April showers in Huddersfield

posted by John Winn

It has been a winter of change in Huddersfield cricket. The demise of the Central League and the dispersal of its member clubs has been described on the blog, and yesterday, sticking to its tradition of opening the season on the third Saturday in April, the enlarged league began with a full programme of matches. Alerted to this by our Golcar correspondent, and with nearly all other league cricket not beginning until next Saturday, a visit to some new grounds in postcodes HD4 and HD5 had been inked in my diary for some weeks.

Armitage Bridge roller by Pattissons of Stanmore

First port of call was Armitage Bridge and a slight disagreement with the sat nav meant I arrived just too late to see what was probably the first dismissal of the season as one of Thongsbridge's openers trudged back to the pavilion. 0 for 1 and a winter's hopes and dreams for one batsman put on hold for another week at least. Although the ground is in something of a hollow and surrounded by trees the westerly wind had a chilling edge and brought with it some spots of rain. I was not inclined to linger and certainly not unpack the deckchair and hamper but stayed long enough to see Thongsbridge mount a recovery which the league website this morning shows amounted to 189 for 8, revised* to 176. The hosts fell short 8 runs short of the revised score in this Premier section match.

From Armitage Bridge it is a short drive but a steep climb to Hall Bower, 180 metres above sea level, with fine views but very exposed to the wind and with only one spectator hardy enough to sit outside the pavilion. The fare here was Championship Two, Hall Bower II v Birkby Rose Hill II with the visitors at the crease and two experienced openers making good progress. The scoreboard offered the minimum information, runs scored and overs left, but my septuagenarian brain eventually worked out which was which before a sharp shower drove me to the car.The players, made
of stouter stuff carried on. At 69, a fielder whose previous efforts had suggested a little early season rustiness, brought off a surprisingly athletic catch at point to break the partnership, cue for me to move on. The result of the game is not yet available on the website.

A change of postcode, HD5, instead of 4, but another relatively short drive, brought me to the ground of Almondbury Wesleyans and a deserted field but with wickets pitched. Simple explanation, visitors Clayton West had been bowled out for 75 off 18.5 overs (A Smith 5 for 10) and tea was being taken. 'Tea' hardly does the refreshments on offer justice, splendid fare including hot soup, a pasta dish and cakes decorated for the paschal festival set an early marker for tea of the year. A cup of tea and a piece of cake consumed in the most impressive pavilion passed the time nicely between innings and from the comfort of the car I watched the Wesleyan openers get off to a good start. 41 without loss when I left and the website shows an eight wicket win for the home side in this Championship match
.

Dark clouds over Almondbury Wesleyans

Next stop Almondbury and tea time here too. A Conference match between Almondbury and Thurstonland and the visitors all out for 122.** Almondbury's openers made a confident start but a fierce squall drove the players from the field and me in pursuit of my fifth and last venue of the day, Lascelles Hall, one of those grounds which I could see from a distance but couldn't quite work out how to access until a helpful walker put me right. The delay meant that my arrival coincided with the tea interval yet again but only very briefly as visitors Holmfirth began their reply to Lascelles 190. Some useful left arm over bowling brought an early wicket and it looked like an uphill struggle for Holmfirth. The weather seemed more settled now but for whatever reason this Championship match is listed as 'late result' on the website as I type (10:30, Sunday).

An easy journey home on a sunny evening and five new grounds visited made a good start to my league cricket watching for the season. Any readers in the North East who share my concern that the match at The Riverside may be over before the Yorkshire puddings have risen may like to consider some league cricket watching this afternoon in that area with matches in the NYSD Sunday Division. 11 games in all, venues easily accessible from the website.

* I suspect something akin to Duckworth and Lewis at work here but will seek clarification
** Almondbury won by 7 wickets A Kamran 70 not out