Post date: May 8, 2016 8:13:12 AM
The 2016 season got underway with a good blend of age and experience taking a trip to sunny Torbay. The super 2's finished 4th in the Eastern division last year however in the desire for a neat and tidy league structure, the administrators have effectively demoted the team by moving them to the Western half of the draw. The usual half-baked travel arrangements were set and the cars set off for pastures new. Charlie's complete reliance on technology led the convoy on a geographical study of the lanes and byways of South Devon thanks to a Google maps hiccup but with some Colin McRae esque driving, the convoy just about made it to the Chelston ground on time. Unfortunately, despite the guidance of the league handbook, that is not where they were supposed to be so it was back to the cars to travel back to where the opposition were waiting in Kingskerswell.
With regular skipper Lee Jutson having had a call up to the firsts, vice-captain Tim Shaw took the toss and immediately had more success than Jutsons entire 2015 season by actually winning it. With rumours of possible rain later, he opted to bowl first and Briddy took to the field. The Chelston opening pair were circumspect for the first few overs with Shaw and Dale 'Bomber' Harris immediately finding good length and line. Pressure told early on with Bomber taking 2 wickets in his third over. With this breakthrough, Shaw decided that it was a day to pass the ball around and anchored by the metronomic Dave Jopling, Corey Holliday, Ebby Vallance, Jack Shaw, Charlie Ewen and Steve Batstone all took wickets in their spells. The only real resistance came from C. Groves who got to 51 before Ebby sent him back to the pavilion. Corey, Ebby and Jack all showed good promise which bodes well for the rest of the season and the home side were ultimately bowled out for a 'never enough', 132 after some stolid resistance by the last pair was ended by Chipper Batsone. Returning home boy Ian Jutson did well behind the stumps letting little through and getting tidier as the innings progressed. New signing Sam Weeks looked at home in the field on a day where there wasn't too much to do apart from enjoy the sunshine and the bowlers taking wickets regularly.
After a nice tea, openers Shaw and Batstone strode out to the middle to mount the reply and with one or two minor alarms, looked confident against a rapidly rotating Chelston attack. Batstone seemed to have a little moment as he reached double figures, inexplicably deciding to play a forward defensive in the style of Michael Jackson, leaning forward at an almost impossible angle before swishing his bat to retain his balance about 2 seconds after the ball had passed. This seemed to unsettle the otherwise stylish batsman and he chipped a loose ball tamely back to the bowler on it's second bounce and shaking his head, departed for the pavilion for 13. Andrew 'Buzz' Brimicombe joined the accelerating Shaw and had little problems rotating the strike and allowing Shaw to powerfully cut and pull whatever the opposition had for him, quickly going past 50 and finishing with 76 n.o. With some well hit shots of his own, Buzz (19 n.o.) looked untroubled and was not distracted by the unrequired next man in, Ian Jutson prowling up and down the boundary awaiting his turn.
So a successful start to 2016 saw a maximum 20 points for the seconds with next week's challenge being Bovey Tracey at home. WIth an availability crisis looming due to rugby tours and other frivolities, it could be that more new faces will get a chance to experience the crucible that is Millaton.