Lives in Cricket No 52 - Schooled in Cricket (2nd edition)

146 In the last two crucial matches of the season for Dalton Johnny first took seven for 15 at his old stomping ground at Kirkburton on September 5 and then six for 19 at home to Thongsbridge. This helped his team to two wins to secure promotion as runners-up of the B section. As the Examiner commented Dalton had ended the season as they began it with a “family double” for the Lawrences with Miles this time scoring 49. It is interesting to note that Johnny’s old adversary and fellow leg-spinner Eddie Leadbeater topped the league wicket takers that season with 94 wickets for Almondbury in Section A. It was during this season at Dalton that Johnny’s third child Robin was planning his wedding. Cricket was so much in the blood that Johnny had to warn Robin and his intended bride that he could not attend a Saturday afternoon wedding and a morning wedding took place on Saturday July 25, with the reception in those nets at Westfield Road. It turned out, as Robin explained to me, that unusually Dalton did not have a match that day so they could have got married in the afternoon after all. Honley 1971-1973 Johnny moved to Honley also in the Huddersfield League in 1971 where he was made captain and enjoyed three seasons of great success. For each season there it is recorded that he received £200 – certainly not a huge sum but clubs were paying a sizable chunk of the limited monies they did have available to afford to have an official pro’ at all, let alone one of top quality as Johnny still was. Johnny’s son, Miles, joined him at Honley. At the start of this time Honley were in the second division. Johnny did nothing sensational until May 29, the beginning of Whit week. Some 23 wickets in eight days marked quite a week and the last three of these four matches were won by Honley. A succession of further wins not lacking performances from himself now kept Honley in strong contention for Seven more successful seasons in league cricket