Keighley’s record-breaking run-scorer Richard Robinson feels younger players are missing out by not mixing with the opposition after games.

The Lawkholme Lane skipper, who has become the first player in the JCT600 Bradford League to pass 17,000 league runs, says that cricketers can add so much to their knowledge in the ‘golden hour’ after a match has finished.

The 42-year-old, who passed the landmark while scoring 70 in his side’s 66-run win over Bankfoot last Saturday, said: “Players are disappearing too soon after games have finished.

“I like to chat to the opposition and often to their overseas players.

“If you cannot learn something from talking to people such as (India’s) VVS Laxman then there is something wrong.”

Robinson, whose run tally is now 17,027, made his debut as a 15-year-old for Keighley – ironically against Bankfoot.

He said: “I was batting at No 9 with Tim Sugden against former Yorkshire bowler Howard Cooper and got nine not out.”

So what have been Robin-son’s most memorable innings in those 27 years?

He said: “Getting 100 against a Pudsey Congs attack that included Matt-hew Hoggard, Phil Carrick and James Middlebrook, and getting 150 against a Pudsey St Lawrence side that included New Zealand Test bowler Simon Doull, who is one of the best overseas players I’ve ever faced.”

Robinson, whose 17,000-run landmark came just a week after he reached the milestone of 500 wickets, is in no doubt who the best bowler is he has ever faced in the Bradford League.

The left-hander said: “Bradford & Bingley’s Richard McCarthy – year in and year out.”

Who then have been Robinson’s best team-mates?

He said: “Steve Reape and John Marshall. I know that Steve had a couple of years at Manningham Mills but he has basically stayed loyal to Keighley, while I don’t remember John Marshall ever bowling a bad ball when I played with him at Baildon.”

So, having played in it continuously since 1986, what makes the Bradford League so special for Robinson?

He replied: “The banter with players such as Greg Colehan.”

There is no doubt, however, that Robinson would swap a proportion of those 17,027 runs for Keighley being higher up the Division Two table.

Their fourth victory of the season last weekend pushed them up to ninth in the table, and Robinson said: “That is our second win on the trot and I still think we can get into the top six.

“But at one stage it looked as if we would lose to Bankfoot.

“With rain forecast, I declared after 47 overs when we were 225-9, which perhaps caught Ross Towler by surprise as he was 26 not out.

“And it looked like a dodgy decision when James Holdsworth was hitting some big shots for Bankfoot but Tom Stead came on and took 4-5 and we won by 66 runs, so I think Ross forgave me!”

Earlier Keighley had been 32-3 before Robinson and Jack Beetham (31) added 72 for the fourth wicket, Robinson reaching his half-century in 44 balls. Tom Stead then made a brisk 36.

Bankfoot were 57-4 before Holdsworth starting flaying the home bowlers on his way to 66, his 50 coming in just 33 balls as he added 91 with overseas player Ankit Rawat (25).

However, once Stead weaved his magic, backed up by Robinson (3-38) and Towler (3-44), Bankfoot subsided from 148-4 to 159 all out.

Rain arguably robbed Keighley’s second team of victory in their Division One derby at Bradford & Bingley, Luke Chapman taking 4-49 and Amjid Hussain 1-13 off only ten overs as the hosts made 176-9.

Keighley were 90-2 off only 20 overs when play ended, with opener Andrew Waggett unbeaten on 51, reaching his half-century off 62 balls.

Reape was keeping him company on 21 not out in an unbroken stand of 56.