Cup

After the appalling weather of the day before it was a wonder that any play was possible on Sunday in the Craven Cricket League's Cowling Cup Second Round, but all four ties started and finished.

And possibly the tie of the round was at Wood Lane where Upper Wharfedale entertained Thornton and won by 28 runs.

Both sides were well fancied to progress in the competition and the Dalesmen batted first on a damp but very playable wicket and managed 136, Jason Waddington making 34 which included a six and five fours and Malc Watson being next best with 17 useful runs at the death.

Malc Holt was a timely introduction into the attack in the 32nd over, taking 5-16 in 7.5 overs, and Mark Laycock also bowled well without much luck to finish with 2-49.

The West Craveners' reply got off to a steady start and they enjoyed one moment of fortune when David Harrison was put down early on by bowler David Daggett despite a magnificent attempt for the catch.

However Harrison dragged on with the score at 28 and things then took a downward turn with wickets falling at 34, 35, 36, 43, 43 and 63 to leave Thornton staring defeat in the face.

But skipper Holt had other ideas as he and Martin Foster set about repairing things and the score moved steadily on to 106 when the latter was bowled for a valiant and vital 10.

A wicket followed next ball and the end came soon after when Holt was caught at long off for a gritty 52, the closing total being 108.

Long Lee pulled off the possible shock of the round when they entertained and thrashed Pendle Forest.

The Keighley side amassed 216-7 with 14-year-old James Wilkinson making a superb 72, John Bailey 53 and Dean Baldwin an aggressive 49 not out in the final eight overs.

The Fence side were never in the hunt and were dismissed for 105 with Gareth Wood taking 4-49 and Danny Wood 4-54.

Haworth West End had Joe Nash to thank for their modest 133-9 down at Sandylands for he made 53 as Chris Windle claimed 4-23.

Skipton Church Institute never got to grips with the task in hand and were shot out for 60, Richard Summerfield taking 8-25.

In the other tie the other Bronte side were triumphant over at Foulridge. The homesters were restricted to 130-8 with Brian Wildman scoring 53, David Wallbank 24 not out and Neil Hurst 20 as Damian Rowell took 4-47 in 23 overs. Haworth's reply revolved around veteran Trevor Wood who made 53 as his side got home by five wickets in the 40th over, David Walsh chipping in with 27.

The draw for the Third Round on Sunday, June 28, is: Embsay v Long Lee; Haworth West End v Barrowford; Upper Wharfedale v Cowling; Cononley v Haworth.

In the league the weather had the final say on Saturday, the drizzle in the morning putting most games in doubt and the heavy rain around 1.30pm putting paid to all but four of the games - and of these three succumbed to the weather later in the day.

There was no play in the First and Third Divisions, but three games started in the Second Division, including the only one that ended in a result, over at Jimmy Nelson's where Chatburn were the visitors.

The home side batted first and were dismissed for 61 with Richard Shovelton taking 4-30 and the Ribblesdale side struggled to take the points, finally getting home by four wickets, M Iqbal taking 3-23.

If Jimmy's had been able to hang onto their catches the result could have been very different for apparently four chances were dropped.

Airedale were over at Barnoldswick III and batting first posted an impressive 194-6, Ian Singleton making 82 and Mark Alcock 62.

The Victory Park side were staring defeat in the face at 49-5 in the 30th over when the rain arrived to stop play, Malcolm Quinlan having taken 4-23 in 12.4 overs.

Thornton and Barrowford waited about, worked on the square and made a start at 4.15pm. The theory was that Thornton would win the toss and ask Barrowford to bat, but as it happened they did not and were asked to go first.

David Harrison made 53 as the West Craveners made 154-6 into the 32nd over when they declared, David Hartley taking 4-56 in 11.4 overs.

The red rose side had only reached 25-0 when the heavens opened.

The only game where play was possible in the Fourth Division was at Chatburn where Jimmy Nelson's were the visitors.

They batted first and were dismissed for 119, top scorer being Tony Stafford with 27 as Andrew Lambert took 6-32. The homesters' reply was delicately poised at 93-7 when play was washed out.

The league is very saddened by the news that two of its stalwarts, Jack Whittaker, of Foulridge, and Ken Holmes, of Embsay, have died.

"Gentleman" Jack was a vice-president of the league and a scorer for many years, encouraging and cajoling lots of young scorers to enjoy the job and do it correctly, and he could also tell a good cricket story.

Ken was the holder of the record for the highest score in a Wynn Cup final for many years with 95, scored in 1959 as Embsay made 220-7 down at Eastburn, opponents Glusburn winning as they also lost seven wickets - and not very much was written about the game in the press due to a printers' strike.

He held the record until 1985 when David Spragg, of Riddlesden, scored the first ever century in a final. He was also a spin bowler of renown with a good wrong 'un to his name.

The league's condolences go to both families.

The annual charity match between a Craven and District Select XI and a Bradford Central Select XI for the Manorlands Plate is at Oakworth Cricket Club on Sunday, July 5, at 2pm - the weekend that the National Health Service celebrates 50 years.

Proceeds apart from a 10 per cent donation to Manorlands are for Ward 24 at Airedale General Hospital.

Apart from the cricket there will be reasonably priced refreshments, a licensed bar and a raffle, and programmes are £1.

The Craven side is: captain Keith Woodhead, of Cowling, Steve Lilley, of Oakworth, Martin Windle and Steve Carling, both of Carleton, Paul Drinkall, of Upper Wharfedale, Eddie Drake and Neil Andrews, both of Bradley, James Tiffany and Stephen Speak, both of Embsay, Michael Scarborough, of Oakworth, Jamie Robinson, of Long Lee; res Ajmal Choudry, of Foulridge, Jeff Inman, of Oakworth, Colin Stead, of Cononley.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.