2008

 

First Home Game,  Sunday 1sts 27-Apr

Our 1st home game of the season saw a New set of changing rooms, kitchen, toilets, coats of paint, carpets, and lots of hard labour being completed prior to Long Eaton arriving for our Div 6 Newark Alliance game.

Before any player entered the ground a huge Vote of Thanks has to go to John & Lesley Thomson , and Peter & Ann Bristow for their tremendous efforts in getting the club ready following the building works this winter. We are also very thankful for all of those other helpers who have made this possible. 

Our stronger than usual team, ably led by Dave Stead were frustrated by heavy showers around 6 pm which put paid to the game with Southwell in a very strong position. Batting forst we posted 224 for 6, with a first 50 of the season going to Tom Foster( 59) followed quickly by George Bowie(66), with good contributions from Rico( 30 odd ) & George Bacon ( 29). Long Eaton were 40-1 after 19 overs when the heavens opened. Club Debutant Will Powell made a good impression with the ball and also contributed in the run out. Dev Mccarthy, Sam Grimley and Nathan Burton also bowled well with Sam Johnson having his spell curtailed by the rain.   Later that evening Nick & Helen hosted a BBQ at the Reindeer in aid of the club. Many thanks to them.

13-Apr-2008 Thoresby contrasts !

After our opening game of last season at Thoresby was played in glorious sunshine and 24 degrees this year we encountered slightly less sunshine and warmth. Additionally Thoresby didn’t have a Hurricane speed bowler this year either.

Thoresby elected to bat and found the bowling tight and consistent.  Ted Behl making his debut for the club took 3/ 26, Alex Rainbow 3/16 and Matt Wookey 3/3 from 2.5 overs !  Thoresby were bowled out for 66.

Our reply was steady with David Makey (29*) and John Richardson ( 15*) putting on an unbeaten 45 to give us 4 points and a great start to the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

Southwell vs Bottesford 10th June 2007

Anyone who was lucky enough to be at Top Ground on June 10th this year experienced a fantastic game of cricket. Not only were nearly 500 runs scored but it also saw a Sunday debut for Asad Ali (including a hugely entertaining 60 from 53 balls).

 

Having eventually collected Asad from Nottingham I faced a mad rush to get the two of us back to Top Ground in time to do the toss. We got there with plenty of time to spare and used those 5 minutes to get changed before we went out for a bat.

 

An opening stand of 60 from the first 11 overs between myself (51 eventually) and Paul Thompson (20) was ended after Tommo fell to a good catch at gulley. We didn’t fully appreciate just how unlucky Tommo had been until we experienced more of their catching attempts, seemingly having a 'soft spot' for Noel Clay.

 

The fall of Tommo’s wicket saw the arrival of Asad Ali at the crease. After looking a little bit scratchy for his first over or so, Asad decided that attack was the best form of defence ending his 60 runs with 5 sixes including a fine hit over the pavilion into the halls of residence.

 

Useful knocks from a fine-looking Matt Davis (30), Noel Clay (33*) and Andrew Willson (20) gave us a very healthy total of 248-5.

 

We ate tea knowing that although we had runs on the board, we had not won the game. There was an air of confidence in the team due to the inclusion of Asad and sure enough in his first over he worked up a good head of steam.  Mark Bowie started excellently with his first four overs going for just 12 runs.

 

After their first 10 overs Bottesford were 54-0 and looking reasonably comfortable. It wasn’t until the introduction of Dave Beckett that we had our first wicket. Dave showed the benefits of bowling straight and bowled out one of the openers leaving the visitors 104-1 after 18 overs. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy from here and the remaining opener (Nick Silverwood ending with a superb 103) was looking very solid.

 

Things didn’t improve for quite a few overs and our heads dropped almost giving in to defeat. In the 28th over Bottesford had reached 171-1 and things were looking bleak. I asked Wilf who he thought should bowl and he offered the opinion that pretty much anyone other than me would be a good option (including Tommo still wearing his ‘keeping kit). So I chose to ignore him completely and gave myself a bowl.

 

My first two overs managed to only go for 4 runs and the game was starting to get a little closer. To try to give us a chance I asked Asad to bowl his last 5 overs. I knew this would leave us with 1 over from one end but I had a punt and thought he would buy us a chance. Although Asad didn’t get a wicket, he did act as a good foil for the pace I was bowling at the other end.

 

For some reason my really slow bag of allsorts was starting to get wickets.

 

	5 overs left Bottesford needed 36 runs with 8 wickets left and still looked in the driving seat.
	4 overs left they needed 29 runs.
	3 overs left they still needed 29 runs thanks to an excellent maiden from Asad.
	2 overs left they needed 25 runs.
	1 over left and they needed 17 runs after Mark Bowie did a cracking job coming back for one final over.

 

It was at this point that I realised I had arranged it for me to bowl the last over of what was a tight game. It was also the exact same time my heart started pounding and I became conscious of the fact that I didn’t have a clue where I would bowl it because I have no control. Ever.

 

Somehow I got away with it and we ended up winning by 9 runs (with 7 overs 5-33 for me! Yes Brian, it’s a 5). It was a huge team effort and the first time we have turned a game back in our favour for a long time. We batted well, bowled well and took our chances in the field. I hope Asad enjoyed his first game because I thoroughly enjoyed the victory.

 

Lets hope it continues into next week’s game and we can build on our good efforts. A big “well done” goes out to all those that took part in a cracking game of cricket and thank you also to all those who supported from the sidelines.

 

 

Match Report Lenton vs Southwell 3rd June 2007

We went into this game having won our last two but having had a gap of four weeks between games which meant a slight loss of momentum.

 

The sun was shining on a hot day at Holme Pierre Point and we won the toss and decided to have a bowl. The wicket looked dead and the large outfield was covered in long grass. I hoped to restrict them to a modest total and try to knock it off with our impressive batting line up.

 

Mark Bowie opened the bowling from the pavilion end and in his first over found the edge. It carried comfortably to first slip and beyond as Bernie Sanderson’s (a late development squad promotion – many thanks) hands didn’t quite make it to the flashing ball. Had it been directed towards his head, I fear he would no longer be with us. Luckily it wasn’t too expensive a drop as the batsman in question only got 48 and was their top scorer.

 

Bernie did make amends with an excellent spell of what I thought was seam bowling, he described it as spin and the umpires didn’t have a clue what it was. However, whatever he was bowling, it worked ending with figures of 10 overs 2-38. He and I shared a surprisingly long spell and I ended with figures of 10 overs 2-42 (have a look at those Brian!) including two wickets in two balls. I think I had some LBW appeals turned down on the basis that they wouldn’t reach the stumps though.

 

An eventful spell from Noel Clay, ending in 5 overs 2-27 including some fantastically funny fielding from Tom Foster and some good death bowling by George Bowie (5-0-30-1) and Dave Beckett (3-0-13-1) restricted the home side to 183-9 from their 40 overs.

 

At tea I saw this as an achievable target but I think we gave them a few too many runs in extras and with some ‘Sunday’.

 

An inventive batting order gave Mark Bowie a chance to have a go at the top of the order as a pinch-hitter. Mark took his chance with both hands until he was caught behind for a duck from his 6th ball.

 

Consistent line and length bowling on a slow, low wicket made run scoring very difficult and as people tried to increase the run rate, wickets started to fall. At drinks we were 63-3 and needed to try to increase the rate slightly but also try to keep wickets in tact. This didn’t really happen and by the 30th over we were 115-7.  A spirited performance by Mark Foster (41*) gave us some hope but too many wickets had fallen at the other end and we eventually ended up 159 all out.

 

Mark Foster showed what could be done by working the ball into gaps and running hard. It is possible to go at 8 an over without playing big shots and I think it’s important that we try to work on that in future games.

 

Overall I think everybody enjoyed the game and I would like to give special thanks to those players who came in at the last minute. Bernie and Dave Stead in particular came from the Development XI on the morning of the game and I would like to thank them for their efforts.

 

I hope we can try to raise our game next week and show the quality that is undoubtedly in the team.

 

Rico

 

P.S. Thanks to Tom Rawcliffe for being my VC. Your comments made the difference and well done for hitting it.

 

TIME STOPS AS MARK BOWIE TAKES A WICKET ON A SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Collingham vs. Southwell  29th April 2007

 Apologies for the slightly over-stated heading but the euphoria of winning two games on the trot has got the better of me!

 The wicket in question was at the end of a superb display by a Southwell side with a good mixture of youngsters, kids and Greenie.

 

We lost the toss and we were asked to bat on a very low, slow wicket. Things didn’t start very well with Rico being dismissed by a cracker for a good-looking 8. However, the in form (is he ever not?) Ali Haynes stepped into a new role of having to build an innings and managed it superbly. His 95 from 98 balls along with Tim Green’s 64 helped put Southwell in a very strong position. Although the run rate slowed down with the loss of the two set batsmen, we managed to set a good total of 217-4 thanks to a quick-fire innings from Alex Mitchell (22). This left us feeling happy to go into tea and enjoy some food.

 

Tea was not ready though! So we went out for what we hoped would be a tricky ten overs for the opposition. This didn’t prove to be the case as P Todd and Dave Coote Jnr got to 51 without the loss of a wicket from the first 10.

 

After a harsh but inspiring team talk at tea we went out for the final 30 overs. With the wicket being low and slow an inspired captaincy manoeuvre gave Matt Wookey a chance to bowl his off-spin. Matt rose superbly to the challenge and ended with figures of 10 overs 4 for 23. This coupled with Luke Rees excellent performance (7-1-23-2) on debut dragged the run rate back to 4s from 6 and a half.

 

As the required run-rate increased wickets started to fall and it became more and more Southwell’s game. With the game pretty much over Mark Bowie returned and managed to bowl a slower ball that was caught by Matt Wookey – luckily it had hit the bat in between and was therefore out. Mark works tirelessly every week and is normally wicketless so it was good to see him have something to celebrate!

 

Collingham finished 148-9 giving Southwell a convincing win. This was a superb effort from all who took part. The level of fielding was excellent (only let down by the captain!), the batting was superb (only let down by the captain!) and the bowling adjusted well to the conditions and to the Collingham batsmen (the captain had the good sense not to bowl).

 

Hopefully all will look forward to future games and I look forward to writing more reports on wins.

Rico (a happy captain).

 

Southwell Sunday 1^st XI vs Caythorpe , Sunday April 22^nd, 2007  at Caythorpe. 

Paul Nixon-Grimley

 

Team : Rico; Wrighty ; Mitch : George Bacon; George Bowie ; Matt Wookey ; Alex Rainbow; Ali; Tom Rawcliffe : Mark Bowie ; Grimmers.

 

After a tough 2006 and a hard 1^st week at Thoresby skipper Rico must be hoping for results like Sundays.

 

Putting the opposition in on an excellent cricket wicket  Mark Bowie soon saw the benefits of his new round the wicket action getting the ball to carry well to the aging keeper.

 

Despite there being a slight hiccup between Mark and Tom Rawcliffe the Southwell fielding soon displayed some encouraging signs for the season ahead with some great stops and boundary work particularly from  Matt Wookey and Ali Haynes plus two blinding one handed catches from the skipper ( apparently two handed dollies are not Ricos forte !)

 

Southwell used 6 bowlers with Steve Wright being on the money from the off , although there were 2 wides given against him which were disputed with a full tea pot ! Alex Rainbow , George Bowie and George Bacon all extracted life and bounce from the wicket and made the Caythorpe batsmen hurry their shots. Sam Powell for Caythorpe batted well for his 70not out  bringing their total to 166 for 8 at the close. No mention is to be made to the 2 half chances that the sprightly Nixon –Grimley missed behind the stumps.

 

Our reply set off like a train with Ali Haynes peppering the off side boundary with some lovely back foot shots. Rico demonstrated his perfected leave shot for all to see. Ali eventually showed he has been coached by Adam Sedgwick timing a number of shots straight to fielders. He eventually fell for a well constructed 48. Matt Wookey batted well until he offered a half chance to mid off (  please see MW for the full story ), and George Bowie showed us two majestic shots amongst and uncharacteristic display of defence.  Alex Mitchell called GB for a suicidal run and the decision was not referred to the TV umpire.

 

Mitchell then set about knocking off the required runs ( 42 off 7 needed ) with the help of some Nixonesque blows from Grimley and some helpful Wides and no balls from Caythorpe. Alex finished up on 48 ish  and Grimley on 26 giving Rico a taste of success in the 2^nd game of the season.

 

 

Yours  Paul Nixon !! (from Grimmers!)

 

 

 

 

2006

 

 

Fixtures

 

 

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

12-June-2005  - Sunday 1st Record

Jacques Oberholzer and Andrew Willson set a new club record for the 4th wicket on Sunday, putting on 208 runs against Caythorpe (Lincs), in a total 0f 297-4. Jacques scored 158* and Andrew 66.

Well Done