Knaresborough Forest Willows host TABS in Leeds East Div 1

Knaresborough Forest CC was the setting for Mark Doherty as the Willows hosted Thorp Arch and Boston Spa Women in a West Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League’s Leeds East Division One game that promised drama before the rain had its say.

In the early hours of Tuesday 1 April, a few neighbours were woken to the sound of fire engines pulling up outside their houses. Looking through their windows, they could see flames roaring 20 feet above the building opposite, the blaze was well established.

By the morning as the final embers were being extinguished, The Cricketers was just a shell as the fire had destroyed everything.

This is the first time I’d visited Knaresborough Forest this season; of course, I’d been past the front of the pub many times over the past few months, but this was the first time I’d gone into the ground and seen the devastation to the building from behind.

Knaresborough Forest is one of my favourite grounds to visit…it probably helps that it is quite close to where I live…but that’s not the main reason. The ground is small and compact; tucked in behind the [former] pub, you must drive through their car park to access the club.

When you arrive at the cricket club, you drive past the pavilion on your left, down the ramp and onto the grass embankment that runs around the oval. My usual advice about not parking within a well hit six simply doesn’t apply here…when I say doesn’t…you’d have to park outside the ground for you to pay heed to it.

Trees crowd around three sides of the ground, leaning in almost as if they are attentively watching play; and they are probably the remnants of the eastern part of Knaresborough Forest that once formed a royal hunting area that occupied around 50 square miles, and was centred around Haverah Park just outside Beckwithshaw.

The first references to Knaresborough Forest (not the cricket club) go back nearly a thousand years and are linked to the occupants of the nearby castle [and now major tourist attraction], just a short distance up, and on the other side of, the River Nidd.

Although you can’t see it, the River Nidd runs alongside the ground…probably only around 50 yards away through the trees.

In fact, it is fair to say that the cricket club is positioned on one side of the Nidd Gorge that runs through the centre of the town, with the castle and houses built on a mixture of Sandstone and Millstone Grit.

The playing surface sits in a natural bowl, with grass embankments running around three sides, and [what I believe to be] Sandstone forming a wall on the fourth. Overlooking the club was The Cricketers, and on a hot summer’s day, spectators would often stand on the patio having a drink and watching the game.

Game On!

I’d arrived fashionably early, not needing to get familiar with the ground, but I wanted to introduce myself to both teams. First ball was scheduled for 2pm, although I’d read that a few games in various leagues being played on Sunday had been brought forward slightly to avoid the rain that was forecast.

At that early stage of the afternoon, it was overcast, but the promised rain thankfully hadn’t materialised, and the game got underway on time.

Knaresborough Forest Willows were playing Thorp Arch and Boston Spa in the West Yorkshire Women and Girls Leeds East Region Division One; this was my first time covering this softball league this season. (You can read all about my last visit with a Richmondshire win).

The visitors won the toss and decided to put Forest into bat, with the home team taking full advantage.

Ava Bolland scored 18 runs from 18 balls, Steph Burnett eight from eight, Emma Sowray-Stubbs 14 from 12, and Helen Booth 14 from 11; helping Knaresborough Forest to end their innings with a net score of 282.

I had been impressed by the range of shots being played by all eight batters, and with how some, like Becca Spruce, had found gaps in the field to score fours. The home team’s total was going to be a challenging one for Thorp Arch and Boston Spa to chase down.

There was a short break between innings and the wind had picked up a little. The light was seemingly going…not from the sun setting…but due to the rather ominous clouds heading in our direction. It hadn’t rained at that point, but as I took my place on the boundary, I wasn’t too sure how long it would hold off.

Joanna James came out and hit 14 runs from just eight balls, followed by Kay and Katie Holloway who scored eight from 12 and 14 from 12 respectively…setting up an exciting finish as the visitors were mirroring the home team’s run rate.

It was promising to be a thrilling finish to the game as Gemma Connelly-Spry and Sarah Whatmore strode to the centre…but then the heavens opened, and as the players retreated to the pavilion, I headed under the trees.

The rain was light to start with but quickly became a downpour… the ground filled with almost a mist as it became apparent that this wasn’t a passing shower.

A few brave souls headed to the square when there was a slight lull in the rain, an obvious conversation going on about the bowler’s approach and the slippery surface ensued. I knew at that point the game would be abandoned.

Frustrating for all involved.

Out of the Forest

I confirmed that the game had been abandoned with one of the umpires, and packed away the cameras as I watched the first players run back to their cars in the rain and leave.

Any of you who have read my articles about covering softball, will already know that I love this format of cricket…as it is a great way for anyone to pick up a bat and ball, and get involved.

Yet again, I had seen an enthrallingly competitive game played with smiles and obvious enjoyment, but this time it had been cruelly cut short by the weather…I am certain this fixture would have gone down to the final ball.

I have been covering cricket [in all forms] for around 15 years, and I can honestly say that Knaresborough Forest is in my top five favourite grounds and one that I implore you to put on your ‘must visit’ list.

The loss of the pub (I hope they rebuild it), takes away one of the unique features of the ground, but I still love the intimacy of the location.

As for the teams…I have unfinished business and [if my schedule allows] will try to capture a full game that features them at some point this season.

📸 PHOTOS

Want to read more?

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 which includes days out at grounds around Yorkshire.