The Sweet Smell Of Something

03/05/2011

The Suburbans beat top of the table Little Stoke 4-0

07/05/2011

Netball repost thus:

We won we won we won we won!!!!!! Promotional clincher against team Bath ended in  victory and promotion to Division 6!!!! Score:34-28 to us. Mandie got player from them and Miss tickle from us. WE RULE. The evening post covered the game with a photographer/reporter so if you can bare to part with your money (or nick it) we should be in that.

The Suburbans beat Lockleaze 4-1. They finish the season in 3rd place only one point below 2nd. Played 26, Won 19, Drew 3, Lost 4, For 83, Against 31, GD 52, Points 60.

The Saturday Cricket Team’s game against Stanton Drew was abandoned at tea. Maybe the sandwiches were off, or perhaps it was the rain. TT reports thus:

Following a long-awaited deluge that left gardening cricketers with a split personality, the wicket at Frys in Keynsham was a bit soggy for the Cowboys’ home match against Stanton Drew. Clearly, the only sane option was to bowl first and use the unpredictability of the wicket to get the opposition out, but for the second week running the benevolent Saturday skipper refused to deny the late-arriving opposition captain the chance to toss and when the coin landed in the mud, it was the Cowboys’ opening batsmen who padded up.

It was still sunny, muggy and hot enough to melt a factory full of Crunchie bars (had production of the aforementioned honeycombed chocolate not ceased at the Somerdale site last autumn and moved to Poland) but more importantly, make the ball swing. Dave and Paul battled watchfully as the opening bowlers produced bananas, until Paul was bowled by a peach.

The score trickled along while Simon found his feet, until last week’s centurion fell early, bringing Ev to the wicket. As Simon stroked the ball around at one end, Ev cautiously blocked at the other, producing a nice symmetry of dots against his name in the scorebook until eventually being caught at the wicket. Steve then provided a similar supporting foil for Simon, who by now had found the boundary a few times and was helping the score along. When he too was bowled, for a Man of the Match winning innings of 34 and Steve had found the keeper’s gloves, Kahlu and Gretch came to the wicket to try a different approach, the former smacking the ball into the trees and provoking an extra flurry of blossom.

Such a direct approach was fraught with danger and sure enough, Kahlu soon departed to a good tumbling catch near the boundary, bringing the owner of a ‘messy’ ankle to join Gretch at the wicket. Defying probability, the ankle was further battered by a mistimed drive a few balls later but held up for a few twenty-two yard scampers. A couple of welcome pies were gratefully gobbled and sent to the boundary until greedily grabbing at one out of the crease, the keeper removed the bails.

Joe came in and looked stylish with the bat for a while, befitting of his orange cap, Gretch departed having arrived at double figures and Rich succumbed after a promising boundary. Not out batsman Rob, seeing the ball well, helped give some respectability to an otherwise rather crumbly and flaky batting performance as the Cowboys went to tea to contemplate defending 127 runs.

The overlap of sporting seasons brought cricketers and footballers into close proximity in the clubhouse as polystyrene plates were impatiently shuffled and doughnuts eagerly anticipated, but as players returned to the top field afterwards, the sky was past overcast and at an ominous dark grey.

The first spots of rain came as the Cowboys gathered towels and prepared to take to the field, but it was the opposition batsmen who declared the earliest interest in not wanting to get wet, retreating to the cover of chestnut trees. For the next hour, depending on your vision and outlook, the weather was improving / worsening and there was every / no chance of further play. There were those in both camps who at one time or another wandered towards and loitered around the wicket looking for a denouement, but in the end, there wasn’t even a Wispa.

The match was abandoned just after six o’clock for a cider Cider Moment in the skittle alley.

Scorecard

This report was originally posted on Green Lung.

09/05/2011

The Ultra Casuals lost the final match of their season 0-1 to Cotswool Leg Ends.

The Sunday Cricket 2nds did not have a game but the 1st recorded their first victory of the season. Dunc replied to TT’s Saturday match report with this fine effort:

Under the Rainbow, yet no Chorus of Angels.

After tasting early season defeat last week, the Sunday 1st team took to the unusually fast drying field at Frenchay with the confident air of a team undefeated at home for a whole season. Still-damp underfoot conditions and an earlier nod from the groundsman encouraged Bolts to concentrate hard on the coin toss, thus mind-controlling their skipper into an incorrect call. We field, giving my good self a full 30 seconds to get changed following a feisty brawl with some bread and butter making the tea.

Barrow Gurney were immediately subjected to some short pitched bowling, Sayed and Omar looking for outside edge or chin, whichever happened to be in the way. They rapped gloved hands and bat splices and frankly worried the openers into early demise by smart catches in the keeper and slip positions respectively by new boy Jeff, who had an excellent keeping game, and old boy Mark W, sure of hand as usual.

The top of the order carried on in an understandably nervous manner stepping up from 13 for 2 to 42 and 55 for the 3rd and 4th wickets. A mini collapse was completed by around the halfway stage as the chalk and cheese pairing of Martin and Hidayat (I’ll leave the reader to attribute calcium or lactose where appropriate) quickly removed much of the middle order.

At 68 for 6, ‘The Gurn’ are grimacing.

Enter their skipper, who batted doggedly alongside a Young Flashing Blade. Between them they made a steady, occasionally aggressive lengthy recovery stand of 102, their cheery leader finally bowled on the last ball by Omar, just reward for his two good spells of fast bowling. Fair play to Barrow’s final pairing, a reminder however to our own batsmen that the somewhat cavalier spirit of their first six players should not to be replicated and that common sense should permeate our every stroke.

After tea, displaying your correspondent’s butter spreading skills, and a salsa made by the fair lilywhite hand of his offspring and budding culinary virtuoso Fenn, refreshed Cowboy openers Skippy Bolts and Justin strode manfully across the greensward, their clear intent, a crushing 10 wicket victory as all openers should have. ‘Twas not to be as both departed for single figure totals on a still tricky batting track exploited very well by a charging aggressive young quickie down the slope. Bolts was caught behind following a banana. Justin somehow bowled by the less impressive bowler 2, so much to his annoyance that he was still too irate to explain exactly how when this stocky No. 4 asked him upon arrival at the crease.

And so, it fell to the old guard, Mark and Stocky 4, perhaps to gently rebuild? Constant vigilance, patience, a bit of chat, an ageing ball, 34 combined Cowboy years of experience and some jogging to and fro between the timbers, established that 104 partnership rebuild. Of course, the mind of a Cowboy being as it is, a fully characteristic rush of blood ensured the inevitable run out, and having just reached a half century, the author made way for the debut of Mr. Dave Tool at No.5. And then a few moments later….

Enter the monsoon, thankfully short lived. Barrow, bless them, were very keen to restart, this being their only chance for an unlikely if not unprecedented victory.

Upon Dave’s arrival, he and Mark still had three score runs to win ahead of them, but both played sure enough strokes under a clear and well celebrated double rainbow, against a generally sagging bowling attack. Dave acquitted himself admirably, finishing 25 not out. Mark frustrated the Gurney Eleven to a cultured and wise 52 not out.

The Cowboys win by an emphatic 7 wickets in the 33rd over. Bolts breathes a sigh of relief, I ache and Martin reflects on hitting the Stratton Stride (8/2/26/1). Sayed starts his wicket haul for 2011 (8/1/26/2), Hidayat continues to impress with 8/1/30/3, Omar chips in with an unlucky 8/1/31/1. ‘The Wizard’ strikes again. Dave T. looked happy with his late contribution, though disappointed not to be able to share the debrief over a beverage.

All in all, a good team performance, far less rusty than the previous week.

Man of match, Mark.

Cider moment, Jeff’s loud appeal for LEG before wicket whilst batsman wells up with painful THUMB injury.

Above all, the game was played in a very genuine, wonderful, true cricketing spirit by both teams, despite the Cowboys occasional over-appealing for L.B.W. even when the ball had obviously hit only the bat or broken a finger. All such minor incidents were chuckled away and for that the author applauds Barrow Gurney whole heartedly.

The scorecard can be found here.

Under the Rainbow, yet no Chorus of Angels.

After tasting early season defeat last week, the Sunday 1st team took to the unusually fast drying field at Frenchay with the confident air of a team undefeated at home for a whole season. Still-damp underfoot conditions and an earlier nod from the groundsman encouraged Bolts to concentrate hard on the coin toss, thus mind-controlling their skipper into an incorrect call. We field, giving my good self a full 30 seconds to get changed following a feisty brawl with some bread and butter making the tea.
Barrow Gurney were immediately subjected to some short pitched bowling, Sayed and Omar looking for outside edge or chin, whichever happened to be in the way. They rapped gloved hands and bat splices and frankly worried the openers into early demise by smart catches in the keeper and slip positions respectively by new boy Jeff, who had an excellent keeping game, and old boy Mark W, sure of hand as usual.
The top of the order carried on in an understandably nervous manner stepping up from 13 for 2 to 42 and 55 for the 3rd and 4th wickets. A mini collapse was completed by around the halfway stage as the chalk and cheese pairing of Martin and Hidayat (I’ll leave the reader to attribute calcium or lactose where appropriate) quickly removed much of the middle order.
At 68 for 6, ‘The Gurn’ are grimacing.
Enter their skipper, who batted doggedly alongside a Young Flashing Blade. Between them they made a steady, occasionally aggressive lengthy recovery stand of 102, their cheery leader finally bowled on the last ball by Omar, just reward for his two good spells of fast bowling. Fair play to Barrow's final pairing, a reminder however to our own batsmen that the somewhat cavalier spirit of their first six players should not to be replicated and that common sense should permeate our every stroke.
After tea, displaying your correspondent’s butter spreading skills, and a salsa made by the fair lilywhite hand of his offspring and budding culinary virtuoso Fenn, refreshed Cowboy openers Skippy Bolts and Justin strode manfully across the greensward, their clear intent, a crushing 10 wicket victory as all openers should have. ‘Twas not to be as both departed for single figure totals on a still tricky batting track exploited very well by a charging aggressive young quickie down the slope. Bolts was caught behind following a banana.  Justin somehow bowled by the less impressive bowler 2, so much to his annoyance that he was still too irate to explain exactly how when this stocky No. 4 asked him upon arrival at the crease.
And so, it fell to the old guard, Mark and Stocky 4, perhaps to gently rebuild? Constant vigilance, patience, a bit of chat, an ageing ball, 34 combined Cowboy years of experience and some jogging to and fro between the timbers, established that 104 partnership rebuild. Of course, the mind of a Cowboy being as it is, a fully characteristic rush of blood ensured the inevitable run out, and having just reached a half century,  the author made way for the debut of Mr. Dave Tool at No.5.  And then a few moments later....
Enter the monsoon, thankfully short lived. Barrow, bless them, were very keen to restart, this being their only chance for an unlikely if not unprecedented victory.
Upon Dave’s arrival, he and Mark still had three score runs to win ahead of them, but both played sure enough strokes under a clear and well celebrated double rainbow, against a generally sagging bowling attack. Dave acquitted himself admirably, finishing 25 not out.  Mark frustrated the Gurney Eleven to a cultured and wise 52 not out.

The Cowboys win by an emphatic 7 wickets in the 33rd over.  Bolts breathes a sigh of relief, I ache and Martin reflects on hitting the Stratton Stride (8/2/26/1). Sayed starts his wicket haul for 2011 (8/1/26/2), Hidayat continues to impress with 8/1/30/3, Omar chips in with an unlucky  8/1/31/1. ‘The Wizard’ strikes again. Dave T. looked happy with his late contribution, though disappointed not to be able to share the debrief over a beverage.
All in all, a good team performance, far less rusty than the previous week.
Man of match, Mark.
Cider moment, Jeff’s loud appeal for LEG before wicket whilst batsman wells up with painful THUMB injury.
Above all, the game was played in a very genuine, wonderful, true cricketing spirit by both teams, despite the Cowboys occasional over-appealing for L.B.W. even when the ball had obviously hit only the bat or broken a finger.  All such minor incidents were chuckled away and for that the author applauds Barrow Gurney whole heartedly.