South Yorkshire Times, May 23rd, 1970
Round the Yorkshire Council fields
Rockingham Fail To Beat The Clock
Returning to the field after a break during a heavy thunderstorm, Cortonwood and Rockingham were subject to the time factor in a Yorkshire Council game at Rockingham. Cortonwood scored 140 for nine and in the time available Rockingham were set to score two runs a minute in order to reach the target. This they failed to do, finishing with a score of 98 for three.
Opener, John Walters, had a really fine knock to score 57, and the next highest scorer was secretary, Barry Meadows, with 24 not out. Archie Wootton claimed two for 22, Derrick Pawley one for 32, Clive Gill two for 38, Stan Wyatt, two for 14, and Alan Anderson two for 18.
In attempting to reach the cult target, Rockingham set off very well with Wootton (14) and Pawley (30) putting on 40 before they were parted. Then Rockingham seemed to accept the fact that they were unable to force victory, and subsequently set their stall to bat time out. David Cook carried his bat for 24, and Stan Wyatt had 27.
For Cortonwood, Brian Sykes took one for 28, Henry Wildsmith one for 16 and Ken Riley one for nine. The heavy rain tended to deaden the wicket, and all the sparkle went out of the game.
Deluge Stops Play
The two oldest cricket teams in South Yorkshire, Hallam, founded in 1803, and Darfield founded in 1860, were thwarted by rain in a Yorkshire Council match at Hallam on Saturday. At just after half-past four, a deluge stopped play with the game nicely “in the balance.” Hallam having only seven of their overs allocation remaining.
Winning the toss, Hallam batted on a good wicket but never really got on top of the Darfield attack, though they kept the score moving with some good running between the wickets. Throughout the Hallam innings Darfield’s fielding, hitherto not their strongest point, was quite outstanding drawing applause from the crowd. Mike Fealey was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 33 in 15 overs. Other wicket takers were Dennis Batty (one for 43 in 18 overs) and Stuart Anderson (one for five). The Hallam runs were shared between Russell 21, Stapleton 12, Lunn 18, Rose 33, and White 24 not out.
Houghton Recover
Although they lost their first wicket without a run being scored, Houghton Main recovered to make a score of 112 for three in reply to Yorkshire Main’s all-out score of 111.
There was some grand batting by Albert Illingsworth, 42 not out and Wroe, 37 not out, that being the main factor in the home sides’ convincing seven wickets defeat.
Houghton Main’s Gerald Taylor claimed three wickets for 13 runs.
Hostile Harris
Darfield owed their second Yorkshire Council victory of the season on Sunday to Mike Fealey, Fred Harris and Dennis Batty. Winning the toss Darfield battled on an Eckington wicket which always helped the bowlers, and they were soon in trouble, losing Mike Savage at three and Ken Kitching at 17. In fact, Ian Randerson (11), and George Urien (12) were the only batsmen in the first eight who could score double figures. At 53 for eight, Darfield appeared to have little chance, but Mike Fealey (35 not out) and Fred Harris (11) took the score to 89, fiercely hitting home skipper D. Woodhead who was struck for 31 in four overs. Earlier, Eckington’s pace attack had bowled superably, with T. Snaith taking three for 2, K. Cartwright four for 22 and A. Snaith one for 11.
When Eckington batted Ian Mann bowled opener Webster in his first over, but T. Snidall (23) seemed quite happy until Fred Harris and Dennis Batty got to work and Eckington slumped at 64 all-out. Harris bowled with accuracy and hostility to take five for 13 in nine overs, including five maidens. All his victims were clean bowled. Batty had three for 27 and Mann one for eight. Again, Darfield fielded well in a match which fluctuated constantly until Fred Harris nipped the heart out of the Eckington batting.
Dearne Collapse
Ten runs wanted and five wickets in hand that was the situation Dearne were enjoying at Mortomley on Saturday in a Yorkshire Council game with Thorncliffe Recreational when Ferris was re-called for another bowling spell at a different end.
And thereupon a vastly different situation developed. From 72 for five Dearne lost two wickets without addition, and three runs later another two fell – all victims to Ferris whose four overs cost four runs and brought four wickets. His earlier spell of 14 overs cost him 23 runs.
When Dearne collapsed Thorncliffe Rec. had won the match with two minutes to spare – a thunderstorm interrupted play and it re-started on a time basis. Birch took two for 17 for Thorncliffe whose runs came from Hartle 43 and Cooling 18. Hobson had splendid bowling figures for Dearne, taking six for 11 in 15 overs.