A usually strong Bingley Congs side at home had Oaks all out for 128 with Paul Carter on form with 49. But our bowlers showed we would certainly be competitive in 2011. Jamie Carnegie returned 4-26 and highly promising 13 year old Jack Keighley nipped out 2-9. We lost by 2 wickets thanks to J Hill with 54no but our strength was already apparent. The trip over to Lancashire and a meeting with Pendle Forest llls handed the stage to 15 year old Ben Fothergill who flayed the home bowlers to make 163 no in a massive 319-6 total, which also featured 46 from 14 year old James Lee. The bowling attack again did its job with 3-22 from the skipper and another 2-6 from young Jack. Early leaders Airedale lls put us somewhat in our place with 170-9, sports reporter Nick Ahad making 62. This time the batters also failed facing 4-44 from Mark Allcock. Eldwick & Gilstead was to prove a happy hunting ground with a 154 posting in a solid display, 33 from Matty Lee and 29 from hard hitter Jack Atkinson. This time Mr 'Whippy' Michael Clegg put in 3-23 and Danny Aspinall 2-12 in a real team attack. Sam Nettleton 32 made his mark in 136 all out against Thornton-in-Craven lls but a winning 70 from Tim Gates steered the opposition to victory despite an unexpected 3-29 from keeper Matty Lee!

So the 2-0-3 position had us in mid-table but the signs were there that we could do better.

We were back on the winning trail at Gargrave lls thanks to a smashing 105 from emerging James Lee at the head of an impressive 222-5 which included 32 from Taverner selection Ollie Huck. Whilst we couldn't bowl out the home side we did contain them well at 156-7. The Carleton strip again limited run-scoring opportunity and our 110 all out might prove difficult to overhaul. Michael Clegg again led the way with 3-3 and Greig Hudson 3-20 ensured Sutton made only 64. Skipton CI lls allowed us to take a third win in a row as our 132 proved 42 too many for them. Sam Smith was a loser for them with a fantastic return of 43 and 5-55. Greig 4-3 and Michael 4-16 showing real class. 5-0-3 and we were in the top five! The visit to locals Haworth West End brought the run to an end but only narrowly. Matty Lee' s opening 78 was a real solid rock in our 163 all out after Liam Chipman held us up with 4-38. Experienced Andy Holt led the West Enders in a spirited reply and they crept home by 2 wickets. Greig Hudson 4-7 and Ben Fothergill 3-5 brought up the lowest total made by our opponents as Foulridge lls crumbled to 14 all out! We knocked them off with 1 down. Michael Davison joined the fun in the 3rd Xl with 4-25 along with left-armer Ollie Huck 2-9 to restrict Thornton-in-Craven to 109, Matt Foster 57. Skipper Alan Fothergill grasped the nettle and his 41 with James Lee 34 saw a result reversal by 7 wickets. 7-0-4 at the half-way stage and fourth place in the league!!

Former Oaks bowler Dave Walsh chipped in 3-14 for Haworth lls to limit our batsmen to 95 all out. The Meths crept home by 3 wickets in a tense but friendly finale. Cowling lls scored 141 at sunny Carleton thanks to 49no from Zufur Shafait although Michael Clegg again starred with 4-15. The Lee brothers again came up trumps, Matty with 50 and James with 27 in our 143-7 to claim the spoils. Many might have expected another drubbing from Airedale lls but there was real fight and determination in Oaks who kept their nerve in the face of 192 from the Keighley side. Nick Ahad again shone with 44 and 3-95 but Ollie Huck showed sheer class with 41 and with 37 from Matty Lee we chased down the high score with only 5 down! Wow maybe we might get promoted?

Realistically but what a year to date! 13 year old Sam Nettleton picked up has maiden senior half-century with a classy 56 with guidance from veteran Jon Hollingsworth who made 51 in 170-9 vs E & G. The wily off-spin from Alan Fothergill undermined the Bingley side and his 4-6 kept them to 45-9. 10-0-5 amazing! But back down to earth the next week as Cowling lls gained their revenge with a 6 wicket win as we made just 104 at Keighley Road. 10-0-6. Gargrave forfeited our next fixture to make it 11-0-6. James Lee, soon to be u-15 Cricketer-of-the-season showed he could certainly hack it at senior level with a majestic 80 and with his brother Matty on 34 Oaks managed a fantastic 196-7 at Sutton. Tommy Walton took 3-34 for the home team and followed up with 45 with the bat. The bowling of Michael Davison who also took 3-34 led the rear-guard bowling to finally limit Sutton to a gallant but losing 189-8. 12-0-6 with 4 to go.

The earlier loss to Skipton CI was avenged in a real close call. Jack Keighley 3-18 and Michael Davison 2-1 combined well to contain the CI at 73 all out. But it was a struggle and the 33no from Matty Lee really was a winning contribution as we shakily reached 77-7; Sam Smith 4-30. Promotion was gone but 2011 was destined to be one of our better campaigns. Youngster Jack Keighley really showed the fullness of his potential with 4-14 and with 3-28 Bingley Congs made just 112,46 of them to Charlie Raistrick. Sadly our batting again failed and the Congs took a double from us as we tumbled to 100 all out. Our last trip for 2011 was to nearby Denholme and Paul Greenwood hit top form with 66 to test our bowlers. Ollie Huck 4-7 and Michael Clegg 3-28 responded well for the Frogboilers to post 171 all out. Enter Mr Paul Carter who slew the Dragon with a shattering 103 to enable us to claim the points yet again with 171-2.  The last match with Pendle was a washout and the season ended with 14-1-7 and an unbelievable fourth place with 43 points, 11 adrift of a promotion place. In what was one of Oaks finest seasons when the First and Second Xls won their leagues, the Third Xl can be proud of their contribution too. Roll on 2012.

In or sixth season of Third Xl we scored 2,814 runs for just 154 wickets lost. The rate of 18.27 run per wicket was as good as any. Our bowlers did a great job restricting the opposition to 2,379 runs for a magnificent 176 wickets gained, a rate of 13.51. By some margin our best year ever. On our visits to other clubs 1,841 runs came our way and 8 wins to just 3 defeats. Our batting run rate a stupendous 23.90 per wicket. At deadpan Carleton our record was 6-1-4 with only 973 runs also for 77 wickets, a paltry rate of 12.63. The sooner we can get away from Carleton and on to a surface as true as elsewhere we can really go places with the Third Xl.

Leading run-scorer was 14 year old James Lee with 427 amazing runs to his name at 26.69. His brother Matty Lee tallied 378 to pip his younger sibling to the batting prize with 31.50. This reflects entirely what our vision for the Third Xl was all about. The skipper Alan Fothergill was next highest with 218 at 12.11 followed by 13 year old Sam Nettleton with 183 at 15.25. Paul Carter had just 6 innings but he rattled up 182 runs for the team. Ollie Huck, Graham Fothergill, Michael Clegg and Jack Keighley all made it past the 100 mark.

For the bowling prowess look no further than Michael Clegg's 32 wickets at 9.34, a club record tally as a pointer to our 2011 success. Quickie James Lee picked off 20 wickets at 18.35 just ahead of the hugely impressive Jack Keighley with 18 at only 10.56, now punching above his weight. In his appearances Greig Hudson grabbed 15 at only 6.13 and there was 14 for skipper Alan and 12 for Mickey D.

The inclusion of a Third XI six years ago has been a master-stroke. The massive improvement young players can gain on their way to hopefully First Xl places is beyond dreams. For older players who can lend invaluable help and guidance there is still a role well beyond historical retirement ages. Witness John Hollingsowrth' support to Sam Nettleton vs Eldwick & Gilstead was terrific to watch. With our 2nd Xl in Division Two in 2012 the club faces its toughest challenge yet but its certain that James Lee, Matty Lee, Jack Keighley and possibly Ben Howell will be pushing for 2nd Xl places as well might Ollie Huck and Sam Nettleton. The Third Xl will still have a role, for the supply of young players seems in-exhaustible. Look out for new names in Jack Brown, Oliver Leeming, Adam Zafar and many many others.