A Game Sustained

88 Running out of steam: 1917 used for cup ties). The struggle to carry on Many cricket clubs were determined to carry on but inevitably some agonised about how, in practice, this could be done as conditions got more difficult. At the annual meeting of the Yorkshire Council in Leeds, the chairman spoke for many when he said it would be a great mistake to allow the game to lapse since it would be much harder to get clubs up and running again. He commented that ‘the lads at the front in their letters often expressed the hope that clubs were being continued, and it was the duty of those at home to keep the clubs and the grounds going in readiness for their return.’ The Council secretary added that the 1916 tournament had been played in the ‘best spirit of cricket’, and congratulated Elland on winning the championship. On the other hand, it was reported that Scarborough Cricket Club had resigned and there was a fear that one or two more clubs might do the same. The Barnsley and Mirfield club representatives said they would not be able to play cricket in 1917 but asked to retain membership of the competition. On the first roll of honour, over 500 Council players and officers were listed as having joined the colours, and officials said they were proud that the Council ‘was worthily represented in the great national game’. Towards the end of February 1917, the Council’s committee again reconstructed the sections into which the competition was divided. The Leeds club, which had run two teams in 1916, could now only run one, and there were suggestions that the Leeds section of the Council should be amalgamated with that representing the Heavy Woollen District. Restricted rail travel and the increase in fares had made things even harder than in the previous season. No medals or prizes would be given for the winners, and umpires would officiate at 2s 6d a match plus railway fares, half pre-war rates. The mood was sombre, ‘Old Ebor’ reporting one member of the Council committee as observing that ‘I should not like in years to come to show a cricket medal with 1917 on it. Who