Traditional Bank Holiday weather greets season start
by Mark Simmerson, 2nd May 2006

Ah, the tradition, great British Bank Holiday. It’s wet, cold and the start of the cricket season. However, the Division One action at Hundall I will have certainly got the players warm. Sheffield Centralians I set the home team a challenging 172 (Yardy 4-31) and with 7 balls to go Hundall I needed 12 to win with 4 wickets in hand.

A no-ball and then a six should have put Hundall I firmly in control, but Sheffield Centralians kept their nerve, took 2 wickets and allowed only a couple of runs to win by just 2 runs. New boys Millhouses I went to Ashford but could only muster 114 which Ashford passed with 8 wickets in hand ((Smith 51*). Millhouses I fared better on Bank Holiday Monday, causing a major upset successfully defending 110 (Hughes 7-38) as Hundall I were sent back for 93 (Marsh 41, A.Khan 5-18).

De La Salle I ran up 199-6 (Hartley 80, White 41) and bowled out Calver for 111 (Heath 5-24). Hathersage I went to Parkhead I and managed only 157 (W.Forsdyke 5-58, Bayliss 4-22), but Parkhead batted nervously and were all out for 125. SWD I started ominously, racking 210-9 on Saturday (Woods 55, B.Sampson 49*, Silcock 4-60, Crapper 4-78) and keeping Holmesfield to 153-8 (Brown 4-38). Then on Monday SWD went to the Wheatsheaf and smacked 265-7, Sampson (82) and Woods (47) again coming good. Parkhead I replied with 204-7 (Davis 62, Altaf 60).

The other newbies Stocksbridge I entertained Stanton who made just 97 (Spawton 4-29), but the boot was on the other foot as Clark took 6-17 to skittle Stocksbridge for 37. De La Salle went to Holmesfield on Bank Holiday Monday and recovered from 71-7 to post a competitive 163 thanks to 60 from Willey. However opener Neil Pearson with 45 led Holmesfield to a 5 wicket win. Stanton made 161-8 and then dismissed Sheffield Centralians for 124 (D.Hadfield 5-44, M.Clark 4-17). Hathersage I’s game with Ashford succumbed to the rain.

Division Two favourites University Staff I were visited by new boys DLS II and it was a chastening experience for the Beauchief boys. Four Staff batters hit 50’s (Kerry 78, Sharma 58, Kamaladasa 53, Needham 51) in a total of 261-4. DLS II were all out for 92 (Fairburn 4-33). Baslow I scored 183-8 (M.Taylor 53, Skelton 4-69) and Grindleford fell just short, all out for 173 (Skelton 43, T.Taylor 6-48). Parkhead II made only 104-8 at Chesterfield Barbarians I, but the home team could only manage 58 (Burnett 4-14). But on Bank Holiday Monday Chesterfield Barbarians I finally won their first game since 2004 when scoring 141-7 and dismissing Bakewell for 100 (P.Sharman 6-34).

The Dam has finally burst. Division Two debutants Sheepbridge were visited by Bakewell on Saturday, the Peak team making 166-5 (Madin 88*) and bowling out Sheepbridge for 116 (Fern 5-36). Sheffield Centralians II scored 157-8 (R.Schofield 55*, D.Drew 4-57), but fancied Dronfield Woodhouse eased past this with J.Smith hitting 93 undefeated. SWD II totalled 149-8 (Longley 5-42) and lost by 3 wickets to Sheffield Collegiate III. On Bank Holiday Monday Sheffield Collegiate III went to Beauchief and sent back DLS II for 102. The visitors lost 2 quick wickets before A.Simpson (47*) and Naylor (46*) took them to a win by 8 wickets.

University Staff I’s prolific Paul Kerry became the summers’ first centurion, smacking Baslow I for 137 out of 220-5. Baslow I replied with 88-8. Sheepbridge, like DLS II, struggled again, being all out for 108 (Turner 5-45) and Dronfield Woodhouse went on to a 5 wicket win (Sanders 40). Parkhead II scored a solid 212-6 (Millard 69), to which SWD II replied with a spirited 186-8 (Mallett 40). The game between Sheffield Centralians II and Grindleford at Niagara was washed out.