Match Reports

Knockout Trophy: Newton le Willows v Caldy 24/04/2010

Second game into the season and a second Premier side, we couldnt have asked for an easier start.............. On another glorious day, Mark Ealham won his third consecutive toss and decided to insert NLW on a very good batting wicket with the plan being to give all the bowlers a good run out. Ealham and the Secret Brandy drinker opened up and NLW progresses at just under three an over to the 5th over. We did however have a massive jib on debut in the very early overs by newest player Alan Mellor (Del Boy), fortunately it only cost us 70 runs! Should have gone to Specsavers, replaced the skipper after a solid if not inspiring five over spell and bowled a good tight line and length, even managing to bowl there opener whilst on a free hit (resulting somehow in 4 byes!) The Secret Brandy Drinker bowled a very good first spell and was unlucky not get get at least a wicket. The International replaced him and was the pick of the bowlers on the day (for both sides), claiming 1-23 off his first seven over and should of had at least three. Porno Dave (should of had an nailed on LBW) and Chesney didnt have an easy time of it with the ball with the NLW batsman taking a liking to the short legside boundary. I am still waiting for the bill for at least four new roof tiles! Del Boy was given an over towards the end, he is been touted by our coach as the new bowling sensation in this country, had his first and some would say, his last over at first team level, im sure he would have turned the ball sideways if he had managed to pitch the thing! Mark Ealham, The Secret Brandy Drinker and The Internationalal came back in to the attack but did little to stem the steady flow of runs, although did claim a couple of wickets and create a couple of chances/drops. Steve Paganini (The Godfather) had a tough time behind the stumps but did a good job considering and he still owes the skipper a beer for his jib off the last ball. All in all a good bowling display in parts, excellent from The Internation and unlucky for The Secret Brandy Drinker. The fielding was generally OK but still nowhere near the standard I expect, in fact at times was pretty dreadful, mainly due to the lack of concentration by several players (myself included). The New Princess standing out head and shoulders above the rest. So, after 45overs we had restricted NLW to a mere 327-4. One of their most outstanding players was some fella called E.Xtra's, unlucky to finish up just one shy of his half century!

Del Boy and Curry Sauce Boy opened up but we suffered an early blow with the Curry Sauce Boy nicking behind early on. The International duly came in and put on just over 50runs for the 2nd wicket, batting an hour for a solid 15runs before nicking behind. Meanwhile, Del Boy was busy trying to claw back his personal 96+ deficit from their innings and was in fine form with shots all round the wicket and not letting the NLW bowlers dominate him. The Secret Brandy Drinker was in at 4 and in typical fashion stroked the ball to all parts with great ease. Del Boy had raced to 47 before falling to the ball of the day....an unplayable long hop. However it was a very valuable and impressive stand of 76. Mark Ealham after last weeks heroics came in next only to witness (again) The Secret Brandy Drinker throw yet another hundred away (it was that change of gloves!), with a mis-timed sky to mid off for 38. Chesney came in at 6 and proceeded to play across the line of every ball and was duly caught off an leading edge for 4. The New Princess then rocked up to the crease started playing his shots almost immediately. Some will probably say that the shot of the day was his bludgeoned on drive straight into the skippers midriff. It was only due to the fact skipper has such chiselled and toned abs that it did little damage!. Mark Ealham, struggled at one end and did exceptionally well to last half an hour against an medium/fast spinner who was doing all sorts. Eventually boring himself and couldnt resist a charge and an attempt at his famous vertical six.....C&B for 1. The Sri Lankan joined The New Princess in the middle and put together a stand of 40 odd with The New Princess spanking the ball to all parts. The Sri Lankan showing us signs that he can not only look but can actually play like an 1st XI batsman. The New Princess was finally caught out for his highest 1st team score of 44. Should have gone to Specsavers was next in and tried to put his first ball onto the moon but soon settle down and make a good 15no with the Sri Lankan 17no at the end. For the record that fella called E.Xtra's only managed 35 for us!

A very good all round batting performance especially in respect of us using all the 45 overs and not getting intimidate by the Prem opposition or indeed the score of 327.

The great thing about these three cup games is that they are essentially warm ups for us and we have showed a lot of improvement in just the one week. Lets not forget that these were teams from two league above us and we were expected to be totally smashed in both games.

Next week, its another away fixture against Skem from Div 1. The first two games were damage limitation and just a good run out but next week is a game im expecting us to very competitive in and push for a win. I want us to start the league season on a winning run...........

Knockout Trophy: Bootle v Caldy 17/04/2010

Scorecard

Caldy won the toss and decided to take advantage of a shirt fronter at Wadham Road. Chris Edwards (The International) and Andy Potter (Curry Sauce Boy) opened the innings. Caldy got off to a solid start with a stand of 45 with some fine offside driving from the Curry Sauce Boy and some dogged resistance from The International. Then in typical Caldy tradition, the wickets started to tumble. The International was first, caught behind for 13 and he was soon followed by Curry Sauce Boy for 19, who decided that a single to the bowler was a good idea! That brought James 'Moose' Montgomery (The New Princess) and Haroon Khan (Secret Brandy Drinker) to the crease. The New Princess couldnt resist a tossed up loopy one and was cleaned up for 5. Dan Hargreaves (Eeyore) was next but was soon on his way back after a dubious LBW for 0. In at six was Joe Poste (Chesney), who like The New Princess, couldnt resist trying to hit the ball to the moon and was duly bowled for 1. That brought Rich Humpreys (The Sri Lankan) to the middle.......three balls later, the Secret Brandy Drinker did him like a kipper and he was run out for a duck. In the meantime the Secret Brandy Drinker was showing promising signs, with his customary batting philosophy, dot ball or boundary (none of this running nonsense!). Next in was the skipper (Mark Ealham) and together with the Secret Brandy Drinking started to make a few in roads into Bootles attack until the Secret Brandy Drinking chased a wide one and was caught behind for 24. Muhammed Sohail (Should Have Gone to Specsavers), came and went in the blink of an eye. Mark Rowan (The Oldest Swinger in Town) was next up and kept Mark Ealham company for the best part of a 40 odd stand with Mark Ealham taking a great liking to them bringing back the opening bowlers. The Oldest Swinger in Town was finally caught behind for hard earned 1 with the score on 118. Last in was Dave Kay (Porno Dave).............stumps everywhere from a very good yorker first up. That left Mark Ealham stranded on 36no with the best part of eight overs left.

After a very good tea and having to wait for Porno Dave to finish his third helping of trifle and also a vey large banana, we took to the field. Mark Ealham opened up but couldnt follow on from his batting heroics with the ball. The International was given the new ball at the other end and apart from a nervous start, bowled a very good line and length. Porno Dave then came into the attack and was virtually unplayable and proved that he is not just a damp wicket bowler. The Secret Brandy Drinker and Chesney got a wicket each with shocking deliveries, Chesney was unlucky not to get the opener caught but The Sri Lankan grassed it. Bootle knocked it off in about 20 overs for the loss of two wickets.

On the whole is was a decent performance for our first competitive game of the season but considering the start we had and the fact we didnt fulfill the full 45 overs was disappointing. The fielding was at times a little lax but that is work in progress and can only improve week by week. Its Newton le Willows away next week, another Prem side and another very tough fixture for us but if we continue to train hard and improve our concentration during the game, I am confident we can stick it up em - if only just slightly!

Rich Batts

Hargreaves Tea Score: Mid 7, Shower Score: 9