Apologies for the delay in my ongoing cricket travels which has been caused by computer problems, but now hopefully restored to full throttle once more. Going back a week to Saturday 29th April I saw Yorkshire League North champions Harrogate in action at home to Stamford Bridge. The visitors have recruited well to add to their already strong squad. The two main newcomers being Ryan McKendry, the former York all rounder and Max Maciver, who has been performing well with both bat and ball for Leeds/Bradford University. Yorkshire batsman Will Rhodes and his brother Dominic are also useful performers with both bat and ball, so a close contest was expected.
The champions have also added to their squad with a new overseas player from Tasmania in Kellen Bond, prolific batsman Josh Atkinson from Otley and batsman wicketkeeper Eddie Wilson from the Huddersfield League, who has played for Yorkshire second eleven. It was their tried and trusted opening bowlers who made an instant impact reducing the Bridge to 38-5 in no time and the game seemed almost over. All the big names, Will Rhodes (in the first over), Maciver, McKendry and West Indian Sinclair were all out for single figures. Three wickets for Geeson- Brown, one for Stow and the fifth from young Macgregor a local youngster.
Stern resistance from the middle order and the tail, notably from top scorer Dominic Rhodes with 49, managed to produce a respectable total of 161 all out. Soon this looked like a winning score as Harrogate started in similar vein being reduced to 12-4 in no time at all. The opening bowlers Robinson and that man Dominic Rhodes again were the wicket takers and star batsmen Tattersall, Potticary (another Leeds/Bradford University man), Bond and skipper George Ross were all back in the pavilion.
This time the batting recovery was led by Josh Atkinson, with good support from Wilson with 34. Then wickets began to tumble again and 74-4 became 112-8 and the Bridge were in sight of a famous victory.
However Atkinson reached his fifty and went calmly on his way but with only Macgregor and Edmondson, two inexperienced youngsters to follow, the champions were certainly facing defeat. However the game swung back their way with a vengeance with Macgregor playing his part with twenty not out and Atkinson, very much the man of the match, with a splendid 81 not out pulling off a remarkable victory. Harrogate won by two wickets to take full points.
The following day, also at Harrogate, the Yorkshire Women's team were taking on Berkshire and despite missing some of their England players on tour in the UAE, they managed a very easy victory. Yorkshire made 199-9 in 50 overs, helped by no less than 41 extras, which included 31 wides. Top scorers for Yorkshire were Rebecca Newark with 38, Maddy Walsh coming in at number eight with a very sensible innings of 29, and finally a 50 run last wicket partnership between the two Katies, Levick and Thompson.
Yorkshire's bowlers were just too good for a rather poor Berkshire side, only skipper Alice Macleod with 17 and Anna Harris with 25 showed any resistance. Levick took 4-8 and Walsh 3-9 in a very comfortable 110 run victory. Berkshire were all out for 89. The home side faced rather stronger opposition the following day
in Middlesex but as John Winn has already reported, highlighting again the number of extras, they managed another good win. They now look forward to entertaining Lancashire at Harrogate on May 14th.
After that it was off to distant parts heading for Merchant Taylor's School at Northwood and High Wycombe to see Yorkshire second XI face MCC Young Cricketers in a one day game, followed by a three day encounter. Hopefully the weather would be warmer down south, but full report in my next blog.
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