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

228 to perform on this occasion as the openers took five wickets each in dismissing Cleckheaton for 35 and winning by eight wickets. Johnny took a catch and was nought not out. After missing Morley’s win at home to King Cross on July 1, Johnny’s help was certainly needed in what became an unlikely victory at Lofthouse the following week. Lofthouse at 96 for six chasing 110 seemed to be in a winning position but Johnny (six for 47) and Georgie Wilson (four for seven!) finished their opponents for 106 after the opening bowlers had been wicketless. The following week Johnny helped in another match which went to the wire – a last wicket win at Sowerby Bridge. His contribution was 13 important runs and four for 53. On July 22, Morley suffered only their second defeat of the season at home to Huddersfield ICI. John Marwood was not just a successful opening bowler, he was skipper and could bat too! On August 5 he scored 134 not out and Johnny’s role on this occasion was to stay with him part of the time in a 50 partnership. Johnny took four for 21 to complete the demolition of Brook Motors by 126 runs. Then, Batley were again disposed of – 66 all out, Johnny taking four for 36. When Johnny took six for 13 against East Ardsley who mustered 58, only one result could have been expected but this time Morley themselves faltered and were all out for 53, Johnny scoring but two. East Bierley 1968-9 1968 After the July win over Idle, even his seven for 74 and 22 in a return match at home to Saltaire was not enough to prevent defeat. On August 17 at home to Bowling Old Lane. Brian Lymbery had scored 53 out of 152 and when Johnny came on to bowl he destroyed Old Lane’s batting with nine for 43 including four bowleds, two stumpings by Lymbery, a caught and bowled and two more catches. This was followed by another home win – versus Pudsey St Lawrence as East Bierley scored 160. Lymbery again scored a half-ton (52) and Miles chipped in with 38 not out. Generally good bowling by East Bierley – but readers by now will be more than immune to any surprise reaction that the best figures went to Johnny with five for 42. The relegation threat still loomed large but a chink of daylight between East Bierley and teams below them only opened up on August 31, when for once Johnny was not needed to bowl as Appendix Two: Some of Johnny Lawrence’s league career in more detail