Posted by John Winn
The Guardian newspaper recently featured eleven players aged under 24 drawn from the current county scene, all of whose fathers played first class cricket. Not surprisingly amongst them was Johnny Bairstow and at Shaw Lane yesterday afternoon smart phone technology allowed us to keep in touch with Bairstow's progress towards his double century. Family connections have certainly been in evidence at the SEC match between Yorkshire II and Notts II at the Barnsley ground. We have seen Ramon Wilson's grandson Eddie Wilson, Samit Patel's younger brother Akhil, Bruce French's nephew, Jake Ball (not a wicketkeeper), Kepler Wessel's son, Rikki and Dave Houghton's nephew, Gary Ballance
Being chauffeured by my friend Dave Masterman to Shaw Lane on Wednesday for the first day of the match between Yorkshire II and Notts II was a treat for me and the day did not disappoint. The sun shone, the breeze was warmer than of late and the runs flowed.
Notts' openers Wood and Patel feasted on wayward bowling form Yorkshire's bowlers, especially Hannon-Dalby whose line seemed unsettled by two left handers. Some measure of control was gradually restored after 70 came up off 16 overs but lunch was taken on 140 for 0 with Patel on 75 and Wood on 50. Little changed after lunch but the partnership was finally broken at 200 when Wood was caught behind. Patel who went shortly after Wood, caught at long leg by when he had made 106.
Notts' supremacy was restored by Wessels and Ali Brown who added 135 for the third wicket. Wessel's went on to make 170 with five sixes and nineteen fours, being dropped five times in the process.
Wessel's name might be added to those of Bosman and Kolpak in the years to come. The 25 year old is able to play in England by virtue of having an 'entrepreneur's visa', in order to obtain which he needed to show that he had a minimum of £200000 in the bank and employ two people. one of whom is himself! Wessels will be the first and last such player under this farcical arrangement for the ECB has successfully lobbied the Home Office to close the loophole. It is perhaps of note that Wessel's father Kepler is one of only fourteen men to play test cricket for more than one country and one of only two in the last fifty years.
Yorkshire were left to face only one over on Wednesday evening which turned out to be only two balls with the close of play scorecard reading four for one. Gary Ballance scored the runs but was also the victim.
Things started disastrously for the young Yorkshire side on Thursday morning as they quickly slipped to 26 for 6 with Notts' bowler George Bacon taking three wickets in five balls, all LBW. Some measure of respectability was restored by the Huddersfield pair of Wilson and Hargreaves but even with help from the tail Yorkshire faced a deficit of almost three hundred when asked to follow on. They again lost Ballance cheaply but at the close were 104 for 1, Callum Geldart 64 not out. This last piece of information is taken from the ECB website which curiously fails to mention Notts 481! I would not therefore stake your house on its validity.
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
The Varsity cricket scene
Posted by Tony Hutton
Friday 29th April - Leeds/Bradford MCCU v Oxford MCCU (Weetwood) Leeds
Following some excellent stories from Brian Sanderson and John Winn, I feel I have some catching up to do !
This one day BUCS championship game was the start of a long weekend at Weetwood, as the one day game was followed by a two day game in the Universities Championship.
The weather throughout the three days was sunny but dominated by the very strong easterly wind. Weetwood is never the most welcoming place for spectators and the few hardy people there today all sheltered under the pavilion as best they could.
University scorer and editor of the splendid county 2nd XI annual, Howard Clayton, had informed me of last Sunday's BUCS game between Southampton Solent and Leeds/Bradford which had ended in a tie - 271-8 for each side. Leeds/Bradford captain Rick Moore was the hero with 104 not out from 105 deliveries, including two fours off the very last two balls of the match.
So the scene was set for another epic, but sadly it did not turn out that way.
The home side were dismissed for 199, with no one able to make more than thirty odd.
Moore 34, Kruger 35 and the new Bradford League star Ghany with 31. Best bowlers for Oxford were skipper Young with 3-22 from eight overs of spin and former Yorkshire Academy boy Dean Conway with 2-31.
Oxford lost two early batsmen for ducks, both to Ghany, before captain Young, with the top score of 50 and wicket keeper Stebbings with 36, steadied the ship and at 153-5 Oxford looked favourites. However, the tail collapsed against the pace of Wilson and the leg spin of Craddock, who both finished with three wickets and Oxford were all out for 177, leaving the home side winners by 22 runs.
Saturday April 30th and Sunday 1st May - Leeds/Bradford MCCU v Oxford MCCU
This two day match proved very eventful indeed and kept the small, dedicated band of supporters from the simultaneous hazards of sunburn from the hot sun and frostbite from the bitterly cold wind. Some of the conversations going on would have been very puzzling for the educated southerners from Oxford - a real gathering of northern
eccentrics keeping them entertained.
The game started in sensational fashion and after only an hour's play on the stroke of noon, the home side were 37-7. At this point a puzzled gentleman from Keighley arrived expecting to see Yorkshire Academy v Appleby Frodingham in the Yorkshire League as advertised at the start of the season. It took some time to explain to him that this was in fact a University match which had started at 11 a.m. and yes the score really was 37-7.
On the stroke of lunch, Leeds/Bradford were all out for only 47 - captain Moore top scoring with only 12. The wicket was obviously not the best, although only a few balls appeared to keep low, but the windy conditions did not help either batsmen or bowlers. The four lbw decision were obviously not popular (when are they ever), but some poor batting aided by a bad run out all contributed to a very poor display. The opening bowlers Sharma with 5-16 and Higham 3-27 did most of the damage.
Oxford soon lost two early wickets to Painter, but then the bowling hero Sharma, came
good with the bat and top scored with 32, before he was brilliantly run out, also by Painter. Joe Leach, the Shrewsbury schoolboy, who has played for Worcester 2nd XI, then destroyed the middle order with a fine spell of 5-30 and Oxford in turn were all out for 99.
So still day one and Leeds/Bradford were batting again. The wickets continued to fall and soon they were 23-3 before Burge (40) and Leach (41) put together a stand of 74. Once they had gone there was little resistance, until the following morning when the last pair proved surprisingly stubborn. Painter with ten not out and last man Craddock with 25, including five fours, added 37 before a controversial run out ended the innings for 159. In trying to regain his crease at the non-strikers end, Craddock collided with the bowler and was lying on the floor when the wicket was broken.
The end result was that Oxford required only 108 to win. This took the game into the afternoon session on Sunday and despite three more lbw decisions, which took the total for the match to thirteen, Oxford got home by six wickets. Stebbings top scored with 38.
So unusually for games in this two day format the game went well into the fourth innings, whereas most games are decided just on first innings. Full marks to the hardy band of spectators who braved the weather to stay with this fascinating game, especially the gentleman who sat at the far end of the ground, entirely on his own, in probably the coldest place. He scored throughout and hardly seemed to leave his seat, prompting speculation that he was frozen to it !
Friday 29th April - Leeds/Bradford MCCU v Oxford MCCU (Weetwood) Leeds
Following some excellent stories from Brian Sanderson and John Winn, I feel I have some catching up to do !
This one day BUCS championship game was the start of a long weekend at Weetwood, as the one day game was followed by a two day game in the Universities Championship.
The weather throughout the three days was sunny but dominated by the very strong easterly wind. Weetwood is never the most welcoming place for spectators and the few hardy people there today all sheltered under the pavilion as best they could.
University scorer and editor of the splendid county 2nd XI annual, Howard Clayton, had informed me of last Sunday's BUCS game between Southampton Solent and Leeds/Bradford which had ended in a tie - 271-8 for each side. Leeds/Bradford captain Rick Moore was the hero with 104 not out from 105 deliveries, including two fours off the very last two balls of the match.
So the scene was set for another epic, but sadly it did not turn out that way.
The home side were dismissed for 199, with no one able to make more than thirty odd.
Moore 34, Kruger 35 and the new Bradford League star Ghany with 31. Best bowlers for Oxford were skipper Young with 3-22 from eight overs of spin and former Yorkshire Academy boy Dean Conway with 2-31.
Oxford lost two early batsmen for ducks, both to Ghany, before captain Young, with the top score of 50 and wicket keeper Stebbings with 36, steadied the ship and at 153-5 Oxford looked favourites. However, the tail collapsed against the pace of Wilson and the leg spin of Craddock, who both finished with three wickets and Oxford were all out for 177, leaving the home side winners by 22 runs.
Saturday April 30th and Sunday 1st May - Leeds/Bradford MCCU v Oxford MCCU
This two day match proved very eventful indeed and kept the small, dedicated band of supporters from the simultaneous hazards of sunburn from the hot sun and frostbite from the bitterly cold wind. Some of the conversations going on would have been very puzzling for the educated southerners from Oxford - a real gathering of northern
eccentrics keeping them entertained.
The game started in sensational fashion and after only an hour's play on the stroke of noon, the home side were 37-7. At this point a puzzled gentleman from Keighley arrived expecting to see Yorkshire Academy v Appleby Frodingham in the Yorkshire League as advertised at the start of the season. It took some time to explain to him that this was in fact a University match which had started at 11 a.m. and yes the score really was 37-7.
On the stroke of lunch, Leeds/Bradford were all out for only 47 - captain Moore top scoring with only 12. The wicket was obviously not the best, although only a few balls appeared to keep low, but the windy conditions did not help either batsmen or bowlers. The four lbw decision were obviously not popular (when are they ever), but some poor batting aided by a bad run out all contributed to a very poor display. The opening bowlers Sharma with 5-16 and Higham 3-27 did most of the damage.
Oxford soon lost two early wickets to Painter, but then the bowling hero Sharma, came
good with the bat and top scored with 32, before he was brilliantly run out, also by Painter. Joe Leach, the Shrewsbury schoolboy, who has played for Worcester 2nd XI, then destroyed the middle order with a fine spell of 5-30 and Oxford in turn were all out for 99.
So still day one and Leeds/Bradford were batting again. The wickets continued to fall and soon they were 23-3 before Burge (40) and Leach (41) put together a stand of 74. Once they had gone there was little resistance, until the following morning when the last pair proved surprisingly stubborn. Painter with ten not out and last man Craddock with 25, including five fours, added 37 before a controversial run out ended the innings for 159. In trying to regain his crease at the non-strikers end, Craddock collided with the bowler and was lying on the floor when the wicket was broken.
The end result was that Oxford required only 108 to win. This took the game into the afternoon session on Sunday and despite three more lbw decisions, which took the total for the match to thirteen, Oxford got home by six wickets. Stebbings top scored with 38.
So unusually for games in this two day format the game went well into the fourth innings, whereas most games are decided just on first innings. Full marks to the hardy band of spectators who braved the weather to stay with this fascinating game, especially the gentleman who sat at the far end of the ground, entirely on his own, in probably the coldest place. He scored throughout and hardly seemed to leave his seat, prompting speculation that he was frozen to it !
Monday, 2 May 2011
Harrogate hang on
Yesterday afternoon I made the short trip to Clifton Park to see the Yorkshire Premier match between local rivals, York and Harrogate. York batted first and lost wickets steadily with no batsman reaching fifty. At 173 for 8 it looked as though the home team might be bowled out within the 55 overs, but an unbeaten stand of fifty for the ninth wicket between top scorer Tom Pringle and Jonathan Moxon took them to 223 for 8 at the close of the innings.
Harrogate's reply was led by Vic Craven who made 101 but the visitors were 190 for 9 after their 55 overs giving York 'an incomplete win'. The sun shone throughout the afternoon but there were few places in the ground that provided shelter from a strong easterly breeze and many of the crowd, including this blogger, watched from the comfort of their cars.
Last week I referred to the cancellation of the 10:00 train to Chester-le- Street from York when the new timetable begins in three weeks. It is just possible that there is somebody out there apart from me to whom this change is of importance, if so I am pleased to have found a solution. On Thursday I caught a slightly earlier train form York,stopping at Durham but not Chester-le Street, and completed the journey by bus. I walked into the ground just as play was beginning, about 15 minutes earlier than usual. Bingo!
Harrogate's reply was led by Vic Craven who made 101 but the visitors were 190 for 9 after their 55 overs giving York 'an incomplete win'. The sun shone throughout the afternoon but there were few places in the ground that provided shelter from a strong easterly breeze and many of the crowd, including this blogger, watched from the comfort of their cars.
Last week I referred to the cancellation of the 10:00 train to Chester-le- Street from York when the new timetable begins in three weeks. It is just possible that there is somebody out there apart from me to whom this change is of importance, if so I am pleased to have found a solution. On Thursday I caught a slightly earlier train form York,stopping at Durham but not Chester-le Street, and completed the journey by bus. I walked into the ground just as play was beginning, about 15 minutes earlier than usual. Bingo!
DAY OUT AT THE SEASIDE
By Brian Sanderson,
On another sunny and windy day we sent off to Cleethorpes.Yorkshire Academy were the opposition.The first person we meet in the pavilion was Mollie and three coaches.
Yorkshire were batting first and soon lost wickets. A young 17 year old opened the bowling. He was called Jack Harrison and looked a very good prospect.He took 4 very good wickets. The batting again was poor and only managed to reach 98.
We had a stroll on the promenade and it was very windy. The town was busy with visitors.On returning to the ground we watched Cleethorpes reach 50 without lose wicket. Wainman looks like the best bowler at present.
We decided to go and watch Hanging Heaton and East Bierley to see a more competitive match.When we arrived Hamilton was caught off Mark Lawson.However he had scored a century.Hanging Heaton did not score enough runs.Yorkshire first team was losing on the T.V.Not good day for Yorkshire again.
On another sunny and windy day we sent off to Cleethorpes.Yorkshire Academy were the opposition.The first person we meet in the pavilion was Mollie and three coaches.
Yorkshire were batting first and soon lost wickets. A young 17 year old opened the bowling. He was called Jack Harrison and looked a very good prospect.He took 4 very good wickets. The batting again was poor and only managed to reach 98.
We had a stroll on the promenade and it was very windy. The town was busy with visitors.On returning to the ground we watched Cleethorpes reach 50 without lose wicket. Wainman looks like the best bowler at present.
We decided to go and watch Hanging Heaton and East Bierley to see a more competitive match.When we arrived Hamilton was caught off Mark Lawson.However he had scored a century.Hanging Heaton did not score enough runs.Yorkshire first team was losing on the T.V.Not good day for Yorkshire again.
Sunday, 1 May 2011
WEST INDIAN BATTING IN IDLE
By Brian Sanderson,
Final visit to the Leeds and Bradford match saw a surprise as I looked at the scoreboard.Leeds and Bradford had been bowled out for 45 and Oxford for 99,In Leeds second innings they were eight wickets down for about 80.Tony and Brian Senior were already sat out of the cold wind.
With in an hour Leeds were all out for 148 leaving Oxford all day to score just over 100 runs.By lunch they were one wicket down needing to score about 50 runs. Howard Clayton, the scorer, said Leeds had only been beated once before in two days.
After picking Andrew Wickham who had arrived to Leeds from London by train. He had to change at Doncaster to catch another train passing through all the small stations of South Yorkshire.The first match we went to was Idle against Great Horton.
When we arrived Idle were 100 for 1 after 20 overs.One of the Batsmen in was Carleon Brome from Barbados.He scored the highest individual score of the new season when he smashed 174 not out.He scored 7 sixes and 22 fours and was dropped about five times.
Idle made 299 for 4 after 50 overs.Brome had not scored any runs up till to-day and was a better bowler than batsman so the Idle supporters said.
We moved on to Bankfoot against Saltaire as we though Great Horton would not win the match. They just lost the match four runs.No comment.
Saltaire had scored 247 for 4 in the 50 overs.Bankfoot started off slowly until James Houldsworth smashed 51.There was numberous shouts from the Saltaire captain to tell the fielders to take their hands out of their pockets and look interested.It became very cold by 7.40 so we went for something to eat. Bankfoot scored 213 for 8 so allowing Saltaire to lead the Second Divison.
Final visit to the Leeds and Bradford match saw a surprise as I looked at the scoreboard.Leeds and Bradford had been bowled out for 45 and Oxford for 99,In Leeds second innings they were eight wickets down for about 80.Tony and Brian Senior were already sat out of the cold wind.
With in an hour Leeds were all out for 148 leaving Oxford all day to score just over 100 runs.By lunch they were one wicket down needing to score about 50 runs. Howard Clayton, the scorer, said Leeds had only been beated once before in two days.
After picking Andrew Wickham who had arrived to Leeds from London by train. He had to change at Doncaster to catch another train passing through all the small stations of South Yorkshire.The first match we went to was Idle against Great Horton.
When we arrived Idle were 100 for 1 after 20 overs.One of the Batsmen in was Carleon Brome from Barbados.He scored the highest individual score of the new season when he smashed 174 not out.He scored 7 sixes and 22 fours and was dropped about five times.
Idle made 299 for 4 after 50 overs.Brome had not scored any runs up till to-day and was a better bowler than batsman so the Idle supporters said.
We moved on to Bankfoot against Saltaire as we though Great Horton would not win the match. They just lost the match four runs.No comment.
Saltaire had scored 247 for 4 in the 50 overs.Bankfoot started off slowly until James Houldsworth smashed 51.There was numberous shouts from the Saltaire captain to tell the fielders to take their hands out of their pockets and look interested.It became very cold by 7.40 so we went for something to eat. Bankfoot scored 213 for 8 so allowing Saltaire to lead the Second Divison.
Pilmoor Evening Cricket League
Posted by John Winn
Pilmoor is probably better known to rail rather than cricket enthusiasts for it was from Pilmoor, on the main line from York to Darlington, that a branch line ran to Boroughbridge from 1847. The passenger service was withdrawn in September 1950, long before Beeching, and final closure came in 1964. The word Pilmoor can still be found on maps and it serves appropriately to describe an evening league covering clubs quite closely distributed within the area between Thirsk and York.
Fixtures for 2011 start on Wednesday May 4th with, in Divison One, home fixtures at Clifton Alliance, Crayke, Helperby and Sheriff Hutton Bridge. In a second division extended to ten clubs this year the first set of fixtures are at Alne, Civil Service, Huby, Rowntrees and Raskelf.
Some of thse grounds are very attractive, none more so than Newburgh Priory, described justifiably by Tony in 'Off the beaten track' as 'a magical place'. I have been unlucky with this ground having turned up there on a beautiful evening last year expecting to see Newburgh play Acomb (I think) only to find the ground deserted. Several phone calls failed to fully explain why this was so. I shall be trying again this year.
There is coverage of the PECL in 'The Press', the York daily paper, but via the internet details are rather sketchy.
For newcomers to this league it involves little travelling to vist three or four grounds in one evening and there are some pleasant pubs in the area offering refreshment. After my disappointment last year I sought solace in the seventeenth century Fauconberg Arms in nearby Coxwold. (Other pubs are available)
Pilmoor is probably better known to rail rather than cricket enthusiasts for it was from Pilmoor, on the main line from York to Darlington, that a branch line ran to Boroughbridge from 1847. The passenger service was withdrawn in September 1950, long before Beeching, and final closure came in 1964. The word Pilmoor can still be found on maps and it serves appropriately to describe an evening league covering clubs quite closely distributed within the area between Thirsk and York.
Fixtures for 2011 start on Wednesday May 4th with, in Divison One, home fixtures at Clifton Alliance, Crayke, Helperby and Sheriff Hutton Bridge. In a second division extended to ten clubs this year the first set of fixtures are at Alne, Civil Service, Huby, Rowntrees and Raskelf.
Some of thse grounds are very attractive, none more so than Newburgh Priory, described justifiably by Tony in 'Off the beaten track' as 'a magical place'. I have been unlucky with this ground having turned up there on a beautiful evening last year expecting to see Newburgh play Acomb (I think) only to find the ground deserted. Several phone calls failed to fully explain why this was so. I shall be trying again this year.
There is coverage of the PECL in 'The Press', the York daily paper, but via the internet details are rather sketchy.
For newcomers to this league it involves little travelling to vist three or four grounds in one evening and there are some pleasant pubs in the area offering refreshment. After my disappointment last year I sought solace in the seventeenth century Fauconberg Arms in nearby Coxwold. (Other pubs are available)
Great Uncle Bill appears at tea
Posted by John Winn
Yesterday saw me driving up the A19 towards Captain Cook country. Several of the sign posts for side roads point to villages where teams that play in The Langbaurgh League can be found. I visited a number of such clubs last year, an enjoyable experience. The league has rather spread beyond the Langbaurgh district, as far as Hartlepool in the north down to Kirby Sigston near Northallerton. In the east there are three clubs in the Saltburn area.
My first stop yesterday, however was at Stokesley, a ground I visited several years ago, since when they have come up in the world both on and off the field. Yesterday the second eleven were entertaining Maltby I (from near Yarm, another upwardly mobile outfit) in an NYSD Division 2 game. Such has been Stokesley's rise that Durham (sic) will host Derbyshire here in a second eleven game in June. This is one of two Yorkshire grounds on which Durham will play 'home' matches this season, Marton being the other. With its splendid club house and well appointed and cared for playing area Stokesley will, I am sure, make an excellent job of it.
From Stokesley I moved on to Kildale for a Division One game in the Langbaurgh League with local rivals Broughton. Kildale were runners up last year and won the GJERS cup which has been competed for since 1947. The Kildale ground is perhaps half a mile beyond the village on the Commondale road and, on a windy day like yesterday, somewhat exposed. Kildale's openers were making steady progress when I left with a league handbook safely in my possession. Next stop and a short drive away was Ingleby Greenhow, another ground to be found outside the village. Ingleby lost their original ground to agriculture during World War II but have played on the present site since 1946. Here again the home team were batting and making very rapid progress against their second division opponents Hutton Rudby B. They put on 161 for the first wicket and Kildale's 224 for 2 off their 40 overs was over 100 runs too many for Hutton Rudby who finished bottom of this division last year.
Back to the NYSD and a journey which took me through one attractive market town, Stokesley, to another, Yarm, where Yarm were playing Seaton Carew in a Division One match. Jon Weeks was out in the last of the 50 overs for 89, having become retaher becalmed as a century drew near as the home side made just over two hundred for four.
There was just time to drive the ten miles to the village of Great Burdon, just on the outskirts of Darlington and visit the ground where both my father and his father and several other relatives played their cricket,and where I first came to love the game.Throughout this time it has been the home of Haughton-le Skerne CC who were hosting Cockerton , a club for whom I played for five seasons in the early seventies. The two second elevens play in the Darlington District League Division C. Cricket has been played on this ground for more than 100 years and the only readily discernible change is that the 'new' pavilion is more arson and vandal proof, and therefore more ugly, than its wooden predecessor.
Players were taking tea and I took the opportunity to look at the excellent display of old photographs in the pavilion, most of which I was familiar. I was delighted therefore to find a team photograph dated 1912 and seated on the end of the middle row, one W. Winn, my Great Uncle Bill, considered a decent bowler in his day. I was not aware of this photograph's existence and it is is the only picture of my Grandfather's brother I have ever seen. Haughton have kindly agreed to lend it to me so I can have a copy made. After a cup of tea and an excellent piece of pie I made the ten minute drive to the Darlington Arena where The Quakers completed their Wembley preparations with a two nil victory over Rushden.This enabled them to slip above York City in the final table which gives me some bragging rights for the close season in my local pub, unless of course things go horribly wrong next Saturday.
Yesterday saw me driving up the A19 towards Captain Cook country. Several of the sign posts for side roads point to villages where teams that play in The Langbaurgh League can be found. I visited a number of such clubs last year, an enjoyable experience. The league has rather spread beyond the Langbaurgh district, as far as Hartlepool in the north down to Kirby Sigston near Northallerton. In the east there are three clubs in the Saltburn area.
My first stop yesterday, however was at Stokesley, a ground I visited several years ago, since when they have come up in the world both on and off the field. Yesterday the second eleven were entertaining Maltby I (from near Yarm, another upwardly mobile outfit) in an NYSD Division 2 game. Such has been Stokesley's rise that Durham (sic) will host Derbyshire here in a second eleven game in June. This is one of two Yorkshire grounds on which Durham will play 'home' matches this season, Marton being the other. With its splendid club house and well appointed and cared for playing area Stokesley will, I am sure, make an excellent job of it.
From Stokesley I moved on to Kildale for a Division One game in the Langbaurgh League with local rivals Broughton. Kildale were runners up last year and won the GJERS cup which has been competed for since 1947. The Kildale ground is perhaps half a mile beyond the village on the Commondale road and, on a windy day like yesterday, somewhat exposed. Kildale's openers were making steady progress when I left with a league handbook safely in my possession. Next stop and a short drive away was Ingleby Greenhow, another ground to be found outside the village. Ingleby lost their original ground to agriculture during World War II but have played on the present site since 1946. Here again the home team were batting and making very rapid progress against their second division opponents Hutton Rudby B. They put on 161 for the first wicket and Kildale's 224 for 2 off their 40 overs was over 100 runs too many for Hutton Rudby who finished bottom of this division last year.
Back to the NYSD and a journey which took me through one attractive market town, Stokesley, to another, Yarm, where Yarm were playing Seaton Carew in a Division One match. Jon Weeks was out in the last of the 50 overs for 89, having become retaher becalmed as a century drew near as the home side made just over two hundred for four.
There was just time to drive the ten miles to the village of Great Burdon, just on the outskirts of Darlington and visit the ground where both my father and his father and several other relatives played their cricket,and where I first came to love the game.Throughout this time it has been the home of Haughton-le Skerne CC who were hosting Cockerton , a club for whom I played for five seasons in the early seventies. The two second elevens play in the Darlington District League Division C. Cricket has been played on this ground for more than 100 years and the only readily discernible change is that the 'new' pavilion is more arson and vandal proof, and therefore more ugly, than its wooden predecessor.
Players were taking tea and I took the opportunity to look at the excellent display of old photographs in the pavilion, most of which I was familiar. I was delighted therefore to find a team photograph dated 1912 and seated on the end of the middle row, one W. Winn, my Great Uncle Bill, considered a decent bowler in his day. I was not aware of this photograph's existence and it is is the only picture of my Grandfather's brother I have ever seen. Haughton have kindly agreed to lend it to me so I can have a copy made. After a cup of tea and an excellent piece of pie I made the ten minute drive to the Darlington Arena where The Quakers completed their Wembley preparations with a two nil victory over Rushden.This enabled them to slip above York City in the final table which gives me some bragging rights for the close season in my local pub, unless of course things go horribly wrong next Saturday.
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