South Yorkshire Times, June 27, 1970
Light Work for Wath
Thorncliffe Recreational 109 Wath 110 for 2
Thorncliffe Recreational’s home match with Wath on Saturday, which they lost by eight wickets, emphasised Recreational’s weaknesses, their work in the field and the impatience of the early batsmen.
On Saturday they put down four catches, two in the first over: while Wath held seven.
The Recreational recorded 53 for five and of these White hit 19 and Hartle 12. Cooling was top scorer with 23. After 29 overs the Recreational were all out for 109. Silverwood took five for 42 and Lidster four for 18 for Wath.
Thorncliffe had to wait until Wath had 42 on the board before they got a wicket and the next at 48, was their last for Walker (not out 33) and Garbett (not out 27) built on the 23 hit by Richardson and saw Wath to 110. Their two wickets fell to Ferris and Barker.
Darfield Recovery is Led By Harris
Cortonwood 233 for 8 Darfield 151
Cortonwood, now really pushing for Yorkshire Council honours, completed a “double” at the expense of Darfield, declaring at 233 for eight and then dismissing the visitors for 151.
Winning the toss, Cortonwood built up a formidable total with some solid batting. Openers Brian Hunsley (16) and John Walters (six) were both out when the score reached 35, and Barry Heanley (17), was out with the score at 50. Skipper Clive Baxter (16) saw the score go to 108 for four.
Big hitter was Cyril Taylor, whose 89, achieved in 78 minutes, including eleven fours and four sixes was played with great confidence. Byron Pearson carried his bat for 35, giving him an unbeaten record so far at Cortonwood. Stan Johnson scored 23 and Philip Wrightson 21.
Hero of the Darfield side was Fred Harris, who claimed five wickets for 70 in 18 overs, and afterwards went on to lead Darfield in a spirited batting recovery. In Darfield’s attack he was well supported by Ian Mann (two for 66) and George Hurst (one for 17).
Cortonwood declared after 44 overs, giving Darfield an additional two overs in which to get the runs. They had a sound, solid start, Ian Randerson (36) and Ken Kitching (12) putting on 48 before the fall of the first wicket.
Then followed a dramatic collapse of Darfield, who found themselves with five wickets down and only 52 runs on the board after Stocks went for a duck, Gibbs for two and Savage for a duck.
This meant that five wickets went with the addition of only four runs, the damage being done mainly by Cortonwood’s Henry Wildsmith, who at this stage had four for seven in four overs.
Roger Swift (14) and Stuart Anderson (13) consolidated the position and at 92 for nine Darfield staged a marvellous recovery led by Fred Harris with Ian Mann, giving commendable support. Harris set about the bowlers and hit ten fours in a not out score of 47. Mann was finally caught by, Baxter at short leg for 16.. Fifty-nine runs were added for the last wicket.
Cortonwood’s Henry Wildsmith finished with four for45, Phillip Wrightson two for 27 and Geoff Biram two for 54.
Main Look Convincing
Houghton Main 152 for 1 Sheffield United S.R. 151 for 9
A magnificent hit of 112 not out—including 10 fours— by Malcolm Turner carried Houghton. Main to a convincing Yorkshire Council victory over Sheffield United S.R. at Middlecliffe.
The home side won the toss and put Sheffield United in to bat, to score 151 for nine. Houghton Main reached the target for the loss of only one wicket
Top scorers for Sheffield were Cummings 29 and Dixon 23 not out. On-form Houghton bowlers were Tommy Bird (three for 23). George Pilkington (three for 41) and Walter Townsend (two for 32).
Houghton had a disappointing start to their innings when John Brayford, newly-recruited to the club from Grimethorpe, went for a duck with the score at five, but then a 147 partnership by Turner and Peter Heaney (35 not out) allowed Houghton Main to sail away Comfortably.