A 31-year sporting friendship between Island Bakeries Cricket Club and North London’s Haringey Libraries CC was celebrated in style last weekend as the sides met for the 40th time in a closely fought fixture at Porchfield.
The long-standing cricketing tradition began in 1994 and has become a staple of Haringey Libraries’ annual tour to the Isle of Wight. Each year, the two clubs reunite for their much-anticipated match, which has remained a constant in the visitors’ itinerary.
This year’s clash was particularly special, marking both the 40th meeting between the sides and the 50th anniversary of Island Bakeries Cricket Club, a former works team based in Porchfield.
The match lived up to the occasion, with the Bakers posting a total of 215 all out. In response, Haringey Libraries CC edged home in the final over, clinching victory with just 4 balls remaining to reclaim the Bill Belcher Memorial Trophy.
The friendly competition continued off the pitch, with a quiz hosted by Libraries’ stalwart Chris Garnsworthy. Once again, the visiting team came out on top.
The enduring rivalry between the two teams is a testament to the shared camaraderie and love of cricket that has spanned more than 3 decades.
