SEVEN EMPTY GROUNDS AND TWO PLAYING.

 OTLEY ON A SUNNY DAY.

By Brian Sanderson,

Ron Deaton had been planning a trip to the Craven League for a few weeks and even though there had been heavy rain on Friday, we sent off this afternoon.

The Craven League was formed in 1888.The League was originally based around Skipton in North Yorkshire.Over the years it has extended and now stretch from Chatburn which is near Clitheroe in the north-east Lancashire to Hepworth @ Idle in north east Bradford.The leagues one of four Leagues that have white and  red rose clubs-the others being the Lancashire League which has Todmorden,the Ribblesdale League which has Settle,and the Central Lancashire League which has Walsden which is near Todmorden.This league have three Lancashire clubs-Chatburn, Barrowfield and Foulridge.

The first ground we arrived at was Embsay however there were no players so set off to Gargrave.Just before the ground we could see the players which boosted our confidence.They were playing  Oakworth Seconds in the Second Division.The home side were bowling  and had taken five wickets when we left.Ron had played at this ground in the 1960,s and the pavilion had not changed. Oakworth won the match.

Moving on in hope we went to ,Sutton in Craven,Thornton-in Craven and Gusburn but with no luck as all matches had been abandon.So we tried the Airedale and Wharfedale League ie Addingham, Ilkley and Olicanians but with no luck.

As a last resort we called in at Otley and they had been playing from one o,clock against Steeton.The home side had scored 271  whilst Steeton were 51 for 2 in the eighteenth over.We spent a pleasant half an hour speaking to Chris Smith, the Otley Chairman.

Forecast for Yorkshire Championship match is sunny which will be excellent.