This week we go back ten years to 2010 and remember our 1st XI winning Division C. We hand over to captain Ryan Robinson to tell the ‘Storey’…

The 1st XI started with high hopes for 2010 given the recruitment of Chris Harris, Matt Love, Chris Sowden and overseas fast bowler Ben Purvis. The first game of the season was against Ilkley who finished 3rd in 2009 – an ideal start was made, with us posting 275 with John Storey and Adam Campion both scoring heavily with the bat. Ilkley were restricted to 158 in response.

Confidence was high leading into the 2nd game of the season against Ben Rhydding (away), again opposition who finished near the top of the league the previous season (4th). Ben Rhydding batted first and were restricted to 158; a score which we felt was definitely achievable. Unfortunately, we were bowled out for 130. The key part of the game being the middle order losing 4 wickets in less than 2 overs. Whether this was complacency or not the dressing room was very low after the game and the general feeling was one that no member wanted to experience again!

Following the inconsistent start to the season, we were well aware of the need to string together some victories to have any chance to get out of the division. The team pulled together well and managed to remain unbeaten for the next 9 games to the turn of the season leaving us in 3rd place. During this time, we lost Matt Love, who returned to Hampshire to play for his home club and at times were 2 or 3 players down due to holidays and other commitments. During this stage, the 2nd XI players who came in to play for the 1st XI performed admirably and contributed to our overall success. Notably, Jack Ryan scoring a fantastic 25 not out against Horsforth at home to help us surpass the opposition’s total and get the 6 points we required to stay in the promotion hunt. Another player is Kyle Smith, who again performed admirably when he played in the 1st XI. It was fantastic to see these junior players coming through and performing well and to see the progress that they have made.

As well as our reasonable performances in the league, we had also progressed to the quarter finals of the Waddilove Cup. We played Bolton Villas in the 1st round who were from a division higher than us and we beat them convincingly. Ben Purvis and Chris Baldwin batting very well helping us to a total of 270 plus. Ilkley, our promotion rivals, were awaiting us in the 2nd round. The game started and we were 120 for 3, or thereabouts, and the heavens opened. There was no way we were going to get back on so the only way forward was a bowl out! This was the cricket equivalent of a penalty shoot-out and was definitely entertaining! We came out 2-1 winners with John Storey and Chris Harris hitting the stumps for us.

On to the Quarter Finals next as the only 3rd division side left in the competition and we had Green Lane at home awaiting us who were 2nd in the 1st Division. This would provide us with a stern test and an indication as to where we really were as a side. We won the toss and batted first (mainly because England were playing Germany in the World Cup – but knowing what we know now maybe we should have bowled)! We posted a reasonable score just short of 200, knowing if we fielded and bowled well we would have a chance. Green Lane did surpass our total with around 8 balls left and 3 wickets left. We had put up a great performance and in the end a few dropped catches probably cost us. However, at least we knew we could hold our own against the very best the league had to offer. This was to provide us with renewed confidence going into the latter half of the season.

So, moving on into the 2nd half of the season, we were 3rd at halfway and had only lost 2 games and had over 50 points. To be 3rd with this points total was unusual to say the least. Starting with Ilkley away, we lost the toss again, and were put into bat on a difficult wicket. At one stage we were 30-odd for 5 but a superb knock of 69 from Adam Campion, when we really needed it, brought us to a total of around 170. This total, although not as many as we wanted, did give us something to bowl at. John Storey and Charles Dracup bowled very well and economically, and we were in with a chance with a few overs to go! Unfortunately, Ilkley got home with 7 balls to spare and 2 wickets in hand. The dressing room was not a good place afterwards!

We had to pick ourselves up very quickly for Ben Rhydding at home, a game that we felt, if we won, would keep us in the promotion hunt, but if we lost could have almost ended our season. Again, we lost the toss and were batting first! The team as a whole responded brilliantly from the previous week with most of the batsman chipping in to post 276. This was always going to be a big ask for Ben Rhydding and once we had seen the back of their Kiwi and Charlie Swallow we knew we were in the driving seat. It was just a case of would they get 1 or 2 points! In the end it was only 1 point that they took from the game and the 5 points we took put us back in contention.

We then played Woodhouse, Hall Park, Bardsey and Skipton and took a total of 21 points from these games, the dropped points again down to the captain for losing the toss and sides successfully batting out for points!

We then had New Rover at home while Ilkley were playing Ben Rhydding. We knew a win here could take us 2nd and into that promotion spot we had been chasing all season due to the top 2 playing each other and one of them had to drop points. For once we did win the toss on a wet wicket and had to fancy our chances! Unfortunately, it was the one game of the season where we let ourselves down; we didn’t bowl or field well and allowed New Rover to score 221 on a difficult wicket. We had to take something from the game and after we lost a few early wickets it looked as though 1 or 2 points was all we could hope for. Thanks to a superb knock from Andrew Morgan, whilst everyone else capitulated around him, we managed to get 1 point. Again, the dressing room was very low after the game with a few of us feeling like our chance had been missed.

We had 4 games to play and were relying on other sides to drop points. We set ourselves a target of 24 points from these games. We played Addingham and Alwoodley and took 12 points from them, and Ilkley dropped 6 points. We were now level with Ilkley on points. Next up was Horsforth away who always seemed to cause us problems in previous games and we had to play them without John Storey as he injured his ankle in the game against Alwoodley. This time we won the toss and bowled but they got off to a good start, 90-1 ish, but we stuck at it and made the breakthrough and they folded to 138 all out. We knocked this total off without any drama and took the 6 points. We found out that Ilkley had been beaten again, so we were 6 points in front of them with only one game to go! A single point would guarantee promotion and if Ben Rhydding lost and we won, we would go up as champions! Our destination was finally in our own hands and everyone was looking forward to the last game of the season, albeit a difficult game against Colton.

Finally, the day of reckoning had arrived. When it really mattered, we won the toss and elected to bowl on a green wicket. Again, we allowed Colton to score more than they should have but Ben Purvis bowled well and took regular wickets finishing with a ‘5 for’ and a healthy season tally of 54 wickets to leave Colton on 174. So, here we go, 175 needed for 6 points or just bat the 44 overs (the match was rain affected) to get the minimum point that we needed! We lost an early wicket, then the injured John Storey arrived at the crease and everyone was hopeful that John’s experience and ability would see us through. Chris Sowden and John Storey batted very well from then on taking us to drinks where we were 59-1 with 22 overs to go.

We had called Skipton to find out that Ilkley were almost certain to take 6 points so the point was still definitely needed. When we called Bardsey we found out that Ben Rhydding were about to lose. If we could get past Colton’s total of 174 we would finish as champions after not been top all season! I panicked and ran out with the drinks! I told Chris and John of the impending results and that a victory would see us promoted as champions. John and Chris put their foot on the accelerator, and John in particular who set about Colton’s bowling with real aggression. We managed to pass Colton’s total thanks to a superb 106 from John Storey and Chris Sowden’s 38. Cue the celebrations! Champions!