Changing times

posted by John Winn

Non cricketing business took me to Darlington yesterday morning but that behind me I went down to Feethams, home of Darlington CC, in plenty of time for a delayed start in their NYSD Premier League match with Stokesley. Spice was added to the fixture by the presence in the visitors' side of former Quakers' professional, Doug Mulholland.

The delay had been caused by a heavy shower and when play got underway Darlington were invited to bat and Mulholland struck twice in the opening overs to leave DCC at 25 for 2. In the Stokesley side were two members of the Weighell family, brothers to James who is making his way in the first class game with Durham. Talking to one of the Stokesley players I was assured that the name was pronounced Wheel, not Whale, see my previous blog. Darlington were indebted to their tail for supporting Pakistani professional Muhammad Saad who made 72 and a final total of 186 for 9 was reached off the 48 allocated overs. The NYSD website this morning shows this was too many for Stokesley who were dismissed for 118 with Connor Whickham taking 5 for 22. Perhaps the best bit of news I can bring to pcws from this match is that Sue Mulholland was ic teas and will be in charge when Durham II play there later in the season. Grown and overgrown men give thanks. Somebody please tell Brian Senior.

From Feethams I made the cross town journey to the Brinkburn Road home of Darlington RA, a club who despite being members of the NYSD since 1914 and with three league titles to their name, have fallen on hard times in recent years and now only run one Saturday side. To fill the vacant Saturdays a new club, West Park RA, has stepped in and it was their Darlington and District League Div C match with Aldborough St John II that had tempted me to the ground yesterday. West Park were formed during the winter and yet are carrying all before them this season. Such was the case yesterday for they were batting and making good progress against the village side, progress which led them to 214 for 5 to which Aldborough could only muster 43 in reply. The West Park players I spoke to seemed a little suspicious of my enquiries as to their origins, but I did learn that they have recruited a number of players from another fairly new outfit, Stockton based Oxbridge CC. My enthusiasm for their initiative is slightly tempered by the thought that the pool of players available is finite and that their loss might be someone else's gain. Shouldn't be too churlish however for it would be a shame if a ground with NYSD amenities stood empty on alternate Saturdays and WPRACC stand top of the league this morning.

                                                            Brinkburn Road ground

Out of town to the village of Hurworth for my next game and to a ground on which I watched my father play in the early fifties and where I last played in 1972. Rockcliffe Park are another ambitious club and have this season been accepted into the NYSD leaving their thirds to carry the banner, and at times the can, in Div A of the Darlington and District. As part of their elevation Rockcliffe have a three year plan to improve facilities, one aspect of which is the erection of a new scoreboard (see above).
Cockerton I were the visitors yesterday and after the loss of a wicket in the first over recovered to total off 184 for 3 off 25; the match had been rain affected but I was surprised by its start being as late as 3:30. The ground here has changed little, although more traffic passes through the park on its way to the adjacent five star hotel than in the past and I enjoyed half an hour in pleasant sunshine while CCC set about the bowling. Although only losing three wickets the hosts fell 74 short.

 From Hurworth it is but a ten minute drive to the village of Barton near Scotch Corner and the Church Lane home of another club who had expressed ambitions towards entering the NYSD but withdrew their application. This was another ground I had not seen since last playing there in 1972 and had been told I would find it improved beyond all recognition, and how right my informant was. A new pavilion has been built, and grand it is too, and the square turned through ninety degrees. I was convinced that the playing area was larger but was assured by fine leg that it was not. A lovely surprise was to meet up with two people who remembered me from my playing days and we whiled away half an hour recalling our younger days. The match in progress was another Darlington and District Div A, something of a local derby too for visitors East Cowton had not travelled far. They were batting and had 195 for 4 on the board by tea but Barton knocked these off with six down and two overs to spare, a result which puts Barton on top level on points with leaders Haughton. Cockerton are third, a good start after promotion from Div B.

Life begins at sixty

Posted by Tony Hutton

On Tuesday last Yorkshire's all conquering over sixties team took on Lancashire in the battle of the Roses at New Rover cricket ground in Leeds. Having already beaten Durham and Lincolnshire with scores of over 200 in both games, the home side were in confident mood. However so were their doughty opponents having beaten Cheshire by just seven runs in a very high scoring affair recently. Lancashire making 323-3 in 45 overs and Cheshire almost getting there with 316-9.

In that game Glen Bullock had made an amazing score of 183, supported by former Barrow Rugby League veteran Steve Tickle who made 54. However nothing on that scale today when Lancashire came across Yorkshire's veteran bowler Mick Scott who destroyed the top order with figures of 4-10. Lancashire rallied somewhat thanks to top scorer Bartholemew with 31, but could only total 115 all out in 43 overs.

Over sixties in action at New Rover

Yorkshire took their time to knock off the runs with opener Flintoff, already a century maker this season, finishing on 60 not out. So a comfortable victory by eight wickets in the thirty fifth over must put Yorkshire top of the group and hopes are high for the rest of the season. Good to see so many veterans of the league cricket scene still in action.

Flag flies over New Rover pavilion.

EVENING IN THE DALES

By Brian Sanderson,

While Tony and John have been watching First -Class cricket ,I have been watching cricket tonight at a lower level. This was the Dales Evening League which consist of six teams. These are Kettlewell, Burnsall, Threshfield, Cracoe , Linton and Grassington.

The first match we went to was Kettlewell, view of the ground above. What could be more rural that this photograph and is a contrast to some of the inner city grounds of West Yorkshire. The home side were playing Burnsall in a twenty over match which should have started at 6.30 but it was more 6.45.

Before the match started the fence had to be removed and the sheep moved to the top of the field.

The wickets and scoreboard are kept in a locked container in the field. After walking round the field , I updated the scoreboard.

The players park their cars and vans in the field. Kettlewell batted first and reached 120 for 8 by the end of the first innings.

We moved on to the second match at Grassington were Threshfield were playing Cracoe. Cracoe had scored 156 in their innings.

Threshfield tried hard to beat the score with the help of a short boundary. However they finished about twenty runs short.

I would recommend a trip to these grounds if you wish to see cricket enjoyed in beautiful surroundings. and players clapping the players into the wicket.

The Barry and Badger Show

posted by John Winn

I have spent the last two days at The Riverside but with Tony having given an account of Sunday's and yesterday's play I will concentrate on today's proceedings, another day of pleasant temperatures and from my native county's point of view an excellent day's cricket. Weighell*, Carse and McCarthy are not yet household names but together with the evergreen Onions they have made up Durham's pace attack for this match. They appear to have jumped a queue for a vacancy caused by that rarest of events, an injury to Rushworth, a queue  in which Arshad, Harrison and Coughlin might have appeared to be nearer the front. Weighell impressed yesterday but today it was Dublin born Barry McCarthy who came to the fore with five of the last six Lancashire wickets to fall, the other a run out. Five wickets which came in a rush either side of lunch to leave Lancashire 85 short of Durham's first innings' total.

I spent today in the company of our Shildon Correspondent who had kindly picked me up from Durham station where despite horses on the line at Retford my train was only slightly delayed, and Neil Duckworth, nephew of Lancashire and England keeper, George. In the luncheon interval I popped into the second hand bookshop in the media centre where due to a misfiling Harry Pearson's Slipless in Settle was filed next to Call the Midwife. I looked in vain for a copy of Bill Bowes' autobiography Express Deliveries.

Stoneman and Jennings, both of whom have had runs on the board this season, set about Lancashire's attack with a vigour which set the tone for the afternoon as Durham finished the day on 239 off 60 overs, a lead of 324, Before the close 'Badger' Borthwick became only the third Durham batsman to score two centuries in a championship match, Paul Collingwood in 2005 and Keaton Jennings last month being the other two. Thus for the third time this season Durham find themselves in a winning position but as on the other occasions, one likely to be forestalled by rain. The forecast for tomorrow is not a complete washout but it looks as though there will be enough interruptions in play to secure Lancashire a draw.

In the other seven matches going on, and The Guardian could not spare a reporter to cover any of them, the most intriguing situations are at Trent Bridge where Notts have made a calamitous start to chasing 227 against The Bears, and at Bristol where Glos will hope their last two wickets can add a few more to their lead of 234 over Glamorgan. The rest look like draws, which are the flavour of the month possibly as the result of the change in regulations relating to the toss. I have yet to speak to anybody that does not see a link between this change and the frequency of high scores in championship matches. The weather forecast would not appear to rule out all eight matches ending in draws.

*The announcer at The Riverside pronounces this Whale, my preference is Wheel.

Durham slips in waiting

Two days in the sun at Chester le Street

Posted by Tony Hutton

Sunday and Monday were spent at the Riverside in Chester le Street watching Durham take on Lancashire in a county championship game. Despite the threat of cool, cloudy weather both days turned out fine, particularly after lunch and two days in the sun proved a real treat. Michael Atherton yesterday wrote an article in the Times concerning Durham county cricket's parlous financial situation and one can only hope that someone can come up with a total package to rescue things for the future. 

Blue skies over Riverside

Good to catch up with our Hartlepool correspondent and Darlo Eddie, for the first time this season, to add to the general ambiance of the occasion.
As for the cricket, Durham did not make the best of starts on Sunday. Stoneman was quick out of the blocks with a fairly rapid 31 but both he and fellow opener Jennings fell to the tall opening bowler Bailey to leave Durham 46-2. Steve Borthwick and Jack Burnham put together an important partnership with Borthwick, now mainly a batsman rather than a leg spinning all rounder, the dominant partner. Burnham struggled a little against the varied all pace attack but stuck at it until he was caught at slip by Livingstone, again off Bailey, for 40.

Richardson did not stay long also caught at slip by Livingstone this time off Jarvis for 1.  Enter Paul Collingwood, so often the saviour for Durham. He did not disappoint sharing a partnership of 123 with Borthwick to turn the game back Durham's way.
Borthwick completed a fine century and went on to make 134 before being caught by Peterson when spinner Kerrigan belatedly joined the attack. Collingwood dug in to remain 85 not out at the close.

Borthwick brings up his century

On Monday morning the main interest surrounded Collingwood's quest for a century.
However it did not seem to concern him and he made no attempts to farm the strike even when the tailenders appeared. Bailey removed Pringle and Weighell and Jarvis had Carse caught at slip before Collingwood, seemingly taking his time on 97, hit a comfortable catch to Brown to the disappointment of both home and away supporters.

That made it 375-9 but to genuine surprise the last pair of McCarthy and Onions cruised past the 400 mark with McCarthy making 37 and Onions 14 not out to finish on 411 all out - a score which should see Durham safe from defeat. Bailey had the best bowling figures with 5-110, but the Lancashire attack, without Anderson of course, does not seem good enough to challenge for the championship. Wagner the New Zealander was particularly ineffective.

When Lancashire batted Brown and Procter soon fell to the bowling of Weighell, the man from Stokesley, and were 21-2. Youngster Hameed and South African Petersen righted the ship in rather obdurate fashion initially, but both went on to well earned fifties before Petersen was lbw to Onions soon after tea and some time later Hameed was bowled by Borthwick. So 205-4 at the end of a good day's cricket, in good weather and with a gathering of former business colleagues to keep me amused throughout with memories of both Lancashire cricket and Manchester City of long ago.

Hard work for Yorkshire Academy

Posted by Tony Hutton

Saturday at Weetwood saw yet another new opponent for the Yorkshire Academy when they entertained Acomb cricket club formerly of the York and District Senior League. The visitors batted first and started confidently despite loosing an early wicket to Jared Warner. Captain Andrew Tute and Brandon Weal, from New Zealand, put on a good partnership and took the score to 97-1 before Weal was bowled by James Logan for 52.

When off spinner Jack Shutt also dismissed Tute for 40 the rot set in and Acomb proved unable to cope with the accurate slow left armer Logan who yet again stole the show as wickets fell with regularity and Acomb were bowled out for 146 in the forty third over. Logan's figures were 14.2-3-44-6, with four batsman clean bowled and last man Tom Neal well stumped by keeper Jonathan Read. Warner returned near the end and claimed his second wicket for only four runs and Shutt also bowled a tidy spell taking 2-39.

So a good performance in the field by the Academy and they too started well with the bat after the early loss of Ainsley. James Brown, the left hander, played the sheet anchor role well and captain Matthew Waite, after a recent poor spell with the bat, found his form once more. Waite pushed the score along and went to 50 off just 50 balls with four fours and three huge sixes before holing out to square leg with a poor shot.

Matthew Waite returns to the pavilion

Brown was out soon afterwards for a hard working 40 and the Academy then began to struggle for runs with the total on 115-3. They made very hard work of getting the remaining 32 runs, loosing two more wickets in the process against some good spin bowling by Mark Bell and Joe Dale. However Mosun Hussain stuck around and eventually won the game with over 12 overs to spare by scoring a valuable 31 not out.

The Academy finding runs hard to get at Weetwood

So a win for the Academy but they will have to play better than this against top class opposition.

This in fact they did the following day in the Yorkshire League North T20 qualifier at York CC. In their first match against Scarborough young batting hope Harry Brook, from Sedbergh School, made 106 off only 61 balls and helped by Mosun Hussain with 50, took Yorkshire to 180-5. They then restricted Scarborough to 63-7.
In the final match against the powerful York side the restricted the home team to 130-6 and knocked them off in only 13.3 overs. Brook 36, Ainsley 40 not out and Waite 48 scoring the runs.

The Academy will now play at Scarborough on T20 finals day on Sunday June 12th.

FOUR MATCHES IN LEICESTERSHIRE

By Brian Sanderson,

On Saturday myself and Bob Procter set off to Knights Auction in Leicestershire  and on the way we went to see four matches in the Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket League.This is a new league formed in 2014 from clubs in the Leicestershhire County Cricket League, Senior League and Cricket League. It consists of a Premier Division, Divisions 1 to 3 . Then Divisions 4 to 9 in sections East, Central And West. so there are 18 Divisions.

The first club we visited was Sileby which was established in 1895. The match was the home side second team against Kibworth Seconds. The club   with the aid of grants from the ECB built a new club recently and it look very modern with the church spire behind.  The  home side were batting  and they are in Division 1 of the league. The ground was very wet and it seems the field was flooded recently.

The club purchased a field next to the main square and the thirds were playing Maher Stars in Division 4 central. The facilities are very basic and the roller looks like it has not moved for a few years.

Moving on a few miles we found the Quorn ground who were playing Leicester Banks  in also the Division 4 Central League. Whilst walking round the ground I spoke to a ex-umpire who had stood with Dickie Bird.
Also he was coming up to Headingley on Thursday to see the Test Match. The home side was batting and scored 125 for 8 and I found out tonight the opposition scored 110  for 9.

The last ground visited was Barkby who play in the Premier League and were playing Leicester Ivanhoe.
This ground is very unusual as there are four oak trees in the playing area . As you can see from the photograph the boundary rope goes round the trees.. The away side scored 204 for 8  whilst the home team scored 207 for 8. A very picturesque ground which is worth a visit from the P.C.W. in the area.