COME ON THE HILL

By Brian Sanderson,

This was the last day of the Yorkshire Seconds against Worcestershire and my fourth visit to the York ground in five days so the car knows the route.I had agreed to met Ron Deaton at 5 P.M. at York ground before moving on to Whitwell on the Hill in the evening.

Last night Worcester had not lost a wicket so I thouight they would be able to bat till after tea. Wrong again by lunchtime they had lost 6 wickets for 121 with Yorkshire seamers on top.By 2.20 P.M. they were all out for 135 so losing by innnings and ten runs.Matthew Fisher taking five wickets for 31.

The photograph is of the end of the match and because of the time I had to change plans.So over to see Ron at Harrogate and we set off on our trip .The first stop was Stonegrave Minster which is 4 miles south of Helmsley in the Howardian Hills.One of the vicars of the church was Lord Hawke father and we looking for some information about him but the church was locked but found a grave of one of his daughters.

Moving on a few miles to Hovingham which is the site of the Worsley family .William captain Yorkshire and wanted to find his grave in the church All Saints but we could not find it.

Moving back to cricket grounds we visited Castle Howard were the cricket pitch is cut but no cricket has been played on it for ten years.

I wonder how long the ground will be cut before  it becomes a car park.The sun was shining brightly on the Whitwell on the Hill cricket ground and looked a beautiful.The village is just off the busy and noisy A64 from Scarborough to York.The club was founded in 1889 and they play in the Ryedale Beckett League Division 2. Today match was against Bury thorpe who were top the league.

When we arrived  we were able to see a copy of the 1977 averages.The club has always played evening league cricket and they moved to the present ground after the Second War.tThe changing rooms are an old tennis pavilion which us to be at the left of the ground.There is only one wicket  cut for the season was    lively but Burythorpe scored 138 which was excellent as no six,s were allowed.A beautiful ground and I hope that cricket can be played on this for a number of years.