With all that is happening in the World, especially with regards to top level of sport at the moment, you could perhaps be forgiven for thinking that the eyes of the world would be firmly fixed on The Women’s Football World Cup, or the Cycling events taking place in Glasgow. But you would be wrong.

For on Sunday the 6th of August at a cricket ground in the small village of Scruton twixt Northallerton and Bedale, a most prestigious and highly contested event was in progress, the 4th ever Dales Lodges Inter Lodge Cricket Match, contested by members of two teams drawn from the lodges of Lennox 123, Anchor 1337, Falcon 1416 , Beresford Peirse 2610, and Thornborough 6434. Each vying to be the holders of the coveted Golden Welly Trophy.

The weather was reasonable, the wicket was set fair, and a great crowd was assembled in anticipation of this prestigious event. The two teams were briefed by their respective captains as to tactics for the day, ‘hit the ball with the bat and run’, and everyone was set for the first ball.

Yet someone was missing, W.Bro Fred Heaton, who had been involved with the event since it’s inception some years earlier was nowhere to be seen. And as Fred is well known for cutting it fine when it comes to arrival times, play was delayed awaiting his arrival.

Until someone remembered that Fred was on holiday in Thailand with his family, so would not be attending. So play duly commenced.

Yet further skullduggery was afoot, for it seemed a ringer had snuck into one of the teams, namely W.Bro Martin Eggermont, of Old Guisborian Lodge 7793, a sportsman who is highly acclaimed in the surrounding area.

However, W.Bro Terry Burt of Falcon Lodge, always keen to see fair play, and a stickler for correct procedure, decided to address the matter, and by scurrilous use of a cricket ball against the shin of W.Bro Eggermont made sure that he was unable to take part. Only afterwards realising that they were actually on the same team.

The game continued apace with both sides entertaining the watching crowd, who were happily seated comfortably and enjoying the spectacle along with a glass or two of something refreshing.

As usual there were, for some, a number of rather dubious decisions by the umpires, which for reasons of masonic harmony, I will not dilate here. Suffice to say at the close of play harmony was restored.

There were of course some notable events within the game, not least by Bro. Mark Fowler, who managed a stunning, some would say almost acrobatic catch, which astounded everyone present, not least Bro Mark himself.

And of course, both team captains surpassed themselves, with W. Bro Gary Collins taking longer to walk from the pavilion to the crease than he was actually on the field of play. Whilst having been dismissed easily, the sound of W.Bro Des McKenzie’s chuntering could be heard all around the ground, long after play had ended.

However, at the end of play it was the team of Lennox and Beresford Peirse Lodges who were victorious having achieved 58 runs in 14.3 overs, whilst the gallant losers from Anchor, Falcon, and Thornborough achieved just 54 runs in their allocated 22 overs.

Scores which no one would have dared to dispute due to the ever-efficient maintenance of the score book by Babs, ably assisted by her husband W.Bro Paul Hunt who was an absolute wizard when it came to hanging numbers on the state-of-the-art scoreboard.

The trophy was duly presented to the winners, although the actual trophy they received was the runners up trophy as due to some level of confidence, or should that be arrogance, they had left the winners trophy they won last year in the Lennox Lodge room in Richmond.

All present then enjoyed a barbeque and in some cases another glass or two before gathering storm clouds stopped play, and many left for home, leaving only the usual stalwarts to clear everything away.

So, all in all a good day, one which would not have happened without the efforts of W.Bro’s Mark Pybus, and Charles Mawer along with their long suffering and put upon wives Steph and Di, a formidable partnership in their own right, along with W.Bro Ian Barker who was somewhat surprised to learn that he was the nominated BBQ Chef for the day.

And in true masonic tradition, others also benefitted, not least Scruton Village Cricket Club, who as well as the hire cost for allowing the use of their facilities, also got the bar profits, which in true masonic style were quite substantial, whilst the overall profits from the day, together with various donations deposited in the collecting bucket, meaning that the sum of £418:50 will be making its way to Macmillan Cancer, to support their great work.

And perhaps in a moment of pique for his injury, yet having seen the standard of cricket on display, the last word must go to W.Bro Martin Eggermont who threw down the gauntlet, (cricket gloves), issuing a challenge on behalf of old Guisborian Lodge which was duly accepted, so watch this space, for who knows where this could lead, maybe even a Provincial Twenty-Twenty or ‘Hundred’ cricket competition.

A Cricket Festival within our Masonic Festival perhaps. Although that decision will be down to the Festival Chairman. But just remember you read it here first.