Cricketers brave chilly opening to the season

3:09pm Thursday 24th April 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

The Craven & District League opened the season with cricketers, umpires and spectators all braving the ice cold temperatures.

The league's honourary fixtures secretary, Trevor Coe, was due to umpire at Ingrow St John's but when their match against Long Lee was called off he travelled to Thornton and umpired the game featuring reigning champions Cullingworth.

Coe said: "I ended up having to wear gloves because my hands were blue."

Some players, including Thornton's Rob Foster, also donned woolly hats.

One player who was out of his element was Culllingworth's new overseas player, 19-year-old South African Brandon Varley, who is accustomed to playing cricket in temperatures around the 30-degree mark.

His teammate and club secretary Steve Welch said: "It was the coldest day of cricket that he's ever experienced. He doesn't want the whole summer to be like that."

Although he may have been cold, young Varley was "hot" with the ball. He took six wickets and gave up just 25 runs in 17.4 overs.

Although Cullingworth ended up winning the match by ten wickets, they will play Thornton again very soon in the Manorlands Plate charity game at Glusburn on Bank Holiday Monday, May 4.

Cullingworth also play Central Yorkshire League champions York in the Black Sheep Trophy on Sunday, May 25.