JUNE CRICKET FIXTURES

By Brian Sanderson,

Just a few fixtures available this month.

JUNE 1  NORTHAMPTON  V  YORKSHIRE   3 DAYS

               ROMANY  V  MARKINGTON
         2  YORKSHIRE SECONDS  V   WARWICK   STAMFORD  BRIDGE   3 DAYS.
     
        4   M.C.C  V WORKSOP COLLEGE.
            LEEDS MET  V  UNIV OF LEEDS   KIRKSTALL
           GILLAMORE  V  HIGH FARNDALE
        6  SLINGSBY  V  GILLAMORE

       8  YORKSHIRE V NOTTINGHAMSHIRE HEADINGLEY  4 DAYS
          CUMBERLAND  V  BUCKINGHAMSHIRE   BARROW  THREE DAYS.
   
     9  LANCS SECONDS  V  YORKSHIRE  TODMORDEN

    10   LANCS  SECONDS  V  YORKSHIRE   CROSBY   THREE DAYS

         YORKSHIRE OVER 50  V  LINCOLNSHIRE   CLIFTON ALLIANCE

       SPOUT HOUSES  V   HIGH FARNDALE

    13   HIGH FARNDALE  V  SLINGSBY


   15  NOTTS  V  MIDDLESEX   TRENT BRIDGE  4 DAYS.

       DURHAM  V  LANCS       4 DAYS

   16  YORKSHIRE SECONDS  V  WARWICK    PUDSEY CONGS.

         M.C.C  V  GIGGLEWICK SCHOOL

  18   GILLAMORE  V  SPOUT HOUSES.

  22  WARWICKSHIRE  V  YORKSHIRE BIRMINGHAM  4 DAYS

        CHESHIRE  V  CORNWALL  ALDERLEY EDGE  3 DAYS

 23  NOTTINGHAM SECONDS  V  LANCS  WELBECK COLLERY.

     M.C.C  V  ASHVILLE COLLEGE

 24  YORKSHIRE SECONDS  V  SCOTLAND  SCARBOROUGH  3 DAYS.

    NOTTS SECONDS  V  LANCS  WELBECK COLLERY  3 DAYS.

 25  M.C.C  V  POCKLINGTON

    YORKSHIRE OVER 50   V ESSEX   FISHLAKE.

  26  M.C.C  V  HUDDERSFIELD NEW COLLEGE   BARKISLAND

  27 M.C.C  V ST. PETERS SCHOOL

  30  LANCS SECONDS  V  WARWICK  WESTHOUGHTON.

VISITING CLUBS ROUND KNARESBOROUGH

By Brian Sanderson,

    I decided to visit some clubs in the Nidderdale League however they do not start till 2 .00 P.M.So went to Knaresborough for my lunch at 1.00P.M. as this is the starting times for Airedale @ Wharfedale matches. I last visited this ground over 30 years ago when I played in a seven a side cricket tournament.Knaresborough Seconds were playing Pool Seconds.One of Knaresborough players was Mike Baxendale who I played with at Yorkshire Bank.

This is a photograph of Mike with the white hair.Moving on we went to Staveley who were playing North Stainley. The away side had  seven men to start with but  two other players after a few overs. One of the players had driven from Southampton that morning to play.That is dedication.

It is not the easiest ground to find and I missed it first time and had to turn the car round on a wet  muddy lane. The car is now splattered with mud.Next match was Burton Leonard who were playing Staveley first team.

I had visired this ground about two years ago.Near to the ground is tennis courts and a bowling green so there was plenty of cars about.The next ground was a new one to me Markington who were playing Lofthouse @ Middleton.You have to cross over a bridge to enter the ground.

A nice village ground with a 1930,s pavilion.Next ground we visited was Markington who were playing Little Ribston. We arrived at about 4.00P.M. and the match was over as one side was bowled out for 44.Another wet ground and more mud.

This is a photograph of the players putting the screen on the ground to  stop it blowing over. Next ground was Galphay@Winksley which was a ground I had not seen cricket on before. They were playing Scotton on a beautiful country ground.

This is a typical Nidderdale ground with the scorers outside and the sunshining.Next ground was Studley Royal who were playing Darley.This pavilion is a newly built and has electric scoreboard.

The wicket is in a bowl and about seventy yards from the pavilion.The last ground we visited about a mile away was Ripon were their seconds were playing Kirkby Malzard.

This club is one of the oldest in Yorkshire and used to host Yorkshire Seconds matches. It is situated next to the Rugby Union club and can be seen through the trees.

Tomorrow is a early start as I am going to see Yorkshire play at Northampton so back to sitting in stadiums away from open spaces and muddy lanes.

BACK TO WEETWOOD

By Brian Sanderson,

Earlier in the week Tony Hutton had found out that there was a two day match at Weetwood between Yorshire Academy and Durham Academy starting Thursday.As I arrived Tony was there with Jenny watching Yorshire batting in seems it started at 10.30 also they had played for two hours yesterday  after the rain. Yorkshire had scored 79 for 4 and Durham declared at 16 for 0.So today was a 110 over day.
One of the Yorkshire openers was Barny Gibson who was out for 15 in 32 minutes.

This is the photograph of Barny  Gibson coming off the field and Mosun going in to bat.By lunchtime after 40 overs Yorshire  were 90 for 5 and struggling against some steady bowling .I went home for lunch and on the way back I took the photograph, of the enterence to Weetwood ,at the begin of the blog showing the beautiful purple flowers.

It was left to Ryan Gibson to push the score on after lunch which he did scoring 62 in 90 balls.This enabled Yorkshire to get to a total of 180 which give them a lend of 243.

This is a photograph of Ryan Gibson going out  to field.

During the break in the innings this is a photograph of Yorkshire getting ready to do their drills.Yorkshire opened the bowling with Wainman who is a left arm bowler. He has had back problems but today he took the first three wickets  for seven runs in five overs.Just before tea Warner accidently bowled a beamer at Mc Clure and the next ball he bowled him.This seem to upset the Durham players.

After tea  Durham continued to struggle with Logan taking 4 for 3 in 3.3 overs .Durham finishing on 97 all out in 43.3 overs so Yorkshire winning by 146 runs.A good victory and it was good to be watching a winning Yorkshire side.

FORECAST WRONG AGAIN

By Brian Sanderson,

The weather forecast for today said it would rain all day so I was planning to go somewhere out of the rain. .However as I entered the stadium there was no rain and the players were playing football.At eleven the sun was shining and the batsmen complain of sun on the 20/20 players waiting area. The ground staff had to cover it up.

Yorkshire openers  Lyth and Lees seem to be in no trouble until Smith came on to bowl. The Yorkshire lost three wickets ,leaving them 97 for 3 with Lyth out for 50.

The flags were at half mast for Phil Sharpe death . His funeral is on Friday.Yorkshire continued to struggle against the medium swing bowling. Yorkshire batsmen  made some very bad errors to be bowled at tea-time for 243.Gale who had been given out by the umpire but was recalled went on to score 95 not out. Smith finished with 5 for 49.

After tea the Lancashire batsmen struggled against Bresnan who took 3 wickets for 9 runs.The evening session was stopped at 5,30 due to bad light with Lancashire 48 for 3 .

Forecast for to-morrow is rain all day but we will see when I open the curtains in the morning.

The strange case of Hodd in the field

posted by John Winn

The rain that prevented any play between Middlesex and Sussex and after lunch at Trent Bridge spared a good crowd at Headingley until only eight overs were left in the day and allowed an absorbing day's cricket in which Lancashire's batsmen posted their best first innings of the season.

I was one of a car of four that travelled from the Lower Ure Valley and we pitched camp in the FST just in time to see the red rose resume their innings. Horton, for whom I have generally played the part of the albatross made good progress in partnership with Prince who was batting under the handicap of a back ailment that necessitated on field treatment, but the switch of Brooks to the football stand end persuaded the Lancashire opener to leave one and he was bowled on 123. We lunched on 177 for 5 which made it Yorkshire's morning and my tuna salad was capped by my chauffeur's roast duck which made it his morning too.

 

Lancashire's last five wickets used the afternoon well to more than double the score and pick up 3 points, as many as they had previously gained all season. Yorkshire were handicapped by the absence from the field of Sidebottom who was replaced by Pyrah and when Williamson had a spell in the hutch we were given a glimpse of Tom Deighton-Brown, later renamed as Tom Geeson-Brown. I would love to have said 'thought so' but it would have been a lie.

 Lancashire's best work was done by Chappell and Smith who added 68 for the seventh wicket. Chappell was generously applauded from the field, the crowd perhaps feeling that this might be his last appearance at Headingley in championship cricket. Hogg hit 47 not out to secure the third point leaving the first innings as a 3-3 score draw. Brooks five wickets and Plunkett four: the last of which was caught Hodd, not behind the wicket as you might assume but in the gulley for it was Bairstow who was keeping. Hodd fielded well and Bairstow's keeping was tidy and the former resisted the temptation to hurl one in at Jonny's toes but I was not alone in finding this something of a mystery.

Lyth and Lees saw us comfortably through to 5:30 and the arrival of rain. The forecast suggests that, having allowed us a day of pleasant temperatures, it will be reluctant to leave and it is hard to see how anything other than a draw can come out of the next two days. This will leave us plenty of time to pick our squads for the first test and some may well have Plunkett and/or Brooks amongst the seamers and Bairstow seems more likely to keep than Hodd.

For me it is no more cricket until Monday when I am off to Chelmsford. The intervening days will be filled by a trip to Scotland via the Lake District where it will be hot and sunny and the pigs have wings.

BOWLERS ON TOP

By Brian Sanderson,

I called into Headingley this morning and stayed for about one hour before setting off to the Bradford League. The match we had choosed was Woodlands against Farsley. Second against first in the league.

We arrived as Woodlands came out to bat on a damp wicket after two days of rain.After twenty-five overs Woodlands were 44 for 5 due mainly to Hume, Farsley South African bowler.

We watched the match from the right of the scoreboard.At this stage Brice came into batted who is one of the top  all rounders in the league.He had to work hard and had to have luck to reach 50 before he was stumped off a wide.Swanepoel, ex Yorkshire bowler and captain of Woodlands ,put on 31 in 33 balls.Woodland finished up in the fifty over at 143 for 8.Brian Claughton thought Woodlands were favorites because of the superior bowlers. Hume finished with figures of 5 for 14 in fifteen overs which were excellent figures.

Woodlands issue a excellent programme which confirmed they were formed in 1894 and joined the Bradford League in 2001.They have won the Bradford League five times since they joined the league.

 One of Farsley opening batsman was Joe Sayers ex Yorkshire opener.However he was soon out for 4 caught at slip of Ahmed.From then onwards Woodland bowling of Brice and Ahmed  bowled Farsley out for 70  in 31 overs.Brice taking 6 for 16 in 9 overs.

This is a photograph of Brice fielding with Hume batting.The match was won before the rain came. Cue for a song.

RAINY DAY IN HEADINGLEY

By Brian Sanderson,

After my holiday and a wet Saturday it was nice to walk to Headingley to watch the Yorkshire and Lancashire Roses Match.It has been two years since Yorkshire had played Lancashire.At the beginning of the morning was fine and Dickie Bird was watching the net practise.

While I was away Phil Sharpe deid aged 77 and there was a minute silence for him and I think this is the first time this has happen when a Yorkshire player has died.

Just as the match was due to start the rain came and stopped play until 4.45.However were entertain by the Yorkshire Regiment Band in the Long Room.

Nigal Pullan does notes about previous Yorkshire and Lancshire matches and he mention Alan Wilson a Lancashire wicket-keeper and on William Roberts stall was a benefit broucher of him.

 When match start Lancashire opening pair of Horton and Reece soon put on a opening stand of  seventy before Reece hooked Liam Plunkett to Ryan Sidebottom on the boundary for 23. Bresnan was allowed to come back to play after being with England at Durham.He trapped Karl Brown in front for 3 and Lancashire finished on 87 for 2..

Forecast is better for tomorrow.

A full set of Worcesterhire

Posted by John Winn

The journey I made to Worcester earlier this week began at 9:35 at York Station on Monday morning but in a cricketing sense it began more than sixty years ago when I saw my first first class match when Yorkshire entertained Worcestershire at Scarborough. For the record it was on August 15th 1951 in a game Yorkshire appeared to have in the bag but lost by 8 runs. My trip to New Road on Monday means that I have now seen Worcestershire play in championship cricket against all other 17 counties. The Pears now join a list with Durham, Yorkshire, Sussex, Kent, Middlesex and Notts: a total of seven counties that are no longer part of  my list of 'must see' matches to complete the pursuit of 'the 153 club'.

 

Given reasonable weather, and that would have to be much better than this morning's gloom, the magnificent seven should be joined by Essex, Surrey, Glamorgan, Northants and Hampshire before the end of this season. Completing the full set of Worcestershire has taken me to fourteen different grounds including a number where first class cricket is unlikely to be played again. Buxton,Portsmouth and Weston-super-Mare would seem to definitely fall under the heading of 'lost grounds' and Blackpool and Kidderminster are very much on the reserve list.

Nearer to home Brian was kind enough to mention my article about The Langbaurgh League published recently on Cricket Yorkshire. Readers who have not looked at the league's website recently may find it of interest for the detailed history of the league now covers the  period from 1947 to 1972 as well as from its founding in 1920 up to WWII. An excellent read and the next instalment will cover 1973 to 2000.

Tea at New Road

posted by John Winn

The visit of Essex to New Road gave me the second opportunity in a week to see one of my 'must see' matches for 2014. With the forecast suggesting the lovely weather at the end of last week might be breaking up I decided an overnight stay would increase my chances of watching cricket and so Monday morning saw me on the train from York, changing at New Street and arriving in Worcester in time to see play before lunch.

Essex were batting and during the course of the afternoon session Saeed Ajmal worked his wonders as the visitors were bowled out for 203, a first innings deficit of 88. This was smaller than seemed likely at the fall of the ninth but a last wicket stand of 38 between Graham Napier and Monty Panesar made things a little more respectable. Napier hit two sixes, one of which hit the fascia of the ladies' pavilion where I settled myself for the two days on a bench from which 'Ted and Doris had enjoyed the view' and who wouldn't, even though the developers have done their best to spoil it. Since I was last there a Premier Inn has appeared in one corner of the ground and even though it may guarantee Lenny Henry a good night's sleep it is more likely to give lovers of architecture insomnia.

 

My choice of seat was not by accident for like one's first visit to Lord's there is a rite of passage which should be on the county cricket lovers' wish list and that is to take tea in the delightful ladies' pavilion: the adjective applies to both. Customary practice is that tea is served at three and indeed on Monday a queue, which I was handily placed to join, began to form at quarter to, but not a morsel was served before the cathedral clock had chimed the third stroke. Fruit cake and Victoria sponge disposed of I settled down to see Worcestershire build on their lead but by the close they had lost eight for 105 with Panesar the chief wrecker, six for 8 off 14 overs.

An amusing interlude occurred in the evening session for with both Newby and Napier off the field there was a delay while some kit was found that would fit Chris Silverwood, assistant coach for Essex, and when he appeared to some ironic jeers it was clear that it had indeed been a tight fit. He had the good sense at one point to stand beside Jessie Ryder which put things into perspective.

Monty opened up proceedings yesterday as the cathedral chimed eleven and I noted that those of the nearby St Andrew's waited until their ecclesiastical senior had finished before striking up. The Pears added 15 to their overnight score setting Essex 209 to win. By lunch they had lost four wickets, 3 to Shantry and the remaining six went to Ajmal so that the game was over by three o'clock. The forecast had suggested that there was a chance of thundery showers but apart from a few spots these did not arrive in time to spoil the cricket. Showing admirable flexibility the ladies brought forward the magic hour to 2:30 and although the spread was slightly less extensive than Monday's it still was worthy of all the accolades bestowed upon it.

Essex's innings was brought to an unseemly end when Panesar heaved at his first delivery and fellow spinner Ajmal never looked likely to drop a caught and bowled. A Pears' member whose company I had enjoyed expressed his disgust at the shot and at the Essex innings in general pointing out that that was the third time in three matches this season that Worcestershire's opponents have shown little stomach for the fight in their second innings. Kent were defeated by 125 runs and Derbyshire by an innings and 64. I suggested that the same criticism could be made of Warwickshire's efforts at Headingley last week. For a Worcestershire man that appeared to offer some solace.

A feature of the match was the number of people missing: for Essex Topley, Mills and Masters are all injured and the opening attack was in the hands of loanee Tom Newby, now joining the wounded, and championship debutant Matt Salisbury who showed some gumption with the bat in a stand of fifty with Foakes that worried the New Road faithful for a while. For Worcestershire Gareth Andrew was absent and they will be concerned that Ajmal who had match figures of 13 for 94 will be away for six weeks in July and August when he will be with Pakistan, In the meantime they will enjoy their lead at the top of the second division and an advantage over Essex, who lie third, of 33 points.

CUP SUNDAY

By Brian Sanderson,

I wanted to watch cricket locally to-day as I am going on holiday for five days.So looking at the fixtures all the leagues were playing their  cups.So the first match I went to was Golcar against Emley Clarence in the Sykes Cup in the Huddersfield League.Emley were established in 1876 and their ground is near the T.V. mast and is shared with the football ground.

During the winter Golcar had one of their sightscreen broken during the winter because of the strong winds .At this moment it is waiting to be repaired.Emley batted first on a sunny day and a hard wicket putting in a opening stand of 50.

There was a standy fall of wickets until the number 7 batsman helped to bring the score up to 197. There are no scorecards so you are unable to know the names of the batsman also it is not on total cricket scorer.

At tea-time I drove over to see Meanwood play Hillam and Monk Fryston in the Fred Fleetwood Cup which is the Wetherby League Cup.I have not  seen cricket on this ground eventhough it is only about four miles from my house. It is a very neat ana tidy club with a very small playing area next to a pub. The photograph at the start of the blog is a photograph of a  garden next to the ground.I think you could have a compertition to see which is the best kept garden next to a cricket ground.Meanwood were orginally in the Dales Council League before moving to the Wetherby League.

Near by the ground there is a number of old stone houses and one had the date 1720..

A beautiful little ground woth visiting. Moving on about a mile to New Rover who were playing Otley in Waddilove Cup in the Airedale and Wharfedale League. As I entered the ground Otley had finished their forty-five overs and scored 370 for 4 with J.Pickering scoring 158 n ot out.

The New Rover ground looked a picture in the sunshine with the trees now in fully leafed.However New Rover are struggling to get two sides together and it would a great pity if this team folded.Moving  back towards home I called in to see Kirkstall Educational play Upper Wharfedale in  Waddilove Cup match.Kirkstall had scored another big score of  328  in 44.5 overs There had been  six matches on this ground sixce Wednesday which had left Dave Hodgson no time to water the wickets but they had still scored big total.

Thanlk you for John Winn writing  in Cricket Yorkshire a excellent piece on the Langbeugh League were I visited a club yesterday.Please read  the web-site.

BACK TO THE NORTH EAST

By Brian Sanderson,

Myself, Ron Stansfield and Ron Deaton carried on visiting cricket clubs around Middlesbrough.The weather was sunny when we arrived at Yarm who were playing Blackhall.On the doorway was a poster advertising their Bi-centennal dinner last night.One of the players in the Yarm side was Tommy Stafford who is the Yorkshire over 60,s  wicket-keeper.He will let on his age but it is well over 60.

This is a photograph of him helping to win a cup-final many years ago.

Yarm recently painted  pavilion looking well in the sunshine.

Next ground was Preston-on -Tees who were playing Northallerton . The ground is next to Yarm Rugby Union . The cricket club has struggled to keep going due to arson and vandalism.

Found a old stone roller which must have been machinist at sometime.

Next ground was Stafford Place who were playing Skelton Castle in the Langbaurgh League which has been established since 1920.The ground was purchased by R.A.F during the Second World War because the orginal ground was used for airfield.

At the side of the ground is a small garden which belongs to the former groundsman of the club.What could be more beautiful.

Moving on to the next ground which was Cowen Bewley who were playing Loftus in the Cleveland League.I was asked to take this photograph as one of the players was returning to Sri Lanka.

The pavilion is basic but that is again due to vandalism.In this league Boosbeck club is struggling to put out a side.

We called in at Thornaby  as last year when we went the match was over. This match to-day they were playing Wolverston.Again it was a very low scoring match which would soon finish.

The last ground we visited was Normanby Hall who were playing Thornby first team.In the photograph of the two Ronnies.

I was not impressed with pavilion with the steep steps.Another six new grounds I have not seen cricket on before and met some nice people including Jesus but that is another story.

I

Wessells sets up a great day

posted by John Winn

I had originally intended to visit Trent Bridge on Monday but with good weather promised for yesterday I delayed my visit and was rewarded with a day in the sunshine at one of my favourite grounds and a match that finished just in time for me to catch my train home.

I had last visited in 2011 when rain spoilt the day but no danger of that yesterday and having paid my £10 I took a  seat which gave me probably the best view in county cricket.

 

 

Notts had begun the day with a lead of just 11 over Northants but in a breathtaking exhibition of hitting this was extended to 161 in an hour and a quarter in which Wessells hit seven sixes and scored at a run a minute before he was out for 158. I found my self sitting among the Andre Adams fan club and they became increasingly exasperated as first Siddle and then Shahzad entered the arena before their hero. Even when the  former Yorkshire player hit 36 off 25 balls it brought only 'he can bat a bit but not like Andre' from my companions. Read declared the innings closed and gave his side over 70 overs to dismiss the visitors who have found life in the top division even tougher than they might have imagined.

Shahzad had Middlebrook lbw before lunch and the afternoon saw some excellent bowling from Australian Peter Siddle. Clearly committed to the cause he bowled a long spell from the Radcliffe Road end in which he took four wickets including an athletic caught and bowled. At tea Northants were six down and still 38 behind and dire became very dire when Shazhzad took two wickets in the first over after the interval. A stand between Crook and Chambers began to eat into the remaining overs and equally importantly narrowed the gap to the point where it looked as Notts might have to bat again. The faithful around me began to get a tad tetchy and in a surprising switch of loyalties the ringleader of the AASC betrayed Andre with  cries of 'Bring on Sammy'. Eventually these cries reached Reed's ears and Patel S took over from Siddle and produced a high full toss which Crook gently returned to him. Genius. The cries of 'What did I tell you?' could be heard at Grace Road.

Any chance that we might get into the last hour were squashed when Shahzad completed a memorable day for himself and his club when he trapped Chambers in front and after due deliberation Michael Gough raised the finger. Notts' first 24 point return since 2010 sent the remaining crowd home happy: the few from Northampton that I saw had disappeared by tea, and raised the homesters to fourth in the table with their second win of the campaign. But for a defiant last wicket stand against Durham, Northampton would have lost all four of their opening games.

In my pursuit of membership of the 153* club Notts v Northants was my 142nd entry, next is Worcestershire v Essex at New Road next week. Roll on.

* the number of matches required to see every county play every other county once in championship cricket.

WATCHING A MATCH IN 3 AAA STADIUM

By Brian Sanderson,

After picking Bob Procter we sent off south.After a cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich,we settled down to watch the cricket in the above stadium.The last time I was there it was called the Racecourse Ground at Derby.The sun was out and it was very pleasent to sit in the warmth.

There had been two days of rain at Derby so no cricket had been played since Sunday.Kent were batting after Derby had been bowled out for 118 in 49 overs.Kent start off to try and set a target and give their bowlers and chance to bowl Derby out again.

The most attractive batsman was Brendon Nash the ex West Indian test player. Every time I had seen him bat he was nudger with no strokes. However to day he scored 95 in 98 balls with all the shots.There was about a crowd of three hundred on a sunny day which was disappointing. The umpire had to have a word with Footitt for bowling to many bouncers which caused him to lose his temper.The above photograph is of  Nash  coming off the ground after Kent had declared at 235 for 6 which left Derby to play out 49 overs which was the total of overs they were bowled out in the first innings. This was good to see that Kent tried to win the match.

However the opening attack of Bollinger and Clayton before tea did not take any wickets and both batsman looked in no trouble.At tea -time we left to go to Trent College.Derby  lost no wickets and  drew the match. One of the stands at Derby is called Midland Demolition Stand . We wondered if the company had been promised to demolition the stand in the future.

At Trent College in Long Eaton Nottingham Seconds were playing Yorkshire seconds in two 20/20,s.The ground is a basin with trees around and in the sunshine it looked very beautiful.

Yorkshire won the first match but in the second match Notts had scored 196 with Mullaney scoring a century.So it looked like Yorkshire won lose this match. Yorkshire are playing at the 3aaa stadium to-morrow.