In addition to Taran winning the batting prize, the club are delighted to have two more league prize winners, in the form of the club’s two experienced left arm spinners! Barry Singleton won the division 1 bowling prize with 39 wickets at an average of just 7.95 and Steve Wales won the division 4 bowling prize with 29 wickets at an average of 9.55!
Barry started the season as he meant to go on with 3-26 in the opening game against Pool. His first contribution in a win was away at Ilkely with 8-6-7-2 in a crushing first team victory, the two wickets even included a spectacular caught and bowled, very deserving of a fielding point! Away at Rawdon two weeks later the spin twins, Baz and Aftaab changed the game and between them took 30-3-84-4 slowing the game incredibly well and ensuring another 1st XI win. Baz then had a stellar performance at home against Adel in a defence of 164 – after Farhan had taken three early wickets to reduce Adel to 20-3 they recoverd to 100-3 but Baz had other ideas and took the last five wickets to fall including dismissing the dangerous Foster, finishing with an excellent 12.2-5-18-5.

Unfortunately after another home win against Guiseley, Baz then pulled up with injury missing 6 games and returning for a 2nd XI game taking 4 wickets for 0 runs! He ended the season in spectacular fashion with two five wicket hauls (5-34 against Adel and 5-55 against Bilton) as the 1st XI won their last 6 games of the season.

This is the 6th time Baz has won the club bowling averages (’95,’98, ’04, ’10, ’11) and it is the first time he has won the league division 1 bowling prize and the first time a North Leeds cricketer has won the division 1 bowling prize since Ian Hallas in 1962.

A full week by week breakdown is provided below
Gameweek Opposition (h/a) Bowling analysis
1 Pool (h) 11-4-26-3
3 Ilkley (a) 8-6-7-2
4 Burley (h) 15-1-51-2
5 Rawdon (a) 15-3-37-2
6 Adel (h) 12.2-5-18-5
8 Guiseley (h) 6-1-17-2
16 Rawdon (h) 7-2-14-3
17 Adel (a) 15-3-34-5
18 Bilton (h) 14.1-2-55-4
19 Guiseley (a) 12-3-25-4
20 Follifoot (h) 12-4-17-4
22 Beckwithshaw (a) 2.3-0-9-2

Games 12 and a final analysis of 130-34-310-39!
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North Leeds legend and chairman Steve Wales also had a stellar season in the 2nd XI. Despite not getting a bowl in the first game, Steve then took 5-44 the following week in a victory at home against Ilkley. A big feature of Steve’s bowling this year was his excellent economy, no doubt putting his full experience

into use, evidenced by 11-6-15-1 against Adel and 8-1-13-2 against Bilton. In a high end table clash against Otley, Steve took 4-31 bowling them out for 138 to ensure a 6 wicket victory and followed it with 5-16 against Beckwithshaw the week after.
Steve played four more games in the 2nd XI league season, a season where he was heavily involved with his Yorkshire over 50s commitments. In his role as captain he managed to lead the side to another national title, their third in four years, a brilliant effort and the club are very proud of what Steve and his side have achieved. A fantastic achievement to go the whole season unbeaten and get one over on the red rose in the final!

Back to North Leeds and in his last four games Steve took 11 wickets for 137 runs, including 10-3-14-2 against Tong Park Esholt which ended up securing promotion and then 3-28 in the last game to seal the division 4 title! Steve’s bowling analysis by week for his league winning prize season is below, yet another successful season for the chairman. Congratulations Steve – another trophy to add to the collection which includes division 1 league batting (1992) and fielding prizes (1980, 1989 (joint award), 1993) amongst a catalogue of others!

Gameweek Opposition (h/a) Bowling analysis
3 Ilkley (h) 9-1-44-5
6 Adel (a) 11-6-15-1
7 Bilton (h) 8-1-13-2
8 Guiseley (a) 10-1-21-1
10 Otley (a) 13-3-31-4
11 Beckwithshaw (a) 6.1-1-16-5
12 Pool (h) 6-1-32-3
18 Bilton (a) 13-0-63-3
20 Tong Park Esholt (a) 10-3-14-2
22 Beckwithshaw (h) 13-5-28-3

Games 13 (bowled in 10) and a final analysis of 99.1-22-277-29