COOKE SERVES UP ASHOVER VICTORY

ASHOVER BARBARIANS 116 FOR 5 CHESTERFIELD 2'S 112 FOR 8

DCCL DIV 3 NN @ MILKEN LANE

25 JULY 2020 --- 1PM

THE CLASSIC VILLAGE CRICKET SCENE WITH COVERS ON HAND JUST IN CASE

Ashover secured their first win of the truncated season when wicket keeper captain Russell Cooke hit an attacking 67 to lay the foundations for this success even allowing for a mid innings wobble the Barbaraians were seen over the line by Ben Roche [22].  Chesterfield had earlier set a low total that would require them to take all the home sides wickets for them to gain victory, with Marcus Hayes showing strongly with the bat and the ball.

MARCUS HAYES 31 FOR CHESTERFIELD 

Why change a good thing, well that was part the reason for a re visit to Ashover after the last trip to Milken Lane two weeks ago.  So setting off slightly later the attractive walk soon found the country lanes offering up what appeared like more full verges with an array of wildflowers before the strenuous climb to the top of Milken Lane which descends with gusto into the east side of the village and an immediate view of the cricket ground.  The family of alpacas were grazing away and showed little interest in communication even after a variety of animal noises were made in their direction still this is a beautiful approach to the village and on the latter stages I noticed a small post box nestling into a stone wall and gave myself a note to take a picture on the return leg.

JON BRANSON FLYING IN FOR ASHOVER

The players were just coming out and it would appear Chesterfield had been invited to set the total to chase and they set off well before losing their first wicket at 41 when Sam Fawcett was caught and bowled by Jon Branson.  The following overs provided a procession of wickets at regular intervals and when opener Marcus Hayes [31] fell caught by Jonathan Taylour of a little bit of magic from Paul Daniels you feared for a sub one hundred total.  But Kieran Garside put some momentum into the innings with 40 and allowed Chesterfield to get into three figures.  It would appear to be a 'slowies' wicket and with John Green returning 2 for 17 in ten overs the brakes were put on Ben Roche chipped in with 2 for 21 and there was a wicket apiece for Daniels, Branson and Taylor.

JOHN GREEN ECONOMICAL WITH A BRACE OF WICKETS

As the inning's had developed the parish grounds had got busier with a few spectators from Chesterfield, dog walkers and then just before the interval Ashover Fc and manager Don Carline came along to train pre season.  This took up one side of the ground and in current climate I moved around and then went off on a tour of the village during the break.  With rain having been threatened by the forecasters it was a pleasure to have seen non of the wet stuff and a small tour of the Ashover showed up the beauty of this place its buildings and lanes.

SOME FIRST INNINGS JUGGLING FROM THE UMPIRE

Arriving back at the ground I decided to take up a spectating boundary position at mid off, to the right handed batsman and fluctuate to the Parish Hall as a few darker clouds veered over the outfield.

KIERON GARSIDE GETS WELL FORWARD

Ashover would start their reply with real purpose with Cooke swatting the ball to all corners and fellow opener Jack Fletcher offering a supportive role the home reply a had reached 78 before the loss of the first wicket when the latter came down the wicket something Hayes and was stumped for half a dozen off of 40 balls.  A mini collapse occurred reducing the Barbarians to 88 for 5 when Cooke was out bowled by Joel Moore for 67 off 70 deliveries.  Just before Cooke was out we had seen a frustrating rain delay of about five minutes in which by the time the covers were in place the rain cloud had passed over something that would have seemed likely viewing by their movements, still its one of the quirks of cricket.

ASHOVER CAPTAIN AND TOP SCORER COOKE IN HIS OTHER ROLE TAKING A DELIVERY STOOD UP

Roche [B] came in and steadied the ship with a four to win it in 29.5 overs Ashover gained a failry comfortable victory after their mid innings wobble again all induced by some good slow bowling with Hayes adding to his batting contribution with 3 for 30 in 9 overs and a superb effort of 2 for 11 in seven overs from Joel Moore.

UMPIRES STEPHEN WILLISON AND KEVIN GODFREY DISCUSS THINGS NUMERICAL

Ashover had bagged the 22 points and now have a win, loss and a draw from their opening games and with the visit next week of table toppers Holmesfield to Milken Lane it should be a mouth watering encounter with the weather set fair.

COUNTRY POST BOX IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

Milken Lane and its ascent awaited and with a sub hour return to base, 58 minutes to be precise, the now threatening rumbles of thunder held off long enough for a dry return and oh yes I did remember that post box.

RAIN NO PROBLEM WE PLAY ON AS CRICKET IS THE WINNER AT PILSLEY

PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS 146 FOR 9 NUTBROOK 2ND Xl 211 FOR 4

DERBYSHIRE CCL  DIV 6 N/E LEAGUE AT PARISH SPORTS GROUND

18 JULY 2020 --- 1PM

TRISTAN BOWERS BOWLED BY CAMERON COOKE IN THE REPLY BY PILSLEY

Jonathan Taylor carried his bat through the Nutrbook innings and in the process hit a career best of 84 and along with James Woods [63] put on 118 for the fifth wicket all this was enough to bat out Pilsley and Clay Cross from getting anywhere near a challenging total.  As per the DCCL the end result was a winning draw and 19 points for the visitors who did everything to win bar taking the final home wicket.

EARLY ATHLETICISM FROM THE HOME SIDES JASON CLAYTON 

After last weeks trip to the countryside this week it was time to remain in the suburbs and head south east from base on a walk of just over two miles armed with umbrella with the weather threatening a constant flow of the wet stuff.  Arrival at the Pilsley Sports Ground was just before the first ball and within two overs the protective shield was up as varying intensities of rain fell for the remainder of the Nutbrook innings.  In fairness to both sides there were never any moans or whinges as both sets of players played through the inconvenience while their professional colleagues spent the whole day in the pavilion at Old Trafford in the second test match, but here in the lower reaches of The DCCL they are made of hardier stuff.
The site has a brand new pavilion with an electric scoreboard as the ground develops its football pitches too, of course today even in the drizzle there are allocated areas outside for both sides and a collection of notices around the ground advising spectators not to touch the ball.  The home side had received a week longer than Ashover last week but had clearly put some good measures into place.  The ground is situated in Lower Pilsley, before the main village and with the now abandoned Miners Welfare fenced off it does though give up the evidence that the former colliery, closed 1957, was just over the road and now the railway lines that would access it forms the nearby Five Pits Trail.  The walkway links up the other four collieries of Williamthorpe, Grassmoor, Holmewood and Tibshelf and in the interval a brief journey to the edge of it would reveal a former colliery building.

JONATHAN TAYLOR ON HIS WAY TO BUILDING A  CAREER BEST FOR NUTBROOK

Nutbrook innings started in dry weather but with the rain threatening there was always a doubt that we would see through this fixture.  The handy signal here is that the ground sits on an exposed ridge which leaves it open to any inclement weather.  Although on the bonus side excellent views are offered to the south and Alfreton, the east gives up Crich Stand and to the north Clay Cross and the Crooked Spire of Chesterfield over five miles away so on a nice day plenty to observe.

THE NEW PAVILION OVERSEES THE EARLY ACTION

The visitors Nutbrook had elected to bat and even though they lost a couple of fairly quick wickets for 19 Joshua Newnham steadied the ship with 25 and even though captain Stuart Argyle fell quickly to see the visitors reduced to 93 for 4 it was the Woods and Taylor partnership of 118 that would see them through to the close of their 40 overs posting 211.   For the home sides bowlers it had been a slog but economical figures from Gareth Hatton with 2 for 21 in 10 overs did slow down the Nutbrook attack down for a short while.

With the rain having stopped just before the closure of the first innings a small tea time amble took me over to Back Lane and Slacks Lane narrow horse shoe shaped roads that led to the former lane that led to Pilsley Colliery and the chance to view a former pit building.  The old canteen a strange T shaped building was standing derelict a few years ago but has now been developed using its former structure into a residential premises now bearing the name of its previous usage.  A nice little bit of history which is apart front the derelict welfare the only reminder of the former colliery.

GARETH HATTON AN ECONOMICAL RETURN FOR PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS

Pilsley list their formation as 1886, a fine history and with the neighbouring town of Clay Cross joining them in a merger that is becoming all too familiar to allow the survival of local cricket.  Days gone by would have seen both of these but specifically the latter returning some good successes in todays current climate at least both clubs survive in this joint effort.  The former Clay Cross ground at High Flats or its current name of Sharley Park survives with a unique raised terrace pavilion but I believe today is only used by Cutthorpe 4th's.

STUART ARGLYE VISITING CAPTAIN FENDS ONE AWAY

The home sides response saw a quick fall of wickets and they were struggling at 28 for 3 with Tristan Bowers, Sean Fisher and Will Green all back in the metaphorical pavilion, the latter somewhat disappointingly as he had dispatched a superbly timed maximum the ball before his dismissal bowled by Newnham.  Steve Wood brought an air of stability to the reply with 36 and Pete Lacey added a creditable 48 before he frustratingly fell just short of his maiden half century caught and bowled by Argyle.   It was at this stage 125 for 5 and with just seven overs left the chase was up but with a resolute 24 from Stephen Eyre the home side looked confident of hanging on for the losing draw.

NORTH WINGFIELD CHURCH AND STAGECOACH GOLD SERVICE DESCENDING TOWARDS CLAY CROSS ALL IN VIEW FROM THE GROUND

There was a late scare though when Cooke bowled Pilsley captain John Worthy for three and then set up a hat trick by dismissing Jason Clayton in the same manner,  Anya Horsley fend off the bowlers chance the following ball which also delivered a no ball to deny the opening bowler his glory.  Having rained on and off in the second innings it was now turning quite chilly standing watching so the close of play was a welcome event minutes later.

NO TIME TO ADMIRE THE VIEW FOR OPENING BAT STEVE WOOD 

The final over was fended off by Eyre except for the last ball when he threw caution to the wind, knowing the game was safe, as Newnham sent all the stumps flying as the home batsman looked to plant the ball in nearby Clay Cross.  The Nutbrook bowling attack was a young team and it put on an impressive showing with Cooke returning 4 for 32, Newnham 3 for 22, Ben Gretton and Robbie Stanier chipped in with one apiece.

HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN

As per last week a credit to the home side for operating live scores online its always good to keep up with proceedings as they happen alongside this a credit to both sides who were just determined to get in a game of cricket.
The return journey would see the need to loft the umbrella high again but along the departing Rupert Street is hopefully a photo opportunity for next time with a garden adorned by two pit tubs and memorial plaques in memory of Pilsley and nearby Parkhouse Collieries something I look forward to featuring on a future visit. 

DELAYED START TO THE CRICKET

ASHOVER BARBARIANS 96 FOR 9 [40 OVERS] HUNDALL 98 FOR 8 [32.5 OVERS]
DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE 3 NORTH/NORTH @ MILKEN LANE
11 JULY 2020 --- 1PM

MILKEN LANE ASHOVER WELCOMES THE START OF THE 2020 CRICKET SEASON

Delayed start and cricket not an unfamiliar phrase associated with the sport but this one was after around three months.  Cricket got under way very quickly after lockdown restrictions were eased by the Government and both Ashover and Hundall served up a tight low scoring game that in the end saw Ashover unable to take the ten wickets of their visitors who walked away with the victory.  After a low total was set by the home side it became a game of tension for much of the reply but a resolute reply from David Revill with 38 from 72 balls steadied the ship and set up victory which James Weston grasped in over 33 with a four and a match winning six to send the visitors back to the north side of Chesterfield with 22 points.
With sport being part of the staple diet 52 weeks of the year the ending of the football season normally sees a mixture of cricket and rugby league come to the fore but during the current crisis all sport, including local competitions, had met a stall.  However just over a week ago with stringent guidelines to be published for hygiene and health and safety it was announced recreational cricket could begin its 2020 season.  So for me four sport free months had passes since an outing to Shirebrook v Teversal in The EMCL and with The Derbyshire County Cricket League one of the first off the mark to book in fixtures for this delayed start it seemed rude not to take a look at the wonderful game.
This would create some difficulties because as regular readers will know my travels are by public transport something I currently still do not fancy and the option of three grounds within a reasonable walking distance were selected with Ashover the favourite for ease and quietness of the roads to be trod.

DESCENDING DOWN MILKEN LANE HERE THE VIEWS TO EXPECT LOOKING TOWARDS MILLTOWN

It would prove difficult to get to much clarity about what would be expected but thankfully the leagues fixture secretary outlined it was a full side competition and over 40 overs throughout the league.  So when The ECB finally released their 5 pages of guidelines at 5pm on Thursday evening the opportunity was clearly in sight.
Ashover is a lovely little village full of stone houses, pubs, tea room and of course the famous Tuck Shop which has been mentioned on visits before to see the football side run by Mr Ashover Don Carline and of course blogged on here so I dont intend to repeat to much more about the village.  Setting off to walk the three and a half miles at around 11.45am my route would take me past the former home of Derbyshire and England cricketer Cliff Gladwin and set the tone for a day of cricket.  Within half a mile the fields that would accompany me on my North East Derbyshire journey would take over from the houses and gardens of the villages to the south of Chesterfield.  Farmers fields with inquisitive cows and relaxing sheep were the norm as the incline to clear the ridge that sits to the east side of Ashover as we approach the road running up to one of its tourist spots 'Ashover Rock' only to divert off down the single track road that is Milken Lane.  We are around a mile away from the ground as this lane develops the most beautiful views over the countryside around our destination there are already signs of the attractive cottages, Eastwood Hall and some very relaxed alpacas who didn't seem to interested in me although even after a few words towards them they showed the disdain of a relaxing animal.

JOE STENTON FROM THE MILKEN LANE END FOR HUNDALL

The steep drop into the village was welcome but of course the thoughts of climbing this after a day at

CRICKET IS BACK

the cricket were always at the back of my mind.  At the junction Milken Lane continues even after emerging onto the main approach road and within a minute the ground, tennis courts and Parish Rooms come into sight.  The far end of the ground has a small but attractive pavilion, something which due to current closure restrictions I cannot tell you anything about, the outfield laps over onto the adjacent football pitch the ad part about photographing for either sport here is the spire of the parish church of All Saints is now barely visible due to tree growth so although a pretty setting it is not as photogenic as it was a few years ago.

HOME CAPTAIN RUSSELL COOKE 

What about the restrictions then well they are many and although some were a strong challenge to change the habits of years of playing the players saw breaks in play at half a dozen over intervals to sanitize their hands many of the others can be complex for example getting the ball back to the bowler along the floor or the wicket keeper not replacing the bails and stumps and so the list goes on.
Ashover would be making their debut as Ashover Barbarians after a close season merger with Chesterfield Barbarians who played at Walton Dam in the town this venue will now stage second Xl fixtures.  The visitors Hundall carry a strong reputation locally and their pretty ground sitting on the hillside between Chesterfield and Sheffield sees them offer a tough opening fixture.  The league have been split up into varying sub groups to try to complete a season of sorts and create some cricket for which The DCCL must take great credit for their preparedness.

THE CLASSIC SCENE AT TEA TIME UMPIRES TAKE THEIR TEA BUT THIS TIME AT A SOCIAL DISTANCE

Part of enjoying cricket is the socialising but with social distancing in play it made for a frustrating afternoon dodging spectators, players, dog walkers and the general public who were meandering through the recreation grounds still of this meant getting the game it is something we must all do.
Hundall had succeeded in wining the toss and put Ashover into bat and it would prove the correct decision it was sow going for the home side with just four batsmen getting into double figure it would be left to Darren Parkin [33] to top score.  For Hundall Paul Revill took 3 for 12 in Ten overs in what was an innings of consistent wicket falling rather than a complete collapse at any stage.

JONATHAN TAYLOUR FOR ASHOVER 3 FOR 25

With teas all taken Al fresco the visitors reply started in a similar fashion with three wickets down for 25 but slowly David Revill pushed the ball around in a patient manner and collected 38 runs it would be the difference for the visitors.  Although the other turning point were overs 24 and 25 which both went for double figures the only ones in the whole of this economical encounter.  When Revill fell LBW to the returning Jonathan Taylour the score was 80 for 5 and victory was in sight, a cameo and aggressive 13 from Daniel Weston set up his brother James the opportunity to win the game in over 33 with a four off the opening delivery and a maximum off the penultimate one.

BEST TILL LAST MAN OF THE MATCH DAVID REVILL FOR HIS 38 FOR HUNDALL

Game over and oh yes I had almost forgot Milken Lane in reverse for a mile of steep climbing out of the village but by the top it would be a steady down hill nearly all they way home achieved just an hour later oh how different that sounds to a return to base station doesn't it.