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

231 Appendix Two: Some of Johnny Lawrence’s league career in more detail the chance to follow this up into bank holiday week as successive matches are rained off. Five for 61 was not enough to beat Hall Bower the following Saturday as Honley’s lower order collapsed but the next day at home to Meltham in the cup Honley did manage to win. Johnny took seven for 41 and Miles opening with Malcolm Naylor who had joined up with the Lawrences at Honley scored 45 in a partnership of 66 before Honley nearly surrendered this winning position. In the end they only won the match on the third last possible ball. He followed up the cup semi-final win over Primrose Hill with helping his side to league wins at Golcar where he took seven for 37 and then five for 25 against his old team Kirkburton. On July 29 he started with three for 31 after hitting 28 not out before David Scott hit three sixes off his bowling to give victory to the home side, Elland. Six for 37 helped give Honley a good win at home to Slaithwaite on August 19. In the last three weeks of the season he took wickets versus Almondbury and Kirkheaton before taking seven for 37 to demolish Meltham on his home ground. 1973 Johnny did well as ever on Whit Bank Holiday weekend with five for 60 in a winning draw at Hall Bower on the Saturday May 26 and six for 76 in a rain-spoilt return match with Holmfirth on Tuesday, May 29 after a losing draw on the Monday. The following Saturday he took six for 54 even though his side lost at home to Broad Oak. This was followed by more wickets in a cup win against Bradley Mills with Johnny having identical figures – six for 54 and on both occasions, ‘keeper Miles taking two catches off his bowling. Bilton 1975-6 1975 We find him taking five for 34 against Alwoodley as Bilton lost by three wickets. These matches were poorly covered by the local press and he may have missed some games but he appears again on July 20 when he scored 36 in a two wicket loss to North Leeds. He followed this with a star all round performance against Cross Flats with five for 35 and 57 not out as Bilton won by four wickets. With the bat he was accompanied by Rogerson after Bilton had been 63 for five. “So judiciously did Lawrence and Rogerson play however that they deserved the luck they had, especially Lawrence who was put down twice,” the press reported. After Rogerson was out, Cheshire came in and hit a mighty six to provide a fitting finale.