HIDDEN AGENDA

By Brian Sanderson,

Back to Weetwood again ,this time to see Yorkshire U16  v Middlesex  in a two day match.The above photographs were taken by Tony Woodhouse a number of years ago and it has not changed.The P.C.W were there in force again Tony Hutton, Malcolm ,Brian Senior and Peter Mann .Yorkshire were batting with Toby Booth being one of the batsman.His father came to see him before he had to go  off to do some work.

If you look on the Yorkshire Cricket Board web-site there is no mention of any U16 matches so we were lucky we knew the groundsman at Weetwood.There were numerous parents but if  Yorkshire Cricket Board let people know about these matches it would attract more people. May be they do not want spectators.

At lunch Yorkshire had got to 94 for 0 wicket and Tony decided to go on a car ride to Escrick Park and Stamford Bridge as he had already spent two days at the ground this week.Escrick Park is were Yorkshire Gentlemen were playing Yorkshire C.C.C  in celebration of their 150 anniversary.Stamford Bridge was the semi-final of the under15 week matches. Again the venues are not on the Yorkshire Crocet Board web-site.

During the afternoon Yorkshire lost six wickets for about 100 runs. Toby Booth scored 77 and batted well.Also batting for Yorkshire was a young Brook from Burley in Wharfedale who,s family were also watching him together wth Peter Mann.He scored 39 and was out after tea.

One of the Yorkshire coachs was James Finch who seven years ago played for the Academy.Time marches on.When I left Yorkshire were 280 for 8 and still about twelve overs to bowl.
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WHO IS THE MOST FAMOUS YORKSHIRE MAN IN AMERICA ?

By Brian Sanderson,

On a sunny Tuesday morning I return to Weetwood for the second day of Yorkshire U 19 v  Durham.Durham were still batting with three wickets to fall and had scored 250.We were all hoping for a more exciting day of cricket but it did not happen.I have been asked to confirm that  Peter France turned you to watch the match. By lunch-time Yorkshire were three wickets down and did not look like they would win the match.There were other matches on so  some went to Denholme,Knaresborough and myself and Malcolm went to Whitkirk. Others stayed to get sunburnt.

At Whitkirk  Wetherby League U14 were playing Airedale and Wharfedale and of course Peter Mann was there watching the match with Wetherby batting.Peter always says the Airedale and Wharfedale League is the worst in Yorskhire but still watches Burley every week.The above photograph is of Whitkirk ground with thre telephone mast.When I played on the ground in the 1960,s the mast was not there and you could see  Whitkirk church through the trees.To me it has lost it,s homely attraction and is just another ground with a football pitch nearby.

Gordon Chadwick who must be in his 80,s was at the match and this was his first club as he was born in Halton like me but I played for Colton.Wetherby took three hours to score 151 in 45 overs another slow match.As I was leaving Airedale had loost two wickets and scored thirty runs in 15 overs.

The answer to the quiz question was supplied by Malcolm as he is a supporter of baseball.Harry Wright who was born in Sheffield and  was one of the pioneers of the sport. He was put in the Hall of Fame in 1934.

Slow going at Weetwood

posted by John Winn

Weetwood played host to an extravaganza of sport yesterday. The England Women's Rugby Union squad are in residence  for a training camp, a number of youngsters were enjoying a hockey summer school and Yorkshire Under 17s were taking on their Durham counterparts on the first of two days of an ECB County Championship Div IA match.  Alas extravaganza with its implications of variety and spectacular entertainment offers a misleading description of the last of these three events for at least up to five o'clock the cricket rarely rose above ordinary and the run rate a little over two. If you were seeking amusement then it was best provided by the sight of small hockey goalkeepers walking in enormous pads. Brian suggested that should 'It's a knockout' be revived then this might provide excellent entertainment.

Despite some competing matches in the Leeds area the under 17s had drawn a quality field of pcws and good conversation, enlivened by an appearance from John Rex, made the pedestrian  cricket more than bearable. The rules of this competition place an emphasis on high scoring in the first innings and Durham's intention of batting Yorkshire out of the game was clear to see. The lunch score off 33 overs was 76 for 1. Yorkshire, weakened by England under 19 calls tried seven bowlers in the  session with Thompson the most economical.

After lunch  Burnham and Hickey produced  more attacking shots aided by good fortune when Yorkshire put down a couple of difficult chances. Burnham went for 62 and Hickey for 39 and when Tony Hutton and I left at five o'clock the total was 187 for 5, the run rate still below three.  This is a final and must win match for Yorkshire if they are to progress to the semi finals of the competition while Durham play their last game at Hartlepool next week. The semi finals are on the 20th and 21st of August and the final at Arundel on August 29th and 30th August.

A taste of Scotland

posted by John Winn

Ian Peebles the Scotland born England  test player of the inter war years described the West of Scotland cricket ground at Hamilton Crescent, Partick as 'very much an urban ground, but of great character and tradition'. As a boy of twelve he was taken there by his father in 1921 to see Warwick Armstrong's Australians and the ground is almost certainly unique in that it has hosted international sport in Cricket, Rugby Union, Hockey and perhaps most memorably, in 1872, the first Scotland/England football match  (a 0-0 draw).

 

Spending  the weekend in Glasgow I was very pleased to see that West of Scotland CC were at home on Saturday afternoon against the Western Premier Division leaders, Uddingston, a small town in Lanarkshire where Peebles lived for a while and where he played some of his first organised cricket.

The ground is very accessible from the city centre, just seven minutes by train from Queen Street station and just a couple of minutes walk at the Partick end. On a sunny afternoon but which was interrupted by some occasional very brief short showers 'West' won the toss and put Uddingston into bat. The games are played over fifty overs with a twelve o'clock start and the visitors who have been carrying all before them were soon in difficulties at ten for two. Unexpectedly I recognised one of West of Scotland's players, the former member of the Yorkshire coaching staff, John Blain, now coach to the Partick club.

 One of the squally showers drove the small crowd inside the clubhouse but did not interrupt play. It was sufficient however to cause the bowlers some problems with their footmarks and an appeal was made for sawdust. To the considerable annoyance of the home skipper this could not be found and I was witness to a discussion as to where some might be obtained. Jewson's or Pets 'R Us were suggested and it was decided that the latter would be the more likely and in due course the pet shop boys returned with the necessary.

Despite the fact that it was the bowlers who were having difficulties the batting team felt that play should have been halted, especially at 86 for 9. Number 11, a man of substantial build, made his way to the crease at a pace befitting his size and which gave just a hint of a delaying tactic. The umpires were not sympathetic and play continued and the growing crowd were witness to the tea ladies' nightmare, the substantial last wicket stand, which in this case added 51 to the total leaving Uddingston's final score 137 all out in the 43rd over.

I left at this point but the excellent Sunday Herald newspaper had the scores and a short report which showed that West of Scotland had won by four wickets with four overs to spare.. Despite this setback Tunningston are still well clear of the second placed club and very much favourites for the title. The divisional winners will play the winners of the Eastern division at a neutral venue.

LAST SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP DAY OF THE SEASON

By Brian Sanderson,

Sunday 4 August was the third day of the Yorkshire v Warwick match with the hope Yorkshire could take the last two wickets quickly.However this did not happen Patel and Barker put on a partnership of 99 before Barker was run out for 49.Patel went on to score 63 and Warwick finished on 309 which give them three batting bonus points.Yorkshire helped them  to this points by dropping two easy catches.

The photograph above is of the roller between the innings which should have happen about forty minutes earlier.Yorkshire at lunch were19 for 2  and in problems.After lunch Gale and Ballance eased the situation.
The weather forecast was rain by about 4.00 but they took early tea about 3.15 due to bad light.Yorkshire struggled on to 148 for 7 at the end of the day about 5.00 P.M..Forecast for to-night and to-morrow is rain.

The crowd was disappointing for a Championship match on a Sunday.Members ask for matches at week-ends but they do not turn up.There was a excellent crowd on Friday.

A PEACEFUL DAY AT HEADINGLEY

By Brian Sanderson,

Headingley is  just a few minutes walk from my house so it is a easy option to watch cricket in the stadium.I do a lot of driving during the cricket season so it is nice to walk to the ground.To-day was the second day of the Warwickshire match and Yorkshire needed to reach 300 to secure another batting point and this was achieved.

During the morning Yorkshire were able to take four wickets for 55 and people were talking of Warwick batting again to-day. This did not happen due to Laurie John Evams who was born in Lambert and went to Durham University.He played for Surrey till 2010 and then moved to Warwick. Last season he was top of the Second team batting averages with 64.57 so he can bat.To-day he scored 88 till he was caught by Lyth off Plunkett.Plunkett took four wickets and look the fastest Yorkshire bowler.

As you will see from the photograph, which  was was taken after the final ball this evening, Patterson bowling figures were excellent.Warwick batting was very slow with very little attacikng shots.The bad news for the day was that Rafiq has broken his left wrist after just recovering from injury.

GAME IN THE BALANCE

By Brian Sanderson,

Yorkshire started back in the County Championship with a match against Warwick at Headingley.After picking up my sister we sat in the Trueman enclosure out of the sun.Plunkett and Brooks received their caps after only playing for the county half a season.People like Woodsford,Cooper and Squires never got a first team cap eventhough they were with the county for a number of years.

Warwick won the toss and put Yorkshire in and were soon 26 for 2. There attack of Rankin, Clarke,Woakes and Barker are one of the best in the league. By lunch-time Yorkshire were 88 for 2 with Lees and Ballance batting.

On returning after lunch Lees was caught at slip which left Gary Ballance as the only recognized batsman left.
He batted very senseable and at tea Yorkshire were 190 for5 and hoping to get to 350.This did not happen but Ballance was out for 112 and the photograph above is him scorer a previous century.

When the new ball was taken wickets started to fall however Barker was banned for bowling as he run on to the batting area.Pattinson and Brooks will come out to-morrow on 294 for 9 and hoping to get another batting bonus point.

Gary Ballance looked class to-day and may be taken away by England in the near future.