Yorkshire Women & Girls League: The Hundred Finals

Gone are the heady days of the summer that almost guaranteed good weather and the innate certainty of cricket being played without interruption.

Be it put down to climate change, an interglacial period, or even the Milankovitch cycle…we’ve been fortunate to have cricket almost every scheduled day, apart from one really wet Saturday when I think most clubs in Yorkshire called games off early and went shopping.

“Ah! You’re back to talking about the weather!” I can hear you say.

Well…it’s September and conditions have taken a turn for the worse. With storm clouds being more frequent now, it’s less certain that a game will get underway…much less finish without some sort of rain delay.

My coverage of women’s cricket on Saturday had been curtailed due to the wet-stuff, with the final I was covering ultimately being decided via an indoor bowl-off. (✍️ Read John’s report – Hurricanes win Women’s Softball County Finals after bowl-out).

If anything, Sunday’s forecast didn’t look as good, so it was with a great deal of trepidation that I drove towards Tockwith (midway between Harrogate and York) before heading southwards to Bilton-in-Ainsty’s ground.

It was a marvellous morning in the countryside, with bright blue skies and the remnants of an early mist being burning off the fields by the weak Autumnal rays of light.

The Hundred Finals were being held by the Yorkshire Women and Girls Cricket League at Bilton-in-Ainsty and Walton Park cricket clubs.

Each venue was hosting four teams, with the format being two semi-finals and then a final. The eight teams in the Premier Extended League had been split into two (top and bottom four).

Sessay had ended the season at the top of the league with 42 points, Doncaster in second with 34, Wrenthorpe in third with 30 points, just ahead of Tickhill on the same number of points…but separated by their runs to wickets ratio. These teams would be playing at Walton Park.

Saxton, Sheffield Collegiate, Yapham, and Rockingham made up the other half of the league and would be playing at Bilton-in-Ainsty – all looking to become the reserve final winners.

I’d see if I could cover as much of the games being played as was possible…helped or hindered by the fact that the two grounds were around three and a half miles apart, and the games’ start times being staggered slightly.

With Sheffield Collegiate Women versus Yapham being the first game of the day at Bilton-in-Ainsty, starting at 9:40am…I made my mind up to sit and cover the whole of the first innings before heading off to Walton Park.

I cannot in all good conscience start to give you a blow-by-blow account of the games, as I simply didn’t see any of the six potential fixtures in their entirety.

I would have loved to provide a running commentary on every game, with details about how each player performed and memorable moments. However, my main focus on the day was capturing images.

The first game I got to cover was Sheffield versus Yapham; with Sheffield Collegiate winning the toss and batting first.

Yapham threatened to bowl Collegiate out quickly as they picked up two wickets in the second set; but an excellent response by Leah Holland and Holly Purcell saw them stabilise their innings over the next six sets. 

Wickets in the 11th, 12th and 17th sets seemingly dented Sheffield’s run rate slightly, but they finished the innings having reached 85 for six wickets. Yapham were to lose four wickets in the first seven sets but ultimately reach 87 for four in 87 balls to win the game by three wickets.

However, I didn’t get to see Yapham’s innings due to me having to rush across the ground, get in the car and drive like I was in an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard to Walton Park; my first 3.4 miles mad dash!

I arrived to see Sessay Women taking on Tickhill; somehow managing to watch the final set being bowled by Tickhill. Sessay were all out for 94 having faced 87 deliveries (what was it about the number 87 on Sunday?).

That total looked vulnerable, and I was curious how Sessay would set up with their fielding…would they be overly aggressive or simply try to limit the number of boundaries their opponents could get.

It didn’t start well for Sessay; with Tickhill scoring seven in the first set, followed by six in the next, then four, nine and six in the subsequent sets…at that early stage, I thought it was all over for the Emeralds!

But then again…what would I know?! A superb few sets of bowling by Georgiana Houseman and Amy Burton limited Tickhill to just five runs and swung the advantage back to the women in green.

As the sets ticked over…Tickhill had fallen just behind the curve on runs needed, and despite a real charge near the end of their innings, Sessay were to win the game by five runs in what had turned out to be an absorbing game of cricket.

But there was no rest for the wicked, and as handshakes between the players were being offered, I had to hot-foot it back to the car and rally drive like I was on an RAC countryside stage back down the narrow lanes towards Bilton-in-Ainsty. [Total driven between clubs: 6.8 miles].

Saxton Women were playing Rockingham Colliery CC Women; the game was in progress having kicked-off at midday with Saxton batting. A quick look at Play-Cricket confirmed that Saxton had won the toss and decided to bat first.

I got to see the team in blue finish on 93 for two wickets – and on the evidence of what I had seen, Rockingham’s bowlers and fielders were looking so very sharp.

From one particular delivery, Saxton’s Kate Cooper had hit the ball crisply to long-on, with the fielder running in, picking it up with one hand and returning the ball like a bullet to right over the wickets to deny a second run. Superb fielding.

With the 100 balls completed, it was time for me to do my disappearing act once more and head back to Walton Park. [Total driven between clubs: 10.2 miles].

By now, the beautiful start to the day was a long distant memory…and the heavy clouds were threatening rain, making lights stand out in the gloom, and the temperature had dropped considerably.

In fact, as I sat on the boundary rope at Walton Park…I could see spectators with their big winter coats on…and the obligatory cricket blankets no longer being used for picnics but draped over knees.

Doncaster Women were in the process of bowling the final few deliveries of the innings when I arrived, with Wrenthorpe batting.

I managed to see a wicket being taken as Wrenthorpe Women were dismissed on 116 all out having faced 99 deliveries – a pretty good score and one that would be challenging to overhaul.

With it now being half one in the afternoon and there was a short break between innings, I put the cameras down and headed towards the pavilion to grab a drink and something to eat. I must admit having missed breakfast due to another photoshoot…it was most welcome as I was starving!

Looking at the programme that had been produced (invaluable for me and a really nice touch – it included a schedule for the games, league table, sponsors and details of the clubs) – I knew that with the weather deteriorating and a push to reduce the time between games and innings, that I couldn’t stay to see the full reply by Doncaster.

I’ll be totally honest; I didn’t need to stay…as Doncaster looked so very strong in the early stages of their innings.

As 2:40pm approached and I headed towards the car once more, Doncaster seemed as if they would reach the total set without having to face all 100 deliveries; and so it was to prove, with Town getting 117 for just one wicket having faced 88 deliveries (winning the game by six wickets to set up a final against Sessay).

Back to the car once more. [Total driven between clubs: 13.6 miles].

Yapham and Rockingham were playing in the reserve final starting at 2:40pm…and I managed to arrive just after the game had started with Yapham at bat.

By now, it had started to rain and was rather dark…and getting darker as the heavier rain bearing clouds drifted towards the area. As I settled down to take photos by the sightscreen, one of the supporters passed in front of me sipping a mug of tea.

I nodded at him and said “What more could you want? Tea and cricket!” and he laughed and replied, “An umbrella!”.

How true!

As the innings progressed, the weather deteriorated, and it couldn’t have been particularly pleasant for the players. By the final out…Yapham had reached 89 having faced 87 deliveries.

It was time for my final drive between clubs…knowing that play would probably be suspended at Bilton-in-Ainsty…and would the final at Walton Park even have started?

[Total driven between clubs: 17 miles].

A Dick Dastardly Wackey Races drive later, and I was back at a very wet and gloomy looking Walton Park.

The scoreboard glowing in the almost half-light as the sort of mizzle that soaks you through fell like a fine mesh across the ground.

The covers were on and spectators had headed for shelter both inside the pavilion and on the porch…looking out in forlorn hope that the Roman god of rain, Jupiter, would take pity on them and allow the final to reach a conclusion.

The scoreboard indicated that someone had scored 19 runs and lost one wicket…reaching for the app on my phone, it turned out to be Doncaster who had gone into bat and there had been four sets bowled before play had been suspended.

There was no point in getting out to wander over to the pavilion to find out what was happening…I instinctively knew the day was over and it was all down to waiting for the scoreboard to be switched off…which it duly was.

The finals would have to be played another day.

Final thoughts

I think it is best to do a quick round-up of notable performances on the day – even though I may not have witnessed them.

At Bilton-in-Ainsty:

Sheffield Collegiate’s Leah Holland, Darcy Fearn, Holly Fletcher, and Jaimie Cutts all managed to get into double figures during their innings against Yapham, with some great shots being played.

Hope Acklam’s two wickets for just 14 runs being the pick of the bowlers for Yapham. Then a superb unbeaten knock of 39 by Yapham’s captain Robyn Dennington helped her team to the final.

In the other semi-final, Saxton’s Emma Bailey, Abi Murugapathy and Kate Cooper scored 18, 21, and 26 respectively to set Rockingham Colliery a reasonable total to beat; with Harshpreet Kang picking up both wickets for Rockingham Colliery.

An unbeaten 40 by Elizabeth Fidler and contributions by Shaw (23 from 27) and Amy Lovatt (14 from 17) saw Rockingham over the line; Alicia Robinson’s wicket for just eight runs was the pick of the Saxton bowlers.

In the final, an unbeaten 25 from 36 deliveries by Thorncroft for Yapham was the mainstay of the innings; with Rockingham’s Harshpreet Kang being the pick of the bowlers having got two wickets for just 15 runs – before the game was abandoned.

At Walton Park:

A superb 38 runs from 38 deliveries by Clare Fairclough for Sessay helped the Emeralds to their match-winning total: with Tickhill’s Emily Copeman being the star with the ball taking four wickets for just 16 runs.

Tickhill’s reply was really solid with all the batters contributing…Taylor Barlow (24 from 27), Rachel Allen (30 from 36), Emily Copeman (27 from 26), and Rom Lockwood (2 from 11)…but ultimately ending up just short of the required total.

Sessay’s Georgiana Houseman took the only two wickets of the innings, ending on two wickets for just eight runs.

In the other semi-final, 44 from Millie Gray, and 34 from Beth Slater helped Wrenthorpe to 117; with Daisy Bayes being the pick of the Doncaster bowlers with figures of three wickets for just ten runs!

Olivia Poskitt (59 from 55) and Kate Duffield (45 from 32) won the game for Town; Charlotte Hargrave picking up the only wicket for Wrenthorpe.

Congratulations has to go to the Yorkshire Women and Girls Cricket League for the organisation on the day, you should be proud of what you put together.

It’s always a shame when finals are interrupted and ultimately abandoned…with the festival of cricket being played at both grounds showcasing some of the best teams in Yorkshire. The standard of cricket was exceptional.

On my travels this season, I have seen so many women’s teams from the north, south, east and west of Yorkshire to know that this has simply been the most competitive set of league campaigns ever.

The skills on show have been exceptional, and the future is so very bright for Women’s recreational cricket…and this will certainly filter up to county and international level, providing competition for those elite rosters.

A word about the two grounds hosting the finals; for ground-hoppers…you need to put both on your must-visit list for clubs in Yorkshire. I have visited both in recent years and have written a lot about how wonderful both grounds are.

If I said that they are both pretty…then that would sound a little twee; however, there is no doubt they are, and when I think of English cricket clubs…the sort of images that I conjure up in my imagination are not too far different from what these clubs look like.

As I drove home on Sunday evening, I was a little disappointed that the outdoor women’s cricket season is now over…but I’m already looking forward to next year’s mugs of tea, cricket…but hopefully no umbrellas.

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.