10:39am Thursday 3rd May 2012
After a year away at Pudsey Congs, Josh Atkinson returned to the Otley fold with a bang by producing a match-winning performance against Collingham.
This was one of only three Aire-Wharfe matches – and the only one in Division One – to overcome a wretched weekend’s weather.
Atkinson produced a 2.4 over spell of 3-11 and with new Australian Andrew Ross (3-30) helped bowl out the visitors for 135 of which their No4 batsman Ollie Hardaker hit a half century.
Sam Smith (46) led the Otley reply before Atkinson (55no) saw them home with seven wickets to spare.
While completed matches were thin on the ground, there were plenty of superb individual performances, with Andrew Doidge topping the lot as Rawdon sought to let their rivals know they intend to bounce straight back after being relegated to Division Two last year.
The game against Calverley looked evenly balanced when Rawdon were 104-4 but then Doidge and Ryan Gladwin came together to put on an unbeaten 121. Gladwin, who has signed from Morley, scored 42 while left-hander Doidge hammered seven sixes and four fours in his 91no.
He then turned wicket taker, picking up 6-27 with his right-arm spin and together with Jack Hobson (3-24) dismissed the visitors for 109.
Harden appear to have found a useful replacement for overseas player Jordan McKenzie in James Seymour who top scored with 85 in their 277 at Upper Wharfedale.
He found solid support from skipper Richard Wear (52), former Northowram all-rounder Ben Birkill (48) and Neil Kettle (30) who has re-joined Harden from Bolton Villas.
Seymour (3-49) and Birkill (3-26) combined to dismiss Wharfedale for 169, despite the efforts of James Freebury with an unbeaten 92.
With the rain even more persistent on Sunday, none of the Waddilove Cup pre- liminary round matches survived and they will try again at the weekend.
Addingham Cricket Club have successfully achieved Clubmark and will receive the accolade from former Yorkshire and England skipper Brian Close on Sunday.
The presentation will take place at the clubhouse at 1.30pm. This will be followed by a fun Past players v Present players match, commencing at 2pm.
Refreshments will be available and the clubhouse will be open. The club say that visitors are welcome to attend.
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