On a sun-drenched 1977 afternoon at The Wood, Outwood welcomed The Sun XI for a memorable friendly — one that would be remembered for personal milestones, a hat-trick, and a famous footballing face.

Batting first, Outwood recovered from two early wickets thanks to a composed 48 from Vickars and a fluent 44 from Constable. The pair took the score past 100 and had Outwood cruising at 151 for 4. But cricket has a way of turning quickly — and it did so spectacularly. Randall tore through the lower order with a devastating spell: 2 overs, 5 wickets for 2 runs, including a hat-trick, as Outwood collapsed to 167 all out.

The Sun XI’s reply was anything but straightforward. Outwood’s bowlers kept the pressure on, and the game swung back and forth. A special moment came when Bob Wilson, the former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper, was dismissed — becoming AJ Christie’s 600th wicket for the club. Earlier in the day, Constable had passed 5,000 runs for Outwood, making it a day of personal landmarks.

With the match finely poised, The Sun XI lost their eighth wicket on 155, leaving all results possible. But they held their nerve to sneak home by 2 wickets, sealing a thrilling win in a game that had everything — milestones, momentum shifts, and a touch of celebrity.

- UK Number 1 Single: "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer.
- News: On 13 July, the New Cross Fire Inquiry opened in London, investigating the deaths of 13 young Black people in a house fire earlier that year — a pivotal moment in British race relations.
- Sport: Surrey faced Somerset in a County Championship match at Weston-super-Mare. Despite a strong effort, Surrey were defeated by 158 runs. The match featured a dominant double-century from Somerset’s Viv Richards, one of the game’s all-time greats.

2006 – Howard’s Heroics and a Hatful of Drama as The Village Clinch a Classic

The sun shone and the stakes were high as Outwood XI took on “The Village” in a fiercely contested encounter featuring villagers such as Paul Howard, Andrew Norman, Phil Ient, Terry Peters, Chris Yeldham, and Bill Morle.

Batting first, Outwood posted a competitive 199, with eight batters reaching double figures. P Slaughter top-scored with 34, but no one quite managed to push on to a big score. Still, it felt like a defendable total.

The Village reply was dominated by Paul Howard, whose blistering 90 off 61 balls put the visitors in a commanding position. But when Dave Baldry removed him with the score on 146 for 4, the game turned. Wickets began to tumble, and the chase tightened.

With the score at 197 for 9, the match hung in the balance. But Chris Yeldham and Bill Morle held their nerve, nudging the final runs to seal a 2-wicket victory for The Village — a famous win in a game that had everything.

(Historical Note: On this day, Phil Ient earned membership in the “Primary Club” — cricket’s most exclusive society for those dismissed first ball. Whether he’s repeated the feat in the years since remains a mystery for the statisticians to solve.)

- UK Number 1 Single: "Smile" by Lily Allen.
- News: On 15 July, the UK government announced a review of airport security following the foiling of the transatlantic aircraft plot earlier that month.
- Sport: Surrey defeated Northamptonshire at Wantage Road in a County Championship Division Two clash. Mark Ramprakash starred with scores of 196 and 58*, guiding Surrey to an 8-wicket win — a key result on their path to becoming Division Two champions.

2019 –: Narrow Defeat at Four Elms, But Championship Glory Beckoned

Outwood 2nd XI travelled to Four Elms for a crucial league fixture in their 2019 campaign — one that would ultimately end in Division 6 championship glory. But on this day, it was the hosts who edged a tight contest.

Batting first, Outwood posted 178 for 8 from their 40 overs. It was a team effort, with eight batters reaching double figures. Keith Hall top-scored with a patient 51, while P Howard added 33 and Jason Goulding finished unbeaten on 29. The innings was steady rather than explosive, and a late burst from Miles Walker (4 for 30) kept the total in check.

In reply, Four Elms chased down the target in 38.2 overs, finishing on 179 for 7. Ben Allatt (50) and Stan Bey (33) laid the foundation, but it was a tense finish. Outwood’s bowlers chipped away — Keith Hall took 3 for 28, and Robert Rigby claimed 2 wickets — but the hosts held their nerve to win by 3 wickets.

Despite the defeat, this match was just a bump on the road to a title-winning season for Outwood’s 2nd XI — a campaign defined by consistency, depth, and resilience.

- UK Number 1 Single: "Señorita" by Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello.
- News: On 15 July, the UK Parliament debated the future of Northern Ireland’s devolved government, amid growing tensions over Brexit and border arrangements.
- Sport: On 14 July, England won the ICC Cricket World Cup for the first time, defeating New Zealand in a dramatic Super Over at Lord’s — a match widely hailed as the greatest ODI in history.