A visit from The Queries

posted by John Winn

Since being made aware that they were playing a couple of matches in this area I promised myself that I would try and watch the New South Wales Combined High Schools team and having passed up the chance to see them at Todmorden the last couple of days, despite a poor forecast I caught up with them at St Peter's School in York this morning. These young men are currently undertaking a twenty match tour of the UK and it has been possible to follow their progress on Facebook as they made their way north. Rain has affected a number of their games  and this morning's start against Yorkshire Schools  was put back by 15 minutes. Nice to think that as they took the field in their baggy blues and shirts that would have not been allowed at Wimbledon, one of their most famous 'old boys' Steve Smith was trotting down the pavilion steps at Cardiff.

New South Wales CHS at York

 

 

The morning was cool and overcast and the crowd such as it was seemed largely to consist of coaches, officials of YSCA, parents, including some with the visitors, and me. The Yorkshire Schools lost a wicket in the first over and another shortly before rain intervened by to make it 42 for 2 with wickets for Courtney and McNaught. Increasingly the day was feeling like Monday all over again with the rain teasing the players, the watchers and those responsible for pulling the covers on and off and learning from TMS that play was underway at Cardiff I decided to head for home. Play did resume and the latest score I have is 118 for 3 after 29 overs.

If you have looked at the July fixtures that Brian posted last week then you will have seen that there are four matches in North and West Yorkshire which will involve The Queries. This wandering club are based at Devizes in Wiltshire and the tour of Yorkshire is I believe a hardy annual on their attractive fixture list. Founded in 1933 their history and philosophy are described in the book 'Gentlemen, Gypsies and Jesters' by Gibson and Clarke. This season's fixtures include games against The Idlers, The Rifles, The Grannies, Free Foresters and The Frogs, an interesting bunch. To save you looking it up their Yorkshire Tour fixtures are

 

Monday 27th July v Yorkshire Gentlemen at Escrick  11:30

 

Tuesday 28th v The Saints at Studley Royal 11:30

 

Wednesday 29th v Ilkley at Ilkley 2:00

 

Thursday 30th v The Hawks at Otley 1:00