Thursday nights are always packed with drama for our U13s – and this week was no exception, not least as the night at Barkisland started with the loudest of bangs as two cars, one of which most definitely was not going too fast, crashed on the notorious junction next to the club. Queue a rush of people to help, a fire engine and police cars. Thankfully no injuries but a lot of twisted metal. And, thankfully, the on field action was a bit less dramatic.

Before we talk about Barkisland, let’s head 14 miles east to Adwalton where Lightcliffe had won the toss and chose to bat. There was a steady build of runs, but also a steady fall of wickets. Jim Harding top scored with a top knock of 19 while Freddie Landin hit a swift 13 from 13 and Ollie Webb finished unbeaten on 15. Huge credit also to U11 Joey Powe who was also unbeaten with 7 crucial runs at the end.

It was 103/6 in the 20 overs – a target that looked perhaps a bit under par according to the Naylor stats book, but actually was to prove nearly enough. Which shows my stats book is next to useless.

Wickets would be crucial in stopping the chase, and there’s no better start that an Ollie Webb first ball clean bowled. Ollie struck again in the third, Freddie in the fifth, U11 Hugo McElroy, making his U13 debut, in the 11th and Ollie Rose in the 12th.

But while wickets were falling, there was also a steady flow of runs. Not many and not fast but enough to make it incredibly close. Step up the older Powe brother, Henry, who proved that spin can so often make an impact in a game.

Over 13 saw a run out off his bowling, thanks to keeper Nico Fletcher, then a wicket. Taking the match into his own hands, literally, there was another – caught and bowled – in the 15th and then another run out thanks to Henry and another U13 debutant, Dougie Landin, in the 17th.

It was 98-9. Adwalton needed 6 to win with plenty of balls left... but Lightcliffe needed just one wicket.

It could have gone either way but, in the end, the hosts got it over the line. The closest of matches but hugely impressive performances from all the young Villagers, but especially our U11s Joey, Hugo, Dougie and Jacob Wild who all played their part in a tense, well-fought fixture.

You can read more about the drama from Adwalton in the full report from my learned friend, Matthew Harding, here >>

But back to Barkisland now where the sweeping up operation on the road was getting underway as Brodie Tait and Noah Boshell came to the crease having been put into bat by the hosts.

Brodie added 11, Bosh lived up to his (nick)name by retiring not out in double quick time with 26 from 19 including five 4s, and Yusuf also wasn’t hanging about with 25 from 24 including three 4s and one 6 that saw him retire not out. Things slowed down in the middle order thanks to some miserly bowling before Dom, Ollie and Jonty added some fast and important runs at the end.

It was 126/5 by the end of the 20 overs. A decent total, but would it be enough against a very strong batting side. That was the question being discussed at the break - as was the question of why a Sack Race at Ollie and Jonty’s School Sports Day was being cancelled due to the hot weather. A sack, in my head at least, providing perfect wafting opportunities. It was also running through my head whether we’d actually be done by the 9.30am Friday morning start given the regular hydration breaks and length of time to place a field meant sunset was fast approaching.

But, anyway, Lightcliffe’s lads took to the field. And they bowled decently and fielded well, but Barkisland were just too good.

Their opener and number 3 retired not out, and it was another U13 debutant, U11 Jack Jamieson who took the first wicket. The shot from his ball to their opener landed in the always safe hands of Brodie resulting in delight from every Villager and a smile on little legend Jack’s face that makes you remember why what we do matters so much.

It had taken until the 9th over to get the first wicket – and given the quality of the U13s bowling attack, that tells its own story. It took until the 16th for the second to fall as Dom’s ball to an in-form batter resulted in a shot that was taken well by Yusuf in the field. That wicket in a miserly bowling spell from the young spinner gave a bit of hope, but such is the strength of the Barkisland batting line-up that they kept adding runs and reached the target. The fact they only did so with 7 balls to spare should though indicate how close the sides were and how the result could have easily gone either way.

In both games then, it was a case of very close but not quite – but to have the strength as an U13s squad to achieve that with 22 players spread across the two games, including half who were U11s playing up, is no mean feat. We go again. Unlike the remains of the car which crashed at the start of the game which was taken away on the tow truck with the remains being swept from the road. One suspects that will definitely not go again.