SHIPLEY TWO's in ACTION

Shipley two's were looking to improve upon their opening loss at Ambergate by whooping Riddings at Shipley. Batting first their cause was not helped by the loss of skipper ROB COKAYNE and OLIVER HODSON with only 8 on the board. BEN SMYTH with 30 played another good knock and with some dour defence from ANDY FINLAY ( pic very annoyed as he walks back) they took the score to 67 before disaster struck and the soreboard descended to 69-8. A mixture of airy wafts and poor skills appeared to be the main cause. However, there was no brotherly love on display when the skipper gave his brother out LBW. ( Pot calliNg the kettle comes to mind as the skipper must hold the batting record for most dismissals for LBW). DARREN CHERRY was showing that staying at the crease was possible. Not much more was expected when he was joined by ROSCO CYSTER (pic - looking very stylish) but he again dumbfounded his batting skill detractors until he tired of the whole thing having scored 14. A wild whoosh and goodnight vienna. That was about it ,with Darren falling soon after leaving PAUL TURNBULL on 0 not out -his first not out having not faced a ball.Final tally 88 all out. Replying,Riddings did not have things their own way with Rosco and JACK MURFIN (who consoled his zero when batting with a cream cake) bowling tidily. Wickets fell and Andy and HARRIET PARKIN with a brace apiece set the match up for a close finsh. Then the more experienced Riddings players came to the fore and they edged past the Shipley score with 6 wickets down. On balance some improvement, but the battIng needs a boost. Will next week produce the first batting point of the season ? Just had a horrible memory of the Shipley 1st XI I captained in 196?? not scoring 100 until the end of May.

OPENING MATCH 2023

I managed to pop down to the opening match of the 2023 season where our 1st Xi were entertaining Denby II's. The Shipley side included two newcomers in JAKE CHERRY and DIVAN MEYER, a South African replacement for the homebound Timo. After a wet Friday, which resulted in several League cancellations, Saturday dawned dry but decidedly chilly. The covers had done their job and play was able to get away on time wirth Denby inserted. A green tinge to the wicket ( image 1) promised help for the bowlers A slow start against accurate fast bowling from Reece and Charlie( image 4) with the first wicket going down at 30. A good knock of 58 from Morgan Torr (I remember that surname) was the highlight of Denby's batting but some vital runs from the tailenders was to prove vital. Shipley's bowling and fielding was tidy but a skyer was dropped by one of our youngsters ( nameless to avoid mum's wrath) Shipley's openers GEORGE ESSEX and OWAIN PARKIN seemed happy enough as they walked out( image 2) with Owain particularly anixious to score against his Denby mates and his brothers club. Not to be. the ginger lad left a straight one. Meanwhile a slimmer George played some excellent pull shots- I don't think he knows where the offside is!) before sticking his pad in front to be palpably LBW. Its no good banging on to him about HEAD-FEET -HANDS you would probably need to tattoo this on his kit to make him remember. Talent wasted? JAKE CHERRY on debut was sound in defence and lookd set. He was joined by DIVAN also on debut but he had no answers to a Shipley low bounce wicket and his 4 ball misery ended with him clean bowled. Asking a bit much of him only 48 hours after his flight in and an ENGLISH chilly April day to boot. There will be better days and he might even get some South African warmth and bounce - come July. Probably still a bit sleepy (I really do apologise for that). Two big lads share a drink (3) JC and Jake looked in control but they both went in quick succession to be followed equally quickly by Charlie and Mark(the real veteran who should know better than play cricket in April). Reece provided the best of the Shipley batting with 42 proving what an excellent all-rounder he has become. Although our later batsmen rallied round him the Denby score was beyond them and an all out score of 144 left us 22 short. There will be better and warner days but the maxim "Cricket in April is HOPE above EXPECTATION rings as true today as ever was !! Man of the Match : REECE WIDDOWSON

ALAN REAVILL - CRICKETER AND AUTHOR

ALAN REAVILL I featured Alan Reavill's poem in praise of Shipley Hall some years ago and it was pleasant to catch up with Alan recently. He is hale and hearty and has two lovely books of poems published, which in this world of hustle and bustle reflect a peaceful abnd tranquil view of life. The books have misleading cricket titles EXTRAS AND A.N. OTHER but they are certainly not cricket related. I am pleased to republish Alan's epic SHIPLEY HALL SHIPLEY HALL. The scent of freshly mown grass .. The warmth of the early summer sun … Birdsong ; a gentle breeze - The scene is set ....I am relaxed : This rural idyll unlikely to be outdone.## The velvety sward before me a verdant green... Could anyone wish a more perfect rural scene ? Derbyshire at its beautiful best : Paradise at my behest Could anyone wish for more reason ? Ah, Yes ... The first day of the cricket season ! The pavilion retains its familiar format, though larger now … Resplendent with added wings, balconies .... And, a separate scoreboard building.....Whow ! But the changes are in keeping with the remembered scene... Changes which I could not have foreseen .... It's more than fifty years ... But no need to rush .... I wonder what happened to the old 'Bull and Bush' ? The fielding side. - it's Shipley Hall I see - take the field … The sun so bright my eyes I must shield.. I look for those I recall : Names and faces from that happy past Baker, Bottomley, Priestley, Grainger, Sumner, Hunter, Waltham, Young .... and Cokayne ....he really was fast. And, Mellors the 'keeper - 'Butch' of that ilk -but unrelated to he of Chatterley fame. 'Though the Hall was the setting of Lawrence's novel all the same. I feel foolish as I remember - it's all so many years ago ..... Though a Cokayne , third generation, now plays it seems. I close my eyes .... drift into nostalgic mode .... Games and events from those early years ...All those teams.... Fifty years ? All those matches.... All those dreams. The Hall has gone though the grounds remain .. But the cricket field is still my memory's domain.

It says it all and heres to your next edition. The two published books are available from the club's book collection