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

221 wickets and often scored runs too. Leeds opened with home wins over Sheffield United (Johnny seven for 34) and Hull (Johnny three for 63, Sutcliffe 84, Kippax 53; Cawthray 72 not out for Hull.) Johnny’s tutee and friend Malcolm Naylor (47) along with G. Boothroyd (48) thwarted Leeds’s run of success as they helped Castleford to post 151 for six declared whilst Leeds could only muster 106. Then Leeds had a remarkable win at Barnsley which put Leeds back on a winning trail. Boycott scored 53 not out for Barnsley but the batsmen around him all failed and Barnsley were all out for 75 despite Boycott. Ian Hallas had taken seven for 32 and Johnny three for 24. Leeds won by nine wickets with T. Copley 44 not out. This was followed by a win at home to Halifax who were yet helped by a ‘guest appearance’ (presumably playing as a deputy professional) by Jack Birkenshaw who took four for 11. There then followed two wins over the Whitsuntide bank holiday. The Sheffield Star Green ‘Un writes: “Without Billy Sutcliffe’s 77, Leeds would have been in trouble against Doncaster Town, who held them to 161 for nine, but were themselves the victims of the wiles of Johnny Lawrence (six for 34) to be all out for 109. “In Tuesday’s defeat of York by 60 runs Leeds had to thank Peter Kippax for a good all-round display. He had 63 in his side’s total of 174 (A. Bowes five for 47) and took five for 30 in York’s total of 114 with Johnny Lawrence taking the other five wickets for 42.” Here we have, not for the first or last time, the success of two leg spinners bowling in the same innings and doubtless bowling part of the time in tandem – this time the two bowlers taking all the ten wickets! Leeds’s success started to peter out towards the end of the 1960 season and they drew a couple of matches they needed to win, as well as losing by one wicket at home to Rotherham despite Johnny scoring 46 and taking six for 67. Johnny continued to be amongst the wickets throughout the season, notable examples being six for 34 at Doncaster and three for none at Harrogate. 1961-3 In all the following years until 1963 whilst Johnny remained at Leeds, they continued to be a good side but never again achieved the dominance of 1958 nor maintained a challenge for the title as in 1959 and 1960. Appendix Two: Some of Johnny Lawrence’s league career in more detail