The National Club Championship

posted by John Winn

Like the Village Cup the National Club Championship seems to be on course and tomorrow week, Sunday 19th will see matches being played to decide who goes through to the last 16. In the north east it is very much a clash of giants for two of the top sides in the North East Premier League meet at Ropery Lane where Chester le Street (winners in 2009) meet Newcastle outfit South Northumberland who were victors the following year.  In Yorkshire there is an attractive match at St George's Road, Harrogate v Hanging Heaton.

Last year's winners, Blackheath have a short journey, just eight miles, to face Kent League Div II side Bromley Common. Another strong side from the London area, Ealing,  are at home to Brondesbury. members of the Middlesex League .Group 8 has an enticing  black country derby , Wolverhampton v Walsall. The full draw is available at ECB National Club Championship, play-cricket website.

I have read with a degree of envy Brian and Tony's accounts of their wanderings this week for I had intended to have a couple of days away myself but a troublesome toe, which requires twice weekly visits to my local surgery put paid to my plans. Today my wife and I are off to Tideswell in the Derbyshire Peak District for a family celebration and as the event does not start until 4:00 I thought there might be an opportunity to catch a bit of cricket in that area, alas not so, for Tideswell CC, who run just one team are away to Sheffield Super Kings in the Yorkshire and Derbyshire League Div 5. Our route does not take us close to Sheffield Transport Pitch 2, which in any case probably does not compete with rural Herefordshire for rustic charm.