Richmondshire are Yorkshire Premier League Champions

Leaving home to seek out a train into Leeds on this late September morning, there was frost on the cars and foggy breath.

A Premier Leagues final at Castleford Cricket Club to crown Yorkshire’s champion Premier League was the showpiece to look forward to.

There was already a good crowd in at Savile Park, folding seats assembled around the edge, a phalanx of cars parked, and bacon butties on the go.

It had absolutely bucketed down during the week so the hosts did a fantastic job to get this game ready in time.

Reduced to 46 overs with an 11am start, I took myself and a giant puffer coat (always come prepared) to the top of the pavilion steps to watch the action outdoors.

My first time back at Cas for years and there’s lots to like. The new Wainwright Terrace (named after the spinner who picked up 73 wickets this season for them) gives a sun-splashed view of the action from the pavilion.

Out in the middle, Richmondshire won the toss and elected to field, perhaps preferring a chase and imagining it would dry out later and make batting a bit easier.

With a wet outfield, it was slow going but Aidan Langley (50) put in a shift to set the platform at the top of the order for a challenging score. His partner Steve Bullen hobbled off after the fifth over, retired not out, after injuring a quad muscle.

Wickets fell in clumps after resistance. Captain Alex Lilley (20) dug in, as did Ryan McKendry (28) but there was no Bazball here. For Richmondshire, up front seam gave way to spin.

While all of this played out, I was deep in conversation about the timing of this Premier Leagues competition. A few points of view from various quarters: It must be held at Headingley, shouldn’t it?

It should be the following season in April as by late September, many club overseas have left Yorkshire and squads are often not at their strongest, after the regular league season.

When to hold this Premier Leagues competition?

My own thoughts? Yes, in an ideal world, Headingley would host it but there are so many competing factors (this year, county cricket until the end of September and an ODI in the mix).

This showpiece has no divine right over others such as the very first disability game or the Yorkshire Women and Girls League Hundred finals; both accommodated this year.

I’ve watched the White Rose Trophy at Headingley and at club grounds. I’m sure the players and supporters want a day out at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. But I preferred the day at Castleford.

As for when you hold it, there’s a reason the IPL Final (or any other pro competition) isn’t the following year. Finals spilling over to next season do happen but it loses momentum and just personally, I like things to be tidily concluded in the same year.

Let’s also rewind to April of this year and see how wet it was.

Then we get to existing fixture congestion in April of pretty much any year, particularly if it rains. League cups, the Heavy Woollen Cup, ECB national KOs and then fitting this in as well?

This discussion (one that routinely crops up over the years) was taking place on a gloriously sunny day, about as warm as you could possibly hope for in the North of England at the bookend of September!

I’m glad I get to just sift through the embers and then do absolutely nothing about it.

During the course of the day, I learnt a great deal. Much of which is privileged or transfer rumours. But one thing, ok two things, are for certain. The quality of the cricket and the way everything was organised shows Yorkshire’s recreational game in a very good light.

The Yorkshire Cricket Board were there in numbers to support the White Rose Trophy. It was good to see Paul, Donna, Steve, Gareth and Rob, as well as various members of the worldwide media entourage.

Photographer Ray Spencer, who works for the Bradford League, T&A and Cricket Paper, is well-known to many of you and his images are shared around the world.

Also, Ian Livingston whose podcast, The Premier League Cricket Show, is gaining traction and audience. I enjoyed putting the world to rights with both, they certainly know their club cricket.

Speaking of which, there was a Premier League Final going on, wasn’t there?

Sat in my elevated position, being comically cooked as layers were hastily shed, I watched Shafiqullah Ghafari come on to bowl for Richmondshire.

A jump from the crease and then a few steps to mark out a run-up. The Afghan all-rounder had managed 71 wickets in the NYSD at an average of 10.2 this season. It is very rare to see overseas players still here at this stage – but well planned by player and club.

Watching him bowl was a joy; varying his angles, speeds and flight. Richmondshire went all-in with spin but New Farnley weathered the storm to post what many thought to be a very tricky total of 179-9 off 46 overs.

Ghafari (3-62 off his 14 overs) was dealt with admirably by Adam Ahmed (44) whose innings lifted the Bradford Premier League side to feel confident at the break.

Caleb Bradford (4-31) stood out for Richmondshire with the ball. His dismissal of Ahmed late on was key and along with a beseeching LBW appeal, on one knee, arms spread wide in a yoga pose, he was always in the game.

So, to tea. The most important meal of the day. Especially when it’s prepared by Sue Mulholland; legendary in NYSD circles and at various rugby clubs. As you all know, I’ve eaten my way around Yorkshire club cricket like a skinny Pac-Man for over a decade.

Sue’s cricket teas are epic. Unprecedented. A global phenomenon. In millennia to come, they will mark time with BST. Not British Summer Time but Before Sue’s Teas.

I sat there, guarding the cake table like Gollum in Lord of the Rings. At the other end of the table, NYSD President Chris West was ladling trifle into a bowl with a look of pure joy.

So, to the second act. Richmondshire’s reply started very badly. Alex Lilley (4-29) accounted for his opposing captain Rob Carr for a three-ball duck.

Ghafari was then nipped out for 2; a massive wicket as he’d hit 94 in the semi-final against Clifton Alliance.

From 4-2, Richmondshire rebuilt through Mike Layfield (34) but Joe White’s dismissal saw things very much advantage New Farnley as the scoreboard read 48-3 off 10.5 overs.

Again, wickets fell in clumps. I found myself at the shaded poplar end where it was some 46 degrees cooler and penguins were shivering in the bushes.

It was crunch-time.

89-6 after Dan Hodgson and Matthew Price had been dismissed in quick succession. Time and overs but not the wickets or batting depth.

Photo: Ray Spencer

Gary Pratt has over 30,000 runs at an average of 49. He knows how to hold a bat. Crisis gave way to quiet accumulation. Sharp singles, picking off boundaries, keep that run rate manageable.

Of course, every batting fightback needs two to tango. In Sam Wood, Richmondshire found their ace. He averages 14 for his club but was about to play a blinder.

Meanwhile, the wheels fell off for New Farnley. Convinced they had Pratt caught behind and with several other elongated, disbelieving LBW shouts turned down too, self-belief turned to flared tempers.

Only those in the middle truly know but umpires Tony Tennant & Matthew Tyers had to speak with the fielding side and batters to calm things down.

As Richmondshire edged closer, New Farnley conceded overthrows and lost the plot a bit. A wild throw nearly cost them five penalty runs and then there was an attempted Mankad.

Thankfully, it was fumbled because that might have really sparked things off. To this casual observer, it spoke to a scrambled mindset, more concerned with a sneaky single than a wicket-taking ball.

In the end, Sam Wood’s 46 not out, with Gary Pratt unbeaten on 59, took Richmondshire to the White Rose Trophy by four wickets. It has been a stellar season for the NYSD champions who are now champions of Yorkshire.

The club has seen titles for the first, seconds and thirds; now this cherry on the cake, to add to plenty of success across juniors.

White Rose Trophy delivers (again)

Since its inception in 2016, this competition has seen some close games and the nature of four new sides in the 2024 semi-finals speaks to the strength of Premier League cricket.

On another day, New Farnley could have won and matched Richmondshire blow-for-blow at Castleford. Winning the Bradford Premier League after the dominance of Woodlands and the challenge of Jer Lane is still a major milestone to be proud of.

They also had injuries to key players and lost their overseas star, Cam Fletcher, to Derbyshire for the T20 Blast. It’ll be interesting to see how the Bradford League champs recruit for 2025.

Finals days in every league take loads to organise. So, clap emoji 👏 to everyone at Castleford Cricket Club from parking duties to raffle tickets and a busy bar.

There are also those who slip under the radar so Noel Bullock & Louis Morris, scorers for the final, should get definitely a mention.

I took the train home, guarding a blueberry scone the size of a family hatchback for Mrs Cricket Yorkshire. The season had wrapped in style.

✍️ GOING NOWHERE – KEEP READING!

This website will crack on with weekly features, interviews, my usual opinionated self and podcasts so keep reading and supporting what we do.

Subscribe to the newsletter (competitions coming up) and Follow Cricket Yorkshire on Facebook.

Thanks to everyone who said hello on the day; countless conversations and a real sense of community within Yorkshire cricket.