Airedale-Wharfedale Senior Cricket League

The Airedale and Wharfedale Senior Cricket League is an amateur cricket competition in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.[1] It is made up of 36 local teams spread over three divisions.[2] The league runs 3 distinct competitions (1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs) as well as a cup competition for each.[3]

Organisation & Structure

36 clubs are divided into three divisions. The league is run by the management committee and other than the general rules of cricket, rule amendments are suggested and voted upon by all the member clubs. Two clubs are relegated from divisions 1 and 2 each year (those finishing in the bottom two places), with two clubs being promoted from the division below. The two clubs finishing, bottom and second to bottom respectively, of the third division must state its case for re-election each year.[4]

The 36 clubs are spread over a relatively wide geographical area in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire. The location of the clubs broadly follows the valleys and landscapes of the River Aire and the River Wharfe.

The league is known for being well organised as competently run by the management committee and the standard of cricket is considered to be one of the best of the 'second tier' of Yorkshire league cricket, with the Bradford Cricket League, the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League and the South Yorkshire Cricket league (and perhaps the North Yorkshire/South Durham Cricket League) occupying the first tier.

The 'A&WSCL' is remarkable for its diversity. There are small village style teams (Steeton, Bardsey, Beckwithshaw) as well as established multi-sport clubs (Adel, Pool, Guiseley, Collingham) within the competition, often competing on similar terms.[2] In recent years the league has progressed in terms of quality and preparation, some argue as a result of the rise of Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club as one of the regular title contenders.[5]

The diversity extends to the physical grounds themselves, some being rural and picturesque whilst other are more charming inner city facilities.

Players

A number have clubs have been the home to test or international cricketers at a time during their career, with many more having housed players that have represented counties at junior or second XI level. Due to their overlapping geography, players frequently transfer between the A&WSCL clubs and the clubs in the Bradford Cricket League.

The League Competition

League fixtures take place between late April and early September each year. Each side plays every other team in that division home and away. Each fixture comprises a 50 over game with no fielding restrictions. Third team matches play on Sunday and are played over forty overs.

Points are allotted as follows

Ten points for a win. Batting points are awarded - 125 runs = 1 point 150 = 2 175 = 3 200 = 4 225 = 5. A maximum of five battings are available. Bowling points are awarded also - one points for every two wickets taken. Matches not completed because of weather give each side 3 points plus any bonus points achieved. A tie is five points plus any bonus points achieved.

If during the course of a season sides are tied on points in the league competition the side with the most outright wins is the winner.

List of Clubs

A full list of the clubs for the 2015 season (alphabetically):

  • Addingham
  • Adel
  • Alwoodley
  • Bardsey
  • Ben Rhydding
  • Beckwithshaw
  • Bilton
  • Bolton Villas
  • Burley-in-Wharfedale
  • Calverley
  • Collingham and Linton
  • Colton
  • Follifoot
  • Green Lane
  • Guiseley
  • Hall Park
  • Harden
  • Horsforth
  • Ilkley
  • Kirkstall Educational
  • Leeds Modernians
  • Menston
  • New Rover
  • North Leeds
  • Old Leodiensians
  • Olicanian
  • Otley
  • Pool-in-Wharfedale
  • Rawdon
  • Saltaire
  • Shadwell
  • Skipton
  • Steeton
  • St Chad's Broomfield
  • Thackley
  • Tong Park Esholt

References
  1. A&WSCL - Home Page Archived 2008-09-08 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 November 2008.
  2. A&WSCL - Clubs Archived 2009-01-25 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 November 2008.
  3. A&WSCL - Cups Archived 2009-01-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 November 2008.
  4. A&WSCL - League Rules Archived 2008-08-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 November 2008.
  5. Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club. In 2000, the status of the league was further recognised by the election of Bardsey which is seen as a great coup. Retrieved on 8 November 2008.
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