Rain continues to drain Craven League clubs' resources (From Keighley News)

Rain continues to drain Craven League clubs' resources

8:10am Thursday 12th July 2012 in Sport

Buy this photo » Jack Price bowling for Bradley

This frustrating season continues as rain wiped out 20 games.

Of the ten where play was possible, only half finished and there is a growing concern that some clubs are suffering financially, especially where flooding has caused damage.

The only game that finished in Division One was at Crossflatts, where Bingley Congs were the visitors.

The Beckfoot side only managed 103, Chris Hemsley (49) and Neil Copping (23) being the only two to offer much resistance as Fiaz Akram (4-25) and Anwar Saeed (3-17) did most of the damage.

Akram (34no) and Saeed (20no) then rescued Crossflatts from 51-5 to take them to victory.

Leaders Haworth Road were at Thornton and posted 177-8, Waj Mahmood top-scoring with 58 as Jonny Martin took 3-19 and Mark Paxton 3-30.

That was as far as the game went as rain then hammered down.

It was a similar story at Cullingworth, where play was curtailed in the 34th over after Oakworth had reached an impressive 225-5, Jack Hainsworth making a superb 99.

Skipper Joel Gallagher scored 37no and Robert Hopkinson (33), Graham Rankin taking 4-68 against his old club.

Barrowford struggled to 101 at Bradley, with B Hussain making 31 and Ajmal Choudrhy (26) as Casper Bean took 4-35. The hosts managed 8-0 off seven overs in reply.

There was no play in the Airedale v Embsay or the Haworth v Ingrow games.

Only one game in Division Two started, and that was between Cononley and Glusburn.

The home side’s Charles Calvert made a super 101no, aided by Willie Naylor (26) and Herbie Starkey (21) to take the score to 180-8, at which point the heavens opened.

Two games survived in Division Three, with one of them ending controversially.

That match was at Denholme, who faced local rivals Cullingworth II.

It is alleged that Culling- worth’s ninth-wicket pair forfeited the game when they walked off in the 43rd over after the umpires deemed play could continue. The League are looking into the matter.

At Barrowford II, Gargrave were hustled out for 65, with Paul Carey taking 4-30 and Ryan Harris (4-33).

The Bull Holme side needed a lot of work on the square before play was allowed to continue and they got home by five wickets.

Only one game – out of two – reached a conclusion in Division Four.

Bingley Congs entertained Wilsden II, who made 120.

The Beckfoot side slumped to 33-7 before a bit of tail-wagging saw them reach 64.

The other game to start was at Glusburn, where visitors Cononley II were dismissed for 108.

Joel Granger made 36 as Dominic Mortimer took 5-30 and Rummy Smith 5-48. The Park Field had made 33-2 in reply when a deluge flooded the square.

Three games started in Division Five and two finished. Haworth West End II scored 155 at Penistone Hill against Sutton II, Andrew Hallas scoring 34 and Liam Chipman 30 as David Snowden took 3-26.

Sutton could only muster 64, Peter Hatton taking 4-8 .

Skipton CI II were knocked over for 40 at Pendle Forest II, with T Zaman taking 6-18. The Fence lost four wickets reaching their target.

Chatburn II made 163-9 against Thornton II, with openers S Duckworth (47) and J Moore (31) putting on 80 as C Heald claimed 7-59 off 16 overs. No reply was possible.