Darley beat the rain and claim the points over Birstwith

The weekend’s weather forecast was poor, with Saturday’s oulook slightly better than Sunday. In the end, Sunday was a complete washout with persistent rain falling most of the daylight hours.

Looking out of the window on Saturday morning, it was murky and damp. Autumn had arrived in force, with a healthy mist blanketing a lot of Nidderdale. Scouring the weather apps on my phone, I tried to work out the chances of games going ahead and more importantly…where they could take place.

Something to play for

Looking at Play Cricket, I had already earmarked four games as potentials, but given the threat of continued rain, a couple of fixtures further afield were discounted.

I ended up choosing the game between Darley and Birstwith seconds in the Theakston Nidderdale Division Five – a game that still mattered for at least one of the teams.

Putting my camera bag together, I wanted to get a shot of the ground from the air, so packed my drone. However, I knew the ground was within a stone’s throw of RAF Menwith Hill and certainly not a place to fly without permission.

Trying to call base security proved problematic, so I decided to pop in on my way to the cricket club.

Pulling through the gates of the base and parking in the visitor car park, I must admit to a fair amount of trepidation. I wandered into the guardhouse and introduced myself and told them why I was there.

Details left and a phone call later, I received permission to pop the drone up and I left reasonably relieved at how quick and painless getting the go-ahead was.

Driving to the ground was a breeze, and since I was so early, I got the pick of the parking spots – as far away from the boundary as I could get, this being another of those small grounds that regularly sees fours and sixes landing amongst vehicles.

I met Karl Barnes, Darley’s captain, who was in the process of opening up the pavilion, and we chatted for a while about the club and the plans to redevelop the facilities to provide better changing rooms and showers, with a view to delivering improvements for teams in the future.

It was great to listen to another club wanting to attract new players, encouraging a thriving youth set-up to provide a pathway for young players to progress through the same club in a number of age-related teams.

Conversation had; I went for my customary trip around the ground to take a few photos. As I popped out of the bottom gate, I carefully stepped onto the road that runs down one side of the ground and took a shot of the gate and club sign.

Noticing a car heading up the hill, I stepped back in through the gate and closed it behind me. It raced past and headed up the steep hill towards the bend in the distance, and then I heard it tap its horn a couple of times as it passed another car coming in the other direction.

Was he warning the other driver that there was someone hiding at the side of the road with a speed camera?

Misty and murky

By now, the murky conditions had closed in around the ground, a curtain of grey was drawn around Darley and the views across the valley to the woods sitting on the hills were obscured.

A rather gentle breeze swept up the hill bringing with it a fine mist of rain, and as the opening batsmen for Darley strode to the centre, I was dressing the camera in its waterproof cover. 

A latecomer arrived at the game, reversing his car into a spot near the boundary. Unfortunately, they didn’t spot the buttress for the drystone wall, and I could hear the uncomfortable sound of plastic and glass taking on Yorkshire stone.

Getting out of the car, the driver inspected the damage – which thankfully didn’t appear to be too bad.

Darley batted well in the misty rain, with poor light probably being the more problematic thing they had to deal with. The orange scoreboard numbers positively shone in the gloom, and I wondered how difficult it was for the batsmen and fielders to see the fast-moving red ball.

The initial run rate was fairly pedestrian, despite the compact boundaries and the respectable slope down towards the village.

Runs were coming, but fours and sixes were rather spaced out, which is surprising considering that I’ve seen some huge scores at this ground in the past, with balls sent into the car park, down into the fields, and of course onto the road.

Taking shelter

A break for a slightly heavier downpour meant that I took shelter under the line of trees by the road while watching the groundsheet being installed over the pitch.

There was plenty of time for a couple of chats with players and spectators who were walking frustratedly around the ground waiting for the rain to disappear, and there was even a kind offer of a mug of tea to help warm the hands.

As the hills opposite came back into view, the covers were dragged under the trees and play resumed, this time with a real sense of urgency. Connor Blacker-Meek seemed in the mood to make the opposition fielders run about, hitting three fours and a baker’s dozen of sixes.

99 and out

Reaching 99 with a six…Connor went for another huge heft to send the ball back into the fields opposite, mistimed it and turned to see his wickets spread. There’s always a sense of frustration getting out one short of a century – but in reality, it had been a thrilling innings with some great shots played.

By the time of the next downpour, Darley had reached 220 and as the players trudged off, the covers put on, they decided to declare and wait out the rain. Finn Littlewood (three wickets for 58 runs) and Ben Eckard (four wickets for 63 runs) had impressed with their bowling for Birstwith.

The Ten of Birstwith

The visitors had travelled with only ten – apparently, they had a number of last-minute drop-outs with work commitments, illness, the first team needing players and the usual issues that bedevil clubs at this late stage of a season.

It was going to be a tough total to chase against a promotion-seeking home team, not helped by being one player short.

Cricket in September can be one of two things – easy if we are having a late summer…or tough if winter is nudging autumn to one side. Like this time last year, conditions weren’t conducive to playing and I foresee another very wet six months ahead.

Sawdust liberally scattered around the crease and bowler’s run-up, the misty rain was coming and going, however, the breeze was more persistent, and the drab grey light was getting worse by the minute.

Birstwith scored well initially, looking like they could make inroads into the total. As they reached around 50 runs, it appeared they could possibly threaten to reach the 220 set…but then wickets started to fall.

The visitors struggled through 60 and on to 70, the run rate plummeting and the number of outs started to pile up.

A real highlight was Birstwith opener Ben Eckard who doggedly remained at the crease until he was caught having just reached his half-century.

At that point, with a number of younger players waiting to bat, the game appeared to be lost. Dan Harrison and Daniel Glover got into double figures, but it was only a matter of time before the final wicket was taken and Darley had won the game by 105 runs.

Liam Blacker-Meek (three wickets for 27 runs) and Matt Sands (three wickets for 21 runs) were outstanding with the ball for the home team.

Darley ended the day in third place in Division Five, just a point behind Spennithorne & Harmby in second, who in turn are 35 points behind league leaders Upper Wharfedale. Interestingly, the top two face each other next week, and Darley take on Ouseburn who are already relegated.

Next Saturday is going to be pivotal in the race for the top two spots in Division Five. 

With two weekends remaining, there is still a lot to play for in the various leagues around Yorkshire; however, if the past week is anything to go by, I am not sure the weather is going to cooperate.

I think this is going to be a wet and unsettled September – with games being called off and certain issues determined by…well…unsatisfactory means.

I enjoyed my day at Darley Cricket Club – to be honest I always do, as it has a stunning vista to look out on from the pavilion and the games are always entertaining due to the compact size and topography of the ground.

I will keep an eye out for the results of the next couple of games to see if Darley’s second eleven can win promotion to Division Four, and I look forward to my next visit to see how the ground improvements have been realised.

MATCH PHOTOS

Want to read more?

Thanks to Mark for capturing the highlights of Darley CC 2XI v Birstwith CC 2XI in the Theakston Nidderdale Division Five.

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.