Around the North Yorkshire Leagues Part 2

posted by John Winn

The focus of the Harrogate Advertiser's revue of the prospects for clubs in the Aire-Wharfe League centres on a club who are embarking on their last season in the league for Knaresborough CC having given notice have been accepted into the York League for 2017. Like the similar move made by Pannal, Knaresborough's transfer is motivated by ambition and a chance to rise towards ECB Premier cricket. The league title is seen as largely a struggle between Otley, last year's champions, Beckwithshaw and Bilton, the last of these strengthened by the arrival of two men with recent captaincy experience, former Ouseburn skipper Chris Morrison and Knaresborough captain Simon Bridson. Bilton will be captained by former Yorkshire all rounder Vince Craven.

The departure of Pannal leaves my local club Ouseburn as favourites to win the Nidderdale League. Winners of the Atkinson Swires cup last year and champions in 2014 the Lightmire Lane outfit will start the new season under skipper Dave Cummings who has already impressed with team bonding exercises leading up to the new season. With last week's programme put back to September 17th Ouseburn will start the season with a trip to Darley, weather permitting. Others fancied to do well are Spofforth and Helperby and my eyes will be on newly promoted West Tanfield who have shot up the ladder with four promotions in six years. Their Twitter feed suggests they are raring to go in Division 1. The other newly promoted side are Knaresborough Forest. Trees' skipper and keeper Craig Robson is relishing what he admits will be a tough season.

There is of course much more to the Nidderdale League than the top tier with a total of 8 divisions and some very attractive grounds. If you haven't tasted the fare treat yourself to a run out on a fine day to places like Crakehall and Thornton Watlass, two division four clubs playing on traditional village green grounds.

Time permits a quick look further north and the likely front runners in the NYSD. Richmondshire were champions last year and their Yorkshire home means that another success would give them a Premier League semi final against the winners of the Bradford League. With three titles in four years on their cv they will feel confident of further success, assuming the bowlers' run ups dry out. The Northern Echo thinks that The Dalesmen will face competition for the title from Barnard Castle who have Karl Turner as their new 'pro'. Stokesley have recruited Doug Mulholland from Darlington and he will presumably  bring with him Sue's excellent refreshments. Darlington, champions in 2014 have something of a new look and I will watch their fortunes with interest.

Finally Tony mentioned in his account of his trip to Chester le Street an 'important football match', the outcome of which was a two nil win for 1883 Darlington over The Gingerbreads aka Grantham Town and a win tonight at Whitby will give them the title and promotion to National League North, their third such elevation in four years, Realistically a draw tonight will do, such is the Quakers' goal difference advantage over Blyth Spartans and even defeat will not be terminal but the prospect of having to get at least one point at Rushall Olympic on Saturday is not one I care to think about at the moment but at least I've managed to get Gingerbreads, Spartans, Quakers and Olympic into one short paragraph. Twice.