ANOTHER DAY AT THE SEASIDE

By Brian Sanderson,

I always look forward to going to watch Minor Cricket at Cleethorpes and to-day was the day.The forecast was sunny and hats were vital equipment for the day.After a easy run along the motorways from Leeds I arrived in enough time to have a cup of coffee and two biscuits.The first person I met was Michael Lathem who runs the cricket side of  Cumberland County Cricket Club.The last time we talked was at the Bankfoot v Bradford and Bingley cup-match see The match that never was on the blog.

I like to watch the match from behind the bowlers arm on the grass mound and in the shade.This time I was lucky to get all three wishes.Cumberland won the toss and decided to bat eventhough Michael said Cumberland were better bowling side than batting.By lunch they were 98 for 7.Not a good morning for Cumberland.Another member of the Cumberland committee was Gilbert who is always pleasent to talk to.
Another person watching the match was Grenville Firth who wrote the book" Yorkshire Cricketing Legends Yorkshire -born Test Cricketers ".

After lunch Cumberland lost another two quick wickets and was left to the last two batsmen These were Parkinson, the photogralh above, and Scott Richardson from Woodlands club who play in the Bradford League.They managed to take the score up to 239 with Parkinson scoring 79 not out.During the morning I was thinking of calling the blog civilised cricket.However Lincolnshire bowlers started to talk to the batsmen so causing the Umpires to step in to stop it.There is no need for this type of cricket.

After tea Birch, the Lincolnshire opening batsman,started to hit the bowling all round the field. He finished on 99 not out and Lincolnshire 149 for 2. There is two days to go but Cumberland bowlers will have to take early wickets to-morrow.

Wiltshire Queries

Posted by John Winn

When I arrived home from cricket yesterday I was pleased to find Royal Mail had delivered a book I  ordered a few weeks ago and on first glance it looks as though it will be a excellent read. 'Gentlemen, Gypsies and Jesters' is written by Anthony Gibson (son of Alan) and Stephen Chalke. It is a detailed history of wandering cricket clubs including Wiltshire Queries who tour Yorkshire towards the end of the month. In addition to their game with the Yorkshire Gentlemen at Escrick Park on July 22nd mentioned by Brian in his July fixtures, they also have fixtures at Harrogate, Ilkley and Follifoot. Full detail on the Queries'   excellent website.

 Stephen Chalke is also offering at £12 (post free) which is a reduction on the retail price of £12:99, a memoir by David Green formerly of  Gloucestershire  and Lancashire, entitled A Handful of Confetti. Cheques should be made payable to Fairfield Books, 17  George's Road Bath BA1 6EY. And no I am not on commission but I have bought many of Stephen's books and enjoyed them all.

Saturday in Swaledale

posted by John Winn

Regular readers of the blog may remember that I spent time last winter researching the history of cricket in the northern dales, including Swaledale. With high pressure in charge, yesterday seemed the perfect opportunity to go and watch cricket in this beautiful part of Yorkshire and after refreshment at the King's Arms in Reeth I found my way down the bumpy lane that leads to the Reeth and District Sports Association Sports Ground, the home of Dales CC.

Cricket in Reeth was played at least as early as 1859 and the Swaledale League comprising six clubs was founded in 1921. The league expired in the 1950s and eventually Reeth under the name of Dales found their way into the Darlington and District League and yesterday's visitors in a Division B match were Eryholme*, a small village just a few miles from Darlington.

As the ground's long title suggests there is more than cricket played there and when I looked in the club house, opened by Gareth Southgate in 1996,the only photographs were of football teams. Eryholme rather cut it fine in making what must be one of their longest journeys but the call of play was heard only about five minutes after the scheduled 2:00 start. An eventful first  over began with three wides, a dropped catch, another wide and a 'lingering doubter'. The dropped catch miscreant then proceeded to redeem himself with an over true to the principles of line and length.

I enjoyed a couple of circuits of the field, noting a herd of cows over the fence but also enjoying a fine show of wild flowers and the sight of the River Swale flowing past the bottom end of the ground. To my delight the game was being conducted without the usual exhortation to 'work hard lads' and on the fall of the first wicket the incoming batsman was welcomed to the crease with polite applause. Pretty well the perfect set of circumstances for an afternoon's cricket but it was soon time to drive back down the dale towards Richmond. Passing through this attractive town I called in at Hurgill Road where Richmondshire were batting against Guisborough in an NYSD Premier Division match. One or two of a decent sized crowd felt that progress was rather slow but while I was there the tempo increased with skipper and former Durham player Gary Pratt leading the way. When I left the score was approaching 150 for the loss of one wicket from which platform the homesters went onto 321 for 2 and a crushing victory over their opponents.

My next call was at Gilling West, now the home of Richmond's fourth and fifth teams and an illustration of how clubs can rise and fall in status. A little over forty years ago when playing for Cockerton in the Darlington and District league we faced Richmond on a regular basis without any particular fear that they would be too strong for us. We won some, we lost some but this morning they sit on top of the NYSD with a one point lead over Darlington. And who were their fourth team's opponents yesterday but Cockerton, relegated from Division A of the D and DL in 2012 and on at least two occasions recently having to concede second team matches.

When I arrived at Gilling tea was being taken with Cockerton having been dismissed for 87. I had visited the ground last October when it was still under floodwater and the transformation was remarkable and chatting with one of the senior Richmond players he explained how they had had to turn the square round and were rather restricted in the number of wickets they could use. I also spoke with one of the Cockerton players about their difficulties in turning out two teams and yet having almost enough players registered for three teams. I was pleased to hear they had managed a second eleven yesterday even though  they had lost to Richmond V. Richmond IV are top of Division B and a win by seven wickets yesterday comes as no surprise. Cockerton seem likely to spend another season in this division.

On my way home down the A1 I turned off through Catterick Village where Aldbrough St John II were the visitors. Again I struck the tea interval and an inspection of the score book showed ASJ had been put out for 120, of which no 8 B. Jones had scored 81. Despite seeming reluctant to take the field Aldbrough ran out winners by 9 wickets in this mid table C Div match.

I began by mentioning my exploration of cricket in Swaledale and an irony struck me whilst I was at Gilling watching Richmond IV,  for until the late 1990s the village were represented in the D and DL and one reason suggested to me for Gilling's demise was that their youngsters could not resist the lure of playing for Richmond. Catch my drift?

The photograph is of Reeth's new pavilion.

NOT A COW IN SIGHT

By Brian Sanderson,

This morning myself,Ron Stansfield and Ron Deaton  set off for another trip to visit some Durham clubs.The weather was perfect and it did not seem like four weeks since our last trip together.

The first ground we visited was Wolviston who were playing Maske Seconds in the North Yorkshire and South Durham League.Arriving just after 1.00 we had our lunch watching both sides getting ready for the match.The ground is a large area and flat . It reminded me of a reclaimed N.C.B cricket pitch.The homeside batted first with only one umpire in charge.On arriving home I found by the computor that Wolviston  had won the match.

Next ground is near the sea and was Seaton Carew Seconds  who were playing Sedgefield Seconds.I had visited this ground about ten years ago when Durham Seconds were playing Northampton. John Abrahams, the coach of the England under 19, was there talking to Monty Panesar.Since tthen there  a new scorebox has  built . The old scorebox looked like a pill-box which had been used in the Second World War.Next to the pitch archery was taikng place which seem very close to spectators walking round.

Moving down the coast Hartlepool Power Station Seconds were playing  in the Langbaugh Cricket League.
This ground is the northern club of the league and is John Winn favoritr ground see his blog .As you will see from photograph it seemed as an old oil rig was been demolished which makes a interesting backdrop  to the cricket.On the other side of a fence is a small golf course for the employers.A very interesting ground and is worth a visit.

Moving  back to the North Yorkshire and South Durham league at Billingham Synthonia ground.Another large ground with in sight of a power station.I always think that a cricket ground is improved if you can see cows in the distance and in some cases moved so a cricket match can take place.I could not see any animals from these grounds to-day.

Moving on to Norton were two matches were taking place.On the major ground was Hartlepool Seconds were batting.On this ground a few years ago I watched another Durham Seconds match and Dean Jones , ex Australian cricketer, was walking around as he was playing for Durham that season.

The second match was on the Rugby Union ground which was next to the football ground..One of the batsman scored a century which the second one I had seen in two days.The pitch is a large area with the railway line running next to it.

We were able to obtain some tea in the clubhouse and found the club was established in 1847.

Next ground was Thornaby were they had just won their match by scoring 98 in twenty overs.As we entered the ground I noticed that the pavilion had been open by Lord Hawke in 1926.Moving  to Marton the match had also been completed.

The last  ground we visited was Maltby were Tony Woodhouse visited in 1995 when a football field adjoined the pitch.Now there is no signed of the football ground and I wander if they have moved grounds.
To-day I took 67 photographs so ther was plenty to see specially at the power station.

ENGLAND UNDER 19 STAR AT UNDERCLIFFE

By Brian Sanderson

On a sunny afternoon I decided to watch my first womens match this season at Undercliffe.Yorkshire under 17 were playing Cheshire  under 17 in a 45 over match.As I arrived to join Tony Hutton and Malcolm Yorshire were batting and had losed a wicket.Cheshire bowling was poor and Holly Armitage shown that she is a England under 19 star.She scored 160 runs and was  run out in the last over.Cheshire bowler was banned for bowling too many head high beamers.

Yorshire scored 326 in the forty-five overs with over 45 extras including numerous wides and no-balls.Also there was about six dropped catches so they helped Yorkshire to make the big score.Brian Senior was also watching the match and told me that Geoff Barker yesterday scored 52 and was out  with two overs to go. See the last blog and over 40 club lost the match by forty runs.

Yorshire opening bowlers joined in my balling wides and no-balls and the first two overs taking over 10 minutes.However gradual Yorkshire slowed the run rate down and as I left they required about 250 in 30 overs.So Yorkshire would win easily.

Just a mention that Michael Hope deid this week and will be badly missed at Bowling Old Lane.I send my condolences to his brother Trevor who I played cricket with for over twenty years.

GEOFF BARKER SIGHTED AGAIN

By Brian Sanderson,

The forecast was the weather would be better in the East of Yorkshire so I went to Castleford rather than Gargrave were the Two Counties were playing. John has done a blog on them this week.The match I went to see was 40 Club against Yorkshire Senior Schools in a 40 over match which started at 2.00P.M. The 40 Club as stated on its web-site is  the largest amateur cricket club in the world.It was set up in 1936 to take cricket to the schools and they  play 130 fixtures this season.

I arrived early and had my lunch watching the players warm up. The first person I regonised was Geoff Barker who was the captain of the 40 club.I first met Geoff at Arthington were cricket is played until the second week in October.He plays for Horsforth Old Park, Yorkshire  Gentlemen and any other side who is short of a  player. He has been playing cricket for over 40 years and he will quote the number of runs he has scored and wickets taken in his career.

Yorshire Schools batted first against the fast bowling of  Jack Hartley who I last saw at the Bankfoot v Bradford and Bingley cup match. See my blog The match that never was.About this time I took the above photograph when Brian Senior,on the right, arrived at the match.

Half way through the innings I had a chance to talk to Howard Cooper ex Yorkshire player. He is involved in the 40 club and had brought three players fron Killinghall club who play in the Nidderdale League.We watched a left arm chinaman bowler bowl against the Schools.This is a very rare event for this type of bowler to be seen in a competitive match. Howard said the last time he saw this type of bowler was Gary Sobers at Trent Bridge when Yorkshire were playing Nottingham.

The Schools scored 191 in the 40 overs with a number of batsmen declaring their innings. After tea Geoff Barker opened the innings and I was entertained for forty-five minutes before I went home. Geoff had scored about 12 in that time.Brian Senior stayed behind to watch him and promised me he would let me know how many runs Geoff scored.

HOW MANY IN A CRICKET TEAM ?

By Brian Sanderson,

Some of my favorite grounds are in Leicestershire so there was a match at Ashby de  la  Zouch.The match was day one of the Leicestershire Seconds against Derbyshire Seconds. The club ground is called Ashby Hastings and is very near the centre of the town.As I had visited the ground before about four years ago the  small enterence to ground was found first time. However if you had a sat-nav it sent you to the Bowls Club on the far side of the ground were you were met my a angry man telling you that there was no parking for cricket spectators.

As I entered the clubhouse after a two hour drive the chef had a list of people who were having lunch.He said that 36 places had been asked for and wandered if this would be enough.One of the questions he asked was how many players are there in a cricket team ?His accent seem to make him a English person so I wandered  where his education took place.

There had been overnight rain which had got under the covers which caused the match to be delayed half an hour.Derbyshire won the toss and batted  but struggled to 59 for 3 just after lunch.One of the delights of watching Second Team cricket is trying to find  a potential first team player.Derbyshire seem to have one in wicket-keeper batsman Richard Johnson. Last season he was released from Warwick as he was not going to get into the first team. To-day he dominated the bowling to score a excellent 87.

Another Derbyshire player who did well was Christopher Durham who made a unbeaten 70 in a score of 309.The Leicester star bowler was ginger haired James Sykes who is 21 years old. He bowls slow left arm and took 7 for 80 in 31.2 overs.

The weather was cloudy but warmer which was a cotrast to Weetwood.The ground covers a  large area with trees surrounding the ground.As the photograph shows the church can be seen from the ground. The only thing missing is the sight of cows which shows it is a proper rural ground. See previous blogs.