Denaby & Cadeby – Denaby 84 for 4 S.P.T. 83 – Last Minute Drama (picture)

May 1955

South Yorkshire Times May 21, 1955

A Day of Rain, Sunshine and Last Minute Drama at Tickhill Square

Cory

What a day it was at Tickhill Square, Denaby, on Saturday! A day packed with rain, sunshine, frustrated hopes – and breathtaking drama. Denaby and Cadeby’s Yorkshire Council side scored a great Yorkshire Council victory over Steel, Peech and Toger, by six wickets – but only just by the skin of their teeth.

This column pays tribute to one man, Dick Cory, the Denaby skipper. Looking at his record on paper does not give much indication of the prominent part he played in his side’s victory. But Denaby owed much to Dick, a grand, enthusiastic sportsman.

Consider the facts, the Rotherham side batted first. Openers Joe Wilks (a former Denaby player who now captains S.P.T.) and youngster Cooke took their places at the wicket, Johnny Forrest, Denaby’s opening fast bowler, prepared for first delivery. Then, rain!

The players raced for the pavilion. There were mournful faces as first one and then another last time the two recalled that the last time the two sides met the weather played its tricks and the game had to be cancelled.

The rain stopped. The players had tea. Out they all trooped on to the rain-soaked pitch. There was a wasn’t giving in. ‘We’ll play’ said chances of playing. But Dick Cory wasn’t giving in. ‘We’ll play’ said Dick. Then it was left to Mr. Williams ro mark out another wicket – the first wicket markings had been washed away.

Steel, Peech and Toger started disastrously. Captain Wilks was run out at seven. The score then stood at 13, and before another run had been added Frank Denton was run out for a duck. But young Cooke held up his end, and he made a valuable contribution of 31 before being caught and bowled by Roy Shepherd.

Harold Pope scored four before being out l.b.w. To Shepherd, who had just achieved his bowling peak. Eight runs were added before Shepherd struck again. This time it was the wicket of John Turner, which fell for three.

The innings Declared

Four wickets down for 36, and the visitors were obviously in trouble. However, a fighting knock by Alan Anderson (31 not out) rallied them. With more rain imminent, Wilks declared at 83 for six.

This appeared to be a sound decision. Rain fell, but soon cleared, giving way to sparkling sunshine.

But even then, Denaby seemed to have an outside chance of pulling off victory. A few encouraging words from Captain Cory, and the command ‘Go for the runs, lads’ did the trick.

Arthur Ellis delighted the crowd with 38 not out. S.P.T.’s young bowler, Les. Gascoigne, had a chance to do a ‘caught and bowled’ feat when Arthur’s score stood at seven. But Les slipped and missed his catch.

Ellis, and his partner, Norman Oakley, put on 20 before the latter was out l.b.w. To Gascoigne.

Peter Taylor was very uncomfortable against the spin of Pope, and he lost his wicket, his score at three. Then Peter Downing got the crowd on its toes with a smashing, devil-may-care 24. He was caught be Gascoigne off Pope. A grand knock!

Bearing The End.

Seventeen needed, and the white handkerchief, signifying the last over, fluttered in the hand of the umpire. Ellis, partnered by Ernest Waddington (run out four) and later Roy Shepherd, played brilliantly, Dick Cory, eager to snatch victory, ran on to the field to claim the extra five overs, and in the fourth over. Roy Shepherd swept a ball to the boundary to achieve it.

It was grand cricket, and the tension towards the end was electric. Miners on their way to the club missed the first part of a variety concert, not wishing to leave the ground before knowing the result. Denaby have made a rosy start. Two games, two victories!