Tomorrow is a special day

posted by John Winn

Tomorrow is the third Saturday in April, traditionally the start of a league cricket for most of the leagues in Yorkshire and what might be regarded as the bread and butter of the blog. Until mid September, especially as now there is very little county cricket on Saturdays, Brian, Tony and I will be out and about, hither and yon, here and there, uphill and down dale and posting details of our travels, and not just in Yorkshire of course.

My local weekly paper, The Ripon Gazette, has done its usual excellent job of tracking player movements and seeking out skippers' comments for the season ahead. Yesterday's edition previewed the three leagues that come within its circulation area and that of its sister papers, The Aire-Wharfe, The Nidderdale and The Wetherby Leagues. Ed White and his team will no doubt report fully on  each Saturday's fixtures as the season progresses.

 In the Aire-Wharfe, Harrogate side Bilton, led by former Yorkshire all-rounder Vic Craven have signed ex Harrogate skipper, Ryan Bradshaw in the hope of challenging last year's winners Otley and the always strong Beckwithshaw. Other clubs from the area competing in the Aire-Wharfe include Collingham and Follifoot.

Almost inevitably there are clubs missing from the Wetherby League. One such is Whixley who will begin a new life in the third division of The Nidderdale with a visit from relegated Galphay and Winksley.With an early start for Derby on Sunday I shall stay close to home tomorrow and  start my season at Rudgate Fields to see how The Cherrymen* shape up in their new environment. Wetherby champions of 'their league' will begin their last season at home to Bilton in Ainsty, before leaving to join the York Senior in 2016. Both Hammertons, Kirk and Green start with home fixtures and I will probably call on one or both during the afternoon.

Ouseburn CC start the defence of their title by travelling to Pannal, always a keen encounter and it will be May before Ouseburn are at Lightmire Lane as they visit Darley next week. Helperby, third last year travel to Burton Leonard and will no doubt be strong again with the league's leading wicket taker in their ranks. Interviewed for The Gazette skipper Matthew Cavanagh sees Ouseburn as favourites. Ouseburn are largely unchanged from last season but have recruited an Australian opening batsman, Adam Fisher. In Division IV Ouseburn seconds are home to their Birstwith counterparts and expect to see me there in time for tea.

Helperby Cricket Club

The weather forecast for the weekend is for it to continue dry. Let us thank those who work hard to keep league cricket going and that they receive the loyalty from players that their efforts deserve. If so there should be fewer games conceded but April is a tricky time with the football season having a few more weeks to run and some clubs may have difficulties in raising sides tomorrow. To lighten any possible gloom let us congratulate Headingley club St Chad's who have bucked the trend of falling participation by adding a fourth team to their establishment who will play in The Wetherby league. The club website reveals that over the winter they have added twenty new senior players to their ranks and thus a year earlier than expected have decided to introduce another team. They have a blank wek to start but they will taste league action at Green Hammerton next week. Good luck.

 

*For many years Whixley was famous for the growing of cherries