINGLEY 4 DAYS
         CHESHIRE  V  CUMBERLAND    NESTON
        NOTTS  V  NORTHAMPTON     TRENT BRIDGE
  12 - DURHAM  SECONDS  V  LANCS  TWO 20/20
         GILLAMOOR  V  SPOUT HOUSES   EVENING
  13- LANCS SECONDS  V  NOTTINGHAM    ORMSKIRK TWO 20/20
        YORKSHIRE OVER 50   V  CHESHIRE  EAST BIERLEY
  14- NOTTINGHAM SECONDS  V  YORKSHIRE SECONDS
        LEEDS MET  V  WARWICK   KIRKSTALL EDUCATION 12.30
       LEEDS UNIV  V  MANCHESTER
      LEEDS MET LADIES  V  EDINGBURGH.
 15- DERBYSHIRE SECONDS  V  YORKSHIRE 
       YORKSHIRE OVER 50   V  NORFOLK       FISHLAKE.
 18- CUMBERLAND  V  SHROPSHIRE   KENDAL
       ROMANY  V DRIUDS    GOLDSBOROUGH
 19- LANC SECONDS  V  LEICESTER   MIDDLEWICH
20-  LANCS  SECONDS  V  LEICESTER  LIVERPOOL
       YORKSHIRE OVER 50  V  LANCS     COLNE.
 21 -  LEEDS MET LADIES  V  DURHAM
  25-  YORKSHIRE  V LANCASHIRE   HEADINGLEY 4 DAYS
       NOTTINGHAM  V  DURHAM   TRENT BRIDGE
       LINCOLNSHIRE  V  CHESHIRE   BRAMALL
      CUMBERLAND  V  SHROPSHIRE     COCKERMOUTH
27-  YORKSHIRE OVER 50   V  DERBYSHIRE   NEW ROVER.
28- LEEDS MET  V  DURHAM
 31- NORTHAMPTON  V  YORKSHIRE   FOUR DAYS.

Photograph of Craco ground.

A pleasant day in the Headingley sunshine

Posted by John Winn

Second XI cricket at Headingley is never likely to set anybody's pulses racing and the positioning of the wicket so close to the West Stand that the players might have heard the ticking of the President's clock didn't help. Those of us who like to sit on the east side in the main conceded that to feel any connection with the cricket we would have  to overcome our ingrained habits and slowly a decent gathering of pcws assembled  in the Trueman Enclosure.

Lancs II were the visitors and on winning the toss opted to bat. Meetings between the two sides occur even more frequently than Ashes tests and whilst familiarity does not appear to have bred contempt  neither has it injected much tension. There was a little added interest today with the appearance of Bresnan and Gale for Yorkshire and we amused ourselves for a while playing guess the skipper. Gale seemed an obvious choice but eventually it was clear that Tattersall was in charge. Why we not sure, perhaps because he looks even younger than Root who of course was boss at Lord's.

A good third wicket stand saw Lancs to 141 for 2 at lunch with the Yorkshire spinners being on the receiving end. The afternoon was very much Yorkshire's however with Ashraf leading the way with four wickets. An irritating tenth wicket stand delayed tea until the innings closed on 222. By stumps Yorkshire had made 81 for 2 with Gale contributing 40.

Throughout the day Malcolm was tuned into 5live Extra and its commentary from HQ which amounted to a more or less continuous stream of good news. Yorkshire's seamers ensured that yesterday's poor first innings was enough to give a decent lead which was built on during the afternoon. The weather may have the last word but a second victory of the season remains a good bet.

The second XI match, which I understand is part of the Roses Challenge, is likely to have problems with rain on Wednesday but don't worry for the two sides meet again on Friday in two T20 matches at 11:00 and 2:30. Should your palate for such fare be a trifle jaded by then you might prefer the two day university game at Weetwood beginning on Thursday.

GAME OF TWO HALVES

By Brian Sanderson,

After the mileage of yesterday it was nice to walk to the match at Headingley  on a warm morning.To-day match was Yorkshire Seconds against  Lancashire Seconds in a three day friendly.However the Yorkshire scoreboard has been damaged and we were playing Cashire.

Looking at the Yorkshire side it had a different look from I saw them at Nottingham.One change was Tim Bresnan  playing after hard winter in Australia.The second change was a big talking point for the fifty spectators watching the match as Anthony Gale, the Yorkshire captain, had dropped himself from the first team match at Lords. I could not see Geoff Boycott playing for the second team.Photograph below is of Gale coming back on the field after a rest.

Lancashire won the toss and batted  however they were soon two wickets down. Then Stephen Croft and Jordan Clark started to take Yorkshire bowling apart. Before lunch seven bowlers had been tried but Lancashire were 140 for 2  and looking good.

After lunch Bresnan soon got Croft out after he had helped in a century stand.As you can see from the photograph the next highest batsman was Gavin Griffiths batting at number 10 who was involved in the second highest partnership.

As you can see from the bowling figures Moin Ashraf bowled very well and Tim Bresnan had a good  net.In the afternoon session Lancashire scored 75 runs and lost eight wickets.

This is a photograph of Yorkshire leaving the field at tea-time when they had bowled Lancashire out for 222.I wonder if David Shepherd watched from above and still a jigging as the score was 222..

After tea Callis was soon out  which brought in Anthony Gale.When I left at 6.10 Yorkshire were 60 for 1 with Gale going well.

See what to-morrow brings. Over the period this blog has been going we have now had 60,000 viewings so thank you all our readers and we hope you enjoy are comments and photographs.

Too many games conceded

Posted by John Winn

Good to see Brian yesterday. All the results for the first round of The Royal Club Championship, to give it its Sunday name are available at the ecb play cricket site and disappointingly there are ten matches that have been settled by  teams conceding. One such is the game between Easingwold and Richmondshire and yet when I checked the Easingwold website at lunchtime yesterday it was still listed under fixtures. When I arrived at Easingwold the covers were on and I was informed by another disappointed spectator that the game would be played next week. Apparently not if the ecb website is correct.

Fortunately a few miles down the A19 at the ever hospitable Clifton Alliance there was cricket and NEPL champions Stockton had won the toss and were batting. They  were a little under strength but managed 221 all out with the last wicket falling in the 45th over. Brian has described how Clifton struggled at the start of their innings and they eventually fell 97 short. Stockton will play South Northumberland in the next round. The Gosforth based club got through because opponents Knaresborough Forest were amongst those who conceded. Let's hope that nobody was too inconvenienced by the cancellation of a fixture that had all the signs of being a massive mismatch.

In my posting yesterday I expressed my frustration at the difficulties I was experiencing with the Nidderdale League website. I am somewhat relieved to find I am not the only one for a lengthy apology appeared yesterday and work is in progress to fix the problem.

VISITING THREE RIDINGS

By Brian Sanderson,

I set out this morning to visit some East Yorkshire grounds were National Village Cricket Cup was been played.However my first visit was to Escrick Park were the Yorkshire Gentlemen  were playing Leeds University.A photograph above is of Yorkshire Gentlemen President wearing their coloured blazer.

This club celebrated it,s 150 Anniversary last year which is the same as Yorkshire C.C.C.Some of the  past Yorkshire Gentlemen players included Lord Hawe, Major Lupton, Sir Archibold White ,Sir William Worsley,Norman Yardley and Billy Sutcliffe who all  captained Yorkshire. They moved into their present ground in 1932 and it is near St. Margaret,s School.They have over 38 fixtures this year including a trip to play Royal Household. Today one of the opening batsmen was Geoff Barker who also plays for Horsforth Old Park and Arthington Cricket Festival.This ground was in North Yorkshire.

Moving on I went to the above club for the first time.They were playing Hanging Heaton who play in the Bradford League.I noticed a number of ex county players who play for them. They included Gary Fellows, David Stiff and David Paynter.Goole  batted first and were soon in problem on a green wicket.As I left they were 30 for 3. Goole are in the York @ District Senior League. Above is some photograph taken by Tony Woodhouse in 1990.The club house has been modernised but you can still see the M62,

The next ground was another new ground for me Beverley however when I arrived the match was over. Doncaster had bowled them out for 42 and had won the match by nine wickets.These grounds were in East Yorkshire

Plan B was to go to Clifton Alliance who were playing Stockton.Listening to a BBC radio play ,I parked my car next to John Winn who was on his second ground as Easingwold match was off.Stockton had scored 221 when they batted and were having tea. John very kindly bought me a cup of tea in the cheerful pavilion.
Clifton were struggling batting and were 16 off 7 overs when I left.

The last ground I visited was Fairburn who had just been bowled out by Woodhouse Grange for 42 in twenty-five overs. They had scored 192 in their innings. This ground is in West Yorkshire.A good view from the ground of Ferrybridge power station cooling towers.

You never know when you set out to visit grounds what the state of the matches will be  until  you arrive but it is good to see local  cricket grounds been used.

Cherrymen pip Ledsham

posted by John Winn

After last week's 'Over the hills and faraway' it was 'The Green Green Grass of Home' yesterday for after Friday's rain, twitter brought news of cancellations on Saturday morning and I settled for the short drive to Whixley, the nearest ground to my house. The fare here was a Wetherby League Div 2 match between Whixley and Ledsham. Whixley had also been at home last week and had got the season off to a winning start with victory over Crossgates. An added attraction for me here was that my friend Arthur Bartle was umpiring.

The morning cloud had lifted to show sun at times and the rather keen wind had assisted in making the pitch and outfield perfectly playable. The ground occupies a high position in a low lying area with views across the Vale of York and has a reputation for quick drying. The new pavilion (above) was in use although I understand there is still some internal work to be completed. Whixley were batting and had reached 69 for 2 off 22 overs when I arrived. Leading the way as usual was Pat Greenwood and he was eventually dismissed for 53. He might consider himself rather unlucky to fall to a good catch for  Ledsham's fielding had been rather undistinguished..

At this point I went a further mile down the road to Green Hammerton where the visitors were St Chad's A in a Div 3 game. I arrived just in time (3:45) to wish them a safe journey back to Leeds with a ten wicket win in the bag: home team all out for under 50. Back to Whixley and conversation with umpire John Fisher whose game at South Milford had been called off in the morning and John introduced me to Frank Daniel, a former Whixley player whose father had owned the land where the cricket ground now stands. Both John and Frank expressed some regret that the ground is rather detached from the village( it is about half a mile from the village pub and shop). At tea Whixley had reached 162 for 6 and the much improved Wetherby League  website tells me this morning that this was enough for a 5 point win with Ledsham falling four runs short with four wickets left. Two wins for Whixley and two defeats for Ledsham so far.

Next stop Ouseburn and a change of leagues to Division 1 of The Nidderdale and a local derby with Alne. Alne had recovered from 28 for 6 to reach 102 for 9 in an innings slightly shortened by a break for rain. After tea the Parker brothers set about Alne's attack with their usual gusto and when a heavy shower sent this softy homeward OCC were 39 for 0. While the Wetherby website has improved, something awful appears to have happened to the previously excellent on line information from the Nidderdale League, and I was unable to find the result this morning. Since when have we had 'leaderboards' in cricket ? An email to Sue Parker, proud mum of Ouseburn's opening pair, revealed a ten wicket win off 18 overs. Two wins for Ouseburn will put them in good heart for next week's trip to Spofforth who pipped them for the title by one point last season.

Eight championship matches start today and in terms of likely candidates for test places best pickings are likely to be at Lords where Yorkshire are the visitors. Still no team announcement. Much discussion at Ouseburn yesterday about who,
if anybody will make way for Root's return. Just over twenty minutes to the toss and should Ballance be the man who has to decide between heads or tails then it will be Gale who has stepped down. Where's you money?

NO HAND PULLED BITTER IN IDLE

y

By Brian Sanderson,

It had been raining all Friday and early Saturday morning which always makes life difficult for p.c.w. .You have to find out which matches are on  and will it stay fine.

At I.OOPM.I decided to go to see Idle against Great Horton in the Second Division of the Bradford League as it was nearby and you can watch the match from the car when it gets cold.These two sides last season were the bottom two sides of the division but both had won last week.

The Idle ground is situated on Cavendish Road and the club has played there  since 1889 and joined the Bradford League in 1906.One of the famous players for the club was Sir Jack Hobbs who played for them for three seasons from 1915. On one occasion the club,s opening pair were Hobbs and Wilfred Rhodes.The club has won the First Division title for six occassions and the Second Division three times . They have also won  six Priestley Cups.

To-day there was crowd of about twelve supporters scattered round the ground during the 1950,s the ground would have been full . How times have changed and the population of Idle is 40 per cent of pensionable age unlike it was in 1950,s.

Idle batted first  and by the thirty over they had scored 63 for 4 with the open bat scoring 35 runs in 112 minutes.They struggled to the fifty over to score 123.Great Horton best bowler Jawad too 4 for 38.

Above is the changing rooms and tea hut which is situated on top off a large slope.

Photograph looking towards Leeds with the players taking a drink of orange.

The ground on one side has four radio masts and with the rent from them help the club to keep going.After tea Grat Horton batted against Idle opening bowler called Cumming who comes from New Zealand.He took two wickets for 26.However Great Horton to struggle to reach the total and were all out for 78 in 32.2 overs.One interesting situation arised when a Idle fielder had to leave the field when he had hurt his hand.
Great Horton were kind enough to supply a substitute fielder but after twenty overs they removed the substitute fielder leaving Idle with ten fielders.So the Idle injured fielder had to get changed and come back on the field to help his team.Never seen that before and I hope never will again.

The title of the blog is due to a power failure in the area which caused the club to have no power and had to sell bottle beer only.

Let hope the weather is fine to-morrow.

Question answered

Posted by John Winn

Since this morning's posting I have had confirmation from two independent sources that the pavilion did indeed belong to Eggleston CC who played in the Darlington and District League until about the year 2000 although I do not think they could be described as 'long standing' members. Richard Cowan, secretary of Cockerton CC remembers playing friendlies against ECC in the 1980s and remarks on what a good place it was to play, especially for those with families who enjoyed picnics by the Tees.

It should not be too difficult to find the exact dates for the membership of the league. I have found a record in the Teesdale Mercury files of Eggleston entertaining Ferryhill Station in 1947. With tomorrow looking  increasingly like a poor day for cricket, further research may prove an alternative Saturday activity.

Update: Saturday an email from a second cousin, Brian Dobinson who played at Eggleston and is Vice President of Haughton CC, tells me that Eggleston's last season in league cricket was 1998. Thank you, Brian. They were not playing in the early seventies, no doubt somebody will tell me when their membership began.

Who played here?

posted by John Winn 

 

 

I took the above photograph a couple of weeks ago on a short break in the delightful Teesdale village of Romaldkirk. The pavilion is situated on the north bank of the River Tees close to the early nineteenth century Eggleston Hall and about 4 and a half miles north west of Barnard Castle. Romaldkirk is across the Tees, a ten minute walk or so away.

 

 

Prior to local government reorganisation in 1974, Romaldkirk was in the North Riding of Yorkshire but now is administered by County Durham. By any measure the pavilion is in County Durham and the road that runs in front of it forms part of the Tees Way. Inside the pavilion it is fairly basic with a division into two changing rooms and a table for the scorers. Whilst not likely to feature in the next 'Book of Pavilions', it is dry and the boarding over the two windows looks fairly recent but somebody has removed the fittings for the padlock and the door stands open. There is no apparent damage inside but if there were any contents then they are gone.

 

This is the view from the pavilion: the Tees flows behind the trees in the background. If you are in the area there is a convenient small layby on the Eggleston side of the river and the pavilion is about a minute's walk from the bridge. I am not on commission but can recommend lunch at either The Rose and Crown in Romaldkirk or at Eggleston Hall Gardens.

 

 

 

Clearly no cricket has been played here for some time but Barnard Castle are prominent members of the NYSD and four miles away  Middleton in Teesdale  are members of the Darlington and District League, albeit something of an outpost. Not too far away Raby Castle, at one of the most delightful grounds to be found anywhere,  also play  in  the D & D.

 

In my research into league cricket in the northern dales I have not found reference to cricket at either Eggleston* or Romaldkirk but clearly somebody played here in the not too distant past. The Teesdale Mercury may be a useful source and I note that it has a free to search database of all editions from 1854 to 1954. That might just provide a diversion on what is forecast to be a wet afternoon. 

* There is no link to the Eggleston Cup, competed for by village teams in the Darlington area since 1939. It is named after Mr and Mrs WB Eggleston who donated the trophy to promote local cricket and boost club funds.

ON THE SIXTH DAY

By Brian Sanderson,

This was my sixth successive day of watching cricket which started with a trip to Ripon to pick my sister up.
Last night Northants had lost another two wickets after I went home when it was raining. They had started again at 6 P.M. just as I was eating my dinner.

The forecast was showers in the afternoon and so Yorkshire had to obtain the last six wickets as soon as possible.In the first over Robert Newton was soon out and we had a excellent view of it from the Trueman Stand. Also there was Ron Stansfield and later Brian Workman and his son Jack.Congratulation on Jack been been picked  a Yorkshire under 15  squad.

Wickets fell steady until the final wicket who put on 50 runs.The batsmen were David Murphy,Scottish one day international and Azhar Ullah. He played in the Bradford League last season . The final wicket fell at 12.50 as it looked like we would be coming back after lunch.

Yorkshire won by an innigs and 120 runs.The photograph above is taken from the Executive balcony in the new pavilion when I visited three years ago.

Two days off and then let us hope the weather is fine for some league matches on Saturday.

The right call

Posted by John Winn

Plan A today was to go The Riverside to see the third day of the beautifully poised match between Durham and Somerset but an early look at the BBC forecast and an exchange of texts with two friends who live north of the Tees persuaded me that I might well be wasting my time. Far too much blue on the map suggested Headingley might be a better bet and a tweet at 10:30 that said it was hoped to start on time set me on my way, too late alas for the start of play.  My  first glimpse of the playing area saw the players heading towards the dressing rooms and the covers going  the other way.
The light rain turned heavy enough to persuade some to go home but as Brian has described the patient were rewarded when play started at 2:15. Much better batting fron Thants, as the east side scoreboard called the visitors, meant that they had lost only four wickets by the close and a good forecast for tomorrow suggests the journey to LS8 will be worth the trouble in the morning.

As for The Riverside although there was no rain after lunch  gloom persisted and play was finally abandoned for the day at five o'clock. The game remains evenly poised of course and very much in Paul Collingwood's hands.  If the forecast suggests a full day's play then one assumes Durham will try and set their visitors from the West Country at least 300, a target rarely achieved at The Riverside but the Durham skipper will no doubt remember how Joe Root ruined his calculations a year ago.



I can only stay at Headingley until late afternoon by which time I think Northants will be on their way home with a very modest return of points from the match. Perhaps they will consider that the
fixture list has been hard on them and that to meet the champions and runners up in their first two matches after promotion was unfortunate. If so they might consider easier times lie ahead and  Lancashire at home a better guide to their fortunes. How do you spell hmm?

BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER

By Brian Sanderson,

The weather forecast was rain all day however when I entered the ground at 9,30 it was dry and they started at 11.00 with Northants batting. The session lasted twenty mintues when the rain came.In the Long Room were two parents of two players from both sides. John Winn had been sitting next to James Brooks mother yesterday and she came over to speak to him together with her husband. James previous  county was Northants.He had played for Oxfordshire for five years and Northants for 3 years.

Opening the batting for Northant was James Middlebrook who played for Yorkshire for 3 years and Essex for 7 years. Ralph Middlebrook of Pudsey Congs was also in the Long Room.So both parents had split loyalty in this match.

The match restarted at 2,15 when Peters was soon out which brought in Kyle Coetzer who is ex Durham. Middlebrook and Coetzer batted easily until just before tea when Coetzer was caught by Hodd who is ex Sussex.Middlebrook was not out when I left on Northants were 118 for 2 with the rain falling.

Forecast is better for tomorrow so Yorkshire has some hard work to do take the eight wickets.

A supporter thought William Roberts  bookstall was a library and decided to read one of his book while it was raining. We see some intersting sights during the  cricket season.

HEADINGLEY A SPORTING DAY

By Brian Sanderson,

Yorkshire were seven wickets down with Ballance and Sidebottom batting this morning.The weather was sunny and it was good to see Ballance batting well.Above is a photograph of  him playing a cover drive. Tony Hutton ,objects to photograph of batsman just acknowledge the crowd., so this is a photograph for him.Garry went on to score 174 and I am sure he wll go on to play for England this season.

The photograph of him on the screen after he scored his 150.Yorkshire batted on till 1.10 and then declared at 459 for 9.

After lunch Yorkshire Yorkshire soon started taking wickets.Next door Leeds Rhinos were playing Salford which caused a large influx of stewards,Brooks took 5 wickets for 36 against his former county whilst Sidebottom took 4 for 16. The highest scorer was ex Surrey player Spriegal with 20 not out. The next highest score was extra with 14.Northants were all  at tea time when the rain came down.

A photograph above is of Brooks bowling. The weather forecast is not good for the next two days.So Yorkshire will be looking out of the window while Raplh Middlebroo,father,is praying for rain.

NOT JUST CRICKET AT HEADINGLEY

By Brian Sanderson,

After the driving  of yesterday, it was a gentle walk to Headingley. It was the first day of the Yorkshire against Northampton in the first County Championship match at Headingley.Arriving at 9,30 I pinned up the information supplied by Nigel Pullan and Paul Dyson about the history of matches played against the two counties.

As I sat down William Roberts was sorting out his new stock for this season and I noticed the above boolet which I purchased.. The booklet is about the history of the club were Ephraim Lockwood was professional in 1864.I have diary kept my his wife of Ephraim,s about his scores.

Next cricket memorabilia to arrive was a players tie of 1964 tour to America were Gary Sobers played  some matches for Yorkshire.

Beenwhile Yorkshire were struggling to 57 for 3 with the bowling on top. This all changed when Garry Ballance came into bat in good batting form.He and Alex Lees batted all through the afternoon with Lees have three chances,

At tea-time I wondered over to the bookstore to think them for the tie which had been given to them.

The scoreboard shown that the Yorkshire Second team match at Scarborough had been switched to Headingley. At the Supporters abin I purchased "Down the Decades" which give details of matches from 1954 about the Yorkshire and Northanmts matches.In 1954 Frank Tyson scored 70 against a bowling attack which included Trueman.Another match in 1974 a player called Norman Maltby born in Marske helped to win the match by two wickets and eleven miutes to spare.He only played nine first class matches for Northants between 1972 to 1974.

Beenwhile back on the field Garry Ballance went on to be 117 not out and Yorkshire 328  for 7 which did not seem possible this morning. Lees was given out L.BW for 90 after been involved in a partnership of 156.

See what to-morrow brings.

Wandering in Ribblesdale

The A59 took me westwards yesterday to the Clitheroe area and matches in The Ribblesdale league. I began at Whalley*, close to the birthplace of Cyril Washbrook, where in the A section Ribblesdale Wanderers were the visitors. New home skipper Richard Lamb had made all the right kind of noises in The Clitheroe Advertiser: 'big challenge',' this could be our year', 'take it one game at a time', you know the kind of stuff. The new season began a couple of minutes early at 1:28 on a sunny day when, if shelter was sought from an April breeze watching was a comfortable experience. The Station Road ground is an attractive tree lined enclosure and the pavilion (below) looks in good shape for its 91 years. Inside are some good photographs dating from the Edwardian era including one of the club's championship side of 1906.

Whalley had lost the toss and been put in and progress was slow against accurate bowling, 13 without loss off the first 9 overs. Time to move on and I asked for directions to my next ground from a local who used the pre sat nav command  'use your nose' several times,  which I duly did retracing my steps to Clitheroe and Church Meadow where Ribblesdale Wanderers II were taking on Read II. Church Meadow may conjure up a romantic Cardusian picture but the ground does not quite meet one's expectations. There is a church at one end, and I suppose if the groundsman failed in his duties there might eventually be a meadow but it is functional rather than charming. Progress here was much quicker than had been the case at Whalley and the home were 77 for 3 when I arrived and continued to bat in a positive style.

Next stop, the Chatburn Road home of last year's champions Clitheroe CC and here too the skipper was sounding positive in the local paper for although 'we are there to be shot at', 'we are excited for the coming season' and certainly this seemed to have rubbed off on the locals who had turned out in large numbers for the visit of Great Harwood. Things were not quite going according to plan with Clitheroe at 73 for 7 and there was a collection for an  opposition bowler who had taken five wickets Whilst I was there I enjoyed a fight back which more than doubled the score for the loss of only one further wicket.

From Chatburn Road it is but a short drive to Chatburn, one of those grounds which you can see from the road but where it is difficult to find an entrance for cars. This is because there is no such thing but it is well worth a visit for its juxtaposition with the church and the lovely views across the Ribble Valley. Although the journey is short Ribblesdale League gives way to Craven and District and newly promoted Chatburn were taking on  Keighley outfit Long Lee who entered Room 101 as the church clock struck four leaving skipper Robinson marooned on 39. The players adjourned to the pavilion which is some distance from the playing area and which they share with the local pre school group. I followed and was served a cup of tea for 20p. Luxury.

Fifth and last ground of the day involved a detour from the A59 to Earby and here I really did have difficulties and resorted to asking a local for directions. Such was her reaction that I thought she might be going to say the club had folded and the ground built on but 'turn left at the bus stop outside 'The Cantonese' and look for William Street' did the trick. Surrounded as it is by housing and industrial premises 'The Applegarth' looks rather unprepossessing from the exterior but step  inside and below is the view from the pavilion. Back to the Ribblesdale League here and a second team game with visitors Burnley Belvedere. Earby were making a good fist of chasing 118 and went on to complete a nine wicket win.  This completed the full set of victories for the five home clubs and a very good start to my season's league cricket.

* as in Morley not Bolly

RIDDLESDEN

By Brian Sanderson,

The ninth ground we arrived at 6.15 was Riddleden which is situated in Keighley  and  next to the River Aire.The green  netting round the ground is to try and stop the ball going in the river.Also there is a electric pylon in the ground and live electricity wire cross the ground. Riddlesden had scored 299 in four-five overs against Thornton-in Craven.We tried to visit their ground at the start of last season but all Craven League  fixtures had been put back a week because of the rain.

Scoreboard showing the Thornton score so the match had still 28 overs to go at 6.20.

Great day and I too nearly eighty photographs and I hope our viewers of the blog enjoy them.Also it may  encourage people to visit this part of Yorkshire.To-morrow Headingley for the first home match for Yorkshire.

NEW PAVILIONS IN THE CRAVEN LEAGUE.

By Brian Sanderson,

This ground was Hawoth West End however there was no match their seconds should have been playing Chatburn .

Great views again but why was the cancelled match on the web-site.At least we found as a numberous of p.c.w have failed.

Signed outside the Hawoth ground advertising the match. Another scenic ground.

Beautiful houses  on one side of the ground.

New pavilion which had a wood burning fire were two of the locals were drinking their beer and thought I was from a newspaper.

Oakworth new pavilion their seconds were playing Sandy Lane.

An old roller behind the scorebox.Mick Bourne is not forgotten and this could go in the rollers graveyard.

Oakwoth second ground were their third team were playing Riddlesden seconds. A young left arm bowler had taken six wickets.

Ingrow were playing Barrowford seconds who are based in Lancashire and one of their players struggled to find th ground but Ron sat-nav -Denton had no problem.Another new pavilion built with the help of Lottery funds.

More great views while we were drinking our tea supplied by the kind tea ladies.Some people had sandwiches and cakes.

View of the locked pavilion Long Lee had been bowled out for 63 by Cononley.

Near the ground is The Dickie Bird pub.He must have got a free meal.

Next ground was Airedale who were playing Hawoth seconds. This is where Leeds Radio man Nick Ahad plays. It is in the National Trust ground of East Riddleston Hall. We only went to this ground as we missed the turn off for the Riddlesden ground but great views again of the moors.