Weekend in Harrogate

 Posted by Tony Hutton

Two days of cricket at St George's Road, Harrogate provided the entertainment last weekend. Starting on Saturday with the Yorkshire Premier League North game between Harrogate and Woodhouse Grange on the main ground and a Nidderdale League first division game between Harrogate thirds and Kirk Deighton on the junior ground.

Woodhouse Grange, a club situated almost in the middle of nowhere, was set up originally during the 1940s for the benefit of local farmworkers literally in a farmer's field. The nearest village is Sutton on Derwent and the nearest town is Pocklington. Over the years the ground has developed into two playing areas back to back with excellent facilities and the club now has a very thriving junior section.

They have a wonderful record in the National Village Cup between 1995 and 2015, having won the trophy at Lord's on four occasions and been runners up three times. They have lost one of their long serving batsmen Andrew Bilton who has moved to Dunnington this season, but are captained by his brother Chris, who proved to be the backbone of the batting almost single handed on Saturday.

Woodhouse Grange at Lord's 2015.

The Grange won the toss and batted and were in some trouble at 42-3. Gamble was caught at square leg by Allinson off Parker and then Abdi-Hasan Ahmed struck twice in two balls, having Young brilliantly caught one handed by Topham and then removing Henry Wilson's off stump first ball. Some improvement this from the Harrogate pace bowlers this season, where they are missing Tom Geeson-Brown who has apparently moved from Leeds Rhinos to Norwich City as sports nutritionist.

Chris Bilton took control of the innings, despite a middle order collapse when the spinners came on, and Woodhouse Grove struggled to 94-6. Tom Neal (14) then helped his skipper put on a valuable fifty runs for the seventh wicket and Josh Jackson assisted in another thirty stand. The Grange ended on 179-7 with Bilton narrowly missing out on his century on 94 not out. Second highest scorer, with several wides going for four, was extras with 38.

Harrogate started reasonably well in reply, until young Harry Allinson was bowled neck and crop by Tom Neal for 15. The batsman's disgust was very evident as he banged his bat on the ground and then as he neared the pavilion threw each item of equipment angrily to the ground. No need for that and time he grew up a bit. The experienced Henry Thompson stayed around, much as Bilton had done, and top scored with an excellent 70. The middle order just disintegrated against the spin of Josh Jackson who ended with 5-58, including four lbws. Thompson almost carried his bat, but was last man out and Harrogate's very young side were all out for 148 and lost by 31 runs.

Harrogate junior ground.

On the neighbouring junior field Harrogate thirds bowled out Kirk Deighton for 172 and knocked of the runs in fine style in only 28 overs to win by eight wickets. Skipper Robert Stanworth scoring a century off only 74 balls, which included twenty fours on this smallish ground where no sixes are permitted.

Sunday brought an action reply of last week's womens' double header between Yorkshire Women and the newly founded Northern Warriors from Durham and Northumberland. An even bigger crowd than last week with cars completely ringing the ground, many of course belonging to the two squads of players. Everyone enjoyed another splendid day in the sun and enjoyed the facilities of the balcony bar and barbecue later in the day organised by the new catering management team.

Yorkshire Women batting at Harrogate.

The first of the day's two T20 games went to Yorkshire, who won both games last weekend. A total of 142-4 with 42 from Heath and 64 not out from skipper Hollie Armitage proved too much for the visitors who could make only 70-8. Phoebe Graham, grand daughter of former Bradford League legend Peter Graham, was the star bowler with three wickets.

What counts as a full house on the popular side at Harrogate.

In the second game Yorkshire juggled their squad and batting order which seemed to help the Warriors gain their first ever victory. The visitors batted well with Jones 37 and Tipton 29 top scoring, but still only managed a below par score of 112-7. Trying to give everyone a bat backfired for Yorkshire who lost wickets at regular intervals, three of them to Robson and two brilliant run outs. One was a direct hit by Helen Fenby and another a very long accurate throw from the boundary edge by Lizzie Scott. In addition two excellent catches by Campbell from powerful shots into the covers brought about victory by just nine runs for the Warriors.

High summer at Harrogate.

One must say however that Yorkshire's running between wickets was the main reason for their downfall. Darlow made a valuable 38 but most of these came in singles. If the players had run the first one hard and put pressure on the fielders they could have turned ones into twos. Perhaps they should watch a video of Root and Bairstow batting together to show how it can be done.

A day out for families at Harrogate.

However only a minor criticism as womens' cricket generally has come a long way in recent seasons and most of the fielding today was exceptional.