Weeks 6

Over Stowey Cricket Club’s newly refurbished pavilion got broken into Sunday night / Monday morning. Damage was done to the front door and cricketing items was taken, like new match balls. There are some very sad people out there; can you tell what is there to gain from this?

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Over Stowey 2^nd XI skipper, Carl Woodley, sent me a message last Sunday asking about my availability to umpire the game on Saturday, I quote: “Home to Fitzhead on Saturday if you fancy a bit of fresh air!”

He wasn’t kidding; standing in a field for six hours on Saturday wasn’t the most enjoyable experiences I ever had, as it was blooming freezing thanks to a cold wind coming straight from Siberia (well, it felt like it). It is meant to be June you know.

By six o’clock, as the sun disappeared behind a big cloud making the wind even colder, Over Stowey lost their fourth wicket. Great, I thought, I’ll be home by seven for a nice hot bath to thaw out with plenty of hot coco to warm me up inside.

So what happened? Shay decided to find some form, something he has been threatening for a while, along with Rabbit, they stuck it out as they smashed the Fitzhead attack around the park, and at one stage threatening the Fitzhead total. But it was not to be. And the time the final wicket fell, it was below freezing, and I felt like an ice cube!

Oh the joys of umpiring in the West Somerset League Division Five. I even had to do a signal which I have not done for a long time, in fact this century, a batsman running one short. Shay might of top scored, however he denied George of one run (and doesn't he need them), as he failed to ground his bat. Carl also had to give a signal for one run short (two in the same game), but I, along with the Fitzhead fielder beside me, was a bit mystified by his signal, but alas the message got across to the scorers.

I even had to signal a no ball, not over stepping, but for Fitzhead having three behind square, and with only ten players it seems a bit of a waste, but hey it happened. On the subject of Fitzhead, who are a pretty decent sort to play against, that must of been the first time I have seen four players keep wicket in a match, three in a space of an over!

The 1^st team travelled to Minehead and came back victorious with a comfortable seven wicket win. And I expect it was even colder down there on the coast, but I wonder what the new clubhouse is like, and how cheap the cider is? And why was Sorty wearing a pink helmet?

As Sunday was such a nice day (no thermals needed), myself and my fiancée decided to go out for the day and to Judy’s bemusement it nearly ended up with a tour of the grounds in the West Somerset League. Holford, Carhampton, Dunster, Timberscombe, Cutcombe, Morebath to name but a few, I can even put Stoodleigh on there, as we went to Wimbleball Lake. On the way home, we even turned into Crowcombe so as to pass their ground. Oh happy days.

Diet cider time me thinks