Lazing on a Sunday afternoon

posted by John Winn

It is ten years since I last visited Walton Park near Wetherby, surprising perhaps given it is just  ten miles from my house. After a trip to the North East on Saturday I was on the lookout for something close to home yesterday and the chance to see a quarter final in the Fred Fleetwood Cup, the senior KO competition for Wetherby League clubs filled the bill nicely. The icing on the cake, and what delicious cakes they looked, was that my friend Arthur Bartle was one of the umpires.

Arriving shortly after play had begun I pitched my deck chair in a shady spot to watch Garforth Parish Church, top of Division 1 batting and going along comfortably at four an over, a rate they maintained for much of their innings. Hosts Walton Park are mid table in Division Two and so were outsiders in this match. Garforth's innings was anchored by Michael Fisher who was sixth out for 73, caught at short leg and his reluctance to depart from the crease when given suggested some measure of disagreement with the umpire.  With another wicket following shortly I felt Walton might be in with a chance but from scoring at a little over four an over Garforth changed up several gears and in the last five overs took the game to a point where one felt it would be beyond the hosts. A flurry of boundaries took the score to 210, with the unfortunate Michael Hardy conceding thirty in his two overs where full tosses were in competition with long hops for juicy morsel of the day and we even had the rarity, the double bouncer, called no ball by Arthur. An undefeated last wicket stand of 48 between Tom Conboy, 34 not out and Darren Childe 19 not out, sent the players into the welcome shade of the pavilion with Walton red faced for more reason than one.

 

Refreshed by a cup of tea I admired the displays in the splendid pavilion built in 2004 but in traditional style, dressing rooms to left and right, club room in the centre, and amongst the memorabilia found this fixture card from 1912. By my reckoning only three or four of these clubs survive today. Captain at that time was Edward Lane Fox and President for many years as well. Put Edward in a search engine and you will be told he is Prince Harry's Private Secretary, some connection there?

Walton began their reply with lots of playing and missing and it was not long before Childe was among the wickets. At two for one, enter the bare headed Johnny Smales who had taken three wickets and he was destined to be last man out. He received some help from number five Andy Robson who made twenty but the other nine Waltonians made but 14 between them. Childe bowled out his allocated 8 overs and took 3 for 20. While the eighth wicket pair were at the crease a man sitting near me was on the phone assuring a friend that number 11 Steve could bat. 0 not out leaves the question open. 98 all out with Johnny getting to his fifty before being stumped and Garforth progressed smoothly into the semi final where on July 8th they will be away to Kippax. The other tie will be at Church Fenton where Headingley Bramhope will be the visitors. The final will be at Church Fenton at August 5th. None of which gives me an excuse to visit Walton Park again, but who needs an excuse to visit such a lovely cricket ground?