Week 10

As there was no 2^nd XI game, young Stephen Miller was called up to the 1^st XI to make his debut, and ended up winning the Helmet of the Week award. Not for anything he did on the pitch, but not wearing the correct Stowey kit. Back to the two’s next week Stephen.

With Stowey completely outplaying Cutcombe, winning before the tea was even brought up to the ground, I wonder how many times Stephen touched the ball and if he enjoyed fielding at fine leg?

Back when I was young, fitter, slimmer and I could see the ball, I had regular 1^st XI call up’s (only because they were short), and I made the fine leg fielding position my own. Some games would meander by, and it wouldn’t be until the 25^th over before I would touch the ball.

Fielding fine leg to fine leg, then going in at number 11 would cost me £5 per game. However, I would enjoy a nice tea and talk to other players thinking that I had earned it!

Fielding at fine leg had its advantages, not touching the ball very often, even less chance of a catch coming your way and Stoodleigh away. I always looked forward to that away trip, and especially fielding at fine leg.

There would be these two old boys sitting in their deck chairs at the fine leg position; they would also be sipping homemade cider, and how could I refuse a drop or two on a hot sunny day in Stoodleigh.

As for the number 11 position, well If I had to bat (which wasn’t very often), the game was almost certainly lost. And by the time I go to the crease, it would be usually in near darkness with the opening quick bowler back on to wrap up the innings.

For all my stern efforts in playing 1stXI cricket back then, there was that the occasional winners or runners-up trophy won. So just by playing a handful of 1^st XI games a season meant that I would pick up a winners medal or shield.

So back to Saturday, poor eight man Cutcombe only had eight men; they had no answer to Jack Rich and Stephen Easden and was bowled out for forty something. Stowey, or should I say Jub, wasted no time in knocking off the runs.

Next week, back to 2^nd XI action as they welcome near neighbours Kilve, whereas the 1^st XI have a long trip to Morebath.

That’s it for now, count down to the Ashes!

Week 9

Nine weeks have passed, half way through the season, and I don’t think I have even mentioned Sorty.

Having been dropped to the 2^nd XI and his position in the 1^st XI taken by young George Pike, Mark was looking forward to the trip to Dunster, spending a long time at the crease and getting some runs under his belt.

So what happened? First ball, Mark was delivered a nice juicy longhop outside of off stump which he duly despatched right down the throat of point; off Mark trudged back to the changing rooms, out first ball. Earlier, Mark caught an absolute skyer, only to step over the boundary rope and thus six runs to the batsman.

And to rub a bit more salt into the wound, Mark’s replacement in the 1^st XI, George, was involved in a match winning ninth wicket partnership with Matt Coombes which steered the 1^st XI to victory. A great bit of hindsight by 1^st XI skipper Ryan Gamblin me thinks!

Shay Keohane was in the runs again for the 2^nd XI. Shay was due leave early as he had to work that evening, so Carl sent him in as opener, and he played in the style of a pinch hitter, smashing the attack all round the park. During the innings it came to my attention that Shay was trying to get out, so he could get to work. Nice knock though Shay.

Looking at the scorebook after the game, the Dunster scorer (who was doing two scorebooks) credited all Shay’s runs to Sorty, which made Mark a bit happier. It is even on the League’s website that Mark hit all the runs. I am sure Carl will remedy the situation for the Stowey archives.

So it is halfway through the season, which I find quite unbelievable, where has that time gone? Anyway, so how are Stowey doing thus far this season?

Let’s start with the 1^st XI. Handily placed in Division Two with a game in hand over the teams above them, having won five out of their eight games played, which includes two cancellations and only the one defeat against Timberscombe.

They are also in the quarter-finals of the West Somerset League Cup, the furthest they have been for some seasons now, usually Stowey are first round specialists!

The 2^nd XI have picked up three victories in the games they have played (the league table on the website is wrong). There has been a lot of encouraging performances throughout and some pretty scary ones thrown in for good measure. With North Curry running away with the league, the runners-up spot will be between Stoke Saints, Dunster and Bishops Hull, Stowey will battle it out for the mid table positions, all of which Stowey will face during the second half of the season.

Right, that’s it for now. I would just like to mention that no one was hurt in my dropping of four full cider bottles on Saturday evening. It was upsetting at first seeing all that cider run down the drain, but alas an emergency supply was found, tins of Thatchers this time, and my night was a bit more of a happier one.

Week 8

“Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat” is a phrase which describes Stowey’s victory over Huish Champflower last Thursday night in the West Somerset Cricket League Cup. And Stowey can thank Lee Villis for their progression into the quarter-finals of the competition.

Chasing 97 to win, Stowey slipped to 40-7 with all the big guns back in the preverbal hutch. So cometh the hour, cometh the man, Lee Villis take a bow, 47 not out, with great support from Greg Turner, Kai Baker and Mike Barrow, saw Stowey romp home by one wicket.

Nice on Lee, great to see it – in fact I left the ground when the sixth wicket fell, thinking I had better things to do. So it was great to learn via social media that Stowey had scrapped through to the quarters, now they face Bridgwater Pointers.

The 1^st XI was without a game on Saturday, so the focus as on the 2^nd XI who hosted undefeated North Curry. Despite the best efforts of the 2^nd XI, North Curry still remain undefeated.

Unfortunately I was out of the County on Saturday, so was unable to umpire, and most importantly missing out on Mandy’s wonderful teas (does it sound like I’m creeping? It certainly does!). But hey, there are plenty of home games left to tuck into them. Apparently I am led to believe that I didn’t miss much last week when Stowey played Crowcombe III’s at Holford, allegedly the teas weren’t that special, but hey, someone made the effort to provide them, so hats off.

Over Stowey 2^nd’s travel to Dunster on Saturday meeting them for the first time in a league fixture. I am personally looking forward to the trip, as having drove past their ground recently, it looks like it is in a great setting, I am sure Stowey will make a good account for themselves.

That’s all for now, have a tired brain, must be Thatchers time!

Week 7

Wow, week 7 and I don’t think I have mentioned teas, what’s wrong with me? It’s the only reason I umpire every season.

Teas have been of a very good standard this season, both at home and at my only away game, at Kilve. Wendy’s teas from the past three seasons were exceptional, but I have now had the privilege of sampling teas made by Tina, Mandy and Pauline, wow, what can I say, but exceptional also.

I for one loved Wendy’s cheese and onion sandwiches, and when Tina made them as well, just wow. Mandy made some wonderful quiches, with, guess what, cheese and onion, and to top that, Pauline is offering cheese and biscuits as well as sandwiches. I am meant to be losing weight you know!

With so much cricket being played, the tea ladies can somewhat be forgotten (not by me though). I know they are much appreciated by all at Over Stowey, both home and away, they are the quintessential thing about village cricket.

Despite the horrid weather on Friday night / Saturday morning, both senior sides took to the field on Saturday, and both notched up important victories. Despite the best efforts of the high pressure looming over the UK on Saturday giving me a thumping headache, I did manage to watch some of the 1^st team.

And that same said high pressure made me miss my trip to Crowcombe III’s at Holford. Another away trip missed, which meant another tea missed.

What I can understand in despatches is that Greg Arlotte made a huge impact in the game for the 2^nd’s, scoring a rapid and powerful 30, and then deceive the Crowcombe batsmen with his spin (very slow with plenty of flight) option, claiming four wickets.

I am also understand that a reluctant skipper brought himself on to bowl, and grabbed a couple of important wickets just after the drinks break. You know what they say about those types of breaks, a loss of concentration and a wicket goes down.

So what exciting stuff have we to look forward to this week. Well, the 1^st XI have a cup match on Thursday, yep, they are through to the second round, and they face an inform Huish Champflower, who have only lost one game so far this season. Saturday sees the 1^st XI without a game, whereas the 2^nd XI host runaway Division Five leaders North Curry. Bat first me thinks.

Ok, a bit of Thatchers and my feet up for the evening me thinks.

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

Week Five

I wanted to say quite a bit about what has happened off the pitch over the past seven days which has affected so many Cricket Clubs, like Over Stowey, but have decided to tone it down somewhat. So here is an edited version, a much edited version:

These are the thoughts of me and me alone, which do not represent the views of anyone else, any club or society – so there!

This last weekend Over Stowey CC should’ve been playing Bishops Hull CC, in a game of cricket, village cricket. Over Stowey forfeited the fixture.

Let me remind you about the laws of cricket, especially The Preamble – The Spirit of Cricket:

Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game.

Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.

1. There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team's conduct firmly on the captain.

Responsibility of captains:

The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.

Player’s conduct

In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decisions of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player's captain, and instruct the latter to take action.

Straight on to Preamble Point 6:

6. Violence
There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.

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I am lead to believe this is also, quite rightly, that the zero tolerance about violence is in the WSCL Handbook. Thankfully other clubs, along with Over Stowey, have refused to play Bishops Hull.

Unfortunately I have become somewhat disillusioned about the West Somerset Cricket League, perhaps I need a holiday, but will continue my whole hearted support for Over Stowey.

Let’s just play Village Cricket, competitively but within the spirit.

Week 4

Disaster all round, from what I can understand, a bit like UK’s entry in Eurovision. So where do I start:

• Half the 2^nd XI went AWOL, trying to find the ground to where they were travelling, ths turning up late.
• Six dropped catches in the 2^nd’s.
• On the subject of batting collapses, the 1^st XI was doing ok when I left.
• I have dropped down the league in the Fantasy T20 Cricket league form 1^st to 2^nd - gutted.

So, the positives:

• The 1^st XI are in the next round of the cup.
• Gary Thomas got a hatful of wickets.
• I had a nice tea thanks to Pauline.

Personally, I am somewhat disappointed I didn’t make it to the 2^nd XI game, buying cider at a food and drink festival had a bit of a knock on effect, but I did have a nice tea. Have I mentioned that?

In all, these are the first defeats for both senior sides this season, something no doubt both captains will reflect on.

It was great to see Norman Hicks at the ground on Saturday, a former Over Stowey “great”. To hear he is retiring from work within the next 12 months just goes to show how time creeps up on you. Hope to see you at the ground more often Norman.

Not much more to say really, the match reports speak for themselves. So next week a double header against Bishops Hull, now that is something to look forward to. And yes Carl, I shall be there.