DELPH AND DOBCROSS WRAP UP EARLY VICTORY

DELPH & DOBCROSS 207 ALL OUT CAWTHORNE 97 ALL OUT
HUDDERSFIELD CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER @ HUDDERSFIELD RD
21 JULY 2018 --- 1PM

DELPH AND DOBCROSS CRICKET GROUND

Delph & Dobcross had wrapped up this win against Barnsley based Cawthorne by 5.30pm and 20 overs in thanks to a superb batting display from Mosun Hussain [79] and an excellent bowling performance by Umer Yaqoob who returned 5 for 36 as the visitors fell 110 runs short.
Having previously only visited this area of Lancashire for NCL Rugby League at nearby Saddleworth Rangers the visit to Delph about another 5 miles further north had been on the cards for a few seasons.  Forecasts of rain last season and then moor fires a few weeks ago had constantly seen a diversion somewhere else but the clubs positive contribution to its social media account and the lovely ground finally saw the day arrive when all things came together for a visit.
Departing from base at 1020 a comfortable change for the connection in Piccadilly saw a delay at Stalybridge which put the tight bus change at Greenfield station in jeopardy, however with three minutes to spare the Olympic sprint over the rail bridge saw the Saddleworth Rambler service awaiting me.

LOOKING TOWARDS DELPH VILLAGE

Travelling through the delightfully busy Uppermill this service veered off around the exquisitely named Diggle and back through the narrow streets of Dobcross before I even knew it and once it had negotiated the crossroads at Delph a departure one stop before the village saw arrival at the nearby ground having just missed the first three overs.
The Huddersfield League has certainly become my 'pet' league and once again the ground supports my theory that this league throughout its clubs has the prettiest grounds of any in the country.  As ever with the day long event that cricket is and the travelling involved it was only a shame that the area could not be explored a little more however tea break did allow for a dash for a look at Delph village centre.

THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT WHERE YOU ARE

Some grounds are hard to describe there is so much going on in around them and the Huddersfield Rd site is no different situated over the boundary in Lancashire the club sits by the main road back into Yorkshire.  Delph was once in the West Riding but it often amazes me how the 'Yorkies' try to claim everything I believe they could even make an excuse for Plymouth being historically in the West Riding too!
Down the slope leads to the clubhouse and upper deck changing rooms with to the side the tea room which offer on the slate roof a whitewashed notification that you are at Delph and Dobcross CC.  As we entered the ground to the right a sharp bank leads up from the pitch and the first plateau offers a selection of blue tip up seats, the next rise offers some bench seats with the area boundary being the obligatory white washed stone walls that are so often present in Yorkshire and Lancashire.  Coming down behind the bowlers arm a flat area backed by the grazing sheep and into the far corner a scoreboard and scorers box above the grounds mans office, again this area is back dropped by sheep and the rising fields lead to a row of semi detached houses beyond on Dale Fields.  Coming back towards the clubhouse this area again offers a selection of tip up seats, memorial benches and picnic tables all of which became nicely populated during the days play.  Additionally just adjacent to the ground is the local crown green bowling home with a few matches on today the whole site had a busy feel about it.

THE REVERSE LOOK BACK TO THE GROUND FROM DALE FIELDS TOWARDS HUDDERSFIELD RD

The back drop to the ground offered hills, mill chimneys, fields and a low cloud that threatened rain but one you felt you could almost touch this was a ground that just created that wow feel and one that hopefully I can get too again soon.

MOSUN HUSSAIN ON HIS WAY TO A TOP SCORE OF 79

To the action then and Delph won the toss an elected to bat and after a steady start the first wicket fell when Nathan Jones was run out and after a miss-field at the stumps had the home sides opener kept running he would have made his ground up but opener Hussain was joined by the experienced Graeme Simpson [49] and the score jollied along before the latter was caught with the score on 131.  A controlled performance from Hussain was looking all the way like a three figure contribution was coming but with the score on 153 he misjudged one and was caught by Iqbal Khan off the bowling of Jacob Deavin-Baker.  Although annoyed with himself Hussain had set up what would be a comfortable victory for Delph with his contribution which contained 11 fours and one maximum in 80 deliveries.

JONATHAN BENNETT PUTS HIS BACK INTO IT FOR CAWTHORNE

Frustratingly for the home side they fell away with Lancashire contracted player Arron Lilley was out first ball the last seven wickets would fall for just 54 runs and the total of 207 would look an mouth wateringly 'do-able' for the visitors.  With three Cawthorne bowlers taking three wickets the stand out bowler with economy taken into account was Jonathan Bennett 3 for 14.
The latter stages of the Delph innings had seen the clubs programme come around the ground and once again a creditable effort to welcome all for a small contribution was to be given many plaudits alongside Hoylandswaine this is the only paper work seen so a fantastic effort by the club.

A BRIEF INTERVAL IN DELPH VILLAGE

The mad dash interval break to take a brief look at Delph took me down Rumbles Lane and around to the High St and the view of The Swan Hotel, Coop, Library that dissects two roads and amazingly the fish and chip shop that doesn't open on a Saturday or Sunday!  The centre was a hive of activity and can be seen on the Good Friday band displays in the much acclaimed Brassed Of film featuring of course the excellent Pete Postlethwaite alongside Tara Fitzgerald and Ewan McGregor, it was also featured in The Parole Officer movie too.  Alongside this the amount of building that just make you go 'oohhh' and 'aaahhh' number many in reality this whole area is a definite trip or short stay break must.

UMER YAQOOB THE FIRST OF HIS FIVE BOWLS LEWIS SKELLY

But with the Cawthorne reply beckoning a sharp return with a picture opportunity from Dale Fields back to the ground saw an arrival just in time for the umpires return to the field.
During the first innings it had been a pleasure to speak to Johnny Barker from Cawthorne and we spoke many things cricket and local sport and once again I had the virtues of a visit to the ground at Cawthorne extolled on me plus apparently excellent teas.  Thanks for the chat I must make it and as the club next season align to the South Yorkshire League hopefully I can get along before they leave the Huddersfield League, thanks for the chat Johnny!

MORE DELPH CELEBRATIONS AS YAQOOB DISLODGES THE BAILS AGAIN

The visitors reply started with the experienced Khan joined alongside by Lewis Skelly who was first to go for 17 bowled by Yaqoob for his first of the day.   Ben Simpson [4] was out with the score on 40, once again to Yaqoob caught behind and with the patient Khan [14] out to Wasim Qasim at the opposite end the three early wickets were now making the chase look shaky.
Four more ducks followed for Cawthorne as Yaqoob just got better and at times unplayable non more so when Deavin-Baker got an unplayable delivery that sent the bails flying.  With Adam Wiles [31*] the only player offering resistance as wickets fell around him Yaqoob secured his 'fifer' when he bowled Michael Burgess the score had fallen away to 64 for 7.  The inevitable became reality with Yaqoob continuing to bowl his supportive strike partner Qasim, 2 for 34, was given a rest and spinner Xander Selby finished the innings off with 2 for 20.  The closing stages had also seen an excellent run out by Lilley with a direct hit to send Jonathan Bennett back to the pavilion.

THEY THINK ITS ALL OVER IT IS NOW AS KIMSON DALZELL IS TRAPPED LBW

The whole game rattled along at a pace and with a pint of Blackburn brewed Thwaites to enjoy it was all happening as play came to a close around 5.30pm.  In some ways this was a saving grace because had a late finish occurred like Kirkburton last week this would have entailed a return around midnight, however when you visit a ground like this you don't want the experience to end.  Again another recommendation to visit Delph and Dobcross check the weather but if its anything like conducive to cricket get along for a look.
There was a brief moment to disturb the home scorer and purveyor of a fine social media account, thanks for your updates always interesting to see them and a club using them well to inform.
A steady walk back into the village for the 350 First bus back to Greenfield were with half an hour to spare a brief look at Saddleworth RL clubs new clubhouse and the burnt moors above it was time to join real ale train revellers, Wigan St Jude fans, Manchester night time revellers and mad old hopper aboard the train that would see an arrival back in Piccadilly with half an hour to spare before being sped back through the Peak District to arrive at base station just before 9pm. 
A thoroughly enjoyable and unique experience I know its an over used modern day descriptor but this league 'just keeps on giving'!