South Yorkshire Times, June 26th
A Bright Afternoon between Showers
Council cricket clubs did not allow last weekend’s shower to dampen their spirits. If there were some dashes for cover, there was ample good cricket to compensate for the rainy interludes.
Hemsworth have not lost leadership of the first division of the South Riding Lee since the table began to take shape early in May. Thorncliffe, who have been immediately behind them since May 22nd, fell to third place last weekend, Harworth moving up.
Elsecar have also advanced upscale. Second division places have remained more or less static during the last few weeks, with a little reshuffling in the low positions, most notable progress being that of City Police.
Delayed by Rain.
Denaby 144 for 8 Thorncliffe 117 for 6
Owing to rain the start Thorncliffe’s Council match with Denaby, was delayed for an hour, and during the match, there was a further stoppage for rain this. Denaby scored 144 for eight. (J Munden 46, J Richards not out 42, Bacon, 20).
Thorncliffe following with 117 for 6 (H. Whitham not out 38)
Forceful Cricket.
Cortonwood 154 Harworth 158 for 7
A full afternoon of forceful Council cricket, interrupter for half an hour by a heavy shower, saw Harworth Colliery beat Cortonwood at Brampton.
Cortonwood went in first to score 154, which B.Fletcher hit 48 not out.
With half an hour to go, Harworth scored 158 for 7. (A.Davies, 42, G Chapple 32 not out. Sam Hadley, Cortonwood’s right arm fast bowler, had a good day, taking four for 47. W. Trust well (Harworth) had six for 63 in 26 overs.
Bullcroft 74 Elsecar 144
At Bullcroft, Brian Brook, Bob White’s nephew, in his second season with Elsecar, scored 44. Brian had come in at number 9 when Elsecar were 67 for 7 and restored the total to 144. Bullcroft were bowled out for 74, thanks to 5 for 13 from R (Bob) White.
Foremost Opponent.
Mexborough 151 Swinton 153 for 2
Swinton’s foremost opponent in their game against Mexborough on Saturday was the clock and not the Mexborough team.
Sector score 152 to win in just over two hours, Swinton scored 153 and won the game by eight wickets, but it was a near thing!
Starting the last over, this Swinton score stood at 144 for two, nine runs were required to win, and the consistent bowling of Mexborough’s Bob Hydes had put the brake on Swinton’s run scoring in previous overs to such an extent that one thought the game was over to end in a draw W.Broadhead, Swinton’s opening batsmen, who batted magnificently for 7C Natale, set the pace; the remaining runs were soon hit off.
Mexborough, who lost the toss and were put into bat, started disasterously; H.Smith and H Vickers lost their wickets to Bailey in his first over, and two wickets were lost for one run. R. Hill, who made Mexborough’s top score with 37, with Adrian G Lawton (16) and later G. Pearce (23) stopped the slide, and Mexborough scrambled to the respectable score of 151. Mexborough, open the attack with Hydes and Barnes and during the first eight overs these two conceded only eight runs. Bowling changes, however, proved a boon to Swinton, who hit out to beat the clock, though the return of Hydes and Barnes put a win in doubt for Swinton