HOYLANDSWAINE TITLE CHARGE CONTINUES

HOYLANDSWAINE 61 FOR 3 CAWTHORNE 57 ALL OUT
DRAKES HUDDERSFIELD CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP @ HAIGH LANE
29 JULY 2017 --- 1PM

HOYLANDSWAINE C C

This Barnsley derby was all over just after 3.30pm with Hoylandswaine brushing aside their near neighbours Cawthorne thanks to a devastating bowling spell from Adnan Ghani taking 7 for 31. For the visitors just Australian Ayrton Dehmel could put up any resistance with 26 as his team mates wickets clattered all round him.
A blog to Hoyalndswaine had been on the cards for the last few weeks and a further journey along the Sheffield to Huddersfield, Penistone line beckoned always a pleasure plus of course the chance to Watch some Huddersfield League Cricket again.

PENISTONE AND ITS VIADUCT

The start out from base station met with a change at Sheffield before arrival in the market town of Penistone with 40 minutes to journey the 2 miles to Hoylandswaine. with the one an hour bus timed to leave the same time as the train arrives into the station the option was clearly by foot.  A walk through a local park by the River Don and then the busy A628 Barnsley Rd saw the climb to the summit and Hoylandswaine, mind you this was not before a few 'look backs' towards Penistone and beyond and the impressive railway viaduct that brings the line into the town.

ARRIVAL

Having turned off the main road the view down to the ground gave up more sights of the surrounding area and way beyond on this clear day.
Upon arrival at the ground there was just time to seek out todays umpires Robert Gartside and David Haikings who were in their own little shed adjacent to the scorers accommodation of a similar variety.  Thankfully the officials were able to supply me with a quick photo of the team card and so we had a few minutes to take in the surroundings before the start of play.

THE VIEWS AND OH YES GHANI HAS DISLODGED THE BAILS

There was a little time to take a few pictures of this stunning little ground, with its clubhouse and changing rooms decked out with a superb display of wall and ground flower baskets you knew there was much love going into the club.  The club house was very well presented with a clean and tidy feel about it from bar to kitchen.  By the side of the business area is a standard electronic scoreboard which was well operated during this short game and a selection of smart and well maintained seats were also being well used today some had brought their own indeed one gentleman was in full reading mode for the Barnsley Chronicle something which I guess he didn't have time to get through today!  From this lofted position the ground offers commanding views back towards Barnsley and Darton and way beyond with the 3 power station of Eggborough, Ferrybridge and Drax all within view today.  Just behind the houses is our old friend Emley Moor TV tower but probably just out of view for most cricket scene pictures today.  The outfield undulates all over the places and with the wickets of course on a level from one side of the ground it is possible to see just a players head from the other side but of course this all adds to the wonderful feel to proceedings.  Also of note is a smart and well appointed bowling green behind the bowlers arm at the far end.  The opposite end as the community centres stone wall as a back drop.  Sadly today there would not be time to explore any of the village due to the curtailed nature of the encounter but apart from 2 pubs there appears not to be too many attractions in this farming village.

GHANI SENDS ONE DOWN AS HIS TEAMATES WAIT

Cawthorne won the toss today and decided to bat against the current league leaders and just over an hour later their innings was complete 39 for 3 became 47 for 9 and shortly after following too late boundary flourishes they had been bowled out for just 57.  Opening bat Dehmel had put up sterling resistance for his 26 but this innings had been about Swaine opening bowler Adnan Ghani with 7 dismissals.

ONE UP ALL UP

Let me caution all cricketers at present Ghani is injured and today he bowled fast and straight and had the pegs flying at regular intervals what will he be like when he is fit?  Last season he had turned out for Denby and on his debut took all 10 wickets for 20 odd and re wrote the record books at the club.  During his demolition job it was good to catch up with Derek a local supporter who had come up from nearby Darton and it was interesting to get in conversation about all things cricket, mining and a local contact to the blog John Lowe the former world champion darts player who he met in his dealings with clubs as a former brewery rep.  As ever nice to meet you plus todays scorers who were a friendly bunch and thankfully showed no displeasure to my steady requests for information thank you all.

PROGRAMME AND CAWTHORNE TOTAL AT HAIGH LANE

The first innings had amazingly not even seen me do a full circuit of the ground and indeed by the end of proceedings I had only been around once!  The club certainly showed a lot of forward thinking because after partaking of a Lemonade, it definitely was, I purchased some raffle tickets and a unique for local cricket match programme, great effort Hoylandswaine!
During the interval it was also good to meet Adnan Ghani and he joined in his afternoons success with a few pictures, thank you.

ADNAN GHANI HOYLANDSWAINE CC WITH 7 WICKETS V CAWTHORNE

There was a suggestion of going straight through but thankfully the tea ladies had nearly prepared their fayre so the break allowed me to have a little time here on this whistle stop game and when we restarted at 2.45pm I didn't expect their to be too much cricket left and so it proved with the winning run being score at just after 3.30pm.

SP SINGH HOYLANDSWAINE CC

 he first over produced 9 runs and the second doubled the total so things were not looking too good for Cawthorne testing the leaders, indeed the score had advanced to 27 before the first wicket in the 5th over.  SP Singh edged to the keeper and it was 39 for 2 could the visitors run through a few wickets?  Sadly not although Max Joice fell with Swaine just 2 short of victory it was all over a few balls later and a dominant victory for, I guess, the champions elect had been secured.

SINGH CAUGHT BEHIND OF THE BOWLING OF FAISAL HUSSAIN

Having expected this game to continue beyond last bus time, around 5pm in the sticks, I expected a walk back to Penistone but after consulting the bus stop timetable I was away from Haigh Lane at 3.45 on the way back to Penistone.  This was sadly too early and I look forward to re visiting Hoylandswaine to get a further intake of this wonderful little set up.
With just under an hour to wait for the train departure it was a late portion of chips from the 3 fryers by the railway station and a quick walk to the nearby Penistone Church to take a look at their ground and preparations for the upcoming appearance for the first time in the NCEFL Premiership. 
While awaiting the arrival of the Northern Rail service I had a look to check on a few other cricket matches on the way back with the intent of maybe calling in.  In Barnsley the Shaw Lane clubs game was very well advanced and so it was in Chapeltown for Thorncliffe.  Previously I had spotted Wombwell Main's cricket ground was about 1 minute from the villages station and they were at home today, well at least the 2nds were versus Whitley Hall 3rds.  It was only just gone 5pm and with no updates on either clubs social media I decided at the last minute to give it a go.  Unbelievably another one sided game with Wombwell posting 194 as I walked onto the ground the visitors reply was 17 for 5!  Anyway an hour was spent watching proceedings and upon leaving the visitors had approached around 50 for the loss of 8 wickets.  Nice new clubhouse being developed here with the Sheffield County Senior Football Club adjoining the cricket but this is one for another day.
An enjoyable day again in the Huddersfield Cricket League and an unfortunately short trip to a lovely ground in Hoylandswaine with views to match.