ALL but two of the 34 Costcutter York and District Senior Cricket League matches due to have been played on Saturday had to be abandoned without any play because of the wet weather.
Prompted by rain having affected a number of fixtures during April and early May during the past few seasons - and also by the Indian Summers which are becoming increasingly regular - there has been growing support recently for starting the Costcutter League season a week or so later than usual. But who would ever have contemplated suggesting delaying the start until after the beginning of June?
The number of weather-hit games this year has, with less than a third of the season completed, already exceeded the total for the whole of 1999.
So far this season 72 games have not produced a result, and in only 14 of these has a ball been bowled. Last year only 26 games were abandoned altogether, with a similar number getting under way before being rained off.
Wisely, it seems, the majority of Saturday's games were called off well in advance of the scheduled start times, due to the waterlogged ground conditions. Only a few sides decided and were asked to travel in order to discover the bad news for themselves.
In the division one fixture at Dunnington, the home side managed to get in just three overs during which they scored 12 runs without loss before agreeing to call it a day.
In division three, however, Whitkirk took full advantage of the comparatively drier conditions towards the west of the region to record a five wicket victory over Thorp Arch, and climb two places into fourth position, with a game still in hand over both the leaders, Cawood, and also second-placed Heworth.
Man of the match John Colley followed his return of 5-33 in the Thorp Arch innings of 154-9 with the day's top score of 59 not out.
Matthew Warrilow and Matthew Fraser scored 33 and 25 respectively for the visitors, while Colley's knock was well supported by useful contributions from Dave Boucher (26) and Garry Thorpe (30) in Whitkirk's reply of 156-5, during which 16-year-old Michael Linnecar took three wickets for 42.
Costcutter York and District Senior League results and tables
Division One
Dunnington (9pts) drew with Duncombe Park (pts): Dunnington 12-0, match abandoned after three overs (rain).
Division Three
Whitkirk II (27pts) beat Thorp Arch and Boston Spa (5pts): Thorpe Arch and Boston Spa 154-9 (M Worrilow 33, M Fraser 25, J Colley 5-33), Whitkirk II 156-5 (D Boucher 26, G Thorpe 30, J Colley 59 no, M Linneker 3-42).
All other fixtures in all divisions were abandoned without any play because of rain or waterlogged grounds. Each side gets 9 points.
Premier Division
P W D L Pts
Easingwold 7 5 2 0 155
Pickering 7 2 4 1 119
Heworth 7 3 3 1 112
Clifton Alliance 7 3 1 3 106
Acomb 7 1 6 0 100
Sheriff Hutton Bridge 7 2 2 3 97
Thirsk 7 2 2 3 88
Woodhouse Grange 7 1 4 2 84
Driffield 7 0 6 1 83
Pocklington 7 1 4 2 82
Whitkirk 7 1 3 3 78
Osbaldwick 7 0 5 2 62
Division One
Wilberfoss 7 4 3 0 127
York 7 3 4 0 126
Dunnington 7 2 4 1 114
Goole Town 7 3 3 1 109
Ripon 7 3 3 1 108
Stamford Bridge 7 2 5 0 93
Dringhouses 7 2 3 2 92
Duncombe Park 7 1 4 2 83
Crayke 7 1 3 3 65
Beverley Town 7 0 4 3 56
Sessay 7 0 4 3 48
Civil Service 7 0 2 5 31
Division Two
Carlton Towers 7 5 1 1 147
Stillington 7 2 4 1 110
Harrogate 7 3 3 1 108
Castleford 7 2 4 1 103
Bubwith 7 1 4 2 93
Clifton Alliance II 7 2 3 2 91
Scarborough 7 1 5 1 86
Rowntree 7 1 3 3 85
Woodhouse Grange II 7 0 7 0 72
Bridlington 7 1 5 1 71
Hovingham 7 0 5 2 49
Osbaldwick II 7 0 4 3 39
Division Three
Cawood 7 4 3 0 151
Heworth II 7 2 4 1 115
Tadcaster Magnet 6 3 3 0 111
Whitkirk II 6 2 3 1 89
Acomb II 6 1 4 1 89
Heslington 6 2 3 1 85
Londesbrough Park 7 2 2 3 76
Selby 6 1 4 1 69
Bolton Percy 6 1 4 1 68
Easingwold II 7 1 3 3 64
Thorp Arch & BS 7 0 1 5 32
Division Four
Yapham 7 2 4 1 129
Dunnington II 7 4 1 2 125
New Earswick 7 3 3 1 124
Huntington 7 3 2 2 111
Thirsk II 7 3 2 2 103
Pocklington II 7 3 2 2 101
Huby 7 1 4 2 83
Tadcaster Magnet II 7 2 2 3 82
Carlton Towers II 7 1 4 2 82
Selby II 7 1 2 4 70
Sheriff Hutton 7 1 5 1 65
Sheriff Hutton Bridge II 7 1 3 3 64
Division Five
Sessay II 7 4 3 0 151
Stillington II 7 4 2 1 134
Stamford Bridge II 7 4 2 1 131
Dringhouses II 6 3 2 1 111
Cawood II 7 3 3 1 106
Rowntree II 6 2 3 1 88
Hovingham II 6 1 4 1 77
Bolton Percy II 6 1 1 4 49
Thorp Arch & BS II 6 0 3 3 35
New Earswick II 6 0 2 4 30
Civil Service II 6 0 1 5 14
Tied and abandoned games included with draws.
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