End of Season Report
Post date: Sep 25, 2012 3:43:13 PM
So that’s the end of another season at Bridestowe CC! It wasn’t the easiest season we have had as a club and the weather did little to help but we still managed to field 3 teams, win the majority of our games, and put on some good events. So all in all a good season.
1st XI Report
The 1st XI could not have had a better start to the season with a well fought win over Shaldon followed by a convincing win at Whitchurch with Sam hitting the first 50 of the season. This was followed by a tight win away at Kilmington where Lee Jutson and Sam Ewen took 3 wickets each. This unbeaten run ended disappointingly to Topsham in another very competitive match. However we were back on track the following week with a win at Tiverton, the wickets being shared and then the runs hit confidently by Mark Fog (50) and Lee (39no). Sitting second in the table morale was high and this was shown with a fantastic team performance at Kentisbeare to secure 20 more points. The rain then came and our season took a turn for the worst. The match against Kenn a washout and this was followed with a weekend to forget at Upottery on a still very wet pitch where the toss was key. The big game against table toppers Lyme Regis was then cancelled due to our rather soggy pitch. Two games in a row were then cancelled due to the shocking weather and having not played a league game for a month we looked rusty against Kilimington and could not defend 106. Steve Drayner and Chris Lavis returned for Topsham away and a good team performance gave us the result we wanted against a team who we really wanted to beat. We then ground out a losing draw against Kentisbeare at home chasing over 200 with Mark Fog making a brilliant 82. The losing draw at Kenn was less celebrated. Dan Fog and Alex Jopling picked up 3 wickets each, Phil Woods hit a good 60 and there were some fireworks from Gavin MacDougall but we fell agonizingly short. The game against Upottery was then cancelled ending any chance of a top 3 finish. We put up a good fight against league winners Lyme Regis in the last game of the season with Lee and Tom Fog getting wickets as usual and some strong batting with Jack Hatton finally making a 50 and father Phil falling just short with 49. Although we had early promotion hopes; a mid-table finish is a good effort and we will hopefully improve on it next season. Thank you to Lee for skippering this season!!
2nd XI Report
The 2nd XI this year captained by Mark Butler had their first match of the season cancelled as Shaldon was under water. This was followed by a week with no fixture and then a win at home to Cornwood making 133 and bowling them out for 77. The next week brought a heavy defeat at Bovey Tracey but the 2nd’ XI bounced back with a convincing win at home to Dartington & Totnes. It’s no secret that it’s best to bowl first on a Bridestowe track and this was proven with D & T being bowled out for just 64, particularly good bowling from new signing Callum Mallet and 2nd team legend Darren Hunt. There was a slight stutter in the chase but Smokey Tremain and Kev Yates saw it home. What a difference a week can make though as the 2nds were on the receiving end of another very short game. They only managed 45 and Abbotskerswell hit it off with the loss of 3 wickets, a bowling point the only positive from the game. There were 2 weeks off due to rain followed before the next game, Chelston at home. The 2nds had a strong team mixed of youth and experience and it would have been a very close game if not for their Australian pro who hit a quick-fire hundred and took wickets running a competitive game. A very satisfying win at Abbotskerswell came next. Darren took 4 and the Jopling family the rest as we bowled the opposition out for 141. There runs were hit fairly easily with the Jopling brothers and Pat Ewen all making 20s. This unfortunately proved to be the 2nds last fixture as numerous games were called off due to rain and finding 11 players became hard. Forfeiting a game led to points deductions meaning the 2nd XI finished bottom of the table. Thanks to Mark for making the most of a very difficult job this year. A decision must now be made as to whether to enter a 2nd XI to the Devon League next season or look at other options.
Evening League Report
As defending league and cup champions the midweek side were looking to have another strong season. This would be a tough task though as the leagues of last season were now combined. Ex 1st XI skipper Scott Tremain took the captaincy with help from Sam Ewen. We got off to a great start with wins against Lifton and Gunnislake, in which Mark Butler took a hat-trick in a triple wicket maiden and we experienced the left-arm right-arm bowling of Mark Fog. This meant that two weeks into the season all teams were unbeaten!! There was then a win at home against sticklepath with Toby Gostling making 52 and Sam 48no with 4 wickets each for Andy Yates and Dan Fog. This was followed by a convincing win away at MPL B that included 50 for Butler and runs as well as wickets for Charlie Ewen. The game against Lydford was then cancelled. This week off may have taken its toll as we lost our first game of the season to rivals MPL A. Sam did make 50 but a batting collapse and some poor bowling led to us being punished. We somehow managed to get a game in at Calstock despite the weather but once again we performed below our standards at lost by 10 runs finishing in thick fog! Lifton away was cancelled as was Gunnislake at home with the weather taking its toll. After two losses and then 2 games cancelled we were keen for a win against Sticklepath. It came with 55 for Toby, 37 for Phil Hatton and wickets shared around. There was another win against MPLB with Tom Fog and Sam hitting the runs and young Brandon Horne taking 4 wickets. The local derby against Lydford produced a great win with a brilliant 74 runs for Tom and 45 for Sam. 3 wickets for Dave Jopling, Neil Griffiths and 2 for Mark Fog! It was Lydford again this time in the semi-final of the cup which was also won comfortably with 25 runs and 2 wickets for Addy Griffiths and 20 runs and 2 wickets for Sam. Possible revenge against Calstock was not to be due to more rain. There was a bit of confusion over the cup final and we were thrown out having mistakenly fielded unregistered players in the semi. There was still a very important league game against MPLA, which in fact would also have been the cup final fixture; there were a lot of bragging rights at stake. We posted a good score of 135 at home with Jack HAtton making 55 and the skipper 36. Dan was the pick of the bowlers taking 4 wickets to secure a 40 run win and a good end to the season. We did finish joint top in the end along with MPLA; another successful and enjoyable 20/20 season. Thanks to Scott and Sam for being in charge of the team this year.
The Presidents game, the 6-aside and the Chairmen’s game all produced good cricket and raised money for the club along with annual cream teas at Sourton. Thanks again to everybody involved with the club this season!!