3 Young Villagers hit first LCC 50s on same Sunday afternoon!!
14 current Lightcliffe juniors in this week's Sunday teams!!
The decision to enter the ENCO Halifax Sunday League earlier this century has enabled the player numbers at LCC to swell as those not selected to play in the Bradford Premier League on a Saturday are not forced to leave Till Carr Lane for pastures new.
Sunday League cricket was also designed to create a pathway from our much envied junior section through to senior cricket as the 'jump' to Saturday cricket is often too great to make and limited opportunities exist.
Due to the numbers of young cricketers coming through our 'system,' the formation of a 4th team just a few years ago was the next logical step.
Last Sunday, the 4th XI entertained Stones CC in a Division 3 fixture under the captaincy of LCC Director of Cricket Bruce Lunn with 4 current and 3 former Lightcliffe juniors selected. Indeed, Bruce was the only member of the team who was not a former Lightcliffe junior player!! But we probably didn't have a junior section when Bruce was a youth...........................
Amongst Bruce's young charges on Sunday was his son and heir James. Having just graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in Geography, at 21 years James is one of the more experienced members of the 4th XI!! Best known for his off spin bowling, James was afforded the opportunity to bat at 4 this weekend and took full advantage making his first ever half-century! His 53 off 73 balls included 9 x4s in Lightcliffe's total of 171 for 8 off 40 overs.
In reply the Ripponden based Stones club were dismissed for 109 off 31 overs as the 4ths recorded their first win of the season! Ted S and Jim Powe both picked up 3 wickets whilst Ayaan A took 2 and Will S one whilst the experienced James Brearley claimed a run out!
James Lunn will be available for selfies and to sign autographs during his usual Saturday evening bar shift from 5pm. Father Bruce may also be present as the Lightcliffe Gala prep will be in full swing - he'll be happy to discuss his own personal top score of of 125 not out for Lightcliffe 2nd XI v Bankfoot in 2002!!
The 3rd XI fixture away to Low Moor Holy Trinity in the ENCO Halifax Sunday League top division was played at Mirfield Parish Cavaliers CC as both LCC and LMHTCC were hosting fixtures. There were huge numbers in the clubhouse, all awaiting the kick off of England's European Championship fixture with Slovakia, but very few showing any interest in the live sport on offer. They should have been as Chris Terry, chomping at the bit due to the lack of cricket for him so far this summer as he concentrates on his wedding preparations, tore into the Low Moor upper order, dismissing the top 3 with just 11 on the board.
Young spin bowler Sam W also fared well on the ground closest to his Mirfield home taking 3 wickets whilst there was one each for Sam Kalanovic, Josh Booth and Oliver B whilst younger sibling Luke B deserves mention for his conceding just 6 runs from his 5 overs, 3 of which were maidens! LMHTCC closed on 171 for 9 from their 40 overs.
With the (joking we think?!!) comments of his captain and father Mark Horne reminding professional footballing son Ben that the football kick off was just over an hour away, the 17 year old made his way to the crease with 14 year old Monty R. The young Villagers showed no respect to their much more senior opponents as they produced a fine array of strokes all over the Mirfield parish. With just 2 required for victory, Ben was caught on the edge attempting another maximum to add to the 4 he had already struck. Add 10 x 4s and Ben had made an excellent 86 off just 66 balls for his first ever 50!!
This was just 2 more than Monty who finished on 84 not out off 61 balls including 16 x 4s and 1 x 6. This too was Monty's first 50 for Lightcliffe (he finished 49 not out when LCC U15s defeated Stones U18s a month ago!!) although Monty has had previous half centuries representing the Bradford Junior League U13s, Crossley Heath School Year 9/U14s, West Yorkshire Region and a couple too for Yorkshire CCC, including one on debut as an 11 year old v Warwickshire!!
When your correspondent approached the 3rd XI skipper for his thoughts I was met with the usual "No comment." However, as the amber nectar flowed as the football went into extra time, his lips loosened and he revealed that his own top score was 75 v Great Horton 1st XI around the turn of the century.
For completeness, your correspondent can report that Monty was not entirely delighted to discover that his father's own highest score was 85 not out captaining Lightcliffe 1st XI at Manningham Mills in 2001. However, as he is already a (far??) better player than his father ever was, it is surely only a matter of time before he surpasses that mark.
EDITOR: It is interesting to note that Mark and Paul's top scores came against inner city Bradford clubs which no longer exist. Both Great Horton and Manningham Mills were grand old names of Bradford cricket cricket for over a century - may they RIP.