Posted by Tony Hutton
The Arthington cricket club end of season festival has now taken place for over thirty years, with an admirable tradition of cricket being played until mid October, when usually the weather is still kind. There was something of a break in proceedings last year due to essential work on the ground, which meant that all the fixtures were played away from home. However a full programme has been arranged for this year at this pleasant rural ground situated in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire mid-way between Pool and Harewood.
The festival got off to something of a false start last Sunday (6th September) when the game against Cambridge Methodists (from Leeds) was abandoned due to rain before the first innings could be completed. For the record Arthington made 134-3 in 27.3 overs with star batsman from the club's Saturday first eleven, Naveed Andrabi making 47 not out. Both first and second elevens have had yet another successful season and will feature in the play off finals next Saturday (19th September). Arthington's first team will be away at Upper Wharfedale in the Nidderdale League Division three final and the second team home to Walton Park in the Division eight final. Both games will start at 12.30.
Yesterday the second match of the festival, in pleasant sunshine, saw the visit of the old established Yorkshire wandering side Romany, who perhaps fielded a few players of advanced years to put it politely. Romany traditionally were made up of a team of officers and gentleman, so it was perhaps appropriate that their captain was a former Conservative M.P. The bowling was certainly of the Sunday friendly variety for the most part and Arthington's openers Laurence Barraclough and Andy Stoddard certainly filled their boots with a partnership of 165. At this point Barraclough reached his century with a succession of sixes and promptly retired 100 not out.
After such a long wait not surprisingly the number three batsman departed very quickly and soon afterwards Andy Stoddard reached his fifty and he too retired not out after an innings rather more pedestrian than his free scoring partner. However, the runs continued to flow against some very uninspiring bowling with Rafiulla Khan and Tom Conboy both ending just short of fifties. So a final score for the home side of 276-3 in forty overs. Richard Reynolds joined the attack very late in the day and came away with the excellent figures of 2-6 !
That was not Mr Reynolds only impact on the game as took the attack to Arthington with a vengeance, racing to 68 with eight fours and five sixes. The total was 90-1 when he was out and two more wickets fell quickly but Sam Smith took up the cudgels at number four with another aggressive fifty with fours and sixes a plenty. When he was out with still plenty of overs to come thoughts of an impossible victory went out of the window as the tailenders rather disintegrated rapidly. So Romany were all out for a total of 201 with still 16 more overs available.
A wonderful afternoon's entertainment for the spectators with bright September sunshine in this most charming of rural surroundings, with sheep in the meadow in the distance making a long convoy of follow your leader and red kites hovering overhead. Some of the cricket may not have been of the highest quality but remained enjoyable throughout. Certainly something to take our minds off the reality of the world elsewhere.
Remaining festival fixtures (all at Arthington except the last game) are as follows:-
Sunday 20th September v Halifax Nomads
Saturday 26th September v The Hawks
Sunday 27th September v The Druids
Saturday 3rd October v Burton Salmon
Sunday 4th October v The Forty Club
Saturday 10th October St Georges Church v Arthington at Harewood House.
Start times can vary, but likely to be 1 p.m. in September and 12.30 in October.
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