PROPER START TO THE 2016 LEAGUE SEASON

By Brian Sanderson,

Last Saturday myself and Bob had a trip round grounds north of York but found no cricket due to rain.Above we called at Dunnington were the sun was shining and field was dry but still no cricket.

Today it was the start of travelling round matches with the help of Ron Deaton very detail travel log.

Arriving early at Weetwood the select few spectators were able to sit on new blue chairs to watch Yorkshire Academy against Driffield in the sunshine .This was in the Hunter ECB Premier League North. The Academy
batted first with Ben Ainsley and James Brown against a good bowling attack.

Moving on to a lower cricketing league Bradford Mutual Sunday School League division C.The two sides were Greenfield  who were playing Yorkshire LPS-Second X1. The ground is situated next to the River Aire in Shipley. During the winter the field was under water and we were very pleased to see players in cricketing whites as we arrived at the ground.The match started late and the boundary markers arrived ten minutes after the start. It reminded me of what cricket must have like in the 1860;s. People turning up and playing on a unprepared wicket. However they were all keen to play.

Moving on to the Horsfall Sports Fields were Buttershaw St. Pauls third team were playing Bradford Indians
 in the Bradford Mutual Sunday School Cricket League Group D. match. The home team had only ten men and had been bowled out for 55 which included 11 extras. There was a cold wind blowing and we were pleased to move on to a higher league.

About two miles away Woodlands Seconds were playing Undercliffe in the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League 2nd X1. This gave us a chance to have a cup of tea and get warm again.The home side had scored 274 for 6 and Undercliffe were bowled out for 156.

Moving again about two miles we arrived at Scholes which is situated in Cleckheaton. The match was in the Bradford League Premier Division between Scholes and Woodlands. Scholes started playing in this league in 2015 previously in the Central Yorkshire League. Woodlands had scored 236 for 5  whilst Scholes were bowled out for 110.

The final match we went to was in the Bradford League Championship B. It was between Hartshead Moor and Methley. The away side last season were in the Central Yorkshire League last season.. The ground is next to the M62 which causes  conversation to be drowned by the sound of cars going past at seventy miles an hour.
The photograph shows the motorway signs. Methley scored 119 but bowled out Hartshead Moor for 90 with a 15 year old leg spinner taking 4 for 10.

Arriving back at Weetwood we found the Academy had scored 196 for 9 and then bowling Driffield out for 79. James Logan took 7 for 16 in 9.2 overs.He bowls left arm spin and is a  bowler for Yorkshires future.