Cricket lingers on in Yorkshire

Posted by Tony Hutton

As John Winn has mentioned cricket in Yorkshire still lingers on well into October with the traditional Arthington Festival, for the first time in living memory, upping sticks after playing only one game at home on Sunday 15th September. Essential work on the square, which has been in constant use until mid-October for more years than I can remember, has meant this year's fixtures being spread elsewhere.

The one home game against Romany was a high scoring affair in which the home team, after the early loss of Geoffrey Barker, put on a second wicket partnership of 125. Star of the show was very much Kamrosh Khan with an inning of 109 before retiring. His partner Ayoub Khan made only 28 of the big partnership but played his part to perfection. This was followed by some big hitting from Tom Conboy who made exactly 50 (with nine fours and two sixes) and 48 from Gareth Meredith (with seven fours and one six).

Arthington completed their forty overs with a grand total of 293-4, which seemed a distant prospect when Romany opened their innings. However the first four batsman all came out with guns blazing and Richard Leach and Thomas Egerton put on 127 for the second wicket matching Arthington's effort for the same wicket. At one stage the Romany score was 201-3 but the later batsmen could not give much assistance and following three run outs, Arthington were winners by the margin of 44 runs.

East Keswick pavilion.

I missed out on the next weekend's fixtures, both of which were played on the nearby ground of East Keswick. Arthington had an easy 7 wicket victory over Cambridge Methodists on Saturday 21/9 after bowling the visitors out for  99, with the help of a Boycott like innings from Andy Stoddart with 24 not out in almost as many overs, together with Steve Bindman's umpiring. I missed this game due to the league final at Headingley and also Sunday's game due to the poor weather.

The weather did not deter the players in the match on Sunday 22/9 with Halifax Nomads, for whom Harry Wilkinson made 123 not out in a total of 185-3. The rain intensified and eventually the game was abandoned with Arthington on 128-3. I was able to see some part of the game with The Hawks on Saturday 28/9, also played at East Keswick, which is a much larger ground than I remembered.

Geoff Barker in hot pursuit at East Keswick.

The Hawks fielded a team of well known league cricketers of varying vintages, together with guest star Steven Bindman. Ian Priestley, together with his son Ricky, and Charlie Parker have all represented Pudsey St. Lawrence. David ('Ted') Lester stalwart with Menston for many years captained the side. Also Dennis Rock, a big hitter, who I remember seeing with Horsforth Hall Park many years ago, together with Damon Reeve now with Otley and Chris Wain another stalwart of the Airedale and Wharfedale League.

The trees beginning to turn at East Keswick.

Despite 51 from Parker, the visitors were all out for 133 in the last over of a 35 overs per side game.
However the Hawk's bowling attack proved far too good for Arthington, although another guest star James van der Merwe made 34 and Andrew Stoddart another backs to the wall effort of 21. They rather crept their way to a total of 113-7 at the end of the 35th over and Hawks were declared the winners by 20 runs. Damon Reeve's figures of 3-8 in seven overs definitely took the bowling honours.

More runs for the Hawks.

I assume that the heavy rain washed out the scheduled game with The Druids on Sunday 29/9, but do not despair yet more cricket is planned for the next two weekends. Arthington will travel further afield on Saturday 6/10 with a game at Burton Salmon and on Sunday 7/10 will face King James' of Bishop Auckland at Harewood House. Suggestions are that play will take place whatever the weather, but that remains to be seen.

Finally the season will eventually come to an end on the weekend of 13th/14th October with a game between Arthington and St. George's Church again at Harewood House. Apparently play will take place on the better day according the weather forecast and may even stretch into a two day affair.