Whither Wetherby

posted by John Winn

Special men deserve special days and as Brian has described so well the weather and the cricket combined yesterday to the extent that Mick's Memorial will live long in the memories of those who were there. I would have liked to post a photograph of the splendid bench Catherine has purchased in Mick's memory but never found a time when one or more pcws were not trying it for size.

It was a rather uninspiring morning in the Lower Ure Valley but my brother telephoned from North Derbyshire to say the sun was shining and as I crossed the River Wharfe on my way to Arthington the skies were brighter and as I stepped from the car the air felt warmer. Minutes later the sun came out and stayed with us for most of the afternoon and equally important the stars came out too in the form of two men who just two days earlier had been playing for Northants in the county championship. After what has been a difficult season for them how gratifying that they were prepared to give up a free Sunday to play in the match.

This photograph shows a group of pcws in the sunniest corner of the ground and good to have Tony Hutton back in our midst (third from the right)

On Tony's left is Brian Levinson compiler of 'All In A Day's Cricket, An anthology of outstanding cricket writing' and which contains on  pages 51 and 52 an extract from 'Off the beaten track', the diary of the 2006 season written by Mick Bourne, Tony and Brian Senior.

 

Away from Arthington, however all is not well in local league cricket for on Friday a friend passed to me a copy of this week's Knaresborough Post with an article describing a meeting of clubs in the Wetherby League held last week where league chairman Zai Ali dismissed concerns that an outflow of clubs constituted a crisis. Over the four seasons I have been posting on the blog I have made references to the net loss of clubs from the league including the transfer of Spofforth in 2010 to the Nidderdale League. The Post's article relates how Great Preston and Whixley will join new leagues in 2015 (Central Yorkshire and Nidderdale respectively) and adds that Old Mods and Wetherby are also expected to leave. Mr Ali describes the possible loss of four clubs as a 'blip', and the meeting discussed a number of changes to its organisation and rules which it is hoped will allay clubs fears that the departures constitute a crisis.

 

To lose two out of the top division's top four seems to an outsider more than a 'blip'.  Should four clubs leave, the league will have 31 members, 26 of which have an LS postcode. Time for a new name?

 

 



LAUREL AND HARDY HELP TO WIN THE MATCH

By Brian Sanderson,

Today was a special Sunday as it was the Mick Bourne memorial match between Arthington X1 and The Michael Bourne Stragglers.Just as we arrived to the ground  as ordered the sun came out. There was a big crowd with all the Professional Cricket Watchers of West Yorkshire turned out as a tribute to a great man.

The Stragglers X1 included James and Ralph Middlebrook and Mohammed Azharullah  who won the toss and batted. James Middlebrook ,ex Northants and Yorkshire, opened the batting with Terry Mc Grath who was Michael,s son -in-law. The two of them put on opening stand of 89 before James retired after scoring 50.

Two of the main Arthington Bowlers were Andy Stoddart and Geoff Barker who took four wickets between them. Comment from the media centre at Arthington was it was just like Laurel and Hardy bowling.

 The Stragglers were kept to 158 in the forty overs with James Middlebrook scoring 52.At tea time he two teams came out to allow a photograph call including the umpire and scorer.

When Arthington batted Geoff Barker was soon out but Brennan and Sprey soon took control of the match.Brennan, who usually plays for Horforth in the Airedale and Wharfedale League shown no repect for the bowling to score 83 and Sprey scored 31.. It was left to Andy Stoddart to score the winning runs off Ralph Middlebrook.

It was a pleasure to  sitting with good company  in a beautiful setting for a cricket ground. The  result did not matter but the match was a excellent tribute to Michael Bourne  who would have enjoyed the afternoon as we all did.

HEROES AND VILLAINS

 
By Brian Sanderson,

It has been a busy three days at Headingley which finished with a thrilling finish to the 2014 season.

Andrew from London has been up ,yesterday was Wombwell Cricket Society A.G.M. so tonight was the first chance to put some comments about the match. All through the four days in the Long Room at lunchtime different cricket Yorkshire personalities have been photographed with the First Division Champioship cup.

On the second day we were treated to 156 by Nick Compton after Yorkshire was bowled out for 253.He was finally bowled by Yorkshire best bowler Steven Patterson after a 232 ball stay which included 23 fours and a six.Youngster Thomas Benjamin Abell, who was born in Taunton,made hi third Championship half century of the season.Yorkshire used a total of seven bowlers including Lyth and Root.Somerset had a lead of 66 and looked favorites.

On the third day Yorkshire enjoyed a better day with Yorkshire finishing 36 runs behind.Somerset  who were dismissed for 437 with Rashid cleaning up the tail.Lyth celebrated his 27 th  birthday leading  Division One leading run scorer and took his tally to 1489 , at average of 67.38. Somerset bowlers failed to make a early break through. Alfonso Thomas went off injured and Jamie Overton dropped a sitter.

Fourth day started with drizzle and then Ballance and Root put on 57  for the third wicket,before Root and Bairstow teamed up to score 110 in 17.4 overs. Then Yorkshire lost their last six wickets for 52 to leave Somerset a realistic run chase of 182 in 44 overs. Peter Trego finished with career best bowling figures 7 for 84 .

Somerset were now favorites. Trescothick looked set to lead the visitors to victory with 44 before been caught and bowled by Rashid.Then the middle order had a dramatic collapse as three wickets fell in four balls , with Jack  Brooks taking 3 for 46.It was left to Thomas and Overton to see out the last six overs.

If all cricket matches finished like this match I am sure the crowds would come through the gates eventhough a lot of the spectators could not work out when tea should be taken. I can now destroy my Cricketers  fixturec list for 2014. The season seem to fly by and the car can take a rest over winter.

Away in Wales

Posted by John Winn

Back from two days in Cardiff and my seventh 'must see' match of the season, Glamorgan v Hants, and with Hampshire sealing promotion this afternoon pleased that I had made the effort for who knows when these two sides might meet again. For them to do so seems dependent on the south coast county slipping back into the second division, at least that is the view of the Glamorgan supporters I spoke with whilst at the SWALEC stadium. Such is their pessimism that Gloomorgan seems more appropriate than Glamorgan. Another undistinguished season has closed today with a heavy defeat and the feeling  that next year will be no better; a feeling probably shared with the members of Leicestershire and Gloucestershire and possibly other second division county members.. How do you break out of  a cycle of  losing promising players to wealthier counties and dwindling membership? Answers to Grace Road.

Despite Lancashire's efforts today it is still likely that the two teams promoted last season will be the two to go back down, The most surprising promotion in recent years, Derbyshire in 2012, lasted just one season and Worcestershire set some kind of record in 2013 by moving neither up nor down. Northants were widely tipped to struggle in Div 1 this season but even the most pessimistic Wantage Road regular could not have envisaged the series of heavy defeats they have suffered culminating in their abject performance at The Riverside last week. Their response has been to sweep the dressing room with a very large brush: one wonders if frying pans and fires have crossed Josh Cobb's mind this last week.

The Swalec  clock, which seemed to stop when Anderson and Panesar were batting out time against Australia in 2009.

Despite the mismatch between the teams the two days I saw produced some interesting cricket with a stand of over 200 between Vince and Ervine rescuing Hants from 53 for 5 on the first day but with Wallace batting as high as three Glamorgan's batting struggled and one suspects that the only thing that saved the home side from an innings defeat was Hampshire's decision not to enforce the follow on. With umpires called Lloyds and Lloyd the ecb had done its best to give the match a Welsh flavour but the crowd was very small and had no doubt how far up the glass the water reached. The loyal few will probably not regret that the season has ended a day early. 

HISTORIC DAY AT HEADINGLEY

 By Brian Sanderson,

  Today was the first day of the Championship match between Yorkshire and Somerset. After Yorkshire had won the league against Nottingham, this gave the Yorkshire faithful chance to see the trophy and to have your photograph taken with the Yorkshire captain and the cup.

Yorkshire won the toss and batted which surprised me at 10.30 on a green wicket. Lyth and Ballance were soon out  to Thomas ,one of the better South African players.Lees had a couple of chances but it was Root to go next to a loose shot against Overton. He seems to have shorten his run up but still produced some bounch and movement..Bairtow was soon out to Trego playing another loose shot.

During the afternoon it was left Jack Leaning to play a steady innings which he did. At tea Yorkshire were 206 for 8 and then I had a chance to talk to Gerald Smithson family about his cricketing career. They brought some private photographs and his tour with the M.C.C to West Indies in 1947-48. It was great to go back to the 1940,s.Gerald played 39 matches for Yorkshire from 1946-50. The above photograph is of Gerald on the left.

While we were talking , Yorkshire lost ten overs due to bad light and finished on 241 for 9 with Leaning not out 50. During the morning Alex Lees was given his county cap but it would have been nice to be able to take a photograph of the presentation.

Bad light has last say

posted by John Winn

Non-cricketing business took me to Darlington on Saturday, a dismal drizzly day when the prospects for cricket did not look good. Arriving at the Feethams ground after 2:00 I was pleased to see the captains of Darlington and Richmondshire tossing the coin followed by the announcement that a 35 over match would begin in twenty minutes.

A couple of weeks ago it looked as though as this match would decide the league title but a win for Darlington last week while their opponents could only draw meant that Saturday would be a celebration of their first NYSD championship since 1990. The trophy was ready for presentation by League President Chris West.

 Before the match began I had a word with club President, John Edwardson, a childhood friend of mine and who has 40 years continuous committee service at Feethams. We pronounced ourselves satisfied with the score at half way from Lord's and expressed cautious optimism about Durham's prospects of getting the runs.

On a wicket that offered encouragement to seam bowling but with the ball picking up moisture from the outfield Darlington lost early wickets to go 34 for 3 but a stand between Dobson and Mulholland turned things round and Dobson went on to make 60 before being bowled by Richmond pro Dissanayake, who next year will wear Hartlepool's colours. Tea was reached at 169 for 7.

 

 Led by skipper Gary Pratt, Richmond set off at a hectic pace but bad light forced the umpires to call a halt when they were 144 for 4 with 8 overs remaining and the cloud that had hung over the north east for much of the  week had the final say. The afternoon had turned cold, a reminder that we are half way between midsummer and the shortest day and that September cricket does not always enjoy the kind of temperatures we had at Trent Bridge ten days ago. As I left to catch my train I was advised to 'winter well', my first such wish of the season. Six months or so before anybody is likely to ask if I have been successful.

Some of cricket's headlines last week were concerned with Leicestershire for both good and bad. The exit of two more of their squad coupled with Northants' dismal show at The Riverside brough the structuralists out of the closet with suggestions that the number of counties be reduced, to as few as ten by one sage. While that tired old hare was limping round the course Leicestershire's second XI were completing a clean sweep of the three relevant competitions with victory on first innings over Essex II, in a game where the last day was washed out by rain.

And finally just a word about Durham. Those who know me may be surprised that I wasn't at Lord's on Saturday but I did get home from Darlington in time to see that most splendid of men, Gareth Breeze, hit the winning runs. An excellent excuse to bring out the Bombay Sapphire, if one were needed. Membership of Yorkshire and Durham? Money well spent. 

 

START OF THE ARTHINGTON FESTIVAL

By Brian Sanderson,

   Yesterday were the last league matches in the Leeds area but there is still some more cricket to be seen into October.The Arthington  ground is situated between Pool in Wharfedale and Harewood and they play in the Nidderdale League.

Today's opponent were Halifax Nomads who just play friendlies on a Sunday afternoon. I remember playing  this club in the late 1960s when I played for Yorkshire Bank at the Moortown ground.The match should have started at 1.00P.M but it was ten minutes late when Halifax came out to bat and unfortunatly Arthington were two men short.The crowd consisted of  ten people which was very disappointing.Denis Nash again opened the bowling even though he is in his seventies and just recovering from injuries.

His run up may be a bit shorter than last year but he was still economical with his spell of bowling. His figures being 8-2-14-2. The two Halifax batsmen R.Harland and J.Tetley put on a stand of 105 with Harland especially playing some nice shots. At the end of the forty overs they had scored 187.

Tea was taken in the shade of the trees however there was a cool breeze blowing which caused it to be cold.
The total seem to be too much for Arthington with only nine men. Andy Stoddart anf Geoff Barker tried hard to keep the home side in the match.By the twenty over they had scored 83 for 1.

Geoff Barker,above, has played in this festival for a number of years and I last saw him playing for Yorkshire Gentlemen at Escrick Park in April.Looking at the club's averages he played 17 matches and finishing with average of 56.11. Today he scored 57 before he was run out from a direct throw.

Arthington brought the total to 151 for 7 at the end of the overs  and Denis Nash was batting. Another two matches next weekend and let us hope the weather keeps fine to help support this fine club.