report by DRB

  When I was a boy my cricket mad Grandfather told me that the greatest ever all-round cricketer had bowled left-handed, batted right-handed & was born in Kirkheaton.

He was of course referring to either George Hirst or Wilfred Rhodes (both Yorkshire & England).

Kirkheaton is a place steeped in cricket history & as I love such places I have always wanted to play there.

The beer mat had been sat by my phone for 2 weeks unchanged then on SATURDAY night Stuart Dobson rang to say that Simon Wilson & him-self could not play because they had acquired tickets for a corporate ‘nose-bag’ at Headingley! Then on Sunday morning I found out that Paul Hepworth was not playing because he thought the game was the week after!!!!! An under 11s side would be easier to run!!!!

John & Steve Wilkinson & Andy Grey all kindly stepped in at the last minute; many thanks to those 3.

I always imagined the Kirkheaton ground to be enclosed by houses & have a claustrophobic feel akin to the credits scene in Coronation Street but I could not have been more mistaken with the ground up at the same height as the Emley tower & green fields the view in all directions!

After a negotiated toss every Jester batted (with varying degrees of success) & every Kirkheatonite bowled on a still damp pitch which the grounds man considered unfit for cricket (a familiar story on cricket grounds the country over; They are just there to look nice not to play cricket on!)

The innings finished with a story for ‘Tales of mystery & Imagination’ with the innings starting from the pavilion end & finishing at the other end & yet only 39 overs having been recorded in the scorebook!!

A marvellous tea was then enjoyed, served up by Mrs Cockcroft (although I believe Andrew calls her Philippa) & her mum Jackie (thanks to both). The team expert Matt Hill certainly appreciated it as he was spotted making 4 visits!

Frenetic does not do the Kirkheaton reply justice with wickets falling & Golcar guest Aussie J.Brown determined to hit every ball to the boundary. After only 15 overs Kirkheaton needed only 68 to win with 6 wickets intact; opening bowlers James hill & Neil Waite both bagging a brace of wickets in good spells.

The introduction of Andy Grey & Scottie into the attack did not change the pattern of wickets & quick runs, but when Scottie got the 2 times Jester tourist, Kirkheaton 1^st XI skipper & all-round ‘wag’ Dale Winterbottom stumped by stand in keeper Steven ‘Harry Potter’ Wilkinson the game swung the Jesters way.

No 8, M.Hallas then started hitting out & when joined by no 11, P.Lockwood 18 were still required. John Wilkinson then bowled to Hollis who hit it straight to skipper D.Bell (on 99 career catches) who had the game in his hands & then a moment later did not!  A couple of lusty blows later & Kirkheaton had won their 1^st (of hopefully many) encounter with the Jesters by 1 wk with 13 overs to spare.