This outpost of evening league cricket in North Yorkshire has continued to flourish for the last three weeks with two divisions, one of eight teams and the other with seven. Full marks for the organisation involved in getting all this up and running, even with the addition of one new side in the shape of R.A.F. Leeming.
The Scruton pavilion.
On Wednesday this week I called first at the ground of Scruton, mid-way between Bedale and Northallerton, with it's own railway station on the privately operated Wensleydale line. I had spotted the ground some years ago when visiting the local village pub and found out that this small village team had a very long history. Possibly laying claim to being one of the oldest clubs in Yorkshire, a game in 1773 is mentioned in John Major's book, 'More than a game', between West Auckland and Scruton played at Piercebridge. Jeremey Lonsdale's book 'A game taken seriously' also mentions a game with Wetherby in 1797 and Ripon in 1810.
Rural surroundings at Scruton.
The present spacious ground, was only opened I believe in the 1970s, after cricket on other grounds in the local country estate had gone. The team played in both the old Saturday Wensleydale League and the Langbaurgh League into this century, but now only competes in the evening league. Their admirable website mentions a long room on the first floor of the pavilion with lots of memorabilia, but in view of current restrictions felt it was not appropriate to investigate further at this time. However nice to see this memorial to Charlie Hoare who was secretary of the club from 1946-1962.
A lengthy memorial at Scruton.
Wednesday's action sadly saw Scruton lose their third game in succession to leave them firmly rooted at the bottom of the table. Despite their enthusiasm they could only muster 65-7 in twenty overs, hitting just one six, which was quite an achievement on a ground with such long boundaries. In reply Masham, a much stronger looking team, who operate two Saturday sides in the Nidderdale League, made short work of things to win by eight wickets in just thirteen overs. Visiting skipper Andrew Sturday did most of the damage with 34 not out, including four fours and two sixes.
A corner of the Scruton ground where the view from a lonely bench almost obscured by a willow tree.
Before the end of proceedings we had moved on to scenic Thorp Perrow, on the other side of Bedale. A ground which I last visited as long ago as 1999. Although it was almost eight p.m. when I arrived, still managed to repeat my picture of the stately home, which boasts a very well known Arboretum. Again the very large playing area surprised me, as did the news from one of the home players who greeted me with the news that opponents Richmond Mavericks had started their innings with a score of 4-6 which included four wickets in four balls.
Thorp Perrow.
I felt lucky to have found cricket still going on, but Richmond recovered well to score 94-7 and seemed well on top with home wickets falling at regular intervals following our arrival. My host, obviously not used to spectators at all, certainly not at this time of night, felt I might be an old player. When I admitted this was not the case and just a collector of cricket grounds, he showed me the memorabilia in the pavilion, with a couple of very old bats and team pictures going back as far as 1912.
Thorp Perrow pavilion.
Late evening sunshine at Thorp Perrow.
Sadly the home side succumbed very rapidly and were all out for 51 in just ten overs, which was obviously a major turn around from the beginning of the game. Again a ground which has seen better days with regular Saturday league cricket having ceased and only the evening league now keeping things going. I had been waiting for a fine Wednesday evening to accomplish this visit and although it clouded over somewhat later, it was well worth the effort to find cricket still flourishing off the beaten track.
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