“It’s a long walk for a duck!” The words of Luddendenfoot opener Harry Denham after his first over dismissal at Upper Hopton Cricket Club’s Sutcliffe Memorial Ground. Playing in a Halifax League Parish Cup second-round tie, Denham had almost scaled the summit of a taxing, 45-step climb from pitch to clubhouse at what must be […]
Miles Per Gallon
Northallerton & District Evening League: Thornton-le-Moor on the up
It is always good to visit a cricket club then learn about encouraging developments. Very much the case when a Thursday found me at Thornton-le-Moor Cricket Club, to watch a game against Ingleby Cross in the tiny Northallerton & District Evening League. With just seven members (the others being East Harlsey, Hutton Rudby, Northallerton, Northallerton […]
Ken Welsh Cup: Friday night T20 from Yarm
The North Yorkshire & South Durham Premier League appears to have more cup competitions than you can shake a stick at. Spectators are spoilt for choice! Always keen to try something new, in this case the Ken Welsh Cup, I had a drive up the A19 to Teesside, an old stomping ground of mine, for […]
Wildflower meadows and special branches at Hundhill Hall
A season or two ago, whilst exchanging emails with a very helpful Pontefract & District League secretary, I asked if he could recommend any particularly attractive and/or interesting cricket grounds in his competition. Hundhill Hall Cricket Club’s ground, off Sandygate Lane, in the farming village of East Hardwick, three miles south of central Pontefract, made […]
Ryedale Beckett League: Lost balls and stained whites at Harome
In common with every other cricket enthusiast, I found April a frustrating month, as rain, rain then a bit more rain dashed my spectating plans. So, the early May arrival of long overdue sunshine and warmth saw me scrambling to find a midweek fixture belatedly to get my 2024 season up and running. Keen as […]
Baptism of fire for Shiregreen on return to top flight
Hard up against the southwest corner of Shiregreen Cricket Club’s compact ground are unmissable signs, mounted high on a wall, advertising an adjacent fireworks shop. Unfortunately, at least for Shiregreen, the only sparklers on display, when I made my first visit to the 2024 Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League top-flight newcomers, were the players of […]
Cricket in October: Remembering Arthington Festival at East Keswick
Editor’s Note: I was looking forward to heading to the Arthington Cricket Festival in 2023, having not been for a few years. Pre-Covid, it was once a ritual of mine as the Festival extends until October. Hard to find cricket outdoors many places at that time of year… Unfortunately, it’s been curtailed as the waterlogged […]
NYSD Hundred: Fireworks and spin wins it for Normanby Hall
Dodging this summer’s disappointing, triple-pronged cloud, wind and rain assault, I’ve been squeezing in cricket fixes wherever and whenever I can. Often, it has been a case of finding a game – any day of the week – with sun forecast. Recently, time and again, that has meant heading north from our York HQ. Starting […]
Sea air and sixes as Driffield Town clinch T20 Blast Crown
Cricket has many unsung heroes, without whom games couldn’t happen. Groundstaff – pitch makers, they like to be called now – are right up there. I made a long overdue first visit to Scarborough Cricket Club’s North Marine Road, to watch the Yorkshire Premier Cricket League North’s T20 Finals Day. The previous two days were […]
Saltburn ride the wave at the top of the NYSD Premier Division
Maybe – just maybe – the players, officials and supporters of Saltburn Cricket Club are beginning to wonder if an eighth North Yorkshire & South Durham Premier Cricket League championship triumph is coming their way. Two home wins, at the expense of Great Ayton then Stockton, across the June 10-11 weekend, saw unbeaten Saltburn establish […]