POLICE PATROL THE BOUNDARY

'Ello, 'ello, 'ello - what was going on here then?
During Sunday’s North Lindsey League game at Northfield Road between Messingham and Scunthorpe Town, a police vehicle twice traversed the access route at the Churchyard end while the bowling was from that section of the ground.
“Ignorance of the Law is no plea in mitigation,” the saying goes – meaning members of society are expected to know what’s legal and what’s not.
So how about the Laws of cricketing etiquette?
Doesn’t one of those declare: “Thou shalt not pass, or approach, the sightscreen while bowling is from that end?”
Seriously, it’s always reassuring to see a police vehicle out on patrol on a Sunday in the villages. And it reminded me of when Scunthorpe Police CC were well-known (and obviously respected) members of the sadly-missed Broughton Evening League.
Those were the days when Mick Allcock, the Broughton CC batsman, was Superintendent in charge of the Scunthorpe area, and the line-up included the likes of Sgt Ken Fairey.
Sunday’s match umpires did not attempt a cricketing citizen’s arrest, nor discuss the issuing of a caution.
Causes of movement behind the bowler’s arm are many and varied. I’ve seen a convoy of farm machinery at Luddington and the famous Trooping of the Milk Cows at East Halton’s dear old venue, Townside Farm.