Whixley miss the cut

posted by John Winn

The Nidderdale League, like many others, has made the best of a bad job and in the truncated season each team has played each other once and although there is no promotion or relegation at stake the implementation of playoffs added spice to last Saturday's games. On my door Whixley's first XI were at home to Scotton and a victory would guarantee the Cherrymen a place in the Division Two  playoffs, a fine performance in their first season in this division.

I arrived as the players took the field with Whixley batting and after the loss of two wickets they mounted a recovery through Jack Whitham, 69 and Josh Forster, 63 but after these two were out the middle order and tail did not cash in and a total of 196 all out in the 45th and last over while respectable was a little disappointing.

In reply Scotton made a steady start but heavy rain drove me to my car and after about twenty minutes twenty minutes the players were forced to leave the field with the score at 90 for two. This was my signal to seek refreshment in The Anchor Inn but no sooner had I gone through the sanitation process than the sun came out which allowed Scotton to knock off the remaining runs and win by three wickets with more than four overs to spare. Top score for Sam Halliday with 48 not out and third place for Scotton in the table. Meanwhile in Wensleydale Thornton Watlass, despite losing to Masham finished four points above Whixley and thus qualified for this Saturday's semi finals. There was double disappointment for Whixley for in Division Seven their second XI lost to Little Ribston thus extinguishing their hopes of extending their season for another week at least.

Scotton's reply after seven overs.

The full list of play off matches is as follows, all one o'clock starts

Division 1 Darley v Harrogate III, Pateley Bridge v Helperby

Division Two Killinghall v Thornton Watlass, Masham v Scotton

Division Three Arthington v Walton Park, Upper Wharfedale v Raskelf 

Division Four Hampsthwaite v  Ouseburn II  Markington v Thornton le Moor

Division Five Pannal II v  Newton le Willows, Studley Royal III v Lofthouse and Middlesmoor

Division Six Kirby Malzeard v Harrogate IV Marton cum Grafton v North Stainley II

Division Seven Kirk Deighton II v  Pannal Ash  Middleham II v Darley CC

Division Eight Arthington II v  Thirsk III Walton Park II v Rainton II

There is no indication on the website as to how the problem of both Arthington teams being at home will be resolved.