Although the current issue of the Cricketer Magazine produced an article about Boxing Day cricket, they seemed to be oblivious of the fact that the most well known Boxing Day match in the country has taken place in the Leeds area for no less than sixty seven consecutive years.
Today's game at North Leeds cricket club enjoyed clear blue skies and sunshine, spoilt only by a chill wind blowing the fallen leaves across the ground. This was in marked contrast to the deluge which arrived twelve months ago causing serious flooding in many parts of Yorkshire. Amazingly the game did go on then, if only for ten overs a side, but the record of playing every year since 1949, whatever the weather, remained intact.
This year's game was twenty five overs a side. The visitors, Northern Cricket Society, batted first on the artificial wicket. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals they managed to compile a total of 78 all out, with just one ball remaining. NCS, fielding a somewhat mixed bag of a side of local league cricketers started quite well and at one stage were 54-3. However three quick wickets for Keon Williams were followed by a hat trick by the home sides slow left armer, Barry Singleton.
It must be stressed that the game is always played properly, with little room for comedy, however this was provided by the last over bowled by the inimitable enthusiast Steven Bindman. After fetching a couple of balls back as they never reached the batsman and extending the over with one or two wides, he managed to take the final wicket with his fifth legitimate ball. One which the unfortunate batsman will never be allowed to forget as he was stumped trying to hit the ball out of the ground.
Some impressive bowling figures then with Singleton taking 4-4, Keon Williams 3-18 and Mr Bindman will be delighted with 1-6. Top score for NCS was Andy Stoddard with 14, still a very useful performer with the bat despite his difficulties running between the wickets. A two never looks on these days!
The North Leeds club, aided today by several guest players, did lose two early wickets but after that they strolled to rather an easy six wicket victory. They unfortunately lost star man Harwood Williams for a duck and Robert Nelson for eight, but then a good partnership between Jamie Hughes and Barry Singleton took them to within sight of victory, before both were out for 28.
Northern Cricket Society Chairman Andrew Mawson presented the trophy to North Leeds skipper Singleton, who also claimed the Man of the Match award of a bottle of whisky. The proceeds of the raffle, which was very well supported by a good sized crowd, including many professional cricket watchers from as far afield as Hartlepool, Lancaster and Huddersfield, go to the St Gemma's Hospice in Leeds.
Professional cricket watchers on the march.
'I've known it colder at Weetwood'
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