Cricket continues to surprise everyone. Brian has already described the confusion of the early start to the game at Weetwood today. The fact that the game ended so quickly as well caused consternation to one or two late arrivals. When Brian departed due to really cold wind when watching the game on pitch number two I was about to follow him, when who should appear but the sage of Adel, Reg Parker. He was hoping to see the end of the game with Exeter but settled in to watch what we then thought was a game between Leeds university first team and Newcastle university.
Weetwood No.2 ground
Newcastle were struggling with six wickets down and another man retired hurt holding his shoulder. It looked as though they might be all out soon, but the four remaining spectators, Reg Parker and Gordon Chadwick, two wicket-keeping league cricket legends, and Brian Senior and myself rather less famous legends, stuck it out. The wind whistled round us but the runs and the conversation kept flowing. Reg told us about the Hepworth cup final of 1949 as if it were yesterday.
The temporary scoreboard had very flimsy numbers which soon blew away and John Taplin, gave up the job he had been given and sat next to the scorer, keeping us advised of the score at regular intervals. Newcastle passed 200 and one of the batsmen was knocking the ball to all parts. As he reached his nineties the ninth wicket fell. However, he was joined not by number eleven, but the batsman who had earlier retired hurt, and he could bat a bit. They put on a good last wicket stand and M.Darby not only reached his century but proceeded to 132 by means of several sixes towards the end, with a grand total of 246 all out. Only one umpire in this match our friend David Godbold from the Bradford League.
The four intrepid spectators had signs of imminent frostbite and retreated in different directions to find shelter. Mr Taplin, the font of all knowledge, said there was a match on at New Rover just across the ring road. Brian said he might have a walk down there after first finding some refreshments in the pavilion. I went home for my meal and around six o'clock the sun was shining brightly and the wind seemed to have dropped a
bit, so I set off to see if there really was a match on at nearby New Rover.
Here the surprises continued. Brian was sitting with University coach Richard Horner in the latter's car, sheltering from the wind. They informed me that this was the the University first team game between Leeds and Newcastle and that the game we had been watching at Weetwood was only a second team game. Two highly qualified Yorkshire League umpires, including Barry Oliver in place here.
Early season at New Rover
Newcatle had batted first and scored 223. Leeds were going well in reply and only wanted 50 or so to win. Again one of their batsmen was approaching his hundred.
As I did a lap of the ground to take some pictures, he immediately launched three huge straight drives for six and despite two further wickets falling, reached 140 not out at the end as Leeds won by five wickets. So my second century of the day after such a low scoring first game. His name is T. Simmons and looks a very good prospect. Richard Horner only knew that he was from the south of England and had a year off cricket last season.
Simmons hits a six at New Rover
So back across the road to Weetwood around 7 o'clock by then and the second team game still going on. Leeds II had five wickets down and wanted another 60 odd runs to win. By this time it was bitterly cold and all spectators including the intrepid John Taplin had long gone. I had really had enough by then and made my way home and just wonder if the game went on for another hour or so. We may never know!!
So home to watch a remarkable Leeds Rhinos win at St Helens, with time for my third century of the day by the West Indies captain Jason Holder to save the match in Antigua. A very long day but as you can see, full of surprises.
No comments:
Post a Comment