CLECKHEATON CRICKET CLUB
SDS BRADFORD CRICKET LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE
The Pavilion, Moorend, CLECKHEATON, West Yorkshire. BD19 3UD
Telephone: (Club) 01274 873410. (Secretary) 01274 869798.
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"THE GREAT ESCAPE"
A Review of the 2002 Season.
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Going into the new season, we held hopes of a relatively successful 2002 season. We had some disappointments pre-season with the loss of our 1st Team sponsor SPORTS.COM but the HUNSWORTH BREWERS FAYRE & TRAVEL INN stepped in at short notice to help bridge the gap left in our fundraising.
On the playing front we lost three keys members of our 2001 squad. Paul Winrow decided to join Huddersfield League Barkisland, the Club where his father is chairman, and Paul Booth rejoined his old club Meltham taking Andy Yates with him.
Chris Pickles finally announced his retirement, and it was decided not to re-appoint South African Derek Brand who had left us early due to personal reasons.
The new players we had appointed seemed to fit the bill perfectly. In fact, we appeared to have a stronger squad than the previous season. A new captain Steve Titchard was joining us straight from County Cricket where he had spent ten years with Lancashire and two with Derbyshire. He was expected to open the batting with Mark Gill who had decided to stay with us after turning down more lucrative offers from other clubs.
Faisal Irfan, a 23 year old 6ft 8ins 17-stone Pakistan fast bowler had agreed to join us before going on to top the Pakistan First Class 4-day averages. "Old boy" James Stansfield had returned to the fold after a couple of years at Brighouse and we were expecting him to open the bowling with Faisal. Youngsters Chris Brice and Richard Pyrah had joined from the Yorkshire Academy. Chris, a left arm spinner, and Richard, an earlier order batsman and medium pace swing bowler had both gained valuable experience playing for the Yorkshire County Board and Yorkshire 2nd Eleven teams.
Unfortunately, our optimism was short-lived. Circumstances quickly began to decimate our squad. James Stansfield after playing the opening match broke his leg playing for Bradford Park Avenue and was lost to us for most of the season. Chris Siddall started the season in superb form scoring 238 runs in his first five innings (including 2 centuries) before tearing his groin. The injury brought his season to a premature end. He has subsequently undergone surgery to repair the injury and it is hoped he will be fit to start with us next season. Fast bowler and hard hitter Adam Swallow had played just two matches before he had to miss a further seven due to a serious knee injury that threatened to keep him out for the remainder of the season. He did, against medical advice, return to play as a batsman only, but he was unable to bowl again until the last month of the season.
With our new skipper Steve Titchard unable to discover any significant batting form and with a team patently short of strength in both batting and bowling we reached the half season with just 19 points. With normally around 50 points required to reach safety, the very serious danger of relegation loomed.
The second half was certainly far better than the first, but relegation seemed inevitable. That was until the help of the first slice of good fortune we had enjoyed all season. During late July overtures were made to all clubs by Farsley asking for support in forcing an EGM of the Bradford Cricket League to vote on a proposal to change the number of clubs being relegated from three to one. They were primarily concerned about their and other club’s loss of revenue through the lack of home fixtures. This, they felt would give a much more balanced 2nd Division competition in future seasons. There were so many teams in this section that they were unable to play each other twice.
With our and other team’s support the requested EGM took place and by the smallest of margins the rule change was carried. Cleckheaton now only needed to stay clear of the bottom spot to survive which they duly did.
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TWELVE OF THE 30-PLAYERS THAT TURNED OUT FOR THE 1st TEAM IN 2002.
Mark Gill, Martyn Evans, Faisal Irfan, Matthew Waudby, Dave Worrall, Steve Titchard, Richard Pyrah
Reece Jowett, Chris Brice, Warren Stephenson, Chris Blackburn & Garett Stead.
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In a season where our resources were severely stretched, the available players led by example, and in the end they were only one win away from clawing out of the bottom three. Mark Gill scored 766 runs at an average of 47.88, Richard Pyrah, 717 runs at 39.83 per innings, and Adam Swallow was only 4 runs short of making the List of Averages, scoring 296 runs at 32.89. Steve Tichard’s improving form saw him end the season on 352 runs. Including Cup matches, Mark’s final tally was 875, Richard’s 801, and Steve’s 520. In the circumstances all highly creditable performances.
Both Faisal Irfan and Chris Brice fulfilled their promise. In his first season in England Faisal captured 42 wickets at 20.33 runs each. He has been retained for the 2003 season when it is hoped he will perform even better. Chris’s contribution was 38 wickets at 19.39.
In all, thanks to goodwill from all sides, and particularly to the detriment of our 2nd team we managed to struggle our way to the end of a difficult season using the total of 30 players. Many juniors not quite ready for the challenge of 1st team cricket tried hard to bridge the gap, and one or two of our "old men" rushed out to replenish their kit ready for the inevitable call up.
Now is the time for regrouping for next year. We have lost two players, Mark Gill is leaving and he will be very difficult to replace as will be Adam Swallow after many years of service to the club, but on the club thanks these players for their support of our club and look forward to more committed players coming in to take their places. Only next season will answer these questions.
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Faisal Irfan receiving a farewell handshake from Steve Titchard before returning to Pakistan.
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SENIOR TROPHY WINNERS
1st TEAM
Batting ~ Mark Gill
Bowling ~ Chris Brice
Fielding ~ Richard Pyrah
2nd TEAM
Batting ~ Liam Evans
Bowling ~ Dave Marshall
Fielding ~ James Allen
THE NORMAN MOULD CHAIRMAN'S TROPHY
John Hawksworth
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JUNIOR PRESENTATION NIGHT
Our annual "Junior Presentation Night" took place at the Clubhouse on Friday, Oct 11th. As usual there was a good attendance of juniors and their parents, and each manager in turn reported on the successes of their respective teams. A momento was presented to all our under 12 & 13 players in recognition of them reaching the Cup Finals of both the Bradford and Heavy Woollen Leagues.
The prizes were presented by 1st team and Yorkshire Academy players Richard Pyrah and Chris Brice. They had invited Tim Bresnan along to help. Tim had played Yorkshire 1st team cricket during the year and was due to tour Australia with the England Under19's during the winter. Each had words of encouragement for the juniors present.
Trophy Winners were:-
THE TONY AKROYD MEMORIAL TROPHY
J. Allen
LESLIE SANDS ALLEN TROPHY
N. Smith
THE G P PEARSON TROPHY
M. Clarke
FRED MARSLAND TROPHY
G. Jowett
Just a reminder !!
We shall be running our Junior Academy once more during the 4 weeks duration of the school summer holidays. Anyone interested should write to the club secretary at 21 Hopefield Way, Bradford. BD5 8AA or by email
cleckcricket@lineone.net
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Prizes were presented to:-
Under 11's
Batting ~ M. Walmsley
Bowling ~ E. Walmsley
Under 12's
Batting ~ E. Walmsley
Bowling ~ J. Bray
Under 13's
Batting ~ N. Clark
Bowling ~ A. Fearnley
Under 15's
Batting ~ M. Clarke
Bowling ~ J. Kirkwood
Fielding ~ N. Berry
Under 17's
Batting ~ G. Jowett
Bowling ~ R. Jowett
Fielding ~ J. Allen
The Club would like to offer its thanks to all those who have been actively involved in helping to run the Junior Section during the past season.
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CLUB AVERAGES
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1st TEAM
BATTING:
C. Siddall
M. Gill
R. Pyrah
A. Swallow
S. Titchard
C. Brice
W. Stephenson
J. Stansfield
F. Irfan
M. Waudby
D. Worrall
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No
Inns
5
26
26
15
26
22
10
6
16
12
11
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Not
Out
1
6
3
6
5
7
2
0
1
2
2
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High
Score
105*
98
99*
63*
90*
29
19
28
38
25*
12*
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Tot
Runs
238
875
801
296
520
211
92
66
150
56
46
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Average
59.50
43.75
34.83
32.89
24.76
14.07
11.50
11.00
10.00
5.60
5.11
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BOWLING:
C. Brice
J. Stansfield
F. Irfan
A. Swallow
C. Siddall
R. Pyrah
S. Titchard
M. Brooke
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Overs
281.1
16.0
329.2
30.0
20.0
223.2
75.4
58.0
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Mdns
62
3
69
8
4
36
8
12
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Runs
824
34
977
107
56
938
287
161
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Wkts
50
2
51
4
2
33
8
3
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Average
16.48
17.00
19.16
26.75
28.00
28.42
35.88
53.67
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Also bowled: D.Dunne, M.Gill, R.Jowett, D.Marshall, A.Porritt and D.Worrall.
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Also batted: J.Allen, A.Astle, Craig & Chris Blackburn, M.Brooke, G.Blackshaw, C.Dobson, D.Dunne, L.Evans, M.Evans, C.Jowett, R.Jowett, D.Marshall, A.Porritt, J.Porritt, G.Stead, and A.Waudby
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WICKETKEEPING:
M. Gill.
11 Stumpings, 13 Catches, 24 Victims.
W. Stephenson. 0 Stumpings, 2 Catches, 2 Victims.
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CLUB AVERAGES
2nd TEAM
BATTING:
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BOWLING:
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D. Marshall
A. Waudby
L. Evans
C. Jackson
M. Waudby
P. Clarke
G. Stead
A. Porritt
C. Blackburn
G. Jowett
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No
Inns
15
5
15
20
7
19
11
14
12
12
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Not
Out
8
1
1
1
0
3
0
1
1
0
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High
Score
75
40
66
45*
96
64
37
40
47*
35
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Total
Runs
221
100
321
380
132
292
164
182
133
105
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Average
31.57
35.00
22.93
20.00
18.86
18.25
14.91
14.00
12.09
8.75
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Also batted: J.Allen, N.Berry, Chris Blackburn, J.Bray, G.Blackshaw, M.Clarke, I.Gatenby, G.Hutchinson, C.Ignatowski, B.Ingle, R.Jowett, J.Marshall, J.Porritt, A.Robinson, K.Smith, W.Stephenson, R.Thomas, M.Waite, and J.Ward.
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D. Marshall
L. Evans
A. Porritt
A. Waudby
C. Jackson
G. Jowett
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Overs
284.4
44.0
202.5
68.0
42.2
95.4
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Mdns
53
6
38
12
6
11
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Runs
751
193
755
209
209
427
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Wkts
52
11
30
7
6
12
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Average
14.44
17.55
25.17
29.86
34.83
35.58
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Also bowled: J.Allen, N.Berry, C.Blackburn, J.Bray, G.Blackshaw, M.Clarke, P.Clarke, I.Gatenby, R.Jowett, C.Ignatowski, R.Thomas, and J.Ward.
WICKETKEEPING:
G. Stead.
2 Stumpings, 3 Catches, 5 Victims.
W. Stephenson. 2 Stumpings, 2 Catches, 4 Victims.
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