THE BEST TILL LAST

By Brian Sanderson,

This morning I picked up John Fuller, of Yorkshire Cricket fame and author and set off for to see some new grounds in Sheffield.

After a slight detour we arrived at Sheffield United and Rotherham Phoenix ground at Sheffield Hallam University ground and they were playing Sheffield Collegiate in the new South Premier League.The away side were batting and included Eliot Callis, William Root and Simon Guy. They reached 272 in their fifty overs and bowled Rotherham out for 196 with William Root taking three wickets.A large ground with no real character  apart from the old pavilion which required work on it.

Moving on to the other side of Sheffield to Abbeydale , the home of Sheffield Collegiate. were the second and third  team were playing Darfield  amd Shiregreen. The ground used to be a major ground for Yorkshire but today there are few seats  but a good club house .Darfield were playing on the main ground and scored 190 for 7 and then bowling the home side out for 69.

On the second ground the thirds were playing Shiregreen in  Division Three ( West ) in the South Yorkshire League. It was a bottom of the table clash and was played in heavy drizzle which was not forecast. The rain forced us off to Parkhead who won the first division last season.

When we arrived the players were coming back on to the pitch after the rain which carried on for another thirty minutes. They were playing Sheffield Collegiate VP X1 which is their fourth team who were batting.
The ground is situated behind a pub in a large hollow and has attracted numerous county players in the past to play on a Sunday. Today the away side score 177 which was three runs less then I predicted with fifteen overs to go.

The last ground was at De la Salle  cricket ground and is situated  near  the Beauchief Hall and in a middle of a golf club.There is excellent views of the surrounding area and is a club worth visiting. They were playing Holmesfield who were batting..

Just as we were reluctantly leaving I noticed some deer in the next field which  pushes the club up the league of best cricket clubs I have seen. If you want to see a professional appraisal  of the day look on Cricketyorkshire website and I am sure you will enjoy it.

Tomorrow on to Cleethorpes  to see Minor County cricket. and the sea . What more could  you want.