Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 31 May 1924
Denaby Humble Barnsley
One of the best sides in the Council were heavily defeated by Denaby in a fashion that speaks volumes for the power of the latter side. Barnsley do not usually crack up in the way they did on Saturday, but it was good cricket and great determination that beat them. Denaby all round gave a fine exhibition, apart from one or two batting failures.
Their opening did not give any warning of the landslide that was to come. For a while they were “scratching” for their runs, and not getting any. Greenwood failed in trying to force the pace, and Worthington did not do much. Wright, who came out of the second eleven, shaped well before he fell lbw. to Richardson, but it was not until Narraway joined Tibbles that things really began to move.
Tibbles had been batting steadily, and he and Narraway proceeded to break the back of the bowling with a partnership of some sixty runs. After that the batsmen were quite happy and did pretty well what they liked. Shoesmith and Foster both batted well for useful contributions, but the feature of the innings was Tibbles’s century. He gave one difficult chance during its course, but that was a small blemish on a really splendid piece of work. He just succeeded in getting into three figures before his wicket fell, and the innings was declared at the considerable total of 249 for seven.
Barnsley were left with about two hours in which to get the runs. But the first over set a bad fashion which was slavishly copied by the following batsmen. Birtles was almost bowled by the first ball from Poole. He got two runs off the second. The third drew him out, and Narraway made no mistake.
This early departure of the side’s leading batsman appeared to take the heart out of the Barnsley men, for none of them after that early disaster tried to get the runs. They set themselves to play out time, and had there been a little more backbone about their play they might have succeeded. But not only did they concentrate on defence, but they failed to make many possible runs through lack of enterprise in running.
The Denaby bowling was certainly too good to take risks with, and the bowlers were backed up well in the field, the visitors fielding very well indeed. Poole bowled throughout the innings and took six wickets for 19. It appears that in this bowler from Mansfield, Denaby have one of the best bowlers now playing in the Council. He bowls slow to medium, and “brings them in” both ways. His was a very fine performance on Saturday.
George Worthington also bowled extremely well, his three wickets costing only five runs. He bowled eleven overs, of which nine were maidens.
Barnsley were all got rid of well within the time for a paltry 40.
This is Denaby’s best feat to date this season, and will act as a warning to other Council honours aspirants as to what they are up against when meeting the local colliery side. Denaby are just beginning to get a grip on things after the bad weather which has marred the opening of the season and prevented practice, and promise to have a very good season.
Scores:—
| Denaby | Runs | Barnsley | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Greenwood c King b Birtles | 2 | T. Birtles st Narraway b Poole | 2 |
| E. Tibbles c Redford b Birtles | 100 | S. Hockett c Harrison b Poole | 8 |
| G. Worthington b Birtles | 6 | F. Richardson c Foster b Shoosmith | 10 |
| E. Wainwright lbw b Richardson | 9 | G. Brown c Tibbles b Poole | 0 |
| W. Narraway b Brown | 51 | S. Windle b Worthington | 9 |
| H. Foster b Gill | 38 | J. Richardson c Foster b Worthington | 4 |
| H. Shoosmith not out | 30 | F. Birtles c Harrison b Poole | 5 |
| J. Crossley c Brown b Birtles | 0 | H. Bedford b Poole | 1 |
| S. Kennedy got out | 1 | T. Gill b Worthington | 0 |
| J. Buckingham not out | 0 | ||
| King b Poole | 0 | ||
| Extras | 3 | Extras | 1 |
| Total (for 7 wkts., innings declared closed) | 240 | Total | 40 |
Bowling Highlights
- Denaby: Poole took 5 wickets.
- Barnsley: Birtles took 4 wickets.
This was a comprehensive Denaby victory, built around E. Tibbles’ century (100) and strong support from Narraway (51), Foster (38) and Shoosmith (30 not out). Barnsley were then dismissed for just 40.