By Mike Latham
The first Saturday of being able to watch cricket as a spectator,
without partaking of ‘hospitality’ provided many opportunities, even though two
days of often heavy rain cast doubt on whether games would take place.
In the event Saturday in the North-West was mostly dry, though a chill
wind made watching for long spells uncomfortable, the spells of sunshine
welcome after the dreadful weather of late.
I plumped for action in the Westmorland League, starting off at one of
my favourite grounds, Carnforth, with plenty of ‘Plan Bs’ in reserve should the
game end early.
My planning paid off as an early finish enabled me to take in two
enjoyable hours up the road at Milnthorpe, which I shall write about later.
Lodge Quarry- resplendent
Carnorth’s Lodge Quarry ground, located at the end of Albert Street just
south of the town centre, off the main A6 road north of Lancaster, was
resplendent as ever, a tribute to the master groundsman, Peter Robinson. Over
the winter the playing members have teamed up to do one hundred and one jobs to
the clubhouse which now looks in great condition.
A cricket club at the heart of the community, Carnforth run three senior
sides, a women’s team and several junior teams and have healthy attendances of
local youngsters at their ‘All Stars’ sessions.
It was a local derby, Warton the visitors but Carnforth, reigning
champions expected to prevail. As usual there was a good-sized crowd of local
enthusiasts with many second team players, idle as their game was scheduled for
Sunday, lending their support.
Another wide-angle view of Lodge Quarry
Warton, until recently a dominant force in the league, have seemingly
fallen on evil times and a dedicated band of volunteers and playing members are
now actively trying to revive their fortunes. Ten years or so ago the club, I
was informed, decided to wind down their junior section and now the club has
just one senior team.
Warton’s ground off Borwick Lane now hosts cricket only every other week
and it is to be hoped that the club soon finds its way back, if nothing else to
preserve the legacy of the long-serving and much- loved club official Colin
Bolton who sadly passed away last year. Having devoted much of his life to
local cricket and his village club.
Tom Parkinson bowling from the pavilion end
The Westmorland League is played over 90 overs and the team batting
first may declare and take advantage of the extra overs. The team batting first
has to bowl out their opponents to claim a win and the full 15pts; the team
winning batting second can only earn 12pts maximum.
The League has two new teams this year, Sedbergh School Second and Third
XIs joining the top two divisions. They play only the first half of the season,
all at home.
Carnforth have several players nursing injuries, including their
captain, Brad Hoyle, and his understudy, Alex Benson elected to invite Warton
to bat on winning the toss.
The excellence of the Lodge Quarry pitches makes it hard to bowl out the
opposition at times and so Benson settled for the 12-pt prize.
Darren Nelson bowling, Warton Crag in the distance
In the event, he need not have worried. Warton provided little
resistance and subsided to a dismal 70 all out against Carnforth’s four-pronged
seam attack. The home side fielded with ten players after Archie Rich
aggravated a back injury in the warm-up and Tom Parkinson claimed four of the
wickets bowling from the pavilion end. Darren Nelson, Jack Thompson and young
Will Mead chipped in, the last wicket falling to a run out.
Carnforth's fielders ready for the chance
The Carnforth openers Chris Parry and Ryan Nelson, Darren’s nephew,
knocked off the runs in quick time and the match, which began at the standard
Westmorland League time of 2pm, was under in less than three hours of playing
time.
Ryan Nelson, an elegant and gifted left-handed batter, was once in the
same Cumbria junior side as Ben Stokes. Though he played once for Cumberland in
the Minor Counties and was a consistent run scorer in Northern League cricket
he has settled for enjoying his cricket at this level, playing with and against
his friends, as he spent several years at Warton. Who can blame him, especially
after the stressful year or so we have all endured?
Nelson’s unbeaten 37 took his run tally in the league to 329 so far this
season for once out.
Ryan Nelson makes runs through the offside
Parry’s league average by comparison is ‘only’ 127 this year. Another
outstanding left-handed batter, I once saw compile an unbeaten stand of 260 for
Netherfield against Leyland in the Northern League with a fledgling young
Australian named Callum Ferguson, who went on to play international cricket for
his country.
Parry lost nothing by comparison that day 13 years ago and his class
again shone through, while his sharp slip catch, to dismiss the Warton opener
Ali Matthews reminded us that in the winter months he is the long-serving
goalkeeper for Carnforth Rangers.
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