Beckwithshaw win promotion to the Aire-Wharfe Premier Division

Looking back to September 2022, Beckwithshaw faced probably their fiercest local rivals, knowing that they had to win to retain their top-flight status. Ultimately, the visitors to The Stag Den, Bilton, dominated the game, relegating Beckwithshaw’s first team to Division Two.

I was sitting on the boundary rope that day, covering what had been another poor performance that season, and realising from early on, that Shaw were in a lot of trouble.

Last season, Beckwithshaw put in some great performances, ending the year fourth in the league, but still around 100 points shy of the top two promotion spots.

For 2024, the league made some changes, with Division Two becoming First XI Division One…and Division One becoming First XI Premier Division.

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The names may have changed, but the objective for Beckwithshaw remained the same – improve on last season.

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Shaw went about winning more than the 11 games of last year, chasing an in-form Addingham who have been outstanding throughout the summer.

Ilkley had been relegated the same year as Beckwithshaw, finishing bottom of the league. In 2023, they had finished in third just one place above Beckwithshaw, and agonisingly only a few points behind Steeton who were promoted.

Promotion rivals Ilkley

This summer, Ilkley have been pressing hard again, pushing Beckwithshaw for that second promotion spot.

Addingham had already secured promotion back to the Premier Division a few weeks ago, with Beckwithshaw and Ilkley still fighting it out for the second-place finish that would see them promoted.

Assuming Ilkley would pick up a win on Saturday, anything less than 20 points for Beckwithshaw, meant the fight for promotion would go to the final day of the season. Shaw held a 24-point advantage, needing 16 or more to make certain of that second spot.

When Saturday comes

I got to the ground early, enjoying the warm overcast day, taking a wander around the boundary to see how the recent spell of dry weather had helped the playing surface recover from what has been an awful year of rain and flooding.

The club have put in place enough funding to install better drainage over the coming months, and evidence of the damage from last year’s seemingly endless rain is everywhere.

It will be interesting to keep an eye on the progress made over the next six months, and the difference it will make in the summer of 2025.

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Saturday’s fixture against fourth-placed Follifoot featured a simple equation – earn 20 points and win promotion. Anything less and fingernails would still be being bitten next week.

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To be fair, as the home team players turned up, they all seemed in good spirits and looking forward to the day. So, scene set, the weather was okay and the ground probably the best it has been all season…it was game on!

Beckwithshaw breakthrough

Follifoot won the toss and elected to bat, looking solid at the crease. Over the last couple of seasons, I’ve been impressed by both Follifoot’s first and second teams, always seeming to be competitive, and putting in good performances when I’ve covered them.

It took to the sixth over for Beckwithshaw to make a breakthrough, as one of the home team’s best new regulars, George Stephens bowled James Orton who had reached five from 20 deliveries. The visitors had scored 18 runs, setting a run rate of around three per over that would remain doggedly the same throughout their innings.

The next wicket fell in the 11th over having scored 42 runs, followed by another in the 14th over. Six overs later and the fourth wicket went, but Shaw had to wait another ten overs to capture the fifth.

If the home team were to take all 20 points, then they would need the extra points on offer for bowling Follifoot out.

It seemed like pressure was mounting on Beckwithshaw as the number of overs remaining dropped into single figures and the tail-end of the Follifoot batting unit were defending doggedly, taking the odd run here and there.

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In all this batsman three, Nick Robinson, had been proving the major thorn in Shaw’s side…slowly adding runs and by the time he was bowled by Chris Wademan, had reached an impressive 79 from 100 deliveries.

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It felt like a huge wicket, and being honest, it probably was a turning point in the game. Any thoughts of a score over 200 disappeared, potentially swinging the fixture in the home team’s favour. 

With three wickets remaining in the 40th over, Shaw dislodged Pete Hardisty’s bails and Follifoot were 168 for eight. Runs flowed in the next two overs before Beckwithshaw got the ninth wicket, and relief two overs later as Pete Hotchkiss caught Harry Chew and the visitors were all out for 184.

Duncan Mcleod picked up three wickets for 39 runs, and Shaw stalwart Stuart Hudson impressed with a haul of three wickets for 45 runs from his 13 overs.

On this pitch, the score although on the lower side, was one that can be defended. Beckwithshaw would have to be patient and take their opportunities to score without needless risk.

Shaw’s response got off to a bad start. Within the first ten overs they had lost two wickets and had scored only 32 runs. Any thoughts of early celebrations were put aside as nerves started to tingle.

Olly and Pete Hotchkiss formed a partnership in the centre and over the course of the next ten overs scored reasonably well, pushing the home team up to just under 80 runs and nearly halfway to the total they needed to win the game.

Then another stumble as Olly mistimed his swing and was caught by Tom Stewart off the bowling of Pete Hardisty. 79 for three in the 20th over and the home team’s nerves were sent jangling once more.

Ben Holderness came to the crease and seemed to settle quickly; however, runs weren’t flowing from the bat and Beckwithshaw’s score was rising at a slower than expected pace.

As the home team seemed to be on a trajectory to overhaul the total set, Ben failed to pick up the line of a ball and his stumps went tumbling. It was 118 for four and Shaw still needed around 70 runs to win.

Follifoot celebrated knowing that they could potentially win this game, their bowlers stifling the Beckwithshaw batting, restricting them to picking up singles with some accurate and pacy deliveries.

Miles Buller replaced Ben in the centre but departed three overs later having only scored a few runs. Sam Moore then came to partner Pete Hotchkiss, clearly in the mood to swing the bat…but excellent bowling was to get him a couple of overs later as he was caught by Rob Best.

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At 141 for six, Shaw were tantalisingly close to the win, but at the same far enough away from their target to worry about being bowled out just shy. 

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Oliver Hebblethwaite joined Pete at the crease and was also in the mood to try and hit big. As the light faded behind the dark clouds, the new batsman hit a boundary from his second delivery and some of the pressure that had descended over the ground seemed to lift.

Pete Hotchkiss was looking strong at the other end, picking off runs that would ultimately see him reach his half century, however, it was Hebblethwaite that was to prove the catalyst as he hit two boundaries and ran two in the next over, to move Shaw to within touching distance of the win.

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Oliver hit the winning boundary in the 47th over and the team celebrated a hard-fought win that saw them collect all 20 points and more importantly crowning a fantastic season by winning promotion to the Premier Division.

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Connor Carson had really impressed with the ball for Follifoot, taking five wickets for 60 runs – however, all the bowlers had bowled excellently throughout, causing more than a few problems for the Beckwithshaw batters.

The future present

Building for their 2025 summer campaign will start immediately, with Beckwithshaw’s ground improvements providing the foundations, and a crop of excellent players throughout the first and second teams delivering the competition needed to get results.

Next summer is going to be a pivotal one for the Stag Den teams, with the first XI’s main goal being to retain their newly found Premier League status, but for now, congratulations to Captain Chris Wademan and his team, it’s been a pleasure covering this campaign!

MATCH PHOTOS

Want to read more?

Thanks to Mark for capturing the highlights of Beckwithshaw CC 1st XI v Follifoot CC 1st XI in the Airedale and Wharfedale Senior Cricket League First XI Division One.

Here are all of Mark’s articles and photos on Cricket Yorkshire.

To see more of his photography, you can visit caughtlight.com or he’s @caughtlight on Twitter/X.

There’s also the Caught Light Photography Facebook page.

I also highly recommend his blog called Leica Moments that includes days out at grounds around North Yorkshire.