The Unkindest Cut at Conisbrough – Heavy Rain

August 1957

South Yorkshire August 10 1957

The Unkindest Cut at Conisbrough.

Carloads of spectators were still making their way to Conisbrough cricket clubs Park Road ground on Sunday afternoon, long after the decision had been taken to call of this benefit match arranged for Johnny Wardle.

It was an extremely reluctant decision but it was the only course open after the heavy half hour sludge which swamped the ground shortly after midday.

Conisbrough completed their Doncaster league match with Bakers on Saturday (the fixture was tied) and members were out by 8:30 am on Sunday “mopping” overnight rain from the pitch with sacking borrowed from neighbouring farmers,

Shortly after 11 the club contacted Bawtry “met,” this forecast was anything but reassuring, but with a chance of long, dry intervals the clubmen went on with their task until 12.30, and the unkindest cut of all, it left skipper Wilf Hackworth with no course over them to contact Johnny Wardle at his Wheatfield home and let him know by now the familiar news.

Cricket club chairman, Mr Harry S. Pete, said, “I have been disappointed in a few things in my life but I have never been as disappointed as I have today. Scores of people have been asking whether the match is on or not, and from the number of enquiries we have had I reckon that by afternoon there would have been over a thousand watching the game.”