Back to the 1980s in Tadcaster

Posted by Tony Hutton

Trawling through my endless cricket archives I recently came across two scorecards from matches played at the John Smith's Brewery ground in Tadcaster during the 1980s. Some great names playing for the Old England XI, which I think had only recently started, in the 1983 game. In addition many league cricket legends appeared in the Yorkshire Leagues knock-out final of 1989, which was then a regular feature of the cricketing calender.

The 1983 game was in celebration of the centenary of the John Smith's Brewery with the Old England XI taking on the John Smith's Centenary XI made up of local league cricketers, with the assistance of two former Yorkshire seam bowlers Tony Nicholson and John Waring. The visitors batted first, no doubt after a suitably alcoholic lunch, and soon lost John Jameson, the former Warwickshire batsman. Phil Sharpe of Yorkshire and Mike Denness (Kent) then put on a big partnership with both making half centuries. Basil D'Olivera and Brian Close both scored twenties but Richard Hutton of Yorkshire hit a quick not out 50 at the end to take the final score to 246-5.

John Smith's XI certainly went for the runs with Tony Clarkson, once of Somerset but now with Undercliffe in the Bradford League, making a rapid 84, being particularly severe on opening bowler John Price (Middlesex). Fred Titmus slowed things down with eight typically miserly overs for only 17 runs and a rather rotund Fred Trueman, coming on as second change, bowled five very tidy overs at something well below his former pace, taking 1-5.

Another Undercliffe man, David Dobson an excellent all rounder, kept them in the hunt reaching 50 not out in the last over. He was particularly severe on Don Wilson, who I believe was just tossing them up to be hit and finished with figures of 1-70 off seven overs. John Smith's XI ended on a respectable 198-5. John Murray of Middlesex kept wicket as tidily as ever and it was delight to see all the famous names from the past in action. It is fair to say that the day was enjoyed by all concerned.

Six years later at the same venue the final of the Yorkshire League's knock out competition took place between the Huddersfield League and the Bradford League. This, as expected, turned out to be a very close game between two very strong sides. Huddersfield batted first and were held together by opener Hinchliffe from Skelmanthorpe who top scored with 64. After a good opening stand the middle order rather collapsed with the help of two run out. However Higgins of Honley and Hurlbatt of Broad Oak put on an unbeaten eighth wicket partnership with 31 not out each to reach a final score of 197-7.

Bradford started badly in reply with John Proud and Chris Leathley out cheaply. Tony Page of Yorkshire Bank came to the rescue with 43, but the match winning innings came from David Dobson of Undercliffe with a fine 73 before he was caught just before the end. The tailenders finished the job and Bradford won by two wickets with one over to spare on 200-8.

A really close contest which provided good value for the spectators and proved a welcome advert for the strength of league cricket in Yorkshire at that time. In more recent times of course this competition fell by the wayside in view of the ever increasing number of club competitions.