ENCO Halifax League T20 Finals: The good, bad and ugly

The drive to the Vocation Brewery T20 Finals Day took us up over the hills beyond Oxenhope, before those Calderdale hills open out. Historical landmarks like Winny Stone and Able Cross mark moments in the vastness of it all.

The twisting, steep descent into Hebden Bridge needs patience, good brakes and better fortune. We had just inched on before a bus filled the road and there was a stand-off in our rearview mirror (presumably the bus won).

The destination was Mytholmroyd Cricket Club who were hosts to both the T20 Plate Final (Greetland vs Oakworth) and Trophy Final (Upper Hopton vs Thornton).

An avid reader of Ben Myers’ evocative books including Under the Rock and The Gallows Pole, I knew something of Mytholmroyd (‘Mith’ not ‘Myth’), and having walked a bit of the area.

Whilst the birthplace of Poet Laureate Ted Hughes and home of the World Dock Pudding Championships, I was there for the cricket.

As I had an injured achilles, Mrs Cricket Yorkshire had offered to drive to save quite a bit of hobbling from the train station. We rocked up in steady rain and just as the players from the first final were heading inside to take shelter.

A chat with Glenn, coach, committee member and very hand-ons in the host club’s fortunes ensued. He was on microphone duties as venue announcer but with heavy rain lashing it down, we had time to catch up; occasionally pausing to unclog the bulging gazebo roof of water that collected in the folds of the fabric.

Mytholmroyd are in a good place, literally as a lush bowl under the watchful eye of Scout Rock, but also in terms of teams, facilities and plans. The MCG @Ewood Holmes has a range of junior teams (Royd Rebels) and two women’s sides (Royd Rebelles), plus their Saturday senior teams in the Halifax League.

While they have bounced back well from a burst pipe that required a significant repair to the clubhouse, alongside numerous floods, the club are always thinking about the next project.

They are pushing towards a #Nets4Royd £30,000 Crowdfunder target for a two-lane outdoor nets facility that would make a huge difference where they currently have a roll-on cage.

Given how dry this summer has been, the outfield and square was looking tropical, compared to some dustbowls I’ve witnessed. The river Calder is a meaty six away, square of the wicket, and we saw quite a few maximums crunched that way.

Having glugged a cuppa, I did my first lap and got ready to watch what should have been the tense final few overs of the first innings of the Plate competition.

Though they were scrutinised by spectators, credit to the hosts for having sopping up the pools of water and got the ground dry enough to the satisfaction of the umpires in what felt like only a half-hour or so.

Greetland, in their lime green kit, were bowling at Oakworth in blue and saw a barrage of sixes deposited into the river, to bellows from the delighted travelling fans.

Then, the moment that sparked everything else.

A delivery seemingly edged to the keeper, a clear noise but the umpire gave it not out. Having talked to some in the ensuing chaos that followed, opinion was divided and I thought it was a bump ball and the ‘nick’ was bat striking ground – but who can say definitely?

Greetland felt aggrieved, voiced their opinion and ultimately the umpires charged their captain Muhammad Asif, with a Level 1 offence, for an on-field breach of ECB regulations.

Getting out of hand

Soon after, the Oakworth batter saw his stumps splayed and things got out of hand. Words were exchanged between the fielders and departing batter; the latter turned round to fire off his own verbals and flicked the middle finger for good measure.

We’re not talking a few words in a moment; the whole episode probably lasted about ten seconds. It doesn’t sound long but it went on. That wasn’t the spectacle that anyone expected or wanted to see at a showpiece final.

I don’t know what was said between players but the umpires charged Greetland captain Asif with a Level 2 offence for this further row by his team. Five penalty runs were awarded to the batting side.

As witness to it all, albeit from afar along with hundreds of others, neither side covered themselves in glory but I am surprised that the umpires didn’t see the Oakworth batter’s long rant.

As a result, Greetland were outraged at being penalised again when their opponents were not. They left the field in protest and Anthony Briggs, Chair of the Halifax Cricket League, had to act as mediator in an attempt to defuse the situation.

There was a long (and frankly weird) period with spectators milling about while the Oakworth batters stayed out in the middle, keen to chase the 38 runs in four overs required to win it in the conventional manner.

It had finally stopped raining and there was no cricket with brooding, grey clouds reminding everyone that light might be a problem later and there was the other final to crack on with.

I am told that an offer by the umpires to rescind the five run penalty was rejected by Greetland because ultimately they felt that Oakworth were equally culpable.

I believe Greetland’s issue stems from perceived inconsistency of decisions (over a long period of time) and that bubbled over into what transpired on Sunday.

If anything, this argument shines a spotlight on umpires, and the ways in which situations in games can be handled. I will write more about this in future.

So, Greetland took the extraordinary decision to concede a final they were in a strong position to win. It has angered many and obviously put a dampener on the first act of the finals day.

I wish Greetland hadn’t conceded but then it was the firmest action they could possibly take. Not something done lightly, nor will they have wanted to. I also noticed that the Greetland lads did not hop in their cars and drive off. They stayed to watch the second final.

Some, at the ground and in the calm and considered waters that are social media, are already advocating Greetland are ejected from the league. Once everyone has taken a breath and reflected, I hope we (collectively) can do better than that and learn from it.

Umpires decide on the day

The attending Halifax League committee could not overrule on field umpires. Any disciplinary measures need to be dealt with afterwards in the proper way, as with other leagues.

That disciplinary process is an umpires report followed by a decision for Greetland on whether to accept or contest the umpires’ findings. Assuming it is appealed then a panel will convene to look at the case further. The decision will either be upheld, overturned or increased in severity.

Separately, as a League decision, it is expected that the Oakworth batter will be cited for his behaviour and could face a ban. His actions were observed by many and crossed a certain threshold, shall we say.

I’ve no doubt Oakworth wanted to win the title fair and square and it was in the balance until everything kicked off.

So… drama, tension, confusion and we haven’t even got to the firecracker of the Thornton vs Upper Hopton T20 Trophy Final.

👍 Craggies thumbs-up & Booth title

While players were warming up, Mrs Cricket Yorkshire and I took the wise decision to invest in Mytholmroyd Cricket Club’s ham rolls. Sourced locally from Craggies Farm Shop, the ham was miles better than the stuff available in most supermarkets.

Near to us, the trophies from the first final were hurriedly being packed up. There would be no presentation for that one. As Upper Hopton embarked on their batting en route to 147-9, I walked the ground chatting to those from clubs and meeting readers of Cricket Yorkshire.

I bumped into a few players from Booth CC whose first team had won the Premier Division the day before; the most consistent side this summer was the commonly held view.

I’m pleased for Booth as Thornton have dominated this league for some time and it has taken something special to reach the summit themselves.

You may recall I visited their showstopper of a ground to watch the seconds earlier this season. I was told that their bespoke sightscreens, complete with club name in metalwork on top, had been done by a company on Moderna Business Park; coincidentally next to today’s cricket.

Speaking of Thornton, the rain delay gave chance to chat with Grant Soames on Thornton’s impressive quarter-final run in the Village Cup. Having done the treble and won league trophies, a national competition has whetted the appetite.

National Village Cup

I think it speaks to the quality in Yorkshire club cricket because if you dip back (through Cricket Yorkshire’s Village Cup archives obviously 😁 ), the thing that stands out is the completely different regional group winners: Thornton (see photo above), South Milford & Carlton Towers (2025).

Frickley Colliery, Addingham and Folkton & Flixton for 2024 while in 2023, it was Ackworth, Woodhouse Grange and Patrington.

As for village cricket, a shoutout to the lads from Alne CC who had done the 120-mile round trip to catch the Halifax League final and were readers of Cricket Yorkshire. They fondly recalled the old Black Sheep Trophy days when Alne played strong teams from other leagues.

Upper Hopton’s 147-9 was held together by Thomas Wightman’s 44 off 41 balls. Dom Anderson’s run out perhaps a seminal moment. Wickets were shared round with Ross Parr (1-32), Grant Soames (2-24), Rich Wear (1-24) Dom Anderson (2-38) and Greg Soames (2-28) all chipping in.

Upper Hopton then stifled Thornton’s batting as tight lines, snappy fielding and regular wickets applied the squeeze. From 58-4, it was advantage Upper Hopton but their opponents bat deep and know how to stay in a game.

At this crucial juncture, my achilles injury had amplified to back cramps and we had to reluctantly head home. But before we did, I was tasked by Mrs F with sourcing a piece of beef as she had befriended a friendly cat with a sleek tortoiseshell coat who was sat in the car with her snoozing.

Thanks to the Mytholmroyd volunteer at the tea hatch who procured a slice that was gratefully hoovered (by the cat, not my wife) as we said our reluctant goodbyes.

Thornton would go on to claim this year’s Vocation Brewery T20 Trophy by two wickets in a destructive blitz, engineered by Ross Parr (45 off 18 balls) and Greg Soames (17 off 7). Earlier, Brad Weatherhead (26 off 11) had kept things ticking over while wickets fell around him.

Thornton are a consistent side who have been good value to watch in the Village Cup while they are the team to beat in the league in recent years.

Like other successful squads, juggling volume of games has arguably pushed them into unknown territory with the difference being these are amateur cricketers compared to say the Bradford League. Some of Thornton’s cricketers have played 40+ games which is a big ask.

Meanwhile, Upper Hopton deserve credit for pushing Thornton all the way and they could easily have won on another day. From what I saw, it was two strong teams going at it in the right way and probably a relief to end the finals day in that fashion.