SHEFFIELD COLLEGIATE HELPED TO VICTORY BY ELDRED AND VARLEY

SHEFFIELD COLLEGIATE 232 FOR 7 V BARNSLEY WOOLLEY MINERS 168 FOR 5
YORKSHIRE PREMIER SOUTH @ ABBEYDALE PARK
9 JUNE 2018 --- 12 NOON

ABBEYDALE PARK ON A SUNNY DAY

An eight wicket stand of 74 from Henry Eldred [48] and Josh Varley [30] helped Collegiate to 232 for 7 in 50 overs after they had been in danger of not batting out their overs when the seventh wicket fell at 158.  The total was always looking testing for Barnsley who never really got near to passing the home sides score finishing on 168 for 7 with Azeem Rafiq taking 4 for 52 to add to his 55 in the Sheffield total.
Day two then of the extended sporting weekend and after International Polo yesterday, see previous blog, it was back to the, often, more relaxing game of cricket.  A small journey sees the train fly past Dore and Totley station before changing in Sheffield to come back to our destination by once again a rammed to overloaded Northern Rail train on the all stopping Peak District route, thankfully within a few minutes it was time to decamp and soon seeking out the local Tesco which is just five minutes past the ground always handy for the hopping fraternity and non more so than in a full 'dayer' at the cricket.

CRICKET TO THE FORE WITH SHEFFIELD RUFC IN THE BACKGROUND

The Abbeydale Park complex is an excitable variety of sporting sweet shop for the sports fan with Sheffield RUFC siding onto the cricket ground, a racquets and fitness centre, badminton hall, tennis club, hockey all weather pitch and of course cricket ground too.  The hockey pitch is a re-lay from the 2012 Olympics and looks resplendent in aqua blue and pink and receives constant water dousing during the day of which there is a charity football game plus an English Universities hockey game taking place.

MATCH ACTION WITH COLLEGIATE BATTING

The cricket ground is interesting in its own right in that it has the unique tag of having had two county sides use it as their home before a boundary change in the 1930s the site was in Derbyshire and then strangely after the amendments Derbyshire played there in 1946 and 47 all be it for just two games.  Yorkshire used the ground from 74-96 and some 2nd Xl games around the turn of the century.  There is talk of changing room improvements which may see Yorkshire return in some format soon and that will be good because although not a stunning ground it is a lovely setting surrounded by the tree lined hills and rich suburbia that is Dore.

BARNSLEY CAPTAIN HAIDER JAHANGIR APPEALS FOR LBW

Having seen some pictures of the ground it was sad to see, although positive for the ground, the pavilion under development with much boarding up and building work going on around the site.  Thankfully the rugby club and bar area were open for varying snacks and non alcoholic liquid refreshments during a steaming hot afternoon.  The pavilion reminds me of a version of the 1970s Headingley build with the players changing upstairs with a viewing balcony, moving around the far side is met by a raised bank which offers a good vantage point with behind this a further rugby pitch. The scoreboard end is backed off by trees and in the far corner the tennis club as we come around back to the pavilion the boundary crosses over to the rugby union pitch and behind it the small seated stand and terrace for the oval ball spectators.  The only disappointing aspect was the lack of spectator seating around the ground this would have added to the general feel of the ground and many Yorkshire grounds are made up by the stop of points around the boundary edge.

COLLEGIATE LOOK TO SWEEP BARNSLEY AWAY

Its always quite amazing the amount of people who are known to you that greet you at sporting events where you least expect them and Mr Kingham [sorry don't know your first name] from the local non league football circuit was in situ for the afternoon and it was good to talk sport currently and swap a few stories.  I must also thank you for a kind gesture in your lift back to base which was very much appreciated.

A WELL EARNED DRINKS BREAK FOR COLLEGIATE DURING THE BARNSLEY REPLY

Collegiate were without Billy Root, brother of England captain Joe, who was away on Nottinghamshire duty which was a  shame because on the previous occasion I saw them he was also away on first class business.
With Sheffield winning the toss and batting first they lost wickets at steady intervals although the scoreboard was ticking along and by the time Rafiq had fallen at 158 for 7 there looked a danger of being dismissed for a manageable score with overs not fully used up.  Up stepped Eldred and Varley who added 74 undefeated that saw Collegiate reach 232 for 7 that even before Barnsley batted looked a good ask.  For the visitors Ali Jahangir was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 65 in 14 overs.
With the tea time dash to the commercial enterprise previously mentioned for a refrigerated sandwich and a few other bits and bobs arrival back at Abbeydale was just in time for the Barnsley reply.

BARNSLEY MOUNT THEIR REPLY

A steady fall of wickets found Barnsley at 44 for 4 and when top scorer Boeta Beukes was caught by Eldred off Rafiq with the score at 99 for 5 things looked ominous for the visitors.  Stephen Walters [38] and Haider Jahangir steadied the ship with the latter not out on 33 when Barnsley innings came to a close on 168 for 7 in their allotted overs.

SHEFFIELD CONTINUE THEIR DEFENCE

An enjoyable afternoon once again backed up with some good boundary conversations one of which was with a gentleman, who once again sorry I forgot to get your name, were we discussed all things sporting and especially cricket.  He even convinced me to try some Sheffield RUFC next season and told me about the hockey that is played there on site, thanks a pleasure as always.
With a swift lift back as previously mentioned base was arrived at by 7.30pm from an enjoyable day 2 of 3 in this sporting bonanza moving on to Sunday and Sheffield Eagles and The Olympic Legacy Park.