Club by Club Review A to D
Bingley Congs What a difference a year makes. The Congs were this year's surprise package with 6 terrific wins. They had victories over all the teams in their Division including a stunning 4 wicket defeat of ultimate Champions Cononley. Former West Ender Danny Riley gave the batting a boost to supplement a very competent bowling attack. That they missed promotion on run-rate was really down to a real mauling by Cononley in their first meeting and a 5-wicket loss to promotion rivals Gargrave. In the Spencer Cup they came up against eventual winners Embsay in round 1 and lost by a comprehensive 46 runs.

New entrants at under-15 level, The Congs finished sixth in a tough Pro Coach Division Two, with 4 wins. The first came at the fifth time of asking at Bradley by 4 wickets. Three more in a row at season's end augurs well for 2010. The quality shone through from Daniel Baines as a bowler with 16 wickets at 8.75 and he finished runner-up in the entire rain-affected league.

For the youngest Congs at under-11 as with all new teams at this level, there was a difficulty in adjustment to the high quality of under-11 cricket in UAJCL. They did manage one win away at Wharfedale Rams and again their 2010 campaign will benefit enormously from this year's baptism.
Bradley

 

 

 

 The Bradley under-15 side clearly lost some strength during the winter and resulted in a poor out-turn without a single victory and the Pro Coach wooden spoon came their way. Wicket-taking was a problem with only 27 coming their way in 8 completed fixtures. A massive 1st round win over Ingrow in the Hargreaves Cup was followed by a 28-run reverse to eventual finalists Oakworth.

There were 3 wins for the Bradley under-11 team but Division One of the CartaSport League is a hard school and the Bradley boys found themselves in 8th place and relegated for 2010. Silsden, Skipton and Earby were their victims and as all finished mid-table the Bradley strength was not far short of the mark. Harry Andrews was top bowler with 8 wickets whilst Harry McGowan racked up 95 runs to finish sixth in the average lists. Daniel Hunt and Andrews also just made the batting qualifiers. Silsden were the victors in round 2 of the Cup by 11 runs.
Cononley With many of their nomadic players returning home for 2010 the Cononley under-17s started firm favourites for the Division Two title. Defeats by Gargrave and Bingley Congs ensured they had to fight all the way but they did emerge winners by 5 points after 8 wins. A Cup win over Gargrave brought them up against 1st Division Skipton and the match was tied. Skipton progressed on fewest wickets lost.

Skipper Freddie Osadzenko finished winner of the league bowling prize and also 2nd in the batting list. Not surprisingly he followed team mate Tom Stead as Cricketer-of-the-Year. Stead and Herbie Starkey also made the batting averages in a year of successful return for the South Craven club. Division One in 2010 may though be a rough ride without the all skills of Stead.
Cowling After just one season at under-11 level it was a tall order for Cowling to make an impact in the Brook Taverner u-13 League and so it proved with all 9 completed matches lost. Losing 71 wickets made life difficult for the inexperienced bowlers but they responded better and better as the season wore on. The Hindle Cup round 1 draw at Pendle Forest was also a heavy defeat in early season.
Cullingworth The highly successful Craven League club Cullingworth joined UAJCL and perhaps not surprisingly claimed a Division Two Championship with their under-11 Cobras at the first tilt. They struck 8 times to finish 1 point ahead of Steeton. Cup cricket not in pairs didn't prove to be their forte as the Oakworth top 4 proved way too strong. Charlie Hall and the multi-talented Billy Whitford took 20 wickets between them, finishing 2nd and 3rd in the league list. The same pair also made the batting lists with Whitford still an under-9 finishing 3rd with 94 runs, out only once.
Denholme

 

 With Oxenhope and Wharfedale proving very strong teams in the CartaSport League, everyone else was somewhat over-shadowed. But the Denholme youngsters gleaned 4 good wins to finish the best of the rest with 18 points in third place. Skipton, Silsden and Bradley (twice) succumbed to the boys at our most southerly outpost. James Rogers showed good form as a bowler and the batting proved solid throughout, their 270 score against Skipton an undoubted highlight. Oxenhope proved again too strong in round 2 of the Cup.

The 10 team second division of the Brook Taverner League offered the Devils a promotion opportunity and six wins were taken on the way to a 5th place finish, nine points adrift of a promotion place. The wins were mainly against teams below them as they failed to ruffle Skipton, Sutton or Gargrave. Toby Priestley continued his meteoric rise, starring for the UAJCL under-12s Test team whilst Thomas Wilson finished 7th in the batting averages. There were 11 wickets for Matthew Wear in a very creditable 4th place but there was a lack of support for him in his department. The Hindle Cup exit came at First Division Settle in round 1.

The expected strong challenge by the Dragons failed to materialise in a disappointing campaign in an albeit very strong Division. The fire-breathers took wins against Bingley, Bradley and Ingrow but with only 50% fixture completion their chances were severely restricted. A first round thumping of Haworth gave cause for optimism in the Hargreaves Cup but it was followed by a 5 wicket defeat by Wharfedale.