This game was a Dale Winterbottom production; He assembled the home team, assembled half the Jesters team (after a injury frenzy Saturday league program), organized the grounds man, arranged scorers & umpires & even persuaded his mum & wife to provide the teas; I’m glad he was not out 1^st ball. The Jesters would like to thank him & the Kirkheaton club officially for his efforts, all at very short notice.

With the Jesters having a strong looking batting line up the toss was negotiated with Kirkheaton skipper (& Jester) Keith.

A new exciting looking opening pair of Carl Harrison & debutant Adam Waite from the Guiseley club started proceedings, Adam fitted straight into the Jester ways by running out Carl!  He did go on to make a stylish 50 in a productive partnership with a more belligerent Macca who was still clearly feeling the effects of the previous nights promotion celebrations!

After the Lord Mayors show Huddersfield League & Elland legend John Webster came to the crease, talked out of retirement by Dale & playing his 1^st game for 2 years, against his son.

Upon his return to the changing rooms after 1 ball, caught from a top edge attempted hook, declared that he never played that shot in his days of making thousands of runs!

As it should be on a Sunday everybody got to have a bat with Dale making some late runs, being particularly harsh on his lad before making sure honours were even, giving himself just enough time to go help prepare teas.

Andy Grey, making his 1^st appearance of the summer opened up against his ex teammates with a wicket 1^st ball & bagged 1 more in an “action packed” spell.

The new spin attack of JJ Dawson & Low Moor debutant Tony Hubbart (a close friend of the Carter dynasty) pulled the run rate back but Kirkheaton youngsters J. Brown &  Luke Webster were winning the game until Macca, just starting to sober up took of the keeping pads & took 2 wickets in his 1^st over, the 1^st one with the aid of a cracking slip catch from evergreen (with 2 functioning hips) Allan Hall who had traveled down to the game from York. An extra bonus of this was that Carl took over keeping duties & performed them to a very good standard. (note to skipper to remember in future)

This proved decisive & a narrow victory was achieved with all 22 players in the match having batted.

In the changing rooms after the game Adams Waite’s father, Guiseley cc stalwart Roger phoned to say he was on his way to pick up his son & could we give him directions to the ground in Kirk Deighton (Weatherby ) !!!!!!!!

 

 

Ps    Congratulations to Lindsey & Ritchie Barker on the birth of their 1^st child this week, a baby girl.