A Game Sustained

39 Keeping going: 1914-1915 feeling that they ought to go and stand by those fighting for their country.’ In the Mexborough League area there was also gloom, and cricket was said to be ‘in danger of actual collapse.’ Young men who had hesitated at first or had had obstacles to joining up were now doing so and the ranks of young cricketers were thinning out. The clubs therefore had to rely on veterans. Nevertheless, in the middle of May, Alonzo Drake showed his great all-round quality in the Huddersfield and District League for Honley (where he was also engaged as groundsman) against Linthwaite, taking six for 13 and then scoring 108 not out. Despite having Rhodes and Hirst in the side, Kirkheaton were dismissed for 90 and lost easily to Golcar. Around 2,000-3,000 people attended Saltaire’s Bradford League fixture at Baildon Green, a record for the home side. The fine Bank Holiday weather attracted many spectators to games on the Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, where collections were made for war charities. A record League gate was secured at the game between Bingley and Saltaire on the Tuesday, receipts being £74. Such was the interest that there were even complaints about the lack of first-class cricket, with some taking the view that there should be at least a few games to entertain the public and raise funds for the war charities. ‘Old Ebor’ responded that such criticism ‘betokens a lack of appreciation of what the MCC and the counties considered their duty. In the midst of a struggle for the nation’s very existence, the playing of any serious cricket could only be regarded by them as grave dereliction of national duty.’ Cricket and recruitment – Leeds Pals’ matches May and June 1915 A sign of the significance of cricket in contemporary life was the presence of cricketers in military recruitment campaigns. During the first half of 1915, the ‘Leeds Pals’ regiment – officially the 15 th Battalion (1 st Leeds) The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) – was stationed at its training ground in Colsterdale in the Dales. Set up in