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SHEPLEY 186 FOR 7 CAWTHORNE 184 FOR 9
DRAKES HUDDERSFIELD CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP @ MARSH LANE
12 AUGUST 2017 --- 1PM

SHEPLEY CC WITH EMLEY MOOR IN THE FOREGROUND

Shepley got home comfortably in the end to secure the win against Cawthrone but there was a moment of doubt as they reached their target.  Cawthorne had set what looked like a fair target thanks mainly to a stand of 123 for the second wicket with overall A J Dehmel 69 and Iqbal Khan 43 being the main contributors.  In reply Brenton Thompson supplied 55 with Oliver Thompson close behind on 54 helping to secure the 7 wicket win which was ably assisted by some calm batting from Archie Greaves at the business end.
Saturday had come around again it was a generally fine day so it must be The Drakes Huddersfield League and a trip on the Penistone line, mustn't it?  Of course and the usual catalogue of events occurred full bus to base station train to first change at Sheffield now loading with the re commenced football season and change to the Huddersfield line and breathe.  Once again the Penistone line was nice and calm with a seat gained, I'm not getting bored with the views and today the departure two stops on from the lines named station saw arrival in Shepley for a Premiership game versus Cawthorne which would be the first time I would have seen a team twice in this league.

ARRIVAL AT SHEPLEY

The village of Shepley has its station to north eastern edge of the village and the steady climb to the centre delivers a collection of new and old houses some of the old are a typical of the area but some are amazingly not with the old hall and many stone terraces that give the impression of a former mill village, although I'm not sure how true that is of what looks like a farming area.  The village is lovely away from the busy Huddersfield Road and at the end of todays late finishing game there was a little time to explore a few of its gems.  The village itself is famous for the Shepley Spring company bottler of as an example Ice Valley Water, the former Cooperative society The Shepley Independent and Provident founded in 1852 and when they finally needed to seek a bit of help the Central England Coop came in to keep the store going in 2013.  The village is also famous for being the place were the founder of Everton and Liverpool FC Ben Smith Chambers grew up.

OLD AND NEW TOGETHER

The gentle climb along Marsh Lane saw a turn along a narrow lane to take us to the cricket ground of Shepley Cricket Club, formed 1871 and playing at this ground since 1888, members of The Huddersfield Cricket League since 1932.  As you may imagine the ground is on the heights above the village and as you turn towards the playing area there is a selection of younger trees and a seating area offering a wonderful greeting with the clubs buildings ahead of you.  Here in lies intrigue I had seen a few pictures and assumed a superb new club house well Shepley are not quite there yet but wow how good it looks with work still to be done inside this when completed will stand really well and I guess be much loved.  To the left hand side are the new changing rooms with grounds mans garage topped off by the scoreboard while to the right is the clubhouse a current much loved and homely building.  The attraction [?] in here was the sign in the toilets from the committee warning to replace the handle back into flush position otherwise due to the club not being on the main sewers their could be a flow back of smell from the tanks.  Out on its own to the far left is the refreshment shed which served up teas during the game and teas at the break I guess this had seen many a conversation on cold days take place within its walls.  Talking of cold days today the sun became increasingly more popular as the day went on but the whole afternoon was spoiled by a 15 mph wind that being on the tops gave the feeling of 40mph, within the village it was not really noticeable.  Around the rest of the ground there is much space beyond the outfield for car parking white stone washed walls for additional sight screen coverage and some seats uniquely constructed with scaffolding planks behind flush to the stone wall to create some protection.

CHARACTER OF THE REFRESHMENT HUT AT SHEPLEY CC

The view from the business end is once again dominated by another view of Emley Moor TV mast it must have been viewed from all sides now surely?

CRICKET AND A VIEW

To the north the valleys and hills towards Huddersfield offering a fantastic backdrop to any game here at Marsh Lane, with the farmer bringing in the hay and the occasional cow appearing over the adjoining fields wall this is probably one of the quintessential views of English cricket.

AJ DEHMEL CAUTIOUS FOR CAWTHORNE

To the game then and an early wicket gave Shepley hope of seeing Cawthorne into difficulties but that was to dismiss the visitors overseas player Dehmel who made an attractive 69 and Khan who proved his worth to the side with 43, their stand of 123 took the score along nicely.

IQBAL KHAN GUIDES ONE AWAY

The wickets in hand saw the run rate in the remaining 15 overs approach 4 and over but the ball couldn't be struck away within any major scoring and by the time the last ball was delivered the visitors had posted 184 for 9.  During the latter stages of the innings it was interesting to catch up with Iqbal Khan and talk cricket and listen to some of his many experiences and thoughts on the game, thank you good to chat.
For Shepley Nasir Jamal was the pick of the bowling with 4 for 35 in his 10 overs coming in from the Marsh Lane end.

DEHMEL LOOKING FOR THE BOUNDARY

Tea interval upon us and I elected to pop down to the Coop for some hopper provisions, sarnie, pop and chocolate of course.  It was another chance to view the village and when arrival was made back at the ground it was just in time for the start of the Shepley reply.  A stable start was given a little caution when the first wicket fell at 23 but this brought Oliver Davidson to the wicket to join Brenton Thompson and it was 115 before the latter went for 54.  So a very familiar feel to Cawthorne's innings.  The change bowling of Khan had brought the breakthrough in his second over and he added a further wicket in the same over to leave the home side at 120 for 3 at around the halfway stage.

BRENTON THOMPSON DISPATCHES

Top scorer Thompson, 55, was out in the 38th at 154 for 5 and it would be a matter now of could the visitors dismiss Shepley. 
With ten overs to go The Rams were still 25 short with now just 4 wickets on hand and although they lost a seventh wicket before reaching the target with a sweetly hit 4 the game had produced a slightly tense finish in which Shepley had enough still available to see them home but in which Cawthorne had pushed them all the way.  Time check showed 7.45pm and this had ben one heck of a long day but with 50 minutes to go to my next train I popped off on a little discovery walk around the village, not before thanking todays scorers for their help in some of the stats during the game, thank you! 
As per all good hopping's journey provisions were taken in again at the you know where.  The time on Shepley station was spent viewing Emley Moor as the evening darkness drew in and as we waited to approach Barnsley station it was now dark with a change in Sheffield and the avoidance of late night revellers and drunken blokes we arrived back at base station just after 10pm and arrived back at overall base just shy of 11pm.  This was a long day for a cricket match but an enjoyable visit to Shepley and after all I cant have it both ways when the Hoyalndswaine game finished at 3.30pm the other week here the match served up a full days play, next time though I'm going to turn off the wind blowers!