Short changed in York

posted by John Winn

Five of the top six teams in the Yorkshire Premier League North were in action in the City of York on Saturday so after a bit of shopping and avoiding the procession of suits and frocks heading for the races I pitched up at Clifton Park shortly before two o'clock to be greeted by former blogger Brian Sanderson with the news that the match being played just a few miles up the A19 at Easingwold was already finished with another heavy defeat for the home team, this time a ten wicket scalping handed out by Driffield. Since Tony reported on their first match of the season back in April when he predicted that without reinforcements promoted Easingwold faced 'an uphill struggle' the boys from Back Lane have had a miserable time and have gathered only two points. Certain relegation looms.

At Clifton Park York were taking on Harrogate, a match that always has an extra shake of the spice jar, and here the visitors were struggling at 83 for 8 and although things improved a little to 112 all out tea was taken at twenty past two. During the interval we walked round the rugby pitch to the Clifton Alliance ground where the home side, far from safe from relegation were taking on Sheriff Hutton Bridge and were finding the going tough with Martin Fisher nearing his century ably supported by Robert Pinder and Bridge just two down with over 200 on the board. Alliance looked a little demoralised as a couple of catches went down and some misfields made things even worse. Things perked up a little thanks to a splendid catch by Jordan to get rid of Pinder but the run rate could not be staunched and the innings closed on 277 for 9. A total Brian rightly predicted would be too much for Clifton as they fell short by 94 runs.

Pausing briefly just to look at the third game in the park, York III v Acomb II, we returned to the 'big match' where York had lost an early wicket but that proved a minor bump on the road as Snell and Waite increased the tempo to see their side home in a shade under twenty overs and a nine wicket win. Snell 51 not out, three sixes, Waite 47 not out, 1 six. By now (just after four o'clock)  news had come through that leaders Stamford Bridge beaten Acomb by 8 wickets in a match being played a couple of miles round the ring road. No point going there and with Clifton Alliance having lost early wickets  I decided to head for home comforts at Ouseburn CC. Here tea was being taken with Hampsthwaite having reached only 133 for 8 off their 45 overs. Ouseburn made a steady start but the entry of Jamie Bryant at three picked up the pace and the leaders eased to a seven wicket win with 15 overs to spare. With nearest pursuers Birstwith losing, Masham move into second place after their 8 wicket win over Knaresborough.

This morning's league table in the YPLN shows Stamford Bridge top but only by one point ahead of the Academy who won at relegation threatened Hull and York a further four points away. Champions Harrogate have slipped to fifth behind Sheriff Hutton Bridge. The three leaders are all at home next week in what look relatively easy games, let's hope for more settled weather especially with the Scarborough Festival starting on Sunday.

Players about to take tea at Clifton Alliance

Last gasp win for Cumberland

Posted by Tony Hutton

Sunday 23rd July and the first day of the second Minor Counties championship game of the Norfolk cricket festival at Manor Park, near Norwich with the home side facing Cumberland. It was sixteen years ago since my last visit but little has changed still with the long line of small tents on one side of the ground and a much larger hospitality tent, which was doing good business throughout the three days. As ever plenty of support for the home side as it is a long way from any first class cricket.
There was a lot of muttering going on about last week's game with Suffolk, where the local rivals had batted out for a draw on the last day rather than declare and set Norfolk a target.

Veteran Chris Brown, the long term captain and coach of Norfolk, who started his career a long time ago with Lancashire, won the toss and decided to bat. Sam Arthurton, who I have seen score runs a plenty in the past for Norfolk, was the backbone of the innings after a good opening spell of pace bowling by Syddall and Grey reduced the home side to 44-3. The introduction of Toby Bulcock, Cumberland's slow left armer and leading wicket taker, precipitated a mid innings collapse and Arthurton was bowled for 59, followed quickly by Ewart and Stolworthy. Some late hitting by Coote added a few more but Grey finished off the last two and Norfolk were all out for 162.

Dark clouds threaten at Manor Park.

The cold end of the ground - complete with wind break.

When Cumberland batted, the pitch still seemed bowler friendly and they were soon 44-3 before opener Ross Zelem and skipper Gary Pratt put on a useful partnership of 63 before Pratt was out for 29. Zelem was still there at the close with 68 not out and the scores were level with Cumberland on 162-7.

Familiar sight at Manor Park - Chris Brown bowling.

Day two was hit by drizzle and light rain, which we were told was so light it did not appear on the weather forecaster's radar. Only 33 overs were bowled when the rain came soon after lunch and persisted for the rest of the day. Ben France, the veteran Minor Counties player once with Derbyshire, had been the bowling hero of day one and ended the innings with career best figures of 7-90. Zelem fell quickly for 74 but a fine innings of 36 not out by number eight Sam Wood gave Cumberland an all out total of 219 and a lead of 57. Norfolk were just 16-0 when the rains came.

One man and his dog.

All to play for on day three and again the weather was unsettled with hopes of a result looking unlikely. It had been hoped to get underway at 10.30 but the outfield was still wet after overnight rain and the covering of the square was not up to much. Efforts to dry the outfield with what appeared to be a piece of string, rather than a rope, attached to a tractor, didn't seem to help and no sawdust was available for some time when play finally started at 11.45.

All eyes on the scoreboard as Cumberland try to bowl Norfolk out.

This time James Spelman played the sheet anchor role for Norfolk and top scored with 42 from 197 balls. Syddall took three early wickets and eventually returned to get rid of Spelman, but it was as ever Toby Bulcock who turned the match back Cumberland's way. He took three wickets to destroy the middle order and it was left to the tailenders Brown, Stolworthy and Coote to hang around with time fast running out. Fortunately Grey's return to the attack soon took the remaining two wickets and Cumberland faced the formidable task of scoring 103 runs to win in only sixteen overs.

Toby Bulcock bowling with an attacking field.

Norfolk opened the bowling with the two veterans, France and Brown, which paid off with Cumberland 12-3 in no time at all. Skipper Gary Pratt and Matt McKiernan, the hero of the last game win over Northumberland, came together and batted more sensibly without taking risks initially. They took the score to 50 before Pratt was bowled by Brown for 20. McKiernan, who could not bowl in this match because of a damaged hand, now took over in partnership with Zelem.

The run rate was increasing but after some punishment Brown took himself off and Taylor replaced him. 22 runs were still required off just two overs and Cumberland took 12 off France's last over. So ten required of the last over from Taylor. Four runs came from the first three balls, so six to win and McKiernan hit the next ball straight down the ground for six to win the match and to reach his 50 with just two balls remaining.

The Cumberland players and their small band of supporters were ecstatic! What a finish.
Treasurer Eric Carter must have run up a huge mobile phone bill giving ball by ball commentary to those back in Cumbria. Now they faced the very long journey home and next weekend will have to come all the way back to East Anglia to face Suffolk at Ipswich School

Manor Park is adjacent to Norwich Airport and planes regularly take off over the ground.

Goodbye to Norfolk with a view of the Cathedral over the Norwich School ground.

League cricket in Norfolk

Posted by Tony Hutton

Having planned this trip to Norfolk for some time around the Manor Park festival, just outside Norwich, where the county play three three day minor county championship  matches over three succesive weekends, Saturday 22nd July was scheduled for a day of league cricket before the main event of Norfolk v Cumberland the following day.

To our surprise when reading up on the East Anglia Premier League we discovered that the league programme consists of fifty overs a side games in early and late season, but in the middle of the season the games start at 11.00 a.m. and have a total of 120 overs. The side batting first can bat for 64 overs. This all seemed a bit complicated so we stuck to our original plan of sight seeing around the Norfolk Broads for the morning and joined the cricket action after lunch.

Our first port of call, after a pleasant riverside pub lunch, was the ground of Acle who are not an East Anglian premier team and play in the Norfolk Alliance premier division. A pleasant ground, directions by courtesy of a pleasant pub landlord, with a large club house and playing area surrounded by other sporting facilities. A modern scoreboard as shown below.

We learned that the visitors Downham Town were in fact top of the league although they were not having it all their own way as Acle batted well and ended with a score of 230-7 after we had moved on. Downham won fairly comfortably by six wickets but in the last of the 50 overs.

Health and safety yet again - even in far flung Acle.

 Knowledgable spectators pick the best view at Acle.

The Acle pavilion.

Next stop was in the very attractive rural village of Halvergate, where East Anglian Premier League side Vauxhall Mallards have their headquarters at a pleasant tree lined country ground, with another one next door where the local village side were playing in the Norfolk Cricket League Division 2 East. The Mallards were playing Swardeston from south of Norwich who are also a well known club who often do well in the national club knock out competition. The home side were batting and it seemed a little slowly with Todd, the star performer out lbw for 81 which did not please him at all.
The Mallards made 216 all out in 63.5 overs which Swardeston knocked off in only 46 overs to win by five wickets.

Two views of the Vauxhall Mallards ground.

The bottom picture is taken through the gap between the two adjoining grounds where Gillingham, from South Norfolk near the boundary with Suffolk and not from Kent, were playing Halvergate in a much lower level game. A lot of noise emanated from their side of the hedge shortly after the game started and when I investigated Gillingham in smart red caps were already 11-3 in the third over. A fourth batsman was given out but after some debate recalled by the fielding side. Wickets kept falling here and shortly before we left they were 60-6 and we spoke to the already padded up number eleven who expected to be batting very shortly.

To our surprise on finding the score in the local paper on Monday he did not need to bat as numbers 7,8 and 9 added another 130 runs and ended their 45 overs on 190-7. A real turnaround which gave them the chance to bowl out Halvergate for 144 and win the match by 46 runs.

Halvergate CC

Gillingham batting at Halvergate with the potato fields in the background.


Next target was the ground of Norwich CC at the village of Postwick, which took certain navigational skills to find our way through country lanes, before eventually returning to the main road in desparation. We gathered the village was pronounced Postik (as in Bostik) by the natives and although situated in Ferry Lane it was not particularly picturesque to say the least and we only stayed for a short visit. This was another East Anglian Premier game and Norwich were batting even more slowly than our last game totalling 165 all out in 63.2 overs. The opposition Sudbury from Suffolk had no difficulty in knocking them off in only 46.5 overs.

 Two views of Norwich CC ground at Postwick.

We were now heading back towards our hotel on the north side of Norwich and did manage another venue not far away in the village of Sprowston, where some study of the street map suggested a village team. We found it perhaps to our surprise quite easily and this turned out to be not only the ground of Sprowston CC but also the home of Norwich Union Rugby union club. The shared headquarters as you would imagine seemed to have a good sized bar and all facilities and there were in fact two cricket grounds again side by side.

   

 Club house at Sprowston

 Sprowston's main ground.

Sprowston's second ground.


Sprowston first eleven were playing Brooke in the Norfolk Alliance premier league, i.e. the same division where we started in Acle and the visitors were just starting their innings to chase the home side's 176-8 in 50 overs. On the other pitch it was back to basics again Sprowston's thirds were playing Great Melton thirds in the same division as Havergate v Gillingham. It turned out that both games were won by the visitors by five wickets something of a common theme during our day's most enjoyable tour. Certainly cricket is alive and well in Norfolk with far more leagues and clubs than I ever imagined. We will be back. Tomorrow the Minor Counties game between Norfolk and Cumberland starts.

Adel triumph in Headingley Evening League

Posted by Tony Hutton

Either side of an eventful few days in Norfolk (of which much more later) I was able to see two remarkable victories by a very young Adel side in the final stages of this season's Headingley Evening League. On Thursday 20th July, having finished second in the league table, they entertained Rawdon who finished in third place at Church Lane, Adel. At the same time league champions North Leeds played New Rover in the other semi-final at the Homestead.

Rawdon batted first at Adel and Andrew Duckworth dominated proceedings with a fine innings of 70 which included four fours and four sixes. He was particularly severe on Adel's young South African Jan-Harm Moolman who went for forty five runs from his four overs. However Sam Baxter fresh from his appearances for Yorkshire under 19s had excellent figures of 1-19 from his four.
 Adel in fact used seven bowlers to bowl the required twenty and it was the last of these James Dobson who took two valuable late wickets to restrict the end of innings charge. Rawdon ended on 166-7.

This seemed a daunting target, particularly when Tom Harrison was run out for nought in the first over, but Zeeshan Siraj with a typical brisk innings of 31 which included three sixes and Moolman with a fine 54, with five fours and two sixes, looked to be coasting with the score approaching 100 in very quick time. However when Moolman was run out, Jake Hodges took three quick wickets and then skipper Richard Spry was also run out Adel were in disarray and behind the required rate.

Enter Ryan O'Sullivan who with some good running between wickets and only three fours in his innings of 34, together with good support from George Harrison, manged to somehow get Adel over the line with just two balls to go amid scenes of great excitement.

Fast forward a week to Thursday 27th July and having driven almost 200 miles back from Norfolk I was in position at North Leeds to see the final which was scheduled for a 6 p.m. start. The covers were on and no players visible so I thought perhaps the earlier rain had meant a cancellation. However I was soon re-assured that the home side were oblivious of the early start and had just arrived for 6.30, the normal time throughout the season. This meant it would be pretty dark by the time the game finished (no floodlights here).

The Adel line up for the Headingley Evening League Final.

Adel won the toss and put the home side North Leeds in to bat. This seemed a dangerous tactic in view of having to bat in the poor light later in the evening. However full marks to the young Adel side who all contributed throughout the match.The bowling was good and the fielding tight, with only a few exceptions. Despite a fine half century from the home captain the final total of 124 all out in 19.4 overs was not too daunting.

Adel were spurred on by possibly their largest following for several years led by the ever present Reg Parker, who could hardly contain his excitement as the game ebbed and flowed. When the two main men Siraj and Moolman went early, the latter to a stunning diving catch, Adel were deep in trouble and wickets continued to fall as the required run rate got higher. There were few boundaries and runs seemed hard to come by. Skipper and wicket keeper Richard Spry proved to be the man for the occasion and began to maintain the required rate of seven an over. Despite loosing the strike several times he managed to hit a six in the penultimate over and with just four balls remaining in the gathering gloom a four down the hill towards the pavilion brought Adel a famous victory by two wickets to the delight of their supporters.

Richard Spry takes the applause at the end of the match.

Then takes the cup presented by Mr Ian Chappell.

The eyes have it! The Adel players' eyes reflect the flash photography in the gloom.

The Village Cup is down to the last four.

posted by John Winn

As if there was not enough cricket on Sunday August 6th with the county championship having the audacity to interrupt the seemingly endless procession of T20 matches and in Yorkshire several cup finals and semis, see our August fixture list for more details, the Village Cup will stage the two semi finals. Holders Sessay, having made short work of Hawk Green last Sunday, will travel to Worcestershire outfit  Astwood Bank. Sessay have not really been tested so far but surely can expect a closer contest from a club running several men's sides, a women's XI and an almost endless list of junior teams including three for girls. For what it's worth the first of these many elevens lie second in the Birmingham and District League Division Three. The club has reached the final of the competition on two occasions but has not, as yet, troubled the engraver.

The other semi final is between Reed CC, always strong contenders, and making the journey to Hertfordshire, Aston Rowant CC, currently top of the Home Counties Div 2. Another tasty prospect for the discerning pcw.

Returning to Sessay, tomorrow seems them back in league action and for successive Saturdays a top v second occasion when they will be at home to Studley Royal. Sessay currently enjoy a 44 point lead over their visitors and victory would extend this to almost unbridgeable levels. Just a twenty minute drive for me but York v Harrogate also whets the taste buds so who knows? Not me as yet.

A taste of Cheshire

posted by John Winn

My wife and I spent a few days in East Cheshire earlier this week, close to the small town of Bollington near Macclesfield, A bit of prior research showed that Bollington supported what appeared to be a thriving cricket club, running several teams including junior sides. After checking in at our accommodation on Saturday afternoon we made the short journey into Bollington and quickly stumbled upon the spacious, well appointed ground which has a large playing area surrounded by trees. On one side of the ground flows the River Dean the path by which affords a good view of the cricket and is obviously popular with Saturday afternoon walkers.

The match in progress was a Cheshire County Cricket League Second XI Second Division game between Bollington II and Alvanley II with the visitors batting in bright sunshine. They made 216 for 6 off their fifty overs with opener Chris Jones run out for 61. Opening bowler Gregg Bishop took 5 for 53 off his 12 overs. When we passed by again later in the day looking for  refreshment at the adjacent Vale Inn the game was still in progress with Bollington making a decent fist of getting the runs but they were all out for 200. This left them fifth in the table with Alvanley close behind. Meanwhile the local's first eleven had given Marple a sound pasting, a result which puts them third in the division, a table headed by Oulton Park CC.

Later in the week we were in the vicinity of the ground when a Cheshire High Peak Under 18 game was being played on a lovely summer's evening. Bollington not doing so well here, 41 all out chasing 184 for 1 set by table toppers Woodford. For those not familiar with this part of Cheshire Woodford lies a few miles east of Wilmslow on the edge of the Greater Manchester conurbation.

Another view of The Recreation Ground, Bollington, home to three adult teams, veterans and four junior sides.

August Fixtures

posted by John Winn and Tony Hutton

Tuesday August 1st - Derby under 17 v Yorkshire under 17 (Marehay) - 3 days

Wednesday August 2nd Lancs II v Yorks II (T20 x 2) Blackpool
Leicester under 19 v Yorkshire under 19 (Uppingham School) - 2 days

Friday August 4th Carlton CC v MCC (150th anniversary)

Sunday August 6th
Yorkshire v  Essex (4 days) Scarborough
Leicestershire v Durham (4 days) Grace Road
Rudgate Cup semi-finals - Harrogate v Yorkshire Academy and Wickersley OV v Stamford Bridge
National Village KO Semi Finals - Astwood Bank v Sessay
ECB Club KO - York v Ormskirk
Atkinson Swires Cup Semi Finals
Sykes Cup Final Scholes v Broad Oak at Elland
Kerridge Cup Final (NYSD) Richmondshire v Stokesley at Marske
Fred Fleetwood (Wetherby League) Final at Walton Park CC Shadwell v  South Milford
Waddilove Cup Final at Steeton   Bilton v Beckwithshaw

Tuesday August 8th - Yorkshire under 17 v Cheshire under 17 (Weetwood) - 3 days
Durham under 17 v Lancashire under 17 (Hartlepool) - 3 days

Friday August 11th
Yorkshire Diamonds (women) v Lancashire Thunder (Headingley)

Sunday August 13th
Cumberland v Buckinghamshire MCCA Championship (3 days) Sedbergh School
Lincolnshire v Herts (ditto) Cleethorpes
Northumberland v Norfolk (ditto) Jesmond
Paddock Shield Final (second teams)
Birtwhistle Cup Final (second teams) North Leeds v  Ilkley at North Leeds

Monday August 14th
Durham II v Yorkshire II (1 day F) Riverside

Tuesday August 15th
Durham II  v Yorkshire II (SEC) Riverside - 3 days
Huddersfield League under 21s v MCC (Honley)

Thursday August 17th - Lancashire II v Scotland (Blackpool) - 2 days

Friday August 18th - Elsecar CC v Lashings

Sunday August 20th
Heavy Woollen Cup Final - Woodlands v Hoylandswaine ( at Hanging Heaton CC)
Yorkshire Diamonds (women) v Western Storm (York CC)

Monday 21st August
Lancs II v Durham II (SEC) Todmorden - 3 days

Tuesday 22nd August - Lancs under 19 v Durham under 19 (Southport) - 2 days

Wednesday 23rd August
Minor Counties KO Final Berkshire v Lincolnshire at Wormsley, Buckinghamshire.
Nidderdale League XI v MCC (North Stainley)
Yorkshire under 19 v Middlesex under 19 (Driffield) - 2 days

Thursday 24th August - West Yorkshire Schools v MCC (New Farnley)
Test Match Special celebrity match at New Rover CC (Leeds)

Sunday 27th August
MCCA Championship Final (4 days) Banbury
ECB Club KO Semi Finals
Teesside University NYSD Fifteen Finals day at Billingham
Yorkshire Women v Warwickshire Women Harrogate 11:00
Durham Women v  Northants Women Durham City CC

Monday 28th August
Durham v Derbyshire (4 days) Riverside
Crowther Cup Final (second teams) - (TBC)

Tuesday August 29th
Yorkshire II v Derbyshire II (3 days F ) Harrogate

Wednesday 30th August
Yorkshire under 19 v Lancashire under 19 (Honley) - 2 days

Local History

posted by John Winn

There is a record of cricket being played in Boroughbridge as early as 1797 and the club were members of the York league for almost sixty years between 1923 and 1982. Their heyday was the thirties when they were champions on two occasions. At the time they played on a ground across the road from the current one, close by the River Ure, but in the early eighties they were relegated in successive seasons and poor ground marks resulted in a failure to be re-elected.

Today they are members of the Nidderdale league and in 2015 as their badge shows, they merged with neighbours Staveley, a unification that resulted in instant promotion to Division Three. I dropped in atAldborough Road on Saturday for their game with Bishop Monkton. The homesters were batting and effecting  a recovery with a promising looking fourth wicket partnership. The morning had been wet and there was a suggestion of more rain to come but the game was completed with B and S being bowled out for !54, a target reached by Bishop Monkton for the loss of three wickets with plenty of time to spare. The table, or standings if you prefer the terminology of the league's fussy website,  shows Boroughbridge sixth and Bishop Monkton ninth.

Finally I can confirm that Newcastle based South Northumberland have been expelled from the  National Club KO. This follows an appeal from York CC and is believed to concern the eligibility of Scottish international and former Durham player Callum MacLeod. South North were due to play Ormskirk in the next round. The York website now lists York v Ormskirk at Clifton Park on Sunday August 6th, one of the busiest days of the season in the county with several cup finals and Yorkshire at home to Essex in County Championship at Scarborough. 

Sessay ease into last eight

posted by John Winn

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon I was  part of a large crowd which  saw Sessay demonstrate why they are holders of the National Village Cup as they completed a 95 run victory over Scottish side Falkland to move into the quarter finals of the competition. The two teams had met in Fife a week earlier when rain had the upper hand but Falkland had one suspects seen enough of Sessay to know that this was a big step up in class from when they visited North Yorkshire two years ago and beat Ouseburn by just two runs.

Sessay won the toss and batted and the loss of two early wickets gave the visitors hope but a century from stylish left hander Joe Watson boosted the scoring to the extent that a man sitting near me was prepared to wager £5 that they would reach 300. The loss of Watson and something of a middle order collapse  suddenly made this seem a distant prospect and the innings closed on 240. Tallish but not impossible on the order scale seemed the consensus over tea but Falkland never got going for despite missing three of the regular Saturday side Sessay had no weaknesses in their bowling and in the field demonstrated an athleticism that their opponents could not have matched. Two catches in the deep were outstanding. The margin of  victory fairly demonstrated the disparity between the two sides but Falkland are to be congratulated on the support they brought and the good spirit in which the game was played.

Sessay's quarter final opponents will be Cheshire outfit Hawk Green who reached the later stages of last year's competition. The match will be played at Sessay on Sunday. Sessay will be particularly keen to retain their title for they are currently top of the York and District League, promotion from which will make them ineligible for the village competition next year. If like me you can't get to next week's game then live coverage is available at Live Sports FM.

Good to be back with Minor Counties

Posted by Tony Hutton

Visits to Minor Counties cricket have been somewhat restricted so far this season, so it was very pleasant to be at Alderley Edge on Sunday 16th July for the first day of Cheshire's three day game with Wales Minor Counties. With an overcast morning batting looked rather difficult for the home side and runs came only slowly. Interestingly the Cheshire opening pair of Calum Rowe and Danny Leech who put on 36 before Rowe was out, included someone who has returned to Minor Counties cricket this season after a nine year gap!

An overcast morning.

The flags fly high at Alderley Edge.

I remember seeing Leech score a double century for Cheshire in a play off final against Northumberland at Jesmond ten years ago. After being one of the county's most consistent scorers he took some years off, apparently due to business commitments, but has returned this season. He stayed in for most of the morning session and helped Rick Moore take the score to 98 when he was caught behind for 35 hard earned runs. Rick Moore, who was a very good player and captain with Leeds/Bradford University some years ago now, has been a consistent run scorer with Cheshire and made a useful 44 before being bowled by Oliver Pike. This young man has played for Glamorgan seconds and is not to be confused with the fictitious character referred to in my report on the Home Guard cup competition.

The famous Alderley Edge in the background.

Wayne White, a former county player with Derbyshire, Lancashire and Leicester, took time to settle but played a valuable innings of 38 before being bowled by leg spinner Sam Pearce. The sun came out during the afternoon and batting conditions improved. Skipper Lee Dixon, as so often, added a much more positive note to proceeding and his innings was the most attractive of the day. He top scored with 67, which included ten fours and one six.

Health and safety rears it's head again !

The ground was a real picture in the afternoon and early evening sunshine, with the trees on the Edge across the road looking at their best. Lots of tennis taking place on the adjoining courts, quite suitable for Wimbledon's finals day and an excellent well run club in most respects. One small criticism was the failure to clear all the rubbish bins, which were all overloaded following a mid week charity match played by Freddie Flintoff's Ashes legends.

Close up of the action.

However good support from wicket keeper Robert Sehmi and Jack Williams kept the runs flowing at the end of the innings, even after Dixon was out, and the innings closed on a most respectable 331 all out just one ball short of the first innings limit of 90 overs. The red-capped Welsh team stuck to their task well, the fielding was excellent and all the eight bowlers used contributed well. The pacemen Edwards and Pike had the best figures but Greg Holmes medium pace brought him 1-16 from 8 overs and leg spinner Sam Pearce worked hard with 1-56 from 20 overs.

Beyond the boundary at Alderley Edge.


Wales lost just one wicket, that of Gareth Ansell, in the final twenty overs session and finished day one on 58-1. So the game is evenly poised and even though Wales are currently bottom of the Western Division table they will not be overawed and will still be confident of getting something from this game. Good luck to them and all the other Minor Counties sides. I hope to see more over the next two or three weeks.

P.S. Just received a message from my friend Keith Fenton who is at Alderley Edge on day two. He has just run up the Edge at lunchtime! I didn't even have the strength to walk up it.

Another good win for Yorkshire Academy

Posted by Tony Hutton

After their excellent away win at York cricket club last week the Academy side had another challenging contest at home to Harrogate on Saturday. With Stamford Bridge now in second place in the Yorkshire Premier League North, the top four are all very close and the Academy, subject to changes in their ranks on a regular basis, are still very much in contention. Harry Brook, happily restored to fitness after a nasty knock on the hand which was originally thought to have been broken, was back in action and opened the innings together with young Bilal Anjum from Sheffield.

Harrogate were pleased to have Ben Coad, the Yorkshire quick bowler, back in their ranks after his successful opening half of the season with the county side. He was not as effective today however with only one wicket, Anjum caught behind, during two spells. Foster, normally a left arm spinner bowled at medium pace to begin with and took wickets in this dual role, including the most valuable of top scorer Harry Brook with 62, made more slowly than usual. As so often Harrogate's top performer was skipper George Ross who demolished the tail with 5-52 with his off spinners.

Apart from Brook, skipper Jordan Thompson was again in the runs with 44 and had valuable support from Read with 21 and Logan, whose batting improves each week, with 18 not out. The final total was 222-9 in the 50 overs and Harrogate were unfortunate not to take the last wicket despite the efforts of numbers 10 and 11 who seemed unaware of the extra points available to Harrogate if they had bowled them all out.

Harrogate's innings started disastrously and all the top men were out with the score on 55-5 after a good opening burst by Ed Barnes which brought him the valuable wickets of Tattersall and Atkinson. The Australian, Kallen Bond, fell to a fine running catch by Harry Brook off Taylor's bowling and then the introduction of left arm spinner Logan saw off George Ross and Ed Wilson.

Harrogate's middle order did put up some resistance with 32 from Harry Stothard, a century maker recently, and 31 from David Foster, but after their fifty run partnership was broken when Stothard was caught and bowled by Fisher, Logan took the last two wickets to bring the Academy a well earned victory by 36 runs.

Stamford Bridge meanwhile were beating York to go top of the table, thanks to another fine innings by Will Rhodes and the Academy are now in second place in a very close group of four clubs at the top of Yorkshire League North.

Spoilt for choice in York

Posted by Tony Hutton

After Tuesday's complete wash out, including Yorkshire's scheduled T20 game at Northampton on Sky Sports, it was our first day without cricket in July. We more than made up for it on Wednesday with two attractive games in close proximity in the City of York. Yorkshire 2nd eleven were taking on Northants on day two of a three day game (having lost day one yesterday) and literally just down the road at St Peter's School, Yorkshire Schools under 19 cricket side were entertaining none other than our friends from earlier in the week the New South Wales Combined High Schools in a one day game.

First stop Clifton Park home of York cricket club where Yorkshire seconds won the toss and batted on what is normally a high scoring ground. So it proved with Alex Lees, who has been out of form in the first team this season, finding runs easier to get at this level. After a quiet start when he was briefly behind partner Johnny Tattersall, he took complete control of affairs against a a fairly friendly Northants attack. Shortly before lunch he fell just short of a century given out lbw to a ball that kept low, but might have been missing leg stump, for ninety seven. Exit one disgruntled batsman - a common site these days.

Alex Lees in full flow at York.

 Alex Lees walks off, out for 97.

After lunch with Yorkshire already on a healthy 176-1 Tattersall proceeded along without haste to a workmanlike century which included eleven fours. Callis had been out for 23 with the total on 225, but Rhodes, who is going to Warwickshire at the end of the season, helped Tattersall put on 79 for the third wicket before he was bowled by Bilal for 46, with the total now 304-3. Wicket keeper Hodd, an underrated batsman hit a brisk 51 not out from only 52 balls before Yorkshire declared on 402-5.

Northants soon lost opener Adair to a fine slip catch by Alex Lees off Fisher and it became something of a war of attrition with the visitors so far behind. So off we went for the second time that day down the road to St Peter's School just in time to see the finish of the game there. Yorkshire Schools had been bowled out for 169 and New South Wales Schools were comfortable winners by five wickets with seven overs still remaining. Srivastava, as on Monday, was in the runs again with an innings of 43 and the Australian tourists had an enjoyable victory after their wash out yesterday.

New South Wales schools in action at St Peter's York.

Victory for New South Wales schools.

The following day was a bit hectic to say the least with a visit to the Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate in the morning and then back to York again in the afternoon. It was initially hard to work out what was happening at Clifton Park, as no Total Cricket Scorer in  operation, but eventually we were told that Northants 2nd XI had declared on their overnight score of 71-2, Yorkshire batted again briefly to make 30-0 before they too declared. This left Northants a target of 362 to win.

They were well on their way when we arrived after lunch with Adair, a product of Shrewsbury school, batting well until he was stumped by Hodd off the bowling of off spinner Shutt for 80. So at 172 for five it looked as though the game would be Yorkshire's for the taking. With that in mind we returned to St Peter's where Yorkshire Schools were taking on the same Lancashire Under 19s we had seen at Todmorden on Monday. Yorkshire had made a par score of 224 with Loten from Dunnington top scoring with 94. Lancashire wickets were falling steadily when we arrived and a very pleasant couple of hours ended with a Yorkshire victory by 59 runs

York Minster in the background at St Peter's.

An added bonus, apart from the first class view from the bank behind the wicket, was the presence of many Yorkshire cricketing luminaries in the smallish crowd. These included Yorkshire schools leading lights Dr. Knowles,  Harold Galley and Chris Hassall, as well as Tony Vann, Ralph Middlebrook, Festival organiser Garry Hebden, new scorer Barry Oliver, together with Brian Senior and the inevitable John Taplin.

The view from the bank at St Peter's.


Meanwhile back at Clifton Park, as we eventually learnt the following day, Northants' last pair had batted out the last 10.3 overs to secure a draw thanks mainly to a long innings from A. Kapil, a trialist from Surrey who made 66 in an hour and fifty minutes. Fisher had the best bowling figures of 4-43 but Yorkshire just could not finish them off.

More Aussies on tour

Posted by Tony Hutton

Monday 10th July started wet and miserable and our journey into the Pennine Hills along the Calder Valley was not a pleasant one. However there were slight signs of brightness as we went further west to arrive at our destination Todmorden cricket club. This is border country and in fact the old county boundary between Yorkshire and Lancashire once bisected the cricket ground. Now things have changed as it is very much in Yorkshire, by a few hundred yards anyway. Today the Red Rose of Lancashire was flying over the pavilion as Lancashire Under 19s were hosting yet another Australian touring team, the New South Wales Combined High Schools no less.

We had seen them on previous tours and knew they would provide stiff opposition. The rain was easing off as we arrived and the groundsman was already busy with his sopper taking the water off the plastic sheets covering the square. Soon after we arrived for our morning coffee and digested the excellent programme produced by the Lancashire cricket federation we were informed that play would start at 12.30. This seemed like a minor miracle considering the conditions we had encountered en route.

So with about an hour to go we set off to investigate the Todmorden town centre and very interesting it is too. The covered market as ever is full of almost everything you could want despite the renovations going on overhead and the tourist information office is an absolute joy with maps and information on the attractions of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Play did get underway just, for only two balls in fact, before another shower of rain arrived from the direction of Burnley and the players left the field. It was only a brief interruption and almost as soon as the rain stopped the players were out again and remained so to make up for lost time well into the evening.

The umpires prepare

The Australian openers take to the field.

Australian Schools piling up the runs with Stoodley Pike monument in the background.


Australian Schools batted first in what was hoped to be a two day match. They had already performed well in their first game against MCC Young Cricketers loosing only by ten runs when both sides got over 300. Openers Tane Nunn and Joshua Claridge put on 32 for the first wicket against some accurate bowling from Leeds/Bradford University player Dan Houghton and Chris Sanders from Bramhall. Houghton then clean bowled Claridge and Sanders took the next three wickets to leave NSW schools in some trouble at 77-4.

Three of the Aussie team tuck into the chips from the popular cafe on the ground.

They recovered well after lunch with Raveesh Srivastava providing the backbone of the innings and Matthew Calder the aggression at number six. They put on 64 together in just thirteen overs and certainly increased the scoring rate.  Calder went caught behind off left arm spinner Woolley but Srivastava carried on in fine style before  he was lbw to Woolley for a splendid 61.

Srivastava gets his head down for NSW schools. Improvements in the background include new electronic scoreboard, new scorers' box (or rabbit hutch) and extension to the school next door.

So with the score at tea 162-6 Lancashire had high hopes of dismissing the visitors for around 200, but it was not to be as number eight batsman Nathan Baker became top scorer and the hero of the day with a well struck 82 runs, sharing a good partnership with left hander Zach McGuigan, who scored 32. The visitors all out score was a very respectable 296 from 82 overs showing that they had strength in depth.

After our departure play must have gone on until a very late hour as Lancashire batted for a further 21 overs and scored a useful 107-1 at the close. So 103 overs in the day when play did not start until after 12.30 with a lunch and tea interval as well certainly took some doing. An example to Test cricketers perhaps. Sadly with the game evenly poised I imagine that day two would have produced no play at all due to the heavy morning rain which was forecast to persist all day. The Australians move on to St Peters School, York on Wednesday to take on Yorkshire Under 19s as part of the annual festival.