In describing a match at New Rover in April 2009 Tony Hutton summed up perfectly the thoughts of the 'professional cricket watcher' at this time of year when he wrote 'The cricket itself does not really matter. The fact that it is taking place at all after a long hard winter brings a smile to the face of the few diehards who make up the small crowd.'
Two long hard winters have passed since then, that of 2010-11 harder and longer than most and so it is with more anticipation than usual that this particular enthusiast awaits the new season.The signs are there: this last week has been unseasonably warm,lawns have been mowed, the clocks have sprung forward, Wisden and Playfair are ordered and we can look forward to cricket where there are no drums, no maximums, no reviews of umpire decisions and no dancers celebrating an edged four.
Yesterday the YCC Supporters'Association held its spring lunch at Headingley. It was good to meet old friends who are equally excited about the new season and April 14th in particular when Yorkshire take on Durham at Headingley in the first home County Championship match of the season.
I am very grateful to Peter for allowing me the opportunity to contribute to this blog and I hope its followers will find something of interest in my season's wanderings.
John Winn
Monday, 28 March 2011
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Professional Cricket Watchers - fixtures April 2011
Posted by Tony Hutton
Firstly a reminder about the annual Pennine Cricket Conference which will take place at the University of Huddersfield Castle Hill Suite from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday 5th March 2011. Admittance is free and all are welcome.
Now for the first batch of selected fixtures for Professional Cricket Watchers during the month of April. I have not included any County Championship or League cricket fixtures which are all well publicised elsewhere.
Sat 2/4 - 13.00 - New Rover (Leeds) v Olicanian (F)
Sun 3/4 - 13.00 - New Rover (Leeds) v St Chads (F)
Tues 5/4 - 11.00 - Notts v Surrey (Trent Bridge) (F) - day 1 of 2
Frid 8?4 County Championship season starts
Sat 9/4 - 13.00 - New Rover (Leeds) v Wakefield Thornes (F)
Sat 9/4 - 12.30 - Leeds/Bradford University v Loughborough University (Weetwood) - 1 day BUCS trophy
Sat 9/4 - 13.00 - Pudsey St Lawrence v Wrenthorpe
Sat 9/4 - 13.00 - Burley in Wharfedale v Royton -
Sun 10/4 and Mon 11/4 -11.00 - Leeds/Bradford University v Loughborough University (Weetwood, Leeds) - day 1 of 2
Sun 10/4 - 13.00 - New Rover (Leeds) v Windhill (F)
Sun 10/4 - 13.00 - St Chads v Shadwell at Old Modernians ground(Betty Chadderton Rose Bowl)
This is a game between the Wetherby League champions and cup winners.
Wed 13/4 - Yorkshire 2nd XI v Durham 2nd XI (Weetwood) - day 1 of 2 day friendly
Sat 16/4 - League cricket starts
Sun 17/4 - 13.00 - Heavy Woollen Cup (first round) which included Spen v Barnsley, New Farnley v Buttershaw S.P., Golcar v Streethouse, Hanging Heaton v Kirkheaton and Yeadon v Baildon.
Mon 18/4 - 11.00 - Lancashire II v Middlesex II (Northern CC, Crosby) - day 1 of 4
Tues 19/4 - 11.00 - Derbyshire II v Yorkshire II (Belper Meadows) - day 1 of 3
Sun 24/4 - 13.30 - New Farnley v Townville (ECB National Club KO) - brought forward from 8/5 when both clubs engaged in Heavy Woollen Cup
Sun 24/4 - St Chads (Far Headingley) v Kirk Deighton (Fred Fleetwood Cup preliminary round)
Wed 27/4 - 11.00 - Durham University v Yorkshire (Racecourse ground, Durham) day 1 of 3
Wed 27/4 - 11.30 - Cheshire Development XI v Lancashire II (Toft)
Wed 27/4 - St Peters School v Yorkshire Gentlemen
Wed 27/4 and Thurs 28/4 - 11.00 - Yorkshire Academy v Durham Academy (New Rover, Leeds) - day 1 of 2
Frid 29/4 - 11.00 - Lancashire II v Cheshire Development XI (Westhoughton)
Frid 29/4 - 12.30 - Leeds Bradford University v Oxford University (Weetwood, Leeds) - 1 day BUCS trophy game.
Sat 30/4 - 11.00 - Leeds Bradford University v Oxford University (Weetwood, Leeds) -day 1 of 2
As usual these fixtures come with a government health warning that they cannot be guaranteed to take place due to weather, acts of God or other mishaps and it is always advisable to check before travelling any distance.
Firstly a reminder about the annual Pennine Cricket Conference which will take place at the University of Huddersfield Castle Hill Suite from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday 5th March 2011. Admittance is free and all are welcome.
Now for the first batch of selected fixtures for Professional Cricket Watchers during the month of April. I have not included any County Championship or League cricket fixtures which are all well publicised elsewhere.
Sat 2/4 - 13.00 - New Rover (Leeds) v Olicanian (F)
Sun 3/4 - 13.00 - New Rover (Leeds) v St Chads (F)
Tues 5/4 - 11.00 - Notts v Surrey (Trent Bridge) (F) - day 1 of 2
Frid 8?4 County Championship season starts
Sat 9/4 - 13.00 - New Rover (Leeds) v Wakefield Thornes (F)
Sat 9/4 - 12.30 - Leeds/Bradford University v Loughborough University (Weetwood) - 1 day BUCS trophy
Sat 9/4 - 13.00 - Pudsey St Lawrence v Wrenthorpe
Sat 9/4 - 13.00 - Burley in Wharfedale v Royton -
Sun 10/4 and Mon 11/4 -11.00 - Leeds/Bradford University v Loughborough University (Weetwood, Leeds) - day 1 of 2
Sun 10/4 - 13.00 - New Rover (Leeds) v Windhill (F)
Sun 10/4 - 13.00 - St Chads v Shadwell at Old Modernians ground(Betty Chadderton Rose Bowl)
This is a game between the Wetherby League champions and cup winners.
Wed 13/4 - Yorkshire 2nd XI v Durham 2nd XI (Weetwood) - day 1 of 2 day friendly
Sat 16/4 - League cricket starts
Sun 17/4 - 13.00 - Heavy Woollen Cup (first round) which included Spen v Barnsley, New Farnley v Buttershaw S.P., Golcar v Streethouse, Hanging Heaton v Kirkheaton and Yeadon v Baildon.
Mon 18/4 - 11.00 - Lancashire II v Middlesex II (Northern CC, Crosby) - day 1 of 4
Tues 19/4 - 11.00 - Derbyshire II v Yorkshire II (Belper Meadows) - day 1 of 3
Sun 24/4 - 13.30 - New Farnley v Townville (ECB National Club KO) - brought forward from 8/5 when both clubs engaged in Heavy Woollen Cup
Sun 24/4 - St Chads (Far Headingley) v Kirk Deighton (Fred Fleetwood Cup preliminary round)
Wed 27/4 - 11.00 - Durham University v Yorkshire (Racecourse ground, Durham) day 1 of 3
Wed 27/4 - 11.30 - Cheshire Development XI v Lancashire II (Toft)
Wed 27/4 - St Peters School v Yorkshire Gentlemen
Wed 27/4 and Thurs 28/4 - 11.00 - Yorkshire Academy v Durham Academy (New Rover, Leeds) - day 1 of 2
Frid 29/4 - 11.00 - Lancashire II v Cheshire Development XI (Westhoughton)
Frid 29/4 - 12.30 - Leeds Bradford University v Oxford University (Weetwood, Leeds) - 1 day BUCS trophy game.
Sat 30/4 - 11.00 - Leeds Bradford University v Oxford University (Weetwood, Leeds) -day 1 of 2
As usual these fixtures come with a government health warning that they cannot be guaranteed to take place due to weather, acts of God or other mishaps and it is always advisable to check before travelling any distance.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Heavy Woollen Cup Draw
Posted by Tony Hutton
The draw has been made for the first round of this season's Heavy Woollen cup to be played on Sunday 17th April.
Games include :-
Barkisland v Clayton West, Golcar v Streethouse, Delph & Dobcross v the holders, Wrenthorpe, Hanging Heaton v Kirkheaton, Morley v Skelmanthorpe, Slaithwaite v Mirfield Parish Church and Kirkburton v Shepley.
This year's final will be played at Spen Victoria on Sunday 31st July.
The draw has been made for the first round of this season's Heavy Woollen cup to be played on Sunday 17th April.
Games include :-
Barkisland v Clayton West, Golcar v Streethouse, Delph & Dobcross v the holders, Wrenthorpe, Hanging Heaton v Kirkheaton, Morley v Skelmanthorpe, Slaithwaite v Mirfield Parish Church and Kirkburton v Shepley.
This year's final will be played at Spen Victoria on Sunday 31st July.
Cricket in January
Posted by Michael Bourne
Sunday 9th January was a fine, bright day for the annual winter game between the cricketing hardmen from the Malhamdale and Appletreewick cricket clubs.
There were just four travelling spectators from afar this year: myself and colleagues
Brian Senior from Leeds and Peter Mann from Burley, and, of course the ubiquitous Ian from Lancaster. Regular follower Tony Hutton, still suffering a bit from flu, unfortunately missed out this time.
As we drew into Malham, wickets were just being pitched in the middle of the field across the road from the showground where the game was played two years ago. (There are not many clubs around that have a choice of grounds to play on). A strip, fairly flat and free of molehills and sheep muck, had been picked out.
The visitors, having won the toss, chose to bat first so as to get the best use of the pitch. They were all out for 32. However, I'm not really sure how many wickets fell or whether the allotted 16 overs had been completed. Ian thought that the runs were all singles apart from a couple of twos. As far as I could tell (it being mayhem out in the middle, at times) nearly all the wickets were clean bowled or run outs - often the product of desperate efforts to hit the ball a distance or suicidal attempts to scramble or slither a run. There were hardly any extras in either innings, and to the credit of the bowlers most of the bowling was remarkably on line even though quite a few balls needed a few bounces to get to the other end.
When ACC went out to field, I counted 18 people on the field at one time, although one of these I think, was a drinks man wandering from player to player; the bottle of port he carried was additional to the bottle behind the stumps.
The MCC took only eight overs to pass the target, with the openers hitting at least three fours and a six, before one of them was clean bowled. Three others also had a bit of a bat and then retired, but I was told by Chris Wildman that the final MCC score was nearer 37, and that a few extra overs had been bowled after the target had been reached. Perhaps this was to give others a bat or let a few more players have a bowl.
I didn't trouble for any details the young woman who scored throughout the game - and without gloves. She had had enough problems trying to identify players and get names.
Man of the match was the MCC extrovert dressed up as 'Banana Man'. Early in the game he ran in a dozen or more yards from the mid-wicket boundary to take a superb catch - but illegally! He was wearing yellow gloves! But nobody on the ACC side objected. When batting, he struck a few of the boundaries before being bowled with feet stuck in the mud. But his most embarrassing moment was in the first innings when he tried to bowl. As he ran up, his yellow cape, fluttering in the breeze, became entangled with his bowling arm each time he brought it over to deliver the ball. He ended up bowling from a standing postion.
All in all, it was the usual scenario and script for this annual event but with unrehearsed, impromptu sketches to keep the spectators entertained and glued to the action - everyone, that is, except those still consuming rabbit pie *. There were two umpires this year, but with neither wearing white coats it was difficult, at times, to make out who was an umpire and who was a player.
The afternoon had produced one magic moment, but this had occurred before we had arrived and before the game had actually started. The field of play had been marked out with one of the most perfect of boundary lines that I have ever seen. Not only that, all was completed apparently, in less than thirty seconds. A Land Rover had been driven round just inside the extremities of the wet field to leave a distinct set of tyre marks, although I am not sure whether it was the inner or the outer line of tyre marks that denoted the boundary.
Throughout the afternoon, an icy cold wind blew across the field. On the other hand, there had been a very warm welcome and handshakes for visitors - a welcome, however, delayed a while for two of the visiting crowd.
* On getting to Malham, Brian and Peter insisted on calling at the Buck Inn for a drink, but then decided to stay there for a rabbit pie dinner. As a result, they missed the whole of the first innings and some overs of the second. Poor show!
(Watch out on the Malhamdale CC website for news of an evening friendly game in June or July this year. A team from a group of 200 limbless servicemen from the armed forces, who will be walking the Pennines for charity, has challenged MCC to a game. A big crowd is expected).
Sunday 9th January was a fine, bright day for the annual winter game between the cricketing hardmen from the Malhamdale and Appletreewick cricket clubs.
There were just four travelling spectators from afar this year: myself and colleagues
Brian Senior from Leeds and Peter Mann from Burley, and, of course the ubiquitous Ian from Lancaster. Regular follower Tony Hutton, still suffering a bit from flu, unfortunately missed out this time.
As we drew into Malham, wickets were just being pitched in the middle of the field across the road from the showground where the game was played two years ago. (There are not many clubs around that have a choice of grounds to play on). A strip, fairly flat and free of molehills and sheep muck, had been picked out.
The visitors, having won the toss, chose to bat first so as to get the best use of the pitch. They were all out for 32. However, I'm not really sure how many wickets fell or whether the allotted 16 overs had been completed. Ian thought that the runs were all singles apart from a couple of twos. As far as I could tell (it being mayhem out in the middle, at times) nearly all the wickets were clean bowled or run outs - often the product of desperate efforts to hit the ball a distance or suicidal attempts to scramble or slither a run. There were hardly any extras in either innings, and to the credit of the bowlers most of the bowling was remarkably on line even though quite a few balls needed a few bounces to get to the other end.
When ACC went out to field, I counted 18 people on the field at one time, although one of these I think, was a drinks man wandering from player to player; the bottle of port he carried was additional to the bottle behind the stumps.
The MCC took only eight overs to pass the target, with the openers hitting at least three fours and a six, before one of them was clean bowled. Three others also had a bit of a bat and then retired, but I was told by Chris Wildman that the final MCC score was nearer 37, and that a few extra overs had been bowled after the target had been reached. Perhaps this was to give others a bat or let a few more players have a bowl.
I didn't trouble for any details the young woman who scored throughout the game - and without gloves. She had had enough problems trying to identify players and get names.
Man of the match was the MCC extrovert dressed up as 'Banana Man'. Early in the game he ran in a dozen or more yards from the mid-wicket boundary to take a superb catch - but illegally! He was wearing yellow gloves! But nobody on the ACC side objected. When batting, he struck a few of the boundaries before being bowled with feet stuck in the mud. But his most embarrassing moment was in the first innings when he tried to bowl. As he ran up, his yellow cape, fluttering in the breeze, became entangled with his bowling arm each time he brought it over to deliver the ball. He ended up bowling from a standing postion.
All in all, it was the usual scenario and script for this annual event but with unrehearsed, impromptu sketches to keep the spectators entertained and glued to the action - everyone, that is, except those still consuming rabbit pie *. There were two umpires this year, but with neither wearing white coats it was difficult, at times, to make out who was an umpire and who was a player.
The afternoon had produced one magic moment, but this had occurred before we had arrived and before the game had actually started. The field of play had been marked out with one of the most perfect of boundary lines that I have ever seen. Not only that, all was completed apparently, in less than thirty seconds. A Land Rover had been driven round just inside the extremities of the wet field to leave a distinct set of tyre marks, although I am not sure whether it was the inner or the outer line of tyre marks that denoted the boundary.
Throughout the afternoon, an icy cold wind blew across the field. On the other hand, there had been a very warm welcome and handshakes for visitors - a welcome, however, delayed a while for two of the visiting crowd.
* On getting to Malham, Brian and Peter insisted on calling at the Buck Inn for a drink, but then decided to stay there for a rabbit pie dinner. As a result, they missed the whole of the first innings and some overs of the second. Poor show!
(Watch out on the Malhamdale CC website for news of an evening friendly game in June or July this year. A team from a group of 200 limbless servicemen from the armed forces, who will be walking the Pennines for charity, has challenged MCC to a game. A big crowd is expected).
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Northern Cricket Society - January meeting
Posted by Tony Hutton
The January meeting of the Northern Cricket Society will be held in the Long Room, Headingley cricket ground on Tuesday 11th January at 7.45 p.m.
The speaker will be Charlie French, cricket bat maker and brother of former Notts and England wicketkeeper Bruce French.
A good attendance is anticipated following the cancellation of the December meeting due to the bad weather. New members are always welcome and should make themselves known to the secretary, Harry Jackson.
The January meeting of the Northern Cricket Society will be held in the Long Room, Headingley cricket ground on Tuesday 11th January at 7.45 p.m.
The speaker will be Charlie French, cricket bat maker and brother of former Notts and England wicketkeeper Bruce French.
A good attendance is anticipated following the cancellation of the December meeting due to the bad weather. New members are always welcome and should make themselves known to the secretary, Harry Jackson.
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Boxing Day cricket match
Posted by Tony Hutton
The 61st consecutive Boxing Day cricket match took place on Monday at North Leeds cricket club. The game started promptly at 11 a.m. despite persistent snowfall, which obviously affected the initial attendance, although the crowd did increase as the morning went on when the snow stopped.
The Northern Cricket Society, represented by a side drawn from the Wetherby and District league, looked resplendent in their yellow caps and tee shirts presented by St Gemma's Hospice. The proceeds of the well supported raffle do of course go to St Gemma's.
Batting conditions were very difficult at the start with falling snow on the artificial wicket and a covering of snow over the rest of the ground. However the visitors made the best of it and despite losing early wickets, captain Richard Grogan top scored with 26 out of a total of 82-9 in 30 overs,against a varied North Leeds attach in which J. Morley took 4-21, veteran Steve Wales 2-8 and West Indian Harwood Williams 3-13.
The home side made easy work of their target and repeated last season's 10 wicket victory. As I had left by this time I have conflicting reports of who got most of the winning runs. According to the official scorecard Tim Hollis 33 not out and M. Akhtar 51 not out were the openers who knocked off the runs in only 9.3. overs.
However two reliable eye witnesses claim that it was Harwood Williams and not Akhtar who got the 50 not out. More research necessary I think ! Without doubt Harwood Williams did receive the Man of the Match award presented by NCS Chairman Andrew Mawson, but again according to the scorecard, for the catch of the year.
So it was all over very quickly and the players and spectators were able to retire to the bar for warmth and sustenance. As ever a welcome chance for cricket lovers to renew acquaintances with their summer companions and it was a great pleasure to see Peter Davies again after his recent illness. We wish him well for the New Year.
The next cricket event of the winter is on Sunday 9th January with the traditional Malhamdale v Appletreewick game at Malham. Again more of a social event than a cricket match, all players and spectators are asked to meet at the Buck Inn, Malham at 1.30, but what time the match will actually start is open to question. They played in deep snow last year at Appletreewick so very little chance of the game being called off.
Best wishes for the New Year to all our readers.
Friday, 17 December 2010
Boxing Day cricket
Posted by Tony Hutton
Despite the recent bad weather, with more to come, which has led to the cancellation of several meetings and Christmas functions, we are able to bring you some good news.
The Northern Cricket Society's annual Boxing Day game at North Leeds cricket club has taken place for over 60 years, whatever the weather, but this year the game looked in jeopardy due to difficulties in raising a team.
However I am pleased to report that the NCS secretary Harry Jackson has been able to obtain a Wetherby cricket league eleven to represent the Society. The team will be captained by Richard Grogan, former captain of Church Fenton CC who has recently moved to Shadwell CC.
Please note that the game this year is being played on MONDAY 27th DECEMBER starting at 11 a.m. The North Leeds ground is at the Homestead,Old Park Road,Roundhay,Leeds.
Refreshments will be available and the bar will be open for what is an excellent social occasion for all cricket lovers.
Compliments of the season to all our readers.
Despite the recent bad weather, with more to come, which has led to the cancellation of several meetings and Christmas functions, we are able to bring you some good news.
The Northern Cricket Society's annual Boxing Day game at North Leeds cricket club has taken place for over 60 years, whatever the weather, but this year the game looked in jeopardy due to difficulties in raising a team.
However I am pleased to report that the NCS secretary Harry Jackson has been able to obtain a Wetherby cricket league eleven to represent the Society. The team will be captained by Richard Grogan, former captain of Church Fenton CC who has recently moved to Shadwell CC.
Please note that the game this year is being played on MONDAY 27th DECEMBER starting at 11 a.m. The North Leeds ground is at the Homestead,Old Park Road,Roundhay,Leeds.
Refreshments will be available and the bar will be open for what is an excellent social occasion for all cricket lovers.
Compliments of the season to all our readers.
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