Pudsey Congs v Halifax Direct

PPM CUP Quarter Final

at Fulneck

Sunday June 19th, 2011

Match report by Dom Allen

​

Whilst confidence was high, so was the water table at Fulneck for this rearranged quarter final against further Division A opposition. The whole of the square was saturated an hour before the scheduled start time and it appeared that copious amounts of sawdust and a significant delay would be required. But after a drying wind made a prompt start possible, a crucial toss was won by one of the top blokes in this league, Naz Khan, who elected to insert Congs. Allen was delighted to lose the toss, having felt he would have had no choice but to insert Halifax but was seriously worried about the effect the sodden wicket ends would have on his quick bowlers. And his concerns appeared well founded when Asghar Ali slipped three times in his delivery stride during the first over.

​

With Congs welcoming back Iky Zaman to open the batting, it meant that Ali was bowling at his cousin, adding further spice to the rivalry between the two teams. Zaman started just as impressively as in his previous four visits to the crease, looking assured and managing to get right on top of (at times) some very steep bounce. At the other end Alistair Goodchild was attempting to increase his run tally further for the weekend and the pair work well together. They added 35 for the first wicket in testing conditions before Goodchild chased a wide delivery and departed the scene for 15. Within minutes Gully Mahmood was into the attack with his own unique brand of aggressive left arm fast bowling and Congs were in trouble. Robin Kettlewell almost needed a pair of step ladders to reach the ball he edged to the keeper before poor Matty Humpleby received a very unwelcome ‘king pair’ for the weekend as he departed first ball twice in two days. Again he did nothing wrong but steep bounce is bordering on unplayable at the pace of Mahmood.

​

Graham Curtis joined Zaman and commenced steadying the ship, whilst Zaman continued to dismiss every short ball that he received from his presence, plus a few dynamic drives through the covers for good measure. Just when the pair appeared to be entering the next period of domination for Congs, Zaman was deceived by the slightly slower bowling of Naz Khan and caught at short cover. After John Patrick helped push the score above 100, in what looked destined to be a low scoring affair, Majid Ali joined Curtis and almost unbelievably, the pair put on 95 for the sixth wicket. In all honesty, Allen would have been delighted to settle for something around the 160 mark but the pair clearly had different ideas.

​

Curtis had played a brilliant foil to Ali and at one point gave him a serious ticking off after an injudicious hoik from Ali was lucky not to result in his demise. Curtis pointed out the amount of hard work he had put in to that point and that he did not take kindly to the idea of it all being thrown away. But as ‘Maj’ got his eye in, his stroke making became more ambitious and one over from Mahmood in particular was destroyed which included three sixes. He departed two short of a maiden half century and one which he had totally deserved but Curtis continued unabated to finish 56 not out, with Saqib Mehmood brilliantly hitting 10 not out from three balls at the end.

​

Three individuals had played a massive part in the final total and as our Cricket Chairman commented at tea, the innings had been timed to absolute perfection. Zaman had put early pressure on Halifax, Curtis had shored up the middle part of the innings which had been desperately required before scoring heavily himself and Ali’s late assault had meant the total was possibly as many as 80 more than Allen might have hoped for at the toss.

​

Pudsey Congs 212-7 (G.Curtis 56 not out ; I.Zaman 54 ; M.Ali 48)

​

With great confidence, Congs took the field, knowing that they would probably be getting the best of the bowling conditions, not least because the wicket ends were now dry. Despite this, the bowling would still need to be of high quality because Halifax Direct are a strong batting unit. But what Adam Patrick and Saqib Mehmood served up was just about note perfect. Patrick was even more miserly than usual, providing absolutely no width whatsoever and Mehmood produced alarming pace and bounce. Not used to having absolutely nothing to hit, Asif Mahmood opted for a giant haymaker at the third ball of Patrick’s second over and succeeded in getting nothing more than a thick edge on the ball. Humpleby caught a very impressive catch behind the stumps and Halifax were already 3-1.

​

Next in to bat was the dangerous Jimmy Zaidi but in fairness he never looked comfortable and when it looked like Mehmood had him plum LBW, the ball rolled back onto the stumps to save the umpire from a making the decision. Mohammad Omar learnt little from the dismissal of his opening partner and attempted to launch a further Patrick delivery but the ball simply went 50 yards vertically. Patrick has a safe pair of hands at the best of times but off his own bowling they appear to be coated in super-glue and HD were now 10-3. Naz Khan is the main danger man in the Halifax line up and after tortuously disciplining himself to remain solid, he chased the only wide delivery bowled by Mehmood. Humpleby did the rest behind the stumps and HD were in complete tatters at 20-4, having already used a quarter of their overs. And after a pull to leg from Shah off Mehmood, he attempted the same stroke next ball only to lose his off stump.

​

At this point the game started to become a little heated, the catalyst for which did seem to be a HD spectator that was spouting all kinds of drivel from the sidelines, the majority of which might have been stamped on by the umpires had he been taking part in the game (which he curiously seemed to think he was doing). Patrick senior produced his second comedy moment of the weekend when he asked the individual whether he had forgotten his whites, which caused great amusement to his teammates and temporarily muted the intellectually-challenged individual. When he disappeared later, a number of players expressed serious concern that he might attempt to drink on an empty head.

​

After Mehmood and Patrick came to the end of their spells, they had all but put an end to the Halifax challenge and Mehmood then immediately dived to his left to take a great catch for John Patrick’s first wicket. Gully Mahmood caused some excitement on the sidelines when he launched four sixes with the trajectory of nine irons. But when Allen sent every player out to the boundary, he became caught in two minds and shovelled a catch straight back to an immensely fired up Curtis. This was the first of three wickets to fall with the score on 77 and when Humpleby brilliantly stumped Sadiq off the bowling of John Patrick and Allen caught Sattar at mid wicket off Curtis, the fat lady was well and truly loosening her vocal chords.

​

After a delay of nearly five overs, Adam Patrick aptly ended the game following a mid pitch mix up and he threw down the stumps to run out Asghar Ali. Congs were understandably elated to add a second Division A scalp to their season’s CV and both teams were full of smiles at the end, leaving the competitive stuff right back on the field.

This was one of the best performances the captain had been involved with in his time with the club and although he seems to be saying this rather a lot of late it probably says more about this particular group of players. Workmanlike when they needed to be, with huge amounts of effort in the batting on a difficult pitch, the bowlers could not have done any better and the recent tally now stands at seven wins in nine matches. The semi final will clearly be an even steeper hurdle but having won the cup games with a great deal to spare, the side can look forward to whoever they face with great confidence.

​

Halifax Direct 95 all out (S.Mehmood 3-20 ; A.Patrick 2-7 ; J.Patrick 2-22)

Pudsey Congs won by 117 runs

​

​

Farsley v Pudsey Congs

At Sandoz Sports Ground

Saturday June 18th, 2011

Match report by Dom Allen

A weakened Congs team met an even more weakened Farsley outfit at Sandoz after the previous weekend’s rain had put paid to the plan to stage this fixture a day later on Red Lane. After winning the toss, Dom Allen decided to make first use of a bed of rolled mud, thatch and moss that was doubling up as a cricket wicket; the one saving grace being that any illicit bounce would probably be so slow, the batsmen would have half an hour to get out of the way of the ball.

​

Alistair Goodchild opened the batting with Danny Cockin and the pair batted with supreme care ensuring that a platform was laid first and foremost. In fact they were not to be separated until the 26th over when Goodchild was bowled by a young Chad Morris but not before he had made an incredibly patient 52, demonstrating years of experience of playing on such pitches. He had waited for the bad ball all afternoon and despatched the majority of them very well. Unfortunately, after such a great run, Matty Humpleby came in to bat on a pitch that could not have been further from the type of track he has crafted his technique upon and after playing forward (perfectly correctly), the rising delivery he received first ball took the shoulder of the bat and he was back in the hutch for a golden duck.

​

Danny Cockin had shown great resilience at the other end to reign himself in and yet still time the ball on what was an impossibly slow track. He had demonstrated huge levels of concentration in accumulating his second fifty of the season and was massively unlucky when having clipped another ball sweetly off his legs, he was caught by a fielder that had initially completely misjudged the ball, charged in far too far and in the end stuck up a hand.

​

John Patrick admitted to finding life incredibly tough on the peculiar wicket during his score of 17 but he did find time to produce the comedy moment of the day when on receiving yet another lifting ball he played with such soft hands that his bat flew out yards in front of him. The easily amused captain was in hysterics for what seemed like an age.

​

When Patrick departed the scene it had appeared that Congs might just about creep over the line of 175 to pick up maximum batting points but a magnificent partnership between Majid Ali and David Malpass meant that sights were set far higher. They cut and pulled the ball to all parts of the ground and increased the projected score to 190. Then right at the end, Joe Goodchild ably assisted by Tom Huffingly added further valuable runs to take the score past 200. Goodchild junior played some deft strokes in the partnership and the intelligent running of Huffingly was very impressive. He created a further run out of nothing right at the end, even if Goodchild did feel that the team ‘already had enough’. A special mention should go to Farsley’s young side that had shown great spirit in the field and really stuck to their task well.

​

Pudsey Congs 205-6 (A.Goodchild 52 ; D.Cockin 50 ; M.Ali 29)

​

Whilst it was never going to be easy bowling any side out on such a featherbed of a wicket, this combined with a less than ambitious approach from the team batting second meant that much of the post tea entertainment was fairly forgettable. Indeed, it was difficult to detect precisely what Farsley’s objective was, bearing in mind that the losing draw has now disappeared from all forms of the game at this level. As the overs ticked by they became more and more bogged down although with a succession of missed opportunities, Ray Sutcliffe did go on to make a half century, albeit including one particular incident that should have led to him returning to the pavilion of his own accord.

​

When Sutcliffe finally hoisted a catch up to one man that simply does not drop them (and Cockin made no mistake again), his wicket triggered a huge collapse from Farsley and they slipped from 97-3 to 106 all out. Their cause was not helped by the average age of the remaining batsmen, although they battled manfully. Adam Patrick’s season continues to go from strength to strength finishing once again with hugely miserly figures.

​

But the late catches won the day more than anything as Allen brought in his field to push for a final victory with Joe Goodchild, David Malpass and Tom Huffingly all snaffling great half-chances to finish Farsley, ensuring maximum points and great confidence for Congs going into the quarter final fixture less than 24 hours later.

​

Farsley 106 all out (A.Patrick 3-10 ; J.Patrick 3-30)

Pudsey Congs won by 99 runs

​

​

Pudsey Congs v Meanwood

at the Britannia Ground

Saturday June 11th, 2011

Match report by Dom Allen

​

Buoyed by the previous weekend’s result, the standard of the selected team and the fact that this fixture was to be played at the real home of the club, Dom Allen was relatively ebullient in the hours leading up to the game. Picking from a huge pool of strength, the side welcomed back Graham Curtis after a long period on the sidelines due to injury. This week also saw the return of Saqib Mehmood and John Patrick, missing from the previous week’s victory at Thornbury.

​

Allen’s mood was lowered somewhat at the toss although it should have come as a surprise to nobody when Ed Watkins won and decided to make first use of a perfect looking Britannia strip. An afternoon of chasing leather was not what the doctor had ordered, although with six top class bowlers in the armoury, such an ordeal appeared unlikely, even against an impressive batting unit.

​

Nevertheless, what happened next could not have been predicted by the most optimistic delusional onlooker because within half an hour, Meanwood had slipped to 7-5! Phenomenally accurate bowling from Adam Patrick had been complimented at the other end by raw pace from Liam Stanhope and Meanwood just had no answer. Dales Council legend Bob Guthrie was first to depart, trapped on the shin in front of all three stumps and umpire Colin White had no choice other than to raise the dreaded digit and provide Patrick’s first. After this, Meanwood’s cause was not helped by the choice of shot or technique as batsman after batsman backed off to square leg giving themselves no chance of combating the talented bowling on display.

​

Patrick clean bowled two victims and caught and bowled Watkins to leave himself one away from an elusive five wicket haul. Sadly, it did not arrive before his spell was curtailed by the limitations that are placed on young bowlers but he was replaced by Saqib Mehmood who picked up where Patrick had left off. Mehmood and later Majid Ali briefly wrestled with, before dismantling the tail of the Meanwood innings and although their final total represented a small recovery from 7-5 it was meagre pickings in terms of a competitive score and the match was as good as over at tea.

​

Allen did take time before the players walked off to inform them that it was the most clinical and brilliant bowling and fielding display he had ever been involved with in his long years playing the game. Whilst perfection is of course never possible, the performance of the bowlers was probably as close to this as one can get and the efforts of all four should be remembered for a long time to come.

​

Meanwood 52 all out (A.Patrick 4-10 ; M.Ali 3-2)

​

Whilst the result may not have been in doubt at the start of the second innings, the destination of bonus points most certainly was and there was still an opportunity for both sides to deliver psychological damage. After an early boundary, Alistair Goodchild departed the scene, disappointingly trapped in front by a full toss and this brought together two of the most successful batsmen from the visit to Thornbury. Matthew Humpleby began relatively quietly until a juicy half volley outside off stump received the Chip Boy treatment and as a spectator was heard to state on no less than six occasions, ‘it went all the way along the ground’ through extra cover. Humpleby gained huge confidence from the stroke and played, if anything, even better than the previous week. As usual, all of the shots were in the ‘v’ and played with an impeccably straight bat. At the other end Danny Cockin was compact and just as correct and the pair showed Meanwood what they had missed out on with some of the cross-batted hoiking they’d indulged in. Several shots played by Cockin and Humpleby were simple defensive pushes that beat the field and on such a quick surface, galloped away for four.

​

The game came to a very early conclusion at 4.30pm with Pudsey Congs collecting 19 points after losing just the one wicket and in doing so, condemned Meanwood to zero. Such a non-haul is almost totally unheard of in this league where points are sometimes far too easy to come by but an even stranger statistic was that Congs had not used any of their allotted 45 overs, the total being knocked off inside those conceded by Meanwood. Although Allen was understandably confident before the game, given the strength of his team, the end result was incredibly morale boosting. The only but obvious downside was that several members of the team did nothing other than field but a total demolition of the third best team in this division was as impressive as it gets.

Pudsey Congs 53-1 (M.Humpleby 33 not out)

Pudsey Congs won by 9 wickets

​

Thornbury “A” v Pudsey Congs

At Daleside Road

Saturday June 4th, 2011

Match report by Dom Allen

​

After two hot days, the temperature cooled significantly for this, the first fixture between former Bradford Central League team Thornbury and Pudsey Congs. Stand in captain Wazeem Afzal won the toss for Thornbury and opted to make use of a slightly uneven but decent looking and firm track. Congs had the luxury of Liam Stanhope opening the bowling with Adam Patrick and the pair started very impressively, Stanhope’s extra pace in particular causing issues for the Thornbury batsmen. They were 8-2 and then 26-3 in next to no time but this did not diminish their attacking flair.

​

However, a big breathrough for Congs came when Sam Mason clung on to a leading edge from Mohammed Waqar off Stanhope which triggered a middle order collapse for Thornbury and at 78-7, a competitive total looked beyond them. But Waseem Afzal joined his brother Kaleem at the crease and the pair put together a huge partnership (in the context of the match) of 56 and threatened to cause issues for Congs, especially when the captain dropped a sitter on the boundary. Fortunately, Mason made amends for his captain’s error and snaffled his man one over later, with Adam Patrick coming back to claim the last wicket of the innings with his first ball. Although it could have been much less, Congs would have settled for the final total at the toss and felt confident at tea.

​

Thornbury 144 all out (L.Stanhope 4-30 ; M.Ali 3-41 ; A.Patrick 2-30)

​

Pudsey started with nine extra overs and knowing that they would have to keep at least four wickets in hand to garner all 20 points, looked to score from only the bad balls with time on their side. But after a bright start Alistair Goodchild skied an attempted drive that left Congs 12-1. Danny Cockin and Robin Kettlewell steadied the ship and carried the score all the way to 42 before a leading edge from Cockin flew in the air and he became the second Thornbury victim, having batted mighty impressively. Calm and assured as ever, one six had been nothing more than picked up and had sailed miles over the boundary into an adjacent garden.

​

Cometh the hour, Matty Humpleby entered the fray to a cacophony of drivel from the opposition fielders that Kettlewell had already been subjected to almost since the start of his innings. Some of Thornbury’s attempted sledging was so dreadful it was more reminiscent of The Wild Thornberrys and Kettlewell regularly had to double over or lean on his bat to prevent his sides from splitting.

​

But the pair added 45 vital runs and all the time Humpleby was gaining in confidence and looking extremely correct. He played some delightful strokes though the covers and backward point, timing them all exquisitely. When Kettlewell departed, Humpleby carried on his merry way with Dave Malpass (back after a 14 year absence) and it looked like the pair would take Congs over the finishing line themselves with Humpleby achieving his maiden fifty in the process.

​

Sadly on 46 he was desperately unlucky to be bowled via bat and chest and he will have to wait a little longer for that elusive half century, although on this evidence it will be fairly soon. He had certainly proved to himself more than anybody else that he can cut the mustard at this level and will now carry a level of self belief that only comes when you know you have climbed over a mental barrier. When Malpass was well caught at extra cover and Majid Ali top edged a ball into hands, a wobble was on the cards but thankfully the captain and Joe Goodchild guided the team home without further alarm. A full 20 point victory is always welcome and at the end of the game both teams were all smiles, leaving all the crazy banter where it belonged, on the pitch. A very challenging week lies ahead for Congs with Meanwood next Saturday followed by Halifax Direct at Laisterdyke in the Cup on Sunday.

​

Pudsey Congs 149-6 (M.Humpleby 46 ; D.Cockin 24 ; R.Kettlewell 24)

​

Pudsey Congs won by 4 wickets

​

​

Pudsey Congs v Hepworth & Idle “B”

at Fulneck

Saturday May 28th, 2011

Match report by Dom Allen

​

The opportunity to capitalise on the previous weekend’s cup sensation presented itself to the side against Hepworth & Idle’s second string. Dom Allen of course lost the toss and on a cold and (unbelievably again) windy day, Dave McDermott kept to his word when he had stated that he will bat every time he wins the toss. After an early wicket for Adam Patrick, McDermott put on a huge partnership of 94 with his son and the pair showed great patience, sitting in and waiting for any burnt offerings. Had McDermott’s back not failed him with the score on 95-1, Heppies may well have been looking at a total greater than 200 but his retirement started a decline in their line up from which they never entirely recovered.

​

Credit as always goes to Adam Patrick who bowled almost faultlessly into the teeth of yet another howling gale. Bearing in mind the wind was difficult to walk in, his spell of 3-25 was highly impressive, as was that of Majid Ali from the same end. Saqib Mehmood held several overs back until the end and blew three members of the tail away with his extra pace. At tea Congs could be relatively happy with their work and they had fielded well in the most testing of conditions.

​

Hepworth & Idle 168-8 (A.Patrick 3-25 ; S.Mehmood 3-46)

​

The second innings started brightly for Congs and disappointingly in the extreme for Hepworth as a flurry of boundaries and shocking bowling took the score to 41 before the loss of Danny Cockin for 11. At the other end Alistair Goodchild was destroying the bowling, at times walking across his stumps and lacing it for four and six over and behind square leg. Everything in the garden was looking rosy and Congs were heading for a comfortable victory. Goodchild looked imperious.

​

But two things happened almost simultaneously to stall the innings. Robin Kettlewell managed to smack the most hideous of full tosses straight back to the bowler to be caught for 20 when he was going nicely. And then inexplicably, Goodchild enquired as to his score whilst on 43, via the square leg umpire. In hindsight, this was a huge error because his previously free scoring and hard hitting approach was replaced by a much more conservative technique and he crept to his 50 from that point in singles. He was desperately unfortunate however to depart having knocked the cover off yet another long hop, only to be caught on the boundary which prevented a further six.

​

And the highlights of this innings stop right there! Other than a couple of lusty blows by Mehmood, not one other batsman made double figures and batter after batter looked more like they were wielding a stick of rhubarb than a piece of willow. The wicket had played somewhat strangely and it became clear, probably all too late, that batsmen needed a lot of time in the middle before shot-making became any easier.

​

So another 10 points slips through our fingers and whilst any defeat is disappointing, the manner of this loss was particularly galling. Back to the drawing board it is for the side and a trip next week to Thornbury.

​

Pudsey Congs 124 all out (A.Goodchild 51)

Hepworth & Idle won by 44 runs

​

Pudsey Congs v Shipley Providence

PPM CUP Round Two

at Fulneck

Sunday May 22nd, 2011

Match report by Dom Allen 

​

An air of foreboding was hanging over Fulneck just before the start of this game. Dom Allen was the last home player to arrive at the ground for the first cup fixture of the season with the depression from the previous day’s performance having dissipated nil. It is fair to say however, that the remaining players from the previous day were surprisingly upbeat and one sensed that they might have had something to prove. He won the toss and with the strongest wind ever experienced at Fulneck (and a damp pitch) surprised many by opting to bat first.

​

Iky Zaman continued exactly where he had left off the previous day, only better, combining deft timing with exquisite pulls from balls that were only marginally short and made all the more impressive because he was doing it in what at times felt like a hurricane. After the unfortunate dismissals of Alistair Goodchild and Danny Cockin, Robin Kettlewell joined Zaman to play his second telling innings in two weeks at Fulneck. Initially he was quiet defending the good ball and content to sit in whilst Zaman went about his work.

And when Zaman was caught behind, Kettlewell only slightly upped the tempo as Majid Ali joined him in a partnership of 73, Ali making 30. Ali is scoring runs with regularity now and it was a shame to see him caught out when in full flow but after a brief partnership with Matthew Humpleby, evergreen John Patrick arrived at the crease to help Kettlewell grind Prov into the dirt. In fact, it appeared that Shipley almost gave up during this period of the game as a succession of maximums flew miles over the rope and during this time several players took to lying down in the field. By the end, Kettlewell was seeing it like a football, charging down the pitch and smashing the ball back over the head of the bowler, with Patrick at the other end hoisting anything short, effortlessly over midwicket. The final total was huge in a 40 over game and massive in the context of such appalling conditions.

Pudsey Congs 228-5 (R.Kettlewell 65 not out ; J.Patrick 46 not out ; I.Zaman 45)

​

The first part of the 2nd innings report is provided by our ‘utterly hilarious’ [sic] and ‘legendary’ Cricket Chairman Ralph Middlebrook and reads as follows:

​

“A gale blowing at Fulneck caused a lengthy delay in the start of the Shipley reply last Sunday. Flushed with excitement at the marvellous batting of his team, dealing with teas and the collecting of cash from both teams, Congs captain found himself last out on the field after his players, the opposing batters, and the umpires. After part setting the field he realised he had forgotten to provide a match ball! He left the field and spent an eternity rummaging for a ball in his baggage. At last he took up his position at mid off to find his bright red cap torn from his head and blown at least 100 yards into the old Fulneck Moravian CC cricket field. He jogged after the scarlet item and then jogged back, looking fairly scarlet himself. All this took a minimum of five minutes. Play began to much laughter and amusement for the few hardy spectators.”

​

Anyway, where was I?

​

The Shipley response got off to a flyer as both Chris Hawksworth and Humare Amjad took a liking to the extra pace of Saqib Mehmood, whilst Adam Patrick kept them much more restrained at the other end. But with a wicket desperately needed to stem the flow, Kettlewell continued his match-changing influence on the game by suggesting that John Patrick be brought into the attack to take the pace off the ball. Seemingly incapable of reigning in his overly attacking style, Hawksworth almost immediately hoisted up a towering catch to deep mid off that was either in the air for an eternity, or the world did actually stop turning for a while. Fortunately, the skipper held on and within two overs, Patrick had brilliantly bamboozled and castled Amjad to leave Prov 56-2.

Three runs later Humpleby took a brilliant diving and one handed catch to remove the dangerous Garfield Allen and Congs were well and truly in the box seat. But Shipley are not top of Division A by fluke and a highly dangerous partnership ensued between Carl Ward and Rafaquat Mehmood. Mehmood’s technique is not the easiest on the eye but boy when he hits the ball, it stays hit. It was Danny Cockin that broke the partnership (again at the suggestion of Midas Kettlewell) by bowling Mehmood (middle stump) second ball and this appeared to break the back of the Shipley line up. Soon afterwards, Michael Smith ran Ward out by calling for a suicidal run when he had hit the ball straight to Cockin who calmly gathered the ball and hoisted it to Humpleby who made no mistake.

​

After Tom Hawksworth was very well caught by Adam Patrick in the deep, all of the remaining wickets fell in what became the last over of the day bowled by Majid Ali. Two bowled and one superbly caught by Cockin’s safe hands, Shipley were bowled out for a slightly flattering 161.

​

If Allen was looking for a response from his players, he most certainly received it and in spades. The two day’s performances were like chalk and cheese and Allen felt at the end like the players had put in an extra effort both for him personally and the club who had been let down the day before. The players that came back into the side most certainly provided great direction, leadership and skill, all three being worth their weight in gold. But one must yet again make a special mention of John Patrick, the most modest of men when so many people nowadays cannot wait to tell you how brilliant they are. He made a rousing speech before the start of the Shipley innings and a further one in the dressing rooms afterwards and along with his cricketing skill and tea brewing abilities, he needs to be aware of just how much this team appreciates him.

​

Congratulations to each and every player in the side, they all gave everything they had and will be watching the quarter final draw with interest. It was especially pleasing to show what the A Division is missing out on this season and to beat the table toppers so convincingly is no mean feat.

​

Shipley Prov 161 all out (M.Ali 4-22 ; J.Patrick 3-31)

Pudsey Congs won by 67 runs

​

​

Rodley “B” v Pudsey Congs

At Canal Bank

Saturday May 21st, 2011

Match report by Dom Allen

​

A lot was promised of the Rodley B side and that visits to Canal Bank would be a lot more enjoyable against their rather less hostile second string. It is pleasing to report that all of the rumours were entirely true and this was certainly a day to remember. Chris Bradbury won the toss for Rodley and decided to bowl, the reason for which was not entirely clear as the pitch looked bare in patches but unlikely to deteriorate.

​

And at 96-0 he must have been kicking himself as both Alistair Goodchild and Iky Zaman threatened to take the game away from Rodley. They handled the return of Mark Allinson masterfully, albeit with touches of good fortune from time to time which you will always need against such a quality bowler. Zaman in particular played some beautifully timed strokes in an innings of exactly 50 and when his captain shouted that he must now go on and get the next 50, he responded with an almighty heave which rendered his middle stump prostrate. Goodchild had been slightly more sedate but had put away all of the bad balls he received and was desperately disappointed and unlucky to depart three short of what would have been a well earned 50.

​

The rest of the innings was pure accumulation with Majid Ali making a brisk 28 and Matthew Humpleby a very impressive and welcome 25. Saqib Mehmood and Joe Goodchild provided late order fireworks to send the score comfortably above 200 and a total the (admittedly weakened) bowling line up should have been more than capable of defending.

​

Pudsey Congs 217-6 (I.Zaman 50 ; A.Goodchild 47)

​

Everything in the garden was rosy at the commencement of the Rodley innings as Saqib Mehmood and Nathan Dalton bowled with both pace and accuracy. Shaun Carter was so plum with the score on 5 that he walked for his LBW and Rodley had got absolutely nowhere when Bradbury was brilliantly caught at square leg by Goodchild senior with the score on 29.

​

Dan Willoughby appeared at this stage and whilst Dom Allen was more than aware of his fighting qualities, a win for Rodley from this position seemed even beyond his own combative virtues. But his partnership with Julian Horsley seemed to change the character of the game and the pair put on almost 50 for the third wicket. Horsley made exactly 30 before being well caught by Humpleby, although sadly this was precisely 30 more than he had made when he was dropped second ball.

​

Former Congs player Chris Northrop made 16 in a further swashbuckling innings that kept up Rodley’s assault but when he was bowled by Allen, it appeared Congs were one, possibly no more than two wickets from victory. It seemed that the players on both sides sensed this and for whatever reason, Congs fielding and attitude disintegrated fatally. Mark Allinson was dropped second ball on the boundary and this was unfortunately made even worse because it went for six and was almost certainly match ball. He went on to make 27 before being caught almost identically.

​

Allen remonstrated with his team, almost pleaded with them, to field where he asked them to and have a greater understanding of the game situation but for whatever reason (almost certainly slipshod laziness) many were incapable of responding. And the remainder of the innings petered away in the most disillusioning manner it is possible to imagine, a game thrown down the drain because the hard yards were deemed to be too much of an effort.

​

The above is not intended to be disingenuous to Dan Willoughby who showed massive mental strength, courage and no little skill in his innings of 70 not out and Allen warmly congratulated his long time opponent and all round good bloke at the conclusion of the game. But he pointed out to his team in the dressing room that such an abject fielding display was simply not acceptable for this great club and things had better change within the next 24 hours, otherwise they would be looking for a new captain. He left Rodley a disconsolate man.

​

To be continued…………………

​

Rodley 218-6 (S.Mehmood 3-21)

Rodley won by 4 wickets

​

Pudsey Congs v Drighlington

At Fulneck

Saturday May 14th, 2011

Match report by Dom Allen

​

The wind seems to blow so much more often these days up at Fulneck and it very often spoils the quality of the cricket on display. Today was no exception, although both teams could take some credit for the entertainment that was provided, albeit not always being for the right reasons. It goes without saying that Dom Allen lost the toss but it never had a feel of great significance on a decent and typical looking Fulneck pitch. In fact, at 5-2 and 14-3 it was looking like a great toss to lose as Adam Patrick and Saqib Mehmood picked up where they had left off the previous week. Both bowled absolutely beautifully with perhaps Patrick deserving special praise for bowling uphill and into a roaring gale. If one were to offer a slight but constructive critical point it would be that, had both bowled at the stumps more, Drighlington would unquestionably have been bowled out for less than 50.

​

As it was, two big partnerships and it has to be said copious amounts of luck, significantly increased the Drighlington score and caused large levels of frustration to the Pudsey fielding unit. It was their more level headed reaction to these frustrations that would ultimately prove crucial in the outcome of this game however.

​

Previously, Matthew Humpleby had enjoyed his best day thus far with the gloves, taking a brilliant one handed catch to his left to dismiss the dangerous opener Dunne and also a sharp stumping off the bowling of the older (John) Patrick. In fact, Patrick’s bowling had mirrored that of his son and was a wonderful display of control in such testing conditions. Perfectionists would have been disappointed at tea time but Allen pointed out to his team that the higher total was an opportunity to scoop more batting points.

​

Drighlington 138 all out (J.Patrick 3-21 ; A.Patrick 3-24)

​

Congs had welcomed back Iky Zaman after work commitments had prevented him appearing until now and Allen plonked him straight into the position which brought so much success last term. And he immediately commenced his entertaining shot making to the delight of the Pudsey team, smashing the ball to all parts, both straight and square but never over cow. He was in complete control of a fielding side that were losing their heads but with the score at 48-1 and Zaman having scored 40 of them (off 20 balls), he inexplicably ran down the pitch and was bowled. This sadly triggered a mini collapse and Congs were 55-4 all of a sudden, with the result no longer looking anything like a forgone conclusion.

​

Yet once again, enter the fray, John Patrick to join up with Robin Kettlewell. In completely contrasting innings, the pair totally took the game away from Drighlington over a surprisingly short period of time. Kettlewell carried out his captain’s orders to perfection, sitting in and blocking almost everything to begin with and only initially latching onto the shortest of balls. Patrick meanwhile played some audacious strokes, one pull over square leg for a massive six being the highlight because the ball was lost for an eternity as a result. The pair clawed and clawed at the victory target and when this dipped below 30, the fielding team’s frustrations began to get the better of them.

​

Kettlewell and Patrick’s final tally was an unbroken stand of 87 and they had been a perfect foil for one another. It was a huge partnership, not just in terms of the volume of runs but the context of the match and the potentially perilous position their team could have found themselves in had either faltered early on. The winning runs (a further six over mid-wicket from Patrick) meant that Congs had secured 18 points from the match, which should be sufficient to maintain their upward momentum in the table.

Pudsey Congs 142-4 (J.Patrick 55 no ; I.Zaman 40 ; R.Kettlewell 31 no)

Pudsey Congs won by 6 wickets

​

Adel v Pudsey Congs

At Memorial Ground

Saturday May 7th, 2011

Match report by Dom Allen

​

At 11:30 it looked for all the world like one of those infuriating Saturdays when the rain would begin at lunch time and continue for the remainder of the day. Things looked no better when the side arrived at the Memorial Ground to a gloomy and miserable atmosphere and an air of resignation. But miraculously on this occasion the rain suddenly stopped at 14:00 and the umpires ordered an immediate toss, with play to commence once everyone had changed.

​

Dom Allen commented to his team in the dressing room that he was honoured to lead out his strongest team, during all of his time at Congs and one where they could justifiably feel they had most bases covered. Adel won what they regarded as an important toss but Allen was delighted that they opted to bowl in the wet conditions. Having being bullied into bowling almost a year ago in the exact same conditions, he was never going to make the same mistake twice.

​

Alistair Goodchild and Danny Cockin both started with well timed boundaries before Cockin was adjudged run out after a mix up in the middle with his opening partner. This brought Ashley Slater to the crease, fresh from his first team outing the previous weekend and it was always going to be interesting to see just how he would handle the reduction in standard. And the answer came relatively quickly as he typically got right in behind his defensive shots, whilst punishing just about every loose ball that he received with breathtaking ease.

​

When Goodchild was caught on the back foot and Steve Gunner had played on, Allen started to lose some of his pre-match and post-toss confidence but there really was no need as cricket’s own version of Highlander (and there can indeed be only one!) John Patrick joined his step-nephew at the crease. The pair put on exactly 100 for the fourth wicket and came within a whisker of taking the game completely out of Adel’s hands. Patrick mixed some audacious and beautifully timed strokes with some less than text book lofts over a strangely absent third man. At the other end Slater was enjoying the runs and time at the crease the outing was providing.

​

When Patrick departed, the innings stumbled somewhat as Adel clawed their way back into the game and Slater watched successive partners come and go whilst he continued his relentless quest towards a second Dales Council hundred. Sadly on this occasion it was not to be, as he selflessly tried to up the scoring rate for his team but his innings had provided some great entertainment for them. Majid Ali and Allen added 20 for the ninth wicket before Ali launched further vital runs in the final over to leave Congs on what they felt was a slightly above par score.

​

Pudsey Congs 194-9 (A.Slater 83 ; J.Patrick 47)

​

Allen impressed on his team that Adel would be no pushovers but the nature of the Adel fightback probably surprised many. In his first over, Saqib Mehmood was launched back over his head for a six into the tennis courts that did permanent damage to the new ball and Adel continued their pugnacious response, despite losing their captain early. Mehmood was curiously ineffective and surely chose the wrong end from which to bowl but their was no doubting the undoubted talent in the bowling at the other end as Adam Patrick produced not only his best figures in a long time but (in the opinion of the captain) his best bowling performance for almost two years. Impressive and successive Adel batsmen singularly failed to get Patrick off the square and by the (premature) end of his spell caused only by the crazy limitations on 18 year old bowlers, he had made a huge inroad into the Adel line-up and it looked for all the world like a fatal one.

​

But a team that is not used to winning will always make things much harder for themselves than is necessary and when this is combined with an extremely competent and combative opposition, it was clear this would be no walkover victory. After Gunner had removed Ridgeway and the game had seemed to be heading for an easy Congs win, the floodgates were suddenly opened and Allen was left scratching his head as to his best alternative.

​

In the end he turned to Mehmood from the ‘Tellytubby Hill’ End (and surely his more effective) and Majid Ali from the Pavillion End. Both performed admirably, Ali providing his usual boomerang away swing, Mehmood working up a head of steam without initially quite managing to hit the timber.

​

As the equation got tighter for Adel, their shots began to take on a greater level of risk and in doing so they brought the superb fielding of Danny Cockin into play. He made no mistake with a high, fly ball off Ali and although the remainder of the innings seemed to take forever, in reality Mehmood wrapped up the tail inside a further four overs to give Congs a most welcome victory and even better, maximum points. It is to Adel’s great credit that they made a very good Pudsey side fight so hard for their victory and in fact it became clear after the game that they too had their best possible team out, explaining their devastation at the end.

Adel 164 all out (A.Patrick 3-8 ; S.Mehmood 3-55)

Pudsey Congs won by 30 runs

​

Savile Stars v Pudsey Congs

At Sands Lane

Saturday April 30th, 2011

Match report by Dom Allen

​

Due to late withdrawals and significant absentees, Congs were scratching around to raise 11 men for this match, although their bowling was never going to be a problem. Dom Allen had the luxury of playing an overseas player in Saqib Mehmood due to his ineligibility to play Bradford League cricket. He started very well, extracting pace and exuberant bounce from a hopelessly underprepared pitch. After an ugly slog for six, Mehmood picked up the first wicket of the match next ball, yorking and splattering the stumps of his namesake in the Saville line up. Adam Patrick immediately had Nadeen LBW off a full toss and Saville were struggling at 21-2.

​

The turning point of the afternoon came three balls later when Ali on zero was totally bamboozled by a slower ball that bowled him. The only problem for Patrick and Congs was that the bails failed to drop; made all the more puzzling because they had blown off in the wind on several occasions already. Ali went on to record 31 runs in an innings that relied almost exclusively on luck. He was dropped at least five times by a poor Congs fielding unit and also managed to hit one ball straight into the sun that would have proved the easiest catch of all. In fact Congs fielding was as dreadful as their bowling had been brilliant, all four bowlers used taking at least two wickets and Majid Ali finishing with four. Sam Mason also bowled impressively on his return with no luck at all.

Saville Stars 126 all out (M.Ali 4-44)

​

Chasing 127 for victory was never going to be easy on a pitch that was playing so dreadfully but when the combination of erratic bowling and a rock hard cherry were added to the melting pot, the task became nigh on impossible. Robin Kettlewell was desperately unfortunate to be given out on the front foot and within minutes, Congs were 7-4 as the utterly ridiculous amount of movement (both up and down as well as lateral) played havoc in the minds of the Congs batsmen.

​

Mehmood made a brisk 21 as the ball started to soften and Alistair Goodchild was resolute at the other end. Indeed with the score standing at 70-6 and Goodchild still at the crease with Patrick, a miraculous victory looked to be a possibility, albeit a distant one. But when Goodchild became the victim of a further LBW decision, the trumpeter began to purse his lips. Mark Ferguson (on 3rd team debut and already impressive with the gloves) and Alex Goodchild both added useful runs at the end and a score of 90 meant Congs had been in no way disgraced. In fact, it was far more than they could have hoped for an hour earlier.

Congs skipper Allen remonstrated furiously with his opposite number after the game, commenting that the pitch was not fit to host an Under 9s game, let alone one containing some of the fastest bowlers in the league and it is a huge relief that no player was seriously injured this time around. Pudsey will be hoping to go to the other end of the spectrum next week at Adel, where the pitches rarely disappoint.

​

Pudsey Congs 90 all out (A.Goodchild 22 ; S.Mehmood 21)

Saville Stars won by 36 runs

​

Tong Manor v Pudsey Congs

At Tong Manor CC

Saturday April 23rd, 2011

Match report by Dom Allen

​

A more balanced side attended the postage stamp next to the Greyhound Pub for the first match between Tong Manor and Pudsey Congs senior Dales Council side. Despite losing the toss, Congs were gifted their wish when opposition captain Dave Rule decided to have a bowl. A faultless opening partnership between Danny Cockin and Alistair Goodchild set Congs well on their way to a defendable total, only for Goodchild to be cut off in his prime by a less than convincing appeal. Cockin went on to make a supreme 57 which was all down to exquisite timing and at one point he and John Patrick looked to be taking the game completely out of Tong’s reach, Patrick himself showing that decent cricketers never lose either their ability or competitive spirit and he too made an excellent 50.

​

But with the score having looked comfortable at 141-3 and 161-4, Congs slipped to 161-6 and rebuilding was necessary for Pudsey to make a competitive score on such a tiny ground. Fortunately for them, young Tom Huffingley joined the very old Dom Allen and the pair added 73 for the seventh wicket. After a slow start, Huffingley grew in confidence and was virtually picking the area of the ground to hit by the end of his innings. Allen pleaded with the remainder of the order to utilise the remaining overs which they criminally failed to do although nobody could have known at the time just how costly gifting Tong one over would prove.

Pudsey Congs 236 all out (D.Cockin 57;J. Patrick 50;D.Allen 39;T.Huffingley 33)

​

With the score having moved onto 10, Adam Patrick removed the opener Spargo, who was soon after followed by Slack to the bowling of Nathan Dalton. Dave Rule added a quickfire 22 before being deceived by Abid Bashir’s very first delivery and despite occasional fireworks, in truth Tong never looked like getting particularly close to their target. That being said, Congs bowling and fielding was relatively lethargic and the extras were the second top scorer for Tong.

​

John Patrick bowled with control and Abid Bashir picked up two wickets and despite having not really played all that well, Congs were huge favourites coming into the final straight. However, the one batsman they had singularly failed to remove until now was opener Darren Holmes who without looking devastating had bided his time and it has to be said ridden his luck somewhat. He was more than a little fortunate to not be given run out whilst dawdling into his crease, possibly thinking the throw was going to the other end and had chipped the ball directly into no-man’s land on several occasions.

​

But with the equation reading 27 runs from the final (albeit unnecessarily extra) over, Congs will have thought they were as good as home and hosed. Holmes had different ideas however and launched a blistering attack on the Pudsey skipper that will cause mental scars for years to come. He hit the first three balls for six, although the second was desperately unfortunate to land on top of the hedge having touched Adam’s Patrick’s fingers and would have been caught at orthodox mid off on any other ground. The fourth ball provided some respite and one further dot would have concluded the match in Cong’s favour. But a further huge straight six followed by a totally miscued four off the last ball ensured ecstasy for Tong Manor and total and utter devastation for Congs, in particular, Allen who will now have to live with this unwanted record against his name for years to come.

The final over proved harsh on Congs also because it meant that by far and away the better ‘team’ had been beaten by one man. Without really getting into any more than second gear, Congs had bossed 89 of the 90 overs in the day and it seemed desperately unfair that, having recorded a top score of 22, the other 10 members of the Tong side were gifted a victory that in truth they had not earned.

​

All of the credit must go to Holmes however and he batted magnificently and to keep a clear head with everything going on around him and knowing the result rested solely on his shoulders was a stunning effort.

​

Tong Manor 238-9 (D.Holmes 136 no ; J.Patrick 3-43)

Tong Manor won by one wicket

​

Pudsey Congs v Apperley Bridge “A”

At Fulneck

Saturday April 16th, 2011

Match report by Robin Kettlewell

​

The opening day of the season was one to forget as far as the Dales 1st eleven were concerned. The opponents Apperley Bridge look like a team to follow this season in division ‘B’ as they posted an intimidating 229 all out in 43 overs. Congs bowlers stuck to their task well with Adam Patrick claiming 4 for 53. In reply Congs were never in the chase as they stumbled to 6 for 2 before rallying slightly to 53 for 2. From that point onwards Congs crumbled to a sorry 64 all out.

A much improved performance is required next week if Congs are to record their first win against Tong Manor.

​

​