After suffering final defeat by the host club for the previous 2 seasons Dobby became a man with a mission – to assemble a side that would finally add to his trophy collection at the 3^rd time of asking. This began in earnest on Waddilove cup final day when the cream of the winning side was recruited. The skipper, expressing doubts that all of the star recruits would play returned from a short break to indeed find that 2 players had given backwards so last minute call ups of Matt Hill & Joel Morley was needed – thanks must go to them. The Beckwithshaw club was represented by Aire-Wharfe (former) bad boy Stuart Hudson & the talented young keeper/batsman James Ford. There was also a 1^st appearance for Rawdon’s outstanding Aussie Dave Morgan.
This year the draw had pitted us against local team Ben Rhydding who were making their 1^st appearance in the competition. We won the toss & for the 1^st time in my 14 year tenure as skipper asked the opposition to bat 1^ston a wet but quickly drying surface. Facing as strong a bowling line up as the Jesters have ever assembled Ben Rhydding batted pretty well to reach a respectable score in the conditions. They bowled & fielded even better & by taking all the pace of the ball had the Jesters really struggling. The fact that we won the game was all down to Jamie Pickering who played a magnificent innings, timing the run chase to perfection (last ball) & hitting the required 10 runs from the final over when we had been behind the run rate for all of our innings.
With a quick turnaround for the final against Olicanians (who beat Apex in the other semi) for the 3^rdyear running it was back to plan A when we won the toss. Macca, promoted to open the innings to try & take advantage of the 1^st 6 over fielding restrictions did his job & then left it to player of the tournament Jamie to plunder another powerful 50. With everybody else chipping in (apart from Stu Hudson’s 1^st ball dismissal) we reached a large score. When the Ollys batted Stuart made up for his batting by ripping out the early order & with Dave Morgan also chipping in the Home club were in trouble when the heavens opened & we were drenched by heavy rain.
David House, the tournament organiser decided (making it up as he went along I suspect) that the winner should be decided on an 8 over count back, which we won, by 4 runs.
Macca had to dash off & so missed the team photo; he also managed to this time leave his shoes & his winner’s trophy. As he had also, earlier in the day left his mobile phone in a taxi it’s a wonder that this lad manages to remember his name!!!