GREAT COVERAGE

Lincs Cricket Latest can upload information within seconds, and as many times as we like during a day - and every day. However, before technology advanced, dear old weekly papers like the Scunthorpe Star had just one opportunity to inform cricket followers of scores and performances. Miss the deadline and its readers had to wait seven more days.
Just as well, then, that long-serving Star sports editor Bill Sumpter gave fantastic coverage to cricket. Back in the late 1960s, and throughout the 1970s, I can remember the Friday evening ritual of spreading out the broadsheet Star on the living room carpet and reading through every one of the extensive, tabulated scorecards - plus the fixtures, team selections and umpires' appointments for the forthcoming weekend.
It must have taken Bill and the printing staff an age to tabulate all the scorecards - but he realised it was a huge 'seller' for his paper. The thing about cards, of course, is players are as keen to see who got a duck as they are to hear about someone making a half-century. Due to pressure of space, and the fact almost all local papers have switched to tabloid size, these days scorecards are usually printed only for top level games.
I am in possession of a copy of the Scunthorpe Star from June 7, 1974 - which has survived because it carried coverage of the terrible Flixborough Disaster, in which many lives were lost. Lots of cricketers, and spectators in North Lincs would have heard the huge bang the previous Saturday when the devastating explosion ripped through the Nypro plant. It was the major news story of the weekend for most of the world's media.
Cricket that weekend saw a Scunthorpe steelworks derby between Normanby Park Works and Appleby-Frodingham. It was gala day at Brumby Hall so the game must have taken place at Foxhills. NPW were bowled out for 110, despite decent scores by openers Ian Postles (27) and Barry Bassindale (22). Two bowlers operated throughout for App-Frod, Salim Uddin grabbing five for 20 and Mick Butler five for 29. The visitors won by seven wickets, Chris Riches scoring 39, John Taylor 40 and Harry Andrews 19 not out.
Scunthorpe Town were involved in a very low-scoring game with Hykeham - dismissing the Lincoln area side for 79 but then being skittled for 70 in reply. Top performer with the ball for Scunthorpe was Pete Dugdale (five for 20), while Claude Gregory scored 15 and Paul Sykes 12. Hykeham opener A Waldron hit 32 and their best bowler proved to be Graham Poundall - still connected with the club today, behind the scenes - who managed six for 30.
The 2nd X1 steelworks derby in division two - presumably played at the old Redbourn ground in Cemetery Road, Scunthorpe - saw App-Frod 2nds rattle up a huge 311 for three (Dave Morland 77, Roy Stephenson 92, Paul Morland 74 not out, Ken Driskell 50 not out) and NPW respond with 126 for six, in which John Herrick led the way with 32.
Lincs division one: Scunthorpe Town 2nds 184 (Gerry Longden 40, Sharpe 4-31, Blundy 4-51), St John's (Lincoln) 67 for eight (Sargent 17 not out, Blackbourn 4-34, Longden 2-10, Pete Townell 2-15).
Lincs div three: Grimsby BRSA 2nds 143 for eight (De Freitas 45, Ward 31, Cheater 29), App-Frod 3rds 108 for eight (Hill 29, Kearsley 26 not out).
Messingham 198 (Burtwhistle 40, W Elsome 30, Parnham 28, S Langford 18), Barton Town 2nds 16 (yes!).
Teams playing 35 years ago in the North Lindsey League included Winteringham, Crowle, Epworth, Gunness, Scunthorpe Town 3rds, Messingham, Laughton, Keadby Power Station, Nypro, Scunthorpe 4ths, Alkborough, Belton, Haxey, Scotter, Scotter 2nds, Lysaght's and West Butterwick.
The Broughton Evening League was thriving and teams taking part - now gone but certainly not forgotten - included Winteringham, Technical College, Scunthorpe Corporation, Gunness, Winterton, Barton Grammar School, Brigg Sugar, Scunthorpe Teachers and Nuform.
In the Scunthorpe Intermediate League, Mal McCullagh top scored with 40 for Broughton, but they lost to Scunthorpe Town.
The Star carried details of the Ashmore Cup preliminary round tie in which Luddington made 58 for nine (G Smith 23, C Campling 3-6) and lost by two wickets to Epworth, for whom K Johnson made 19, In Ludd's team a certain D Tighe took five for 32, leaving me wondering whether it might have been Dave Tighe, later to move to Trent Bridge, Nottingham, in an administrative capacity. Epworth's team featured Max Moment - a member of a very well-known cricketing family from the Isle of Axholme.
Back then the Lincolnshire League had a representative side playing in the Steiner Cup - a national competition. They turned in a great performance in June, 1974 to defeat the acclaimed Bradford League X1 by 20 runs. Geoff Robinson (Ross Sports) later to captain Lincolnshire's Minor Counties side, hit a half-century alongside John Sunley, while Grimsby Town's Brian Camplin claimed three for 17 in 10 overs - typical figures from this very accurate bowler.
That coming Saturday, in the Lincs Premier, Normanby Park Works were to host Bucyrus, Normanby Park entertain Scunthorpe Town, and App-Frod journey to Ross Sports (Grimsby). Teams playing in division one included Lincoln Claytons, Barton, Cleethorpes (the Star didn't indicate which X1), Alkborough and Immingham. Division two's membership included Holton-le-Clay, Nuform, Grimsby BRSA, Caistor and Southcliffe.
Scunthorpe Intermediates were poised to play a Sunday tie in the Joe Lumb Cup (or as the Star misprinted 'Joe Limb'). The team to visit Bradford was: P. Sykes (capt) and R. Walmsley (Scunthorpe Town);, G. Smith (N Park); J. Hutson (App-Frod), D. Kirkby, N. Barry, I. Blanchard, K Buttrick (N Park Works); J Roberts (Alkborough); M. McCullagh, I Miller (Broughton).
Yes, that's Neale Barry, later to become a Premiership football referee!

Double-click on the cutting for a close-up.