The Chairmans Newsletter July 08
Dear Member,
As we cruise towards the half way point of the season here are a
few lines to bring you up to date with our progress and with
what's to come.
OFF THE FIELD
Social Affairs:
An Italian Extravaganza of an evening was enjoyed at the clubhouse on 20th June by more than sixty guests who were wined dined and entertained in tricalore style with huge thanks to Chris and Angela Bowler and their hard working team of helpers. The evening was a great success and we hope that you will join us for another memorable night on 25th July when the theme is Chinese in the Olympic spirit. Corporate Affairs: June 26th saw another first when the club played host to a group from Kleinwort Benson Private Bank who flew in from all over Europe for 'an evening of quintessential English cricket'. After the Club's coaches had provided a crash course in batting and bowling, a lively game saw some interesting cricket before the group left the club by boat and promising to return next year. The Big Picture: May I draw your attention to the fabulous framed photomontage behind the bar which is a signed commemoration of the England team's Ashes win in 2005. Kindly donated by Michael Hughes, the picture is being raffled between now and the senior's awards evening on 13th September and tickets are available for just a pound a piece so buy early to avoid disappointment. Grubs Up: A reminder that we are serving an array of delicious hot and cold at the clubhouse every Friday and Saturday evening so whether you're playing or watching tuck in.
ON THE FIELD
Senior Men's Cricket:
June has seen the men's teams start to show what they can do with many brilliant individual performances and some very encouraging results throughout the club not least of which saw a 'full house' last weekend with all four senior teams winning on the same day.
The Thames Valley League:
The M&BCC Hamptons 1st XI are flying at the moment and sit 2nd in their league 2A. Victories in June over Marlow, Burnham, Chiswick & Latymer and Basingstoke and North Hants have really shown the teams ability and skipper James Coyne is increasingly optimistic about what we can achieve this season. The 2nd XI have also had a good month with wins against Datchet and Barnes Wild Geese (who don't play at Barnes and don't seem that wild) and winning draws against Chiswick & Latymer and Odiham & Greywell (who do play at Odiham but not at Greywell!). Sitting 4th in division 4B the team is well placed to build on its improving form and do really well in the second half of the season. The 3rd XI who started the season at a canter also won twice in June but lost to both Harefield and Windsor behind whom we currently lie second in the league by just four points a gap we can close in a league that we can win. The 4th XI enjoyed much better results in June with wins against Amersham, Hillingdon Manor and Stoke Green and we now sit fourth in a league which is still open enough to be very interesting providing we use our resources wisely. Fuller details can of course be found on the club website www.mandbcc.co.uk under the captain's match reports.
The Julian Cup:
We're in the final!
Again!
Last year we were runners up to Burnham but his year we beat them in the second round before going on to win against Wooburn Narkovians to secure a final place against Boyne Hill where the game will be played (as is the tradition) on July 8th. Obviously we have high hopes and want to encourage as many supporters to the ground as possible and if there's enough interest we'll lay on a bus from M&BCC to Boyne Hill (where parking is difficult). Please just let me or any of the committee members know by next Sunday (6th July).
Colts Cricket:
As before with 7 different teams representing the club in five different age groups in both league and cup games there is obviously too much to report here in detail but its is great to report that the Under 9s (sponsored by semaphore advertising) have won their league and moved through to the quarter final knock out stage of the competition. The Under 11s (sponsored by J & S Rook) finished their league season very creditably for a young side mostly experiencing 'hard ball' cricket for the first time. Two wins and a tie from seven fixtures belies the spirit and talent of a team who will undoubtedly enjoy greater success in the future. The Under 13s Spitfires (sponsored by Teabag) have also finished their league season in a strong division which saw too many games lost to the weather. The Under 13s Hurricanes (sponsored by floatdene green) fared better in fairer conditions and were unbeaten in the league qualifying for the knock out stages as winners of their division; we wish them well in the next round. Both the Under 15s and Under 17s have been frustratingly rain effected but when able to play have shown the sort of form that means our senior teams are already benefiting from young fabulous young cricketers. Colts Cricket Week:
A reminder that the first ever M&BCC Colts Cricket Week takes place from 28th July.
Open to all under 11s and run by the Clubs own ECB qualified coaches it promises to be a week full of cricketing fun and a great way to spend part of the school holidays. There are still a few places left so for details please either see the website or let Steve Bithrey or me know.
Ladies XI:
Last month I wrote.. 'The anticipation is building toward the first Ladies Match' and sadly this month I can repeat myself word for word as the second home fixture scheduled for the Ladies XI (sponsored by Frances Lindsay & Co) was cancelled when Dulwich couldn't produce a team. However the enthusiasm is undimmed and we hope the girls will get there first game (this time at Dulwich) on Sunday 6th July, with their first home outing now likely to be on 27th July when they will do battle amongst themselves in a single wicket competition for the Frances Lindsay Cup. That's enough for now and as ever well done if you have got this far.
If you have any comments please feel free to contact me or of course in person at the club.
Kind regards
Nick Clements
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