Captain Trick continued his record as a lucky tosser and unhesitatingly inserted the Amblers to take advantage of the new ball. His first three overs were maidens and he continued to keep the useful opening pairing subdued. But his partner at the other end, local agriculturalist John Dinnis, proved more profligate and was removed from the attack with the score on 19-0 after 6 overs. Trick looked immediately to Ed Walker to stem the flow of runs, and this proved a successful choice. Whilst the talented Sree and newcomer Russell Smith bowled too many loose ones after James’ 6 over stint, steady Eddie performed with increasing confidence and control at the other end. He bowled out at a cost of 26 runs, but it was not until his ninth and final over that Shoreham took their first league wicket of the season, as Stacey calmly pouched a mistimed square cut, and Chevening looked well placed at 91-1 after 24 overs.

It proved to be an innings of two halves however and Shoreham’s perseverance in the field eventually began to yield results. The entrepreneurial Bob Stacey settled quickly into a good length and was rewarded with the scalp of Mark Burkitt, whose patient 57 was the bedrock of Chevening’s innings, with Sree juggling a simple catch at point. Chevening then progressed to 143-3 after 35 overs when Dinnis was given a chance to redeem himself and produced two successive overs of extraordinary contrast. It was as though his stuttering GPS first came suddenly to life – and with 3 wickets in 4 balls he ripped the heart out of Chevening’s middle order – and then equally suddenly went on the blink again, since his next over proved an eternity of wides and no balls, with several deliveries landing in McDonald’s safe gloves without bouncing.

But by then Chevening’s forces were spent and Sree and Trick tidied up the tail – 166 all out in the final over.

A good fielding performance by the visiting side and no RTFA candidate, with McDonald deserving a mention for pouching a couple of catches, conceding only one bye, and sustaining a bruise or two on the way. 9 wides and 3 no balls almost proved costly though…

Shoreham’s response with the bat started well. Andy Monteith looked in belligerent form and set the early pace, whilst Nick Walker Jr played himself in more circumspectly. Chevening’s bowling throughout was steady, without being menacing, and the second change Hadlow was the pick of the bunch (9-1-27-2). Monteith, having reached 18, injudiciously chose to shoulder up to a straight delivery which took his middle stump – a strange error of judgement which raised a laugh around the boundary. Thereafter NW Jr became more assertive and, with the wristy Sree playing the ball tidily off his legs in particular, the scoreboard kept turning steadily at 4 an over through a succession of modest but effective partnerships. NW Jr edged to the keeper on 44 and was replaced by NW Sr, Sree was clumsily stumped on 31, McDonald picked out a fielder with a lofted cut on 10, NW Sr swung across the line once too often on 18.

131-4 in the 33rd over. 36 runs needed off 7.2 overs.

This target looked eminently achievable, since Trick was joined at the crease by The Swaggering Edge. However, by the end of the 36th over, the score had only progressed to 137.

30 required off 4.

Edge then dispatched a steepling six towards the nearby A21, but immediately tried a repeat performance next ball, and was clean bowled. Captain Trick then seized the initiative and punished short deliveries off both Baldwin and Burkitt.

We were still not there though as 153-6 off 38 then became 161-8 off 39 with Dinnis and Smith perishing in successive deliveries. All of a sudden wickets became a factor as we entered the final over needing 6.

In the end though, the experience of Trick and the youthful confidence of Ed Walker at the other end ensured that only 4 balls were required, with James ending on 24 not out for a man of the match all-round performance.

A great start for the 1st team’s league campaign was enhanced by the news of the 2nd team’s victory, and this first ever ‘double’ was celebrated back at the George until closing time by the hard core of both sides.

- Nick Walker Sr

Harry (Team Photographer): “Everyone say lager”
Shoreham 1st Team: “LAAAAAAAGER!”

- Photos by Ed, Nick Snr and Harry

After losing the toss for the 2nd time this season, Shoreham were forced to bat against a strong St Mary’s bowling attack in what can only be described as blazing Shoreham Sunshine ideal for batting. Bromfield dropped last weeks opening partner King to 4th in order to sure up the Shoreham battling line-up, which meant the responsibility was given Ed Walker to lead the Shoreham batting attack with Bromfield.

After an assured first two over and a lovely cover-drive for 4 by Walker, he missed a straight one and was out for 4, bringing the experienced Fletcher to the wicket who was wily in keeping the impressive St Mary’s openers and even managed to be on the receiving end of the slowest bouncer in history. While Bromfield at the other end was struggling for form and played and missed at a few drives. With the score at 24 Fletcher was caught behind for only 6 but was invaluable in steadying the Shoreham ship.

This brought the impressive Dom King to the wicket and together with Bromfield managed to move the Shoreham innings into the next gear even though the endless line of good line and length St Mary’s bowlers continued to be coming on. With the score at 70 Bromfield used the first of his 5 lives and was dropped after trying to hook a slow delivery (the words oh sh*t were heard in the pavilion).

With the score at 79 King was bowled after missing a straight delivery. Bringing the man inform Sam Trick to the crease and the innings really started to take off as Bromfield started to get his eye in and use a bit of luck being dropped another 3 times although difficult chances the wicket keeper started asking for his Lottery numbers. Trick picked up were he left off on Saturday as he raced to a quick fire 34 and Bromfield took full advantage of his luck and smacked his way to his maiden 100 of the season and finished 104 not out

Shoreham innings finishing on 187 after 40 over from the away side.

After an impressive tea Shoreham took the field. With Walker leading the bowling attack after his impressive 5 wicket haul the week before, but is was the impressive Bradley Simms (Shoreham’s answer to MR T) from the golf course end that was causing the early problems for St Mary’s, who had come out all guns blazing going to a quick-fire 10 of 4 balls.

With ST Mary’s playing suicide cricket trying to smack the leather off the ball the calculated Simm’s and Walker worked well and backed up with great catches by the ever reliable Trick in the slips and the impressive Sunday debutant Alex Haysler reduced St Mary’s to 52-6. With St Mary’s elder statesmen trying to save the game and making Jeff Boycott look like Adam Gilchrist !! Bromfield turned to Shoreham’s youthful spinners Haysler and Rivett to make the breakthrough and they didn’t disappoint with a wicket a piece
Leaving the away side at 89—7.

Bromfield then turned to experience and the unknown when he put the evergreen David Fletcher and Russell Brookes on. Brookes surprised the team with great line length and accuracy and went for only 1 run from 2 overs, while Fletcher cleaned up with 2 wickets in 8 balls.

Fantastic Victory with St Mary’s all out for 92. Watched by a record crowd including 3 members of the Last of the Summer Wine cast (thanks Ray Trick, John Bromfield and Brownie)

Man of the Match: Sean Bromfield

Ray Trick Fielding award: No-one great team effort

No game this week but the Band-wagon rolls onto Waggoners.

- Sean

- Photos by Sam, George and Greg*

*apparently

- Photos by lots of people.

Shoreham won their first game of the season on Saturday winning by 5 wickets. Royal National Theatre lost the toss and were inserted, after early breakthroughs by John Dinnis (3 for 28) and James Trick (2 for 50), Husbands (111) set about the Shoreham attack and Shoreham were left to rue the dropped catch when he was on 12 (see web site pictures!!!). Husbands was eventually out caught by Monti off the bowling of Ray Trick (2 for 22). George (20) was the only other RNT player to make a telling contribution enabling the visitors to reach 176 for 9 despite the wily bowling of Dave Fletcher.

The home side got off to a slow start with White and Singh bowling a tight line, Nick Walker (12) and Paul Styles (15) set Shoreham on the way, then Mongomerie added a quick 23 before a partnership of 57 between James Trick (29) and Sam Trick (55no) pushed the home side towards the finish line. JD (24) hitting some lofty blows saw Shoreham home.

- Ray

- Photos by Ed, Sam and George

- Photos by Sam and George

When the rain started pouring down at 2pm on an already damp Shoreham pitch the omens weren’t too good for the first game of the season, although both sets of players were consoled by the site of a Walker tea especially the chocolate cake !!.

With our resident Michael Fish (aka Ray Trick) giving us advice on the workings on the British weather system, the rain soon subsided with Shoreham put into Bat after Bromfield lost his first Toss of the season.

The opening partnership of King and Bromfield did not get off to the flying start that was expected and were tied down by tight Acme bowling from Bowden and Masterton. With King’s patience finally running out and he missed a straight one to be bowled for only 7. Bromfield soon followed after driving straight back to Masterton for only 12.

With the openers gone it was up to the experienced Nick Walker Snr and new arrival from Dartford Greg Dassrath to steady the soggy Shoreham ship and they duly obliged with some masterful stroke play, aided by a short boundary (thanks Heff). Walker finally falling for a respectable 23 after missing a straight one.

Dassrath took up the batting mantel and with Sam ‘Tonker’ Trick and moved the Shoreham innings into full gear, slapping the ever vocal GROWLER to all parts of the sodden Shoreham ground. Sam finally fell for a short but sweet 27. Bringing the unfortunate Russell Brooks to the wicket who was run out by his mate Greg for only 1.

The ever jovial Greg Taylor came to the crease and managed a little cameo of 9 and out. The Shoreham innings finished at TEA 140-6 after only 34 overs with Dassrath top scoring on 56 not out.

With the amount of overs bowled so meagre, Bromfield opened the bowling with the excellent Ed (are you Hoggard in Disguise) Walker and the aging master of Spin Ray (Spin that Web) Trick and they both employed time wasting tactics of the highest calibre !!!

Walker was on fire and was rattling through the Acme top order with a fine display of swing bowling. Bromfield brought himself into the attack but old problems of overstepping came back to haunt him. But with the impressive Fletcher and Rivett Acme were restricted to make the finish very close. Shoreham’s fielding was impressive with run outs and catches a plenty putting the pressure firmly back on Acme but in the last over of the match they squeezed past a resilient Shoreham who did feel a bit cheated at the lack of over bowled at them and Bromfield wishing he had batted after TEA.

Man of the Match: Greg Dassrath and Ed Walker

Ray Trick Fielding Award: Dom King (sorry Dom I know it was only 1 catch)

The Shoreham bandwagon keeps rolling on to play St Mary’s on Sunday. Feel free to come along and support the team. If you do fancy a good bat and bowl then please consider playing on a Sunday.

- Sean

- Thanks to Pete for sending this one in

We have matches arranged for all three days; against Ryde, Ventnor, and Shanklin, respectively. Like last year we’ll be staying in the biggest town on the island - Ryde - but, unlike last year, we have arranged accommodation in a hotel which is fit for human habitation. We have 12 beds provisionally booked at The Vine Guesthouse for the two nights. It is situated a stone’s throw from the sea off the esplanade in Ryde; close to pubs, curry houses, ten-pin bowling, and (dare I say it) the infamous Balcony nightclub. If we get more people than expected interested in touring then extra accommodation arrangements will be made.

So skive off school, bunk off work, and join us on the Shoreham Cricket Tour 2008!

See you on the island,

Ed

Confirmed tourists so far:

Ed Walker
Nick Walker Snr.
Martin Wells
Christopher Brown
James Asplin
Bob Stacey
Ray Trick
James Trick
Sam Trick
Jack Rivett
Pat Barrett
Rob Marsden

Also on the fashion front, the Club is to be sponsored by Gillette this season and in return we are to provide models for them. Pat has been booked for the ‘before’ shots and George Rivett for the ‘after’.

John Dinnis and James Trick immediately dropped into their familiar rhythms and accurate bowling on a low, slow wicket meant that scoring was difficult. Only seven runs came from the bat in the first eleven overs at the cost of one wicket. Martin Wells prevented extras from adding as many as they might have done by making some excellent leg-side stops. A couple of hard chances were not taken, but overall the fielding was good. Naturally, there was an increase in interest whenever the ball went near the holder of the RTFA, but he played like a man who was not keen to defend his title.

After the first and second change bowlers were introduced Chelsfield’s scoring accelerated, if that doesn’t convey too great a sense of speed. Their numbers 2 and 3 took the total along to nearly a hundred, but then wickets began to fall regularly: one to Sree, who was his usual, sprightly self; three to Brad Simms in an accurate and increasingly penetrative spell of seven overs; three to ‘Shane’ Stacey, who made the ball turn prodigiously and also fielded like a gazelle (at least he threw like a gazelle when missing a stone cold run-out from five yards, but made amends by bowling the man two balls later); and finally, two to Wyn at the cost of just 1 run in 8 balls, which, in the circumstances, must leave him top of the bowling averages until at least August.

Chelsfield finished on 131. Then, lacking our exceptional depth of bowling talent, they persevered with their opening attack for 20 overs. Sree tried to get after them, but on a slow pitch that proved difficult. In the ninth over he skyed a catch to the covers with the score on 14. By the 23rd over the score stood at 40 for 4 despite attempts by Monty and Martin to push things along. What had seemed a modest total to chase was looking far less attainable.

Now James and John came together, and, after a look at the bowling, they added 50 runs in five overs. James was finally out for 46 and John was seventh out with four overs remaining, fourteen needed to win and the opening bowlers recalled.

With the final ball to be bowled all results were still possible. Shoreham stood on 130 for 9 in reply to Chelsfield’s 131 all out. There were no television cameras to record the event, and so when future generations tour the Hall of Private Pain and find the name of Brad Simms inscribed slightly below and to the right of those of Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle they may not know why it is there.

The result hardly took the gloss off a gorgeous day, which was concluded in traditional fashion. It’s good to be back!

- Wyn

(photos to come…)