Settle rain supreme on Gala occasion (From Craven Herald)

Settle rain supreme on Gala occasion

8:26am Thursday 20th September 2012 in Sport

Those who witnessed proceedings at the Malcolm Davidson and Duncan Paterson memorial match at the aptly-named Marshfield on Sunday, saw the creation of a new sport, “Water Cricket.”

When East of Scotland Division Three champions Gala made the 280-mile round trip to take on the Dalesmen, it was agreed that rain would not stop play.

In front of a packed clubhouse, the teams went head to head in atrocious conditions.

Settle , getting the best of the conditions, set a target of 126-6 with brothers Robbie and Tom Davidson making 46 and 41 respectively.

Rory Hancock being the pick of the Gala bowlers with 3-9.

The weather worsened and the Gala were marooned, as well-struck cover drives were strangled by the pools of water surrounding the batsmen.

Others were flummoxed by Barnes Wallis bouncing bomb deliveries and running became a cartoon style sideshow.

The young Settle fielders seemed to take great pride in perfecting the new style of the slide technique some 20metres from the ball.

Play was halted three times for the waterhog to clear the gallons of standing water which settled on a length.

This did not help Gala as they fell short on 86-6.

The spirit of sport won the day and Malcolm Davidson and Duncan Paterson would have nodded and approved.