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.