Posted by Tony Hutton
Saturday's persistent rain wiped out most of the local league programmes in Yorkshire as well as most of the country's county championship cricket. However somehow one game (there's nearly always one!) managed to beat the weather. This was the game between Otley and Beckwithshaw in the Airedale and Wharfedale League at Cross Green, Otley. Somehow they managed to dry out the ground and completed a 23 overs per side game, ending in a close finish as Otley won by seven runs with a score of 197-8 beating 190-8.
Strangely enough we saw Beckwithshaw in action on Sunday, which brought the league's Waddilove Cup into action and all but two of the games were able to be played. Beckwithshaw travelled to North Leeds, won the toss and put the home side into bat. They seemed to have made the right decision early on with two quick wickets and even at 58-3 things seemed to be in their favour.
However, as so often, things changed and the game swung back towards North Leeds thanks to a partnership of 146 between George Wales and Amir Farooq. When Farooq was out for 71, Wales accelerated quickly to his century while wickets clattered at the other end. Opening bowler Harry Lister took two wickets in two balls, but missed out on his hat trick as North Leeds finished on 234-7.
Remarkably George Wales is the fourth generation of the Wales family to play for the North Leeds club. The connection started with his great grandfather Chris Wales in 1938 and continued with his grandfather Gordon Wales from the 1950s onwards. Gordon gave many years of service to the club and was a member of the team which won the Waddilove Cup for the only time in 1955.
George's father Steve Wales a very well known all round cricketer, still very much connected with the club, has also given many years of notable service and in recent years has captained Yorkshire Over 50s to national success. So a delight to see George reach his milestone today to carry on this wonderful family tradition.
The home side's total proved far too many for Beckwithshaw, whose innings was really a one man band. Opener and captain Ben Holderness making 81, before being the last man out with the total only having reached 136 in 30 overs. Good bowling all round with figures of 3-27 for Adam Copley, 3-47 for Michael Shelton and 2-4 at the end for Kshitij Kapote.
A blast from the past shows a very young Steve Wales, third from left back row and even younger looking Ian Chappell, now North Leeds club President, third from right back row. Also in the picture, extreme right back row is Howard Clayton, for many years scorer for both Yorkshire second eleven and England under 19s.
The North Leeds club will be hosting the Waddilove Cup Final in August and it would be nice to think they might win it for a second time. However they now face strong opposition in Rawdon away in the next round. Good to see the small junior ground, opened by Joe Root in memory of one of the club's younger members who sadly died, in action at the start of the game, presumably for the Under nines.
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