Not far from home.

posted by John Winn

It is not unknown for me to alter a Saturday afternoon's plans at the last minute but usually such changes are in response to the weather forecast but yesterday, having earlier in the week worked out the optimum way to take in four new grounds in the Langbaurgh and Cleveland Leagues, I just didn't fancy driving and settled for a visit to five grounds that lie within about a four mile radius of my house.

First stop was Kirk Hammerton which despite its proximity I rarely visit and where the visitors in a Wetherby League Division Two encounter were second placed Garforth PC. My friend Arthur Bartle was in charge here and promptly at 1:30 he led the fielding side, Garforth, onto the field followed in close order by Kirk Hammerton's opening bats. The village is rather stretched out and the cricket field is down a lane which takes you past Kirk Hammerton Hall, the home at one time of Yorkshire and England cricketer Ronald Stanyforth. Born in London RTS died  here in 1964.

 

Kirk Hammerton pavilion

 

The home side made slow progress against some steady bowling and as I walked round the attractive ground I bumped into Ron Deaton and his wife who like me had made this match their first port of call. The cricketing world put to rights I moved on, noting with approval that as I left the village I passed Stanyforth Close. Not far away is the other Hammerton., noted for its green rather than its kirk. Both villages had their moment in the sun at the beginning of July when Le Tour passed by but there were no crowds yesterday and the cricket ground was empty. The website had advertised Green Hammerton A* v Amaranth A but I presume that one or both one or both had conceded the fixture so on to Whixley, just a mile away and a Wetherby Second Division match with Saxton from near Tadcaster visiting the Rudgate ground.

I had visited Whixley earlier in the season since when its splendid new pavilion has had its official opening. Saxton were batting and while I was there progressed from 26 for 1 to 60 for 3 at about two an over. Nothing to get too excited about but despite some gathering clouds it was a pleasant afternoon and the skies clear enough to make the most of the views across the Vale of York to the minster in the distance.

Clouds gather over Whixley

Another short drive brought me to Marton cum Grafton where the rather tucked away ground which I suspect is in Grafton rather then Marton, was hosting a Nidderdale League Div 7 match with Raskelf II having crossed the Ouse, in the field. A young spinner was getting a bit of tap here and had to be withdrawn from the hostilities after two overs. Marton's 133 for 8 proved enough to win the match by 13 runs. MCG share the ground with Ouseburn III who had been due to visit Bedale II but at this difficult time of the year had been unable to raise a side.

And so to my last ground of the day, Lightmire Lane, the home of Nidderdale's top outfit Ouseburn CC who were fielding against their bogey team from Blubberhouses. Once again OCC came unstuck against the visitors from the Washburn Valley who made 223 from their 45 overs including 11 sixes. Despite a gallant effort from Jamie Bryant who hit 138 not out much of it in semi darkness the leaders fell 16 short. How important were the three successiove sixes hit by Blubberhouses in their penultimate over at the crease?


 During my conversation with Ron he had told me the sad news of the demise of  Thixendale CC whose lovely Wolds ground I visited a few years ago. After repeated failures to fulfil fixtures the York Vale club has been suspended by the league and this season's record expunged. The league will consider re-election to the bottom division at the AGM in November. Full details are available on the league's website. Add this to the conceded matches I have mentioned above plus that of Kirk Hammerton A who could not raise eleven to go to Crossgates and the picture painted is a rather depressing one for the league cricket follower and the situation is not any brighter when one bears in mind that most leagues still have another four Saturdays before the season is finished.

* Wetherby League speak for second eleven.