July 1953 was a busy time for the Ash. First the Evening League team had to play the Addison Cup Final against Bilton at Harrogate Cricket Club.
The game should have been played on Monday 13th July, but heavy rain saw the game called off at 3 pm. High winds and sunshine saw this decision described as 'hasty', but the main problem arose when a 'Disgustingly crude note' was attached to the gates to announce the postponement.
Play was eventually possible the next day. The Ash batting first made a total of 90 all out. The damp wicket saw the Bilton bowlers on top as only S S wales (18), G Bainbridge (10), L Rigg (17) and W Oddy (17) made double figures.
Any hope Bilton had of an easy ride didn't last long as the Ash bowlers roared in and bowled out Bilton for 66, L Rigg (8 for 46) and Rev L P Clare (2-24) the heroes of the hour .
The full scorecard read:
Pannal Ash
S Swales
lbw b. Horner
18
A C Bell
b. Horner
0
R Jackson
b. Stancliffe
3
G Bainbridge
st. Marshall b. Stancliffe
10
Rev L P Clare
c. Hardy b. Stancliffe
4
(w/k) T Robertshaw
c. Hewkin b. Horner
5
L Rigg
c. Borchard b. Stancliffe
17
S Massey
b. Stancliffe
2
G Green
b. Horner
7
W Oddy
b. Horner
17
B Spedding
Not out
2
Extras
5
TOTAL
90
Bilton
C Marshall
b. Rigg
1
J Hewkin
b. Rigg
5
M Johnson
c. Rigg b. Clare
12
M Hardy
c. Rigg b. Rigg
0
J Laycock
c. Oddy b. Rigg
10
R Borchard
b. Rigg
1
W Stancliffe
c. Jackson b. Rigg
7
R Waddington
lbw. B. Clare
4
A Laycock
c. Spedding b. Rigg
10
R Horner
Not out
14
T Broadley
lbw. B. Rigg
0
Extras
2
TOTAL
66
Bowling Analysis
Pannal Ash Innings
Wickets
Runs
Horner
5
51
Stancliffe
5
31
Bilton Innings
Wickets
Runs
Rev L P Clare
2
24
L Rigg
8
40
Next, the second leg of the double was the following Monday. Again at Harrogate Cricket Club. The opposition this time was Railway Athletic and the Briden Cup the reward.
A flat pitch and inferior light saw a keen, but sporting final, this time the Ash were bowling first.
The Ash opening bowlers were again L Rigg and Rev L P Clare. The first wicket was a run out which then brought G A Spittlehouse, the Athletic captain, to the crease, who top scored with 40 and enjoyed good support from A Morrison (19) and H Smith (11). As the innings closed on 88 for 6 with Rev L P Clare (3 for 42) the pick of the bowling. Strangely, Addison Cup hero L Rigg didn't pick up a wicket.
The Ash response was led by S Swales (36) with E Quinn (16), J Skerrow (14) and G Bainbridge (12 not out) as victory was achieved with three overs to spare.
The scorecard was as follows:
Pannal Ash
S Swales
c. Sibson b. Spittlehouse
36
J Metcalfe
lbw. B. Spittlehouse
2
E Quinn
c. Addison b. Spittlehouse
16
J Skerrow
b. Spittlehouse
14
G Bainbridge
Not out
12
(w/k) T Robertshaw
b. Spittlehouse
2
(c) R Jackson
Not out
6
Extras
3
TOTAL (for 5 wkts)
91
Railway Athletic
F Everitt
Run out
4
A Morrison
c. Swales b. Clare
19
G A Spittlehouse
c. Clare
40
H Smith
c. Robertshaw c. Clare
11
G Burrows
c. Metcalfe b. Skerrow
5
S Sibson
b. Skerrow
0
D Marshall
not out
0
A Wilson
not out
2
Extras
6
TOTAL
88
The picture below shows the Ash line up for the Briden Cup final:
Back Row: L Rigg, G Bainbridge, J Skerrow, J Metcalfe, Rev L P Clare, A C Bell, R E Ward (hon sec)
Seated: E Quinn, W A Oddy. R Jackson (c), T Robertshaw (w/k), S Swales
