Sun, rain, hail, sleet and snow were all promised in the local forecast for Saturday and all affected local cricket at some point during the day. I opted to begin my day's watching with a trip to St George's Road to see Yorkshire Premier (North) opponents, Harrogate and Scarborough. Inching my way along Wetherby Road in heavy traffic my windscreen was spattered with small hailstones but arriving at the ground just a couple of minutes after noon I found the game underway in sunshine but with a breeze cool enough to persuade me that watching from the car was the best option.
Scarborough whose travelling has been much reduced by the partition of the league into north and south, indeed this must have been one of their longest journeys, were batting and found it hard going against the Harrogate attack led by Yorkshire's Ben Coad. The first wicket went down with 8 on the board when Coad pulled off a very smart caught and bowled and it became 38 for 2 when Tennant who had batted 55 minutes for 7, was brilliantly caught in the outfield by Harry Stothard off spinner David Foster. The run rate which had struggled to get above two an over picked up a little when skipper Elvidge came to the crease at 45 for 3 but only Tattersall's economy rate was above four when the innings closed at 189 for 7 with James Pick top scoring with 60.
Recognising no familiar faces in a meagre crowd I had left at the mid point of the innings and headed towards Ouseburn CC but interrupted my journey at Whixley where a Nidderdale Division 8 game was in play between the Cherrymen's seconds and visitors Wath and Melmerby II. Wath were batting and on an understandably slow wicket and even slower outfield had made a decent start. A hail shower was not heavy enough to drive the players from the field and Wath made 143 for 5 off their 45 overs. The Whixley website shows that this was topped in the 45th over with 3 wickets in hand.
At Lightmire Lane, Ouseburn, under new skipper Dave Cummins were in home action for the first time this season against visitors from across the River Ure, Helperby CC, generally a handy outfit. I arrived to find Helperby struggling at 40 for 4 but they rallied to reach 147 for 9 which the hosts reached for the loss of six wickets with 12 overs to spare. This was OCC's second five pointer of the season but the table is headed by Birstwith who have the full six points from each of their two games. Birstwith will visit Lightmire Lane in two weeks, let's hope the weather is more settled by then. At one point yesterday the sun came out, the breeze dropped and it was pleasant enough to sit and watch in the fresh air and without a coat, but the game between newly promoted Knaresborough Forest and Pateley Bridge never started and at Clifton Park York and Stamford Bridge were forced to call it a day after fewer than 12 overs.
The excellent Yorkshire Premier (North) website tells me that Harrogate had a reduced target which they reached in a hurry with only three down and 15 overs to spare. Tattersall in the runs again.The table shows York top with Hull, Sheriff Hutton Bridge and Yorkshire Academy grouped four points behind. Dunnington prop up the table without a point to their name, losing to Yorkshire Academy in another rain affected game.
So two Saturdays' action has seen me stray no further than twelve miles from home and until more reliance can be placed on ground and climate conditions that is likely to remain the case. Clouds threaten play at Whixley: a little over ten miles away at Bootham Crescent York City's groundstaff were using brooms to clear water from the pitch before what might possibly have been the last Football League match played at the ground.
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