You would not expect to see Andrew Gale and Tim Bresnan on the touchline of a Conference football ground on a cold December evening. But these genial giants of the cricketing world, along with their county colleagues answered the call to play to help the Marie Curie charity.

andrew Gale

Their opponents from the legal world, LawBlacks from Leeds.  Bolstered by guesting ex-professional footballers, Ken Monkau (Chelsea, Southampton, Huddersfield Town), John Hendrie (Coventry City, Bradford City, Newcastle Utd, Leeds Utd, Middlesbrough, Barnsley), Wayne Jacobs (Bradford City) and ex England and Yorkshire cricketer Anthony McGrath.

Resplendent in Guiseley’s daffodil yellow kit, Yorkshire cut quite a dash.  Playing as a unit, keeping their shape and formation.  Allowing Will Rhodes to push forward when Richard Pyrah and Andrew Gale dropped back with Bressie leading the line.  The number 9 showed his all-round football abilities scoring with a superbly timed header in the first half and neat footwork to round the keeper in the second.  Whilst next season’s beneficiary Pyrah bagged a brace and an ankle tap or two for his troubles.

There really was no respite for the legal eagles.

Andrew Gale
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Richard Pyrah
LawBlacksThe cricketers’ strength and conditioning coach, Ian Fisher led by example with his rangy runs down the left flank.  He must certainly have been pleased by his charges’ stamina and pace in sapping underfoot conditions.

The second half commenced with a change of referee and an upturn in LawBlack’s fortunes.  With John Hendrie relinquishing the whistle and providing more purpose up front and the perfect foil for the rampaging Anthony McGrath.  Despite Hendrie’s trickery and McGrath’s bluster, Steve Patterson marshalled his Yorkshire back four to repel all invaders.  On the few occasions Blacks broke down the Tykes’ stout defence they could find no way past keeper Richard Damms.  Whose shot-stopping in the post-match penalty shoot-out competition proved sublime.  No corridor of uncertainty for Richard.

Anthony McGrath Steve PattersonJohn Hendrie LawBlacksChris Allen LawBlacks Matthew FisherLawBlacks Ken MonkouWhilst the match was played for charity, neither side conceded an inch on the pitch, tackles were robust as both Tim and Richard can testify to, but played in true spirit.

Given the lighting of the ground, all shots were taken between 1/800 and 1/1000 of a second using large apertures set between 1.8 and 2.8.  This gave a razor-thin depth of field so focusing had to be extremely accurate on the intended player.