Read All About It

 posted by John Winn

Two local weekly newspapers last week obliged with some interesting and informative news of  league and cup cricket in their areas. A trip to Upper Teesdale, possibly the only place in the country famous for its eye tests,  offered the chance to buy 'Teesdale Mercury', a bargain at 95 pence and needing some change for a parking meter I shelled out almost twice that, £1:80 for the Harrogate Advertiser.

The Mercury even had cricket on its front page, 'Barney CC's win over rivals', which is  enlarged to 'Barney edge last ball cup thriller' in the sport section whose two pages are dominated by our national summer game. There is a full report on Barnard Castle's exciting win over not too distant, and oldest, rivals Richmond in the second round of the National Cup which was not settled until the final ball of the day's eighty overs when 'Rob West swished a four through the slips' to seal a three wicket win. A full scorecard of the match was provided and the same was the case for 'Barney's' NYSD League win over Great Ayton by 135 runs. 

Blacker and larger type heralded a report on Evenwood CC, members of the Durham and North East league and in particular their young West Indies U19 professional, Joshua James who has been scoring lots of runs before his scheduled return to the Caribbean where he will play for Jamaica Tawallahs in the CPL T20 competition. Over the Bank Holiday weekend he helped himself to 150 against Hunwick and 131 against Murton. I note that Josh came down to earth last Saturday when scoring only30 against Peterlee, albeit aat a run a ball.

Turning to the Darlington and District League attention focuses on Raby Castle CC who until last Saturday were sitting on top of Division A but slipped to third place after a defeat at the hands of my father's old club, Haughton CC. The previous week Raby had been without a game because opponents West Park CC conceded. Mention of West Park reminded me of a piece I wrote about them five years ago when I saw them in action in a Division C match against Aldborough St John II, their first season of league cricket having been formed during the previous winter. They were top of the division at that time and in due course arrived in Division A in 2018 where they have finished 9th, 8th, 7th, in the last three years. Steady progress but it would appear that like Icarus they have flown too close to the sun for they have conceded at least two matches in recent weeks and the league table implies that they have now resigned. 

The Harrogate Advertiser previews 'Gate's game with Yorkshire Academy which both Tony and I attended last Saturday and which resulted in a comfortable win for The Academy. St George's Road continues to attract good crowds on Saturday afternoons although for some of those attending bar and bbq are more relevant than bat and ball. Harrogate find themselves bottom of Yorkshire Premier North and they might not be relishing the visit of York this Saturday for the visitors had a resounding win over Acomb last week. The table is headed by Castleford with Dunnington second and Woodhouse Grange third.

The Advertiser has good coverage of the Nidderdale and Aire Wharfe leagues with lots of photographs. Helperby despite losing their undefeated record the previous week, remain top but only by one point from Birstwith. Darley complete the top trio, a further point behind. Helperby entertain Darley on Saturday in 'match of the day'.  Aire Wharfe coverage centres on local outfit Bilton who have started the season in convincing fashion but still find themselves trailing in Saltaire's wake.

Finally I must give. a mention to an article about seventeen year old Emma Marlow, a pupil at Harrogate Grammar School who has been selected for the Northern Diamonds Academy squad. Nearly a full page is given over to Emma, who learned her cricket at Beckwithshaw CC. Well done Emma and well done The Advertiser for four pages of cricket. 

                                       

                                        Emma in action