Waddilove Cup rescues wet weekend.

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.

North Leeds up against it early on.

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.

George Wales puts his century up on the board.

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 pavilion taken last season.

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.

Proud Preston's glorious cricketing heritage

By Mike Latham

There are many grounds throughout the length and breadth of the country that have staged first-class cricket. Some remain pristine, where it is easy to imagine a county or tour game being staged and look as though they could easily do so again if required.

But there are others where the imagination works overtime to envisage how the ground was ever chosen to stage a county game. Sadly, West Cliff at Preston, one of the red rose county’s historic grounds, now falls in the latter category.

The Cricketers Arms, sadly boarded-up

Approaching the ground down South Meadow Lane at the bottom of Fishergate Hill, the boarded-up pub The Cricketers Arms sets the tone, a reminder of a great cricketing past but an uncertain future. The Preston Sports Club ground is a vast arena, with major landmarks like the railway bridge and some imposing houses which overlook the ground from the banking, a natural amphitheatre. The playing area was even bigger before an all-weather hockey pitch was constructed on part of the outfield.

West Cliff, Preston

Preston is now a vibrant university city, home to thousands of students, but the cricket ground is now tucked away and hard to find for those without a knowledge of the area’s confusing one-way road system and on first impression looks somewhat forlorn and unloved.

Malcolm Lorimer and Don Ambrose co-wrote the superb Cricket Grounds of Lancashire (ACS, 1992) and I am indebted to them for some of the information below.

It can be argued that Preston Cricket Club celebrates its bicentenary in 2021 but there are no obvious signs of anything to mark that amazing landmark at West Cliff. Cricket in the town, Lorimer and Ambrose tell us, was said to have been revived by Preston CC’s formation in 1821, early games played on the Marsh near Ashton and at Penwortham Holme on the South bank of the River Ribble.  They add that the club was reported to have ‘re-established’ and was ‘again in being’ in 1838.

Another view of West Cliff

The present West Cliff ground was purchased in 1859, transformed from swampy waste land into a magnificent arena thought fit to stage a Lancashire county championship game in July 1936, Gloucestershire the visitors with Charlie Barnett, Tom Goddard and Wally Hammond in their ranks. It was the first of five first-class games staged here either side of the second world war, the last in 1952.

The first day of the Gloucester game was sensational, twenty wickets falling as a drying pitch was influenced by warm sunshine. Hammond made light of the difficulties, top scoring with 65 in his side’s 138. Then Goddard got to work, capturing 6-15, supported by Reg Sinfield (4-3) as Lancashire tumbled to 45 all out.

Gloucestershire reached 214 in their second innings, Barnett 59, leaving Lancashire an unlikely 308 to win. By the close, after Gloucestershire had claimed an extra half-hour, they were 80 for 9. The last pair of Eddie Paynter and Frank Sibbles held out for an hour on the third morning until Lancashire were dismissed for 132, compiled in 106.4 overs. Goddard took 5-57 off 50 overs.

No gate was taken on the third day but on the first two days the Preston public supported the game well, 3,369 paying for admission on Wednesday, 4,320 on the Thursday. Including members, the attendance on the first two days was over 10,000 in total.

Advert for the Lancashire-New Zealanders game in 1937

Lancashire returned in 1937, hosting the touring New Zealanders and recording a convincing victory by an innings and 74 runs. The tourists were dismissed for 220 on the first day. Jack Iddon (108) and Norman Oldfield (101) then both hit centuries in Lancashire’s 443, Paynter falling just short with 94. On the last day the New Zealanders subsided to 149 all out.

Lancashire century-makers at Preston: Jack Iddon ....

and Norman Oldfield

Another five-figure crowd was recorded for a game also marked by a fine first-class debut for the 30-year-old slow left arm bowler Cecil Rhodes. Employed in the County Offices at Preston, the Lancaster CC player took match figures of 6-94.

Sussex visited West Cliff in 1938 but the game, which proved to be the final county championship appearance by the great wicketkeeper George Duckworth, was badly affected by rain, no play on the second day, just over two hours on the third.

Lancashire take the field at West Cliff, 1939

With war clouds looming Glamorgan visited in August 1939 as Lancashire recorded a victory by ten wickets just before lunch on the Friday. The weather was much improved and over 8,000 paid for admission during the three days.

Dick Pollard took a hat-trick in his six-wicket haul as Glamorgan struggled to 176. Then Eddie Phillipson took over, hitting the second century of his career and his highest score, 113 in Lancashire’s 284. Phillipson then took 4-19 as Glamorgan, bowled out for 139, struggled to avoid an innings defeat.

Lancashire stars at West Cliff: Eddie Phillipson....

and Dick Pollard

The world was a different place when Lancashire to Preston returned 14 years later, but again rain was the dominant feature, badly affecting the first and third days. Geoff Edrich, a former prisoner of war, scored 57 as the home county struggled against the brilliant young Glamorgan bowling prospect Don Shepherd (6-57) as Lancashire reached 119 on the Thursday. Glamorgan fared little better, bowled out for 124 but then reduced the home side to 59-5 overnight.

Shepherd again bowled brilliantly, passing one hundred wickets for the season and afterwards was awarded his county cap. But after the loss of nearly three hours due to rain, Lancashire batted out for a draw on 111-8, Shepherd 5-44.

When Messrs Lorimer and Ambrose co-wrote their book, they suggested that, with ambitious plans afoot to develop the facilities, West Cliff may again stage first-class cricket. Sadly, nearly 30 years on, that now looks a distant prospect. It’s to be hoped that this historic ground does recapture some of its former glories and that Preston Cricket Club long continue their illustrious history.

Lost in The Caucasus

 posted by John Winn

There are some occupations that one rarely sees advertised in 'Situations Vacant'. Two such are adventurer and sportsman. The subject of today's posting Henry (Harry ) Fox could list both of these on his cv, but it was his misadventures that brought him to my attention for his cricket career was modest to say the least. 

Henry Fox was born in Wellington, Somerset in 1856. He was partner in the family firm of Fox Brothers, textile manufacturers that survive to this day. After attending Sherborne School he played ten games for his native county, three of which, in 1882, were first class. Harry did not set the Mendips alight for in six innings he amassed only 16 runs. at an average of 2.66. To be fair Somerset were classified as a second class county at this time but in matches against similar opposition his top score was just 42 against Kent in 1881.  Perhaps his greater contribution to Somerset's fortunes  came from his wallet rather than the willow for in his capacity of Vice President he supplemented club finances. 

Fox did not pass the close season inactive for in 1874 he founded Wellington Rugby Union Club  and he acted as captain, secretary and treasurer of Somerset County RU team. Sportsman indeed but it was in his role as an adventurer that he came to my notice. I have mentioned in a previous posting that Wisden did not include obituaries until 1892 contenting itself with a very selective list of 'deaths'. In the 1889 edition the list runs to 21 names and 13th on the list is Mr H Fox (Somersetshire) 'Lost in The Caucasus' Sept 4th, from which you might gather he was a mountaineer, an activity he began in 1884.

A member of the Alpine club, Harry was instructed by distinguished mountaineers, WW Graham and WC Slingsby and he was highly regarded by his peers. In 1888 with two colleagues he travelled to Russia with the aim of climbing the previously unconquered Koshtan-Tau, a peak of over 5000 meters. One of the trio, Clinton Dent, was taken ill which left Fox with just one partner, William Donkin. Alas they went missing and despite extensive searches ordered by Tsar Alexander II they were never found. The following year Dent returned and with Douglas Freshfield, found a tent at 4300 meters together with personal items but significantly missing was climbing gear which almost certainly meant that the pair had headed for the summit but it is assumed they did not make the top and that their most likely fate was to have been killed by an avalanche. For legal reasons Fox's death was recorded as 'on or since the 30th August 1888, at some place unknown.' Interesting that Wisden is more precise (Sept 4th).

That is not quite the end of Harry Fox for the pavilion at Wellington CC was erected in his memory and he even has a mountain in Canada named after him, imagination has not run riot, it is called Mount Fox. Had our hero died in later life from natural causes he might not have made Wisden other than for his modest scores but tracing his life story has proved most interesting. I have no intention of becoming a mountaineer, starting a rugby club  joining a textile company and my best cricket playing days are probably behind me but something about these Victorian 'allrounders' appeals to me, perhaps because they set off to climb mountains dressed in clothing that might be ok for a chilly day at Weetwood but for an excursion that might take you more than 5000 above sea level, no thank you. 

I am intending to make trip to Somerset in early July and should time allow I would like to include a trip to Wellington CC in my itinerary. If so look out for a photo of the Fox pavilion in a future posting.  

Another close finish and three centurions.

 Posted by Tony Hutton

Yesterday saw yet another exciting finish in the one day game between Leeds/Bradford University and Loughborough University at Weetwood, Leeds. Given that the forecast was for cold weather with blustery showers it was surprising that so little time was lost throughout a day which started in warm sunshine and remained fine until mid-afternoon when a brief rain shower knocked two overs from each sides innings.

Ben Chapman-Lilley on strike for Loughborough.

Loughborough batted first and although they never quite looked on target to reach the magic 300 score which has almost become the norm in this competition, they did reach an imposing 262-1 in 48 overs. In the final stages of the innings dominated by a two hundred partnership both batsman just managed to reach the century mark. First to get there was Zimbabwean Dan Butchart who has played for Leicester seconds, closely followed by Ben Chapman-Lilley, who has played for Warwickshire seconds.

Butchart hits strongly to leg.

Two centuries on the board.

The home side were without their regular opening bowler Josh Fallows, a Lancastrian, who we learned later was having a trial playing for Kent seconds. Not sure he would have fared any better than the varied attack on show on yet another of Richard Robinson's excellent batting wickets. The revised target for the home side was 269 from 48 overs and they made a poor start by losing in form opener Jack Timby early on.

Josh de Carries - became the day's third centurion.

It soon became apparent that Leeds/Bradford's hopes rested on the shoulders of Josh de Carries, a young man who has had much publicity recently and is following in the footsteps of many other Middlesex players who have developed at Weetwood over the years. The most notable of these being Toby Roland-Jones, Nick Gubbins and Martin Andersson. De Carries had good support from Haynes with 36 and Tom Keast with 45, but managed to stay there until the very end making 112 not out, to become the third centurion of the day when the game was won by five wickets with just one ball remaining.

Yorkshire's women cricketers thwarted by the weather.

 Posted by Tony Hutton

First of all I must remember to greet Mr Winn as 'my right honourable friend' following his recent blog. In addition I must congratulate him for being able to obtain a ticket to watch Gloucestershire play Somerset later this month, which will set him well on the way to reaching his unique target of having seen every first class county play every other county.

Like John we enjoyed county cricket streaming over the weekend. First of all on Saturday to see Durham complete a wonderful innings victory over Warwickshire, then on Sunday the nail biting finish of Yorkshire beating Northants by one run. A Northants victory seemed well on the cards thanks to some wayward bowling by Willey and Olivier but fortunately the so dependable captain stepped up to do the necessary at the end. Well done Patto!

We also saw the finish at Bristol with Gloucestershire making a daunting target look so easy against Leicester. Ian Cockbain's century brought back memories of his father who played for Cheshire Minor Counties for so many years and scored an awful lot of runs in the process.

However despite all this action we still managed to fit in some live cricket with Adel taking on near neighbours New Rover in an Airedale/Wharfedale league game at Church Lane, Adel. The home side batted steadily with Elliot Audsley top scoring with 67 made at a brisk pace off only 69 balls. Most of the batsman contributed until opening bowler Jonathan Postle returned to finish off the tail quickly with 3-39. 226-9 seemed a useful score somewhere around par.

Adel batting on Saturday.

New Rover made a confident reply led by veteran skipper Michael Richmond who notched yet another fifty for his collection. They maintained the required rate throughout and with Fahid Rehman at number three playing the innings of the day, finishing on 85 not out, they coasted home to win by seven wickets with two overs to spare.

More action from Adel with hockey players in the background.

On bank holiday Monday it was a very different story with a dreadful weather forecast suggesting rain all day, getting heavier in the afternoon. However optimistic as ever we set off for Harrogate cricket club where Yorkshire women's side were due to play two T20 games against the North East Warriors, including players from Durham and Northumberland.

To most people's surprise a lull in the morning drizzle allowed a start to be made at 11.45 and Yorkshire set off at quite a pace to put runs on the board very quickly, with the white ball rebounding from the concrete terracing on the popular side at regular intervals. Skipper Holly Armitage fresh from a winter's cricket in Australia was in splendid form and it came as a surprise when she fell lbw to Laura Ellison on 49 with the total already on 110.

A lone spectator, the official photographer, an umpires assessor all the way from Lancashire and a lone fielder set the scene at Harrogate.

The other opener, wicketkeeper Bess Heath did complete her fifty with seven fours and two sixes, but the rain became more persistent and the players had to leave the field after only eleven overs, never to return. The forecast heavy rain arrived and meant that the first game was abandoned, as was the second one later in the afternoon.

Runs a plenty for Yorkshire women at Harrogate.

Still pleasant to meet up with old friends and see that the Harrogate club is thriving, with signs of white paint everywhere and a good junior set up which suggests great things for the future, although the first team have lost their first two league games so far, having conceded three hundred runs again at Driffield on Saturday.

Whatever happened to the Bolton Cricket League?

By Mike Latham

‘Whatever happened to the Bolton Cricket League?’ someone asked on a popular cricket grounds Facebook site the other day.

‘Alive and kicking,’ replied one of the forum members, who is allied to Horwich RMI.

It was a very good answer, but one that masks a certain amount of concern within the Bolton area for those, especially in a pandemic, who value local cricket and its traditions and do not wish to travel far for their Saturday afternoon game.

As with many cricket leagues, cricket in the Bolton area has undergone vast changes in recent years.

For a long, long time the composition of the Bolton Cricket League was unaltered. The League was born out of a breakaway with the long-established Bolton & District Association, founded in 1888 and one of the country’s longest established leagues.

Kearsley CC

During 1929 talks took place among several clubs, with the result that the Bolton League was formed in 1930. Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Eagley, Egerton, Farnworth, Heaton, Kearsley, Little Lever, Radcliffe, Tonge, Walkden and Westhoughton the dozen founders.

Horwich RMI CC

Just before the war Horwich RMI replaced Radcliffe, who joined the Central Lancashire League- and there it stayed until 1984 when Farnworth Social Circle joined from the Association, Greenmount from the Lancashire & Cheshire League.

For many years the bitterness between the Association and League persisted, but by the time I started watching league cricket locally in the 1970s many of the old rifts were healing. There was an annual clash between the two organisations for the Trinity Cup- sponsored by a local paper mill. Both representative sides comprised eight of the best amateurs and three professionals.

The Association, to their great delight, often won this annual clash, the games attracting big crowds on a Sunday afternoon in July, showcasing many of the region’s best amateur and paid players.

Little Lever CC

The list of famous players from around the world who have played as professionals in the Bolton area reads like a Who’s Who of cricket. Many were at the start of their careers, often playing in England for the first time. Often, when they later wrote their autobiography these players would pay tribute to the grounding that they received playing in Bolton.

Just off the top of my head players I saw in the 1970s and 1980s in league cricket in the Bolton area included Mark Waugh, Dilip Vengsarkar, Mudassar Nazar, Matthew Hayden, Mark Taylor, Javed Miandad, Mohsin Khan, Phil Simmons, Collis King, Chetan Sharma, Sonny Ramadhin, Steve Dublin and Franklyn Stephenson.

We watched with pride as local cricketers like Mike Watkinson, Steve O’Shaughnessy and Warren Hegg graduated from the Bolton leagues into first-class cricket. Many superb local players like Mike Bennison, David White, Dave Smith, Simon Anderton, Dave Smith, Mark Stewart, Ian Taylor and Keith Eccleshare, to name just a few, were content to play cricket locally and set high standards of performance.

Geoff Ogden recently wrote a fascinating book, Born in Bolton, with detailed biographies of the 38 Bolton born cricketers who went on to play first-class cricket. I intend to review the book in a later blog. It is published by Max Books and is highly recommended.

Cricket in the leagues has always been competitive, local rivalries fierce, the crowds, though not as big as in yesteryear still passionate and knowledgeable.

Blackrod CC

Then along came the big change to cricket locally- the formation of the Greater Manchester Cricket League (GMCL).  Egerton and Greenmount left to join the GMCL for 2016. But the Bolton Association joined up with the Bolton League at the same time, nine clubs entering what became a 21-club competition in 2016: Adlington, Atherton, Blackrod, Daisy Hill, Darcy Lever, Golborne, Little Hulton, Lostock and Standish.

Five years later and the Bolton League is down to 15 clubs as Adlington, Bradshaw, Daisy Hill, Golborne, Heaton and Standish have all left, the latter to the Palace Shield, the other five to the GMCL.

Westhoughton CC

The Bolton League still offers great cricket at some fascinating grounds, some relatively new like Westhoughton and Lostock, others like Eagley (founded 1837) historic.

Eagley CC

Updated scores are recorded on match day on the league’s Playcricket site and whichever ground you visit you’re guaranteed a warm welcome and a great cricketing experience.

I just hope the Bolton League survives and prospers as it can ill-afford to lose any more clubs and hopefully some of the ones which have recently left may be tempted to return.

 

Putting a Glos on it

posted by John Winn

The county championship has worn its new coat with pride. 36 matches have been played mostly in sunshine, albeit often accompanied by a cold wind, and produced some interesting and exciting cricket. In this latter category there has been nothing to compare with yesterday's finish at Headingley when for only the second time in their history Yorkshire won a match by one run and just for the second time Northants were on the receiving end of such a tight finish. Thanks to the excellent streaming service that we can now enjoy I was able to watch the afternoon's play and with Parnell on strike and the deficit one run my money was on the tie or victory for the visitors. Enter skipper Patterson aided by keeper Tattersall to dismiss Parnell who will carry a mixed bag of memories from a match in which he took ten wickets and came so close to anchoring a remarkable victory . 

The Headingley nail biter finished at 3:45 which left a couple of hours to fill before our evening meal and not being a snooker fan I settled for Gloucestershire v Leicestershire where the day had begun with The Foxes' as favourites but by tea a stand between Lace and Cockbain which started as a match saver had turned into a potential match winner. 52 for 3 became 276 for 4 and Leicestershire's fielding betrayed their anxiety. After a couple of scares Hankins and Smith took 'Glos' over the line for their third victory and to a clear lead in Group 2. They play local rivals Somerset, currently second in the group, at Bristol at the end of the month and I have match tickets and train tickets booked for this match. Those who know me well will know why. 

These three wins and a draw represent Glos' best start since 1948, a piece of information that had me reaching for the relevant Wisden. Having started that season with a draw at The Wagon Work's Ground in Gloucester against Worcestershire they got their first win against Somerset at Taunton followed by victory over Sussex at Bristol. Match four brought Yorkshire to the same venue and things went well enough for the visitors to be able to declare twice, centuries for Harry Halliday and Ted Lester. Stand in

skipper Brian Sellars had reckoned without the batting of Charlie Barnett whose 141 dominated an opening partnership with George Emmett. The 389 'Glos' needed was reached with 43 minutes and six wickets to spare.

Gloucestershire came very close to extending this winning streak but  lost their next match, against Surrey at The Oval, by two runs. So bad was the rain that this became a one day, one innings fixture and on a 'difficult pitch' Jim Laker took eight wickets. Gloucestershire go to Lord's on Thursday where they will fancy their chances of improving on their 1948 start. 

Recognition at last