Aldborough at The Double

 posted by John Winn

About 70 years ago I saw cricket at Ingleton in County Durham when, towards the end of his career, my father played there for Haughton CC and twenty years later I was part of a Cockerton CC team that was bowled out for 34 on the same ground. At some point  ICC crossed the road to a new ground at Nursery End where Tony saw them in 2008 when they lost to East Cowton. Not long after this the club folded and the ground was neglected for best part of a decade until, with assistance from the Ingleton Parish Council, previously Bishop Auckland based outfit King James CC took up residency .Moles and moss having been controlled King James began playing there in 2019 and on Saturday I joined a small crowd watching them entertaining visitors Haughton II

When I arrived Haughton were batting and making good progress with some lusty hitting including a six into the adjacent barley. I got into conversation with a Haughton stalwart, 94 year old Albert who had preferred to travel to watch the seconds rather than first team action back in Darlington. I stayed for about an hour which included a long delay for a lost ball by which time Haughton had made 70 without loss and I was very surprised to see on the club website yesterday that the innings had concluded after 30 overs at 141 for 9 and even more surprised that King James had won by 9 wickets. No further details available. 

Ingleton, County Durham 

From Ingleton it is but a short drive to one of the most attractive grounds in this or any other area namely Cliffe Park on the Cliffe Estate near Piercebridge, a journey which involves crossing the River Tees back into North Yorkshire. For me the pedigree of this ground is the same as for Ingleton, I recall my dad playing there and personally being on the wrong end of a pasting in a cup game there in 1968. Cliffe II were at home to local rivals Aldborough St John II who were batting and thanks to 101 not out by opener Martyn Cox, next highest scorer extras with 29, 19 of which came in wides they reached 180 for 4.This proved enough but only just as Cliffe came within six runs of that total, top score Ian Hanmer with 44. 

Cliffe Park

The grounds of the two teams involved at Cliffe are less than three miles apart and the first teams were involved at Low Green, Aldborough St John, another very attractive ground where a good sized crowd had gathered. I arrived just as Cliffe were beginning their reply to Aldborough's 117. Tight bowling ramped up the tension as Cliffe could not get above two an over and things became a little frayed when a catch, which from my vantage point clearly did not carry to first slip, was turned down after consultation between the umpires. Cliffe fell 40 short and two run outs suggests things got a bit desperate against some very accurate bowling. Honours to Dan Smith who only conceded six runs in his seven overs.

Aldborough St. John

On my way home I dropped in at Lightmire Lane where Ouseburn II were taking on Thornton le Moor in a Nidderdale league Division Four game. Chasing 178 OCC after a disastrous start were 70 for 2 and with 'unsure' making 55 and receiving good support from the Jenkins brothers  father and son combination, John and Jonty Moorhouse saw them home by four wickets with five balls to spare. The result leaves them second to Markington in the table.