Airedale-Wharfedale Senior Cricket League
Encyclopedia
The Airedale and Wharfedale Senior Cricket League is an amateur cricket
competition in North Yorkshire
and West Yorkshire
. It is made up of 36 local teams spread over three divisions. The league runs 3 distinct competitions (1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs) as well as a cup competition for each.
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, Illingworth, Upper Wharfedale, Beckwithshaw) as well as established multi-sport clubs (Adel, Pool, Guiseley, Collingham) within the competition, often competing on similar terms. 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.
The diversity extends to the physical grounds themselves, some being rural
and picturesque
whilst other are more charming inner city
facilities.
.
There are no bonus points on offer. 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.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
competition in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
and West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
. It is made up of 36 local teams spread over three divisions. The league runs 3 distinct competitions (1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs) as well as a cup competition for each.
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.The 36 clubs are spread over a relatively wide geographical area in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
and West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
. The location of the clubs broadly follows the valleys and landscapes of the River Aire
River Aire
The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
and the River Wharfe
River Wharfe
The River Wharfe is a river in Yorkshire, England. For much of its length it is the county boundary between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. The name Wharfe is Celtic and means "twisting, winding".The valley of the River Wharfe is known as Wharfedale...
.
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
Bradford Cricket League
The Bradford Cricket League is an amateur cricket competition centred in Bradford, West Yorkshire...
, the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League
Yorkshire ECB County Premier League
The Yorkshire ECB County Premier League is the top level of competition for recreational club cricket in Yorkshire, England, and since 1999 has been a designated ECB Premier League.-Winners:-External links:* - official site* - Play-Cricket site...
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, Illingworth, Upper Wharfedale, Beckwithshaw) as well as established multi-sport clubs (Adel, Pool, Guiseley, Collingham) within the competition, often competing on similar terms. 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.
The diversity extends to the physical grounds themselves, some being rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
and picturesque
Picturesque
Picturesque is an aesthetic ideal introduced into English cultural debate in 1782 by William Gilpin in Observations on the River Wye, and Several Parts of South Wales, etc. Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty; made in the Summer of the Year 1770, a practical book which instructed England's...
whilst other are more charming inner city
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
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 LeagueBradford Cricket League
The Bradford Cricket League is an amateur cricket competition centred in Bradford, West Yorkshire...
.
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. Points are allotted from a total of 6.- 6 = outright win
- 5 = incomplete win (the team batting second were not bowled out and did not achieve 75% of the fist innings score)
- 4 = incomplete win (the team batting second were not bowled out but did achieve 75% of the fist innings score)
- 3 (each) = tie
- 2 = losing draw (where 75% is achieved)
- 1 = losing draw (where 75% is not achieved)
- 0 = ouright loss
There are no bonus points on offer. 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 2008 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
- Illingworth
- Kirkstall Educational
- Knaresborough
- Menston
- New Rover
- North Leeds
- Olicanian
- Otley
- Pool-in-Wharfedale
- Rawdon
- Silsden
- Skipton
- Steeton
- Thackley
- Tong Park
- Upper Wharfedale
- Woodhouse