Hard not to mention the rain

posted by John Winn

They came from as far apart as Tiverton and Tynemouth to enjoy championship cricket at Queen's Park, Chesterfield yesterday but none were more excited at the prospect than my neighbour John Gawthrope and me. Shortly after after eight o'clock we picked up Our Hartlepool Correspondent at Thirsk Station to make the trip to Derbyshire. For me it was my first trip for seven years and for Mike Taylerson, OHC, his first outing to what may have been John Arlott's favourite ground.

Like Tony and Brian we had placed faith in a forecast that promised sunny periods and the possibility of showers in the afternoon but encouraging enough to think we might get plenty of cricket before tea. The sun was shining on the Thirsk Station cat (below) but the sign saying 'Welcome to Derbyshire' signalled a  change to cloud and as we settled in our seats shortly after ten there were specks of rain in the air. Play started promptly with Glamorgan put in on a greenish strip and skipper Rudolph was soon on his way when he chopped on to Palladino for 1 and Wright quickly followed for even fewer when he was caught behind off Footit.

 13 for 2 in the fifth  and off they went for rain that had strengthened from drizzle. A long time after this there was more cricket but in the meantime there was early lunch for the three of us and then the players. Restarts were promised but each time as the players entered the field the rain returned, umbrellas went back up and umpire Saggers was booed, why he was signalled out rather than Baldwin is not clear. We bought raffle tickets, talked to Terry from Harrogate and chatted amongst ourselves about the usual things and were rewarded in mid afternoon with some short bursts of play but not for long, one resumption lasted just two balls.

Queen's Park takes cover

Eventually, along with many others in a fairly small crowd we had had enough and at 4:15 left for home. Bad light had ruled at this point, something else blamed on Mr Saggers, but as we made our way up the M1 the wipers were kept intermittently busy and a degree of smugness crept in based on the feeling  that we had made the right decision. In fact play did resume and Glamorgan rattled along at a good pace to close on 167 for 3 off 32. We dropped OHC at Thirsk Station with about 45 minutes to kill before his train and who can blame him after such a frustrating day that he appeared to head for the nearby pub rather than platform 2.

This morning's forecast has again mentioned sunny periods but with the possibility of heavy showers and I shall not stray far, certainly not as far as Queen's Park but I hope for the sake of the decent people who run Chesterfield CC and who yesterday offered refreshments at very reasonable prices and for those were staying overnight that the second day is less irritating than the first.

Our Hartlepool Correspondent