Castleford C.C. - league champions.

Posted by Tony Hutton

The Yorkshire Premier League North has been beset with covid problems and due to several cancellations and in particular the withdrawal from their last four matches of the Yorkshire Academy side has decided upon an average points per game league table. The Academy results this season have been removed and it has also been decided that just one team will be relegated instead of the usual two. All the problems have seemingly been overcome by Castleford cricket club who we were delighted to see become league champions last Saturday by beating hosts Stamford Bridge by six wickets.

Castleford C.C. - champions of Yorkshire League North 2021.

This was Castleford's first title since the 1960s, long before the Yorkshire League was split into North and South Divisions. Probably the first time I saw them play was in 1982 when a certain Geoffrey Boycott played a few early season games for the club to get batting practice. I remember seeing him score a century for Cas at Harrogate. Here he is on the back row of a team picture from that era.

It was not plain sailing as Castleford, even without leading batsman Chesney Hughes, formerly of Derbyshire, were strong favourites against the relegation threatened home side, who were without several regular players. The Bridge batted first and the top four all seemed to have got themselves in only to get themselves out when the spin twins Ed Morrison and David Wainwright entered the attack. The home side slumped to 128-8 before James Keast, one of several Leeds/Bradford University players in the side, shared a partnership of 63 for the ninth wicket with second teamer Rhys Crowe.

Keast reached his 50 before being caught on the boundary from the last ball of the innings. Both Morrison and Wainwright bowled their full allocation of 13 overs, Morrison taking 3-38 and Wainwright 2-39. Matthew Rees chipped in with 2-49 and the third spinner Jack Young had 1-37. As usual a good all round performance from the bowlers. Stamford Bridge 191-9 in 50 overs.

Skipper Wainwright led from the front by opening the batting and when he was out for 22 the platform had been set with an opening partnership of 60 with Liam Hyde, who went on to make top score of 71. He was well supported by Academy wicket keeper Alex Kaye (24), Christopher Briggs (34 not out) and veteran Andrew Bourke who was also there at the end with 15 not out. James Keast took all four Castleford wickets to fall as the Bridge pushed them hard all the way, the winning run only coming with nine balls to spare.

Soon time to celebrate with Cas worthy champions. A special word for inspirational skipper David Wainwright who has been with them since a young boy and stuck with them throughout his county cricket career with Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire. He is a true all rounder, batsman, slow left arm bowler and always a brilliant fielder.

David Wainwright.

David Wainwright awarded his Yorkshire county cap in 2010.

No doubt the celebrations went on over the weekend, but on Bank Holiday Monday the side were back in action, away again at Woodhouse Grange. Initially it may have appeared that they had celebrated too well when they were bowled out for 150, with the returning Chesney Hughes out for a duck. However, they showed that they are true champions by bowling out the opposition for a paltry 56. All against a side who normally make very good scores and have won the Village Knock out at Lord's several times. This time the bowling hero was Matthew Rees with 5-26. Morrison had 3-14 and Wainwright a modest 2-15. Another great team effort with the best batting this time coming from Connor Hyde (43) and Brayden Clark (30).

With Harrogate losing their match on Monday and high scoring Driffield snatching a narrow victory, there is now a three way battle between these two clubs and Stamford Bridge to escape relegation. Harrogate are away at York in the last match of the season next Saturday, while the other two play each other. So this one will go down to the wire at the very end of this confusing season and could well be decided by the narrowest of margins.