Another cup final

by Brian Sanderson

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I took a break from cricket yesterday to attend the Rugby League Magic Weekend. But such is my love of the summer game that I can’t go an entire weekend without it.

This morning dawned cloudy, but the rain kept away, and my anticipation grew as I looked forward to the Atkinson Swires Cup Final. Contested by the first two divisions of the Nidderdale and District Amateur Cricket League, the Cup features some of the most intense forty-over cricket one could hope to see.

Arthington Cricket Club, with a 160-year history, ascended quite recently to the first division, thanks to an influx of talented new players. Last year’s league champions, they are poised to retain the title in 2024. My connection with them spans over two decades, although I have primarily followed their matches toward the end of the season, when play has been known to extend into October.

Today’s opponents, Walton Park, are in the second division. The club owes its name to the 2015 merger of two entities: Walton CC and Wighill Park CC. The latter was created by Lord Hawke, perhaps the most colorful and controversial figure in this county’s cricket history.

The match unfolded at Ouseburn. This club was founded in the 1930s, and having moved around several times, it finally found a permanent home at the Great Ouseburn playing fields in 1963. The sloping terrain, leading toward the new clubhouse, dappled by the afternoon sunlight, evokes the quintessential charm of a Yorkshire village ground.

I secured a chair outside the clubhouse, sheltered from the brisk wind:

Arthington won the toss and elected to bowl first, but Walton Park started strongly until a calamitous run-out disrupted their rhythm. The bowling was steady and the ground fielding excellent, despite a bumpy outfield. The surviving opener, Duncan Spencer, got to 51 before he was caught, and Walton Park managed to reach 161 in the 39th over. A knowledgeable local official told me that was at least fifty runs short.

During the interval, I strolled around the expansive ground, enjoying the golden wheat fields surrounding it. Then Arthington stepped up to bat, and they mirrored Walton Park’s steady start before one of their openers fell leg before wicket. When I took my leave, they were eighty for two. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I learned later that they went on to secure victory by four wickets in the 34th over. No doubt this triumph will fuel discussions about moving to a higher league. Their dominance of this division is threatening to become total.

Meanwhile, and speaking of dominance: In the Bradford League, league-leaders Woodlands celebrated their own cup final victory today. You can watch the match in full here:

Brian Sanderson is an ACS member. He serves on the Yorkshire Cricket Archives Committee. If you would like to contribute to this newsletter, please either respond to the email in which you received it, or leave a comment below.