According to a report in the Yorkshire Evening Post, mercurial rugby league player, Danny Mcquire, has stated that this will be his final season playing in rugby league.

He says he will not be returning to amateur rugby but looks forward to returning to East Leeds Cricket Club, where he spent successful years as a junior before he turned professional for Leeds Rugby.

He was a very talented junior player who could possibly have made his mark in high grade cricket. He also looks forward to be able to spend time hitting that small white ball around.

 The McQuire family connection with East Leeds Cricket Club. (by John Steel)

Danny's introduction to East Leeds came through his family; Grandad Harry played cricket for Burtons in the Barkston Ash League before recognising East Leeds as the ideal trainng ground for his growing sons, Dave and Steve, due to the junior set up in place led by the late Geoff Raw.

Dave made a dream debut in 1972 with 121 not out for the 2nd XI versus ROF, becoming the youngest player to make a century for the club. He went on to skipper the under 18 side to success in securing the Northern Section championship of the Leeds Junior Cricket League in 1974 and becoming a regular opener in the East Leeds 1st XI for a number of years.

Younger brother Steve, (Danny's father) was the first player to score a century at junior level when he made 104 for the under 14s at Rothwell in 1977 and went on to contribute a fifty to an unbroken partnership with Paul Garner in a crushing win over a strong Castleford side to enable the under 18s to lift the Shuttleworth Cup in the same season. Steve went on to represent the Club at senior level picking up 4 fielding prizes on the way.

Danny excelled in junior cricket; his natural athleticism made him a brilliant outfielder and the stylish aggression of his batting was augmented by an excellent game sense which enabled him to build an innings in the context of the match; this led to him setting ( and still holding) the records of being the youngest player to have scored a century,(breaking his uncle Dave's record) and a half century in the senior sides, and at 15, the yougest to win the second XI batting averages in 1998.

Unfortunately for East Leeds. Danny's Rhinos contract prevented him from playing regular cricket from 1999 onwards. After a stellar Rugby League career, a return to pick up his cricket where he let off would be keenly anticipated. If he could get his younger brother Adam to play as well it could be even better. 

 

 

	1st XI		2nd XI
27 April	Windhill & Daisy Hill	H	Windhill & Daisy Hill	A
28	Crossbank Methodists	A	Crossbank Methodists	H
4 May	Sandal	A	Sandal	H
5	Bowling Old Lane	H			CUP
11	Heckmondwike & Carlinghow	H	Heckmondwike & Carlinghow	A
18	Brighouse	A	Hunslet Nelson	H
25	Gildersome	H	Gildersome	A
1 June	No Game		No Game
8	Azaad	A	Azaad	H
15	Rodley	H	Rodley	A
22	Oulton	H	Adwalton	A
29	Great Preston	A	Buttershaw St Pauls	H
6 July	Rodley	A	Rodley	H
13	Oulton	A	Adwalton	H
20	Brighouse	H	Hunslet Nelson	A
27	Crossbank Methodists	H	Crossbank Methodists	A
3 August	Gildersome	A	Gildersome	H
10	Azaad	H	Azaad	A
17	No Game		No Game
24	Heckmondwike & Carlinghow	A	Heckmondwike & Carlinghow	H
31	Windhill & Daisy Hill	A	Windhill & Daisy Hill	H
7 Sept	Sandal	H	Sandal	A
14	Great Preston	H	Buttershaw St Pauls	A

 

                                                                                  1st XI                           2nd XI

Batting                                                      Tom Chapman              Bobby Mushtaq                            

Bowling                                                    Tom Chapman               Bobby Mushtaq

Fielding                                                    Jacob Naylor                 Dan Thewlis

Captains Player of the Year            Jimmy Watling              Bobby Mushtaq

Players  Player of the Year             Tom Chapman              Sam Thewlis