Well the season is about a month or so underway and (on the Senior front) it can only be described as frustrating!
The First XI have played three games and should have won them all. Instead, a tie and 2 narrow defeats are all that we have to show thus far. A tie with Caythorpe, followed by a 2 run defeat to Attenborough and a one wicket defeat at Notts Unity shows just how close the games have been. Close but no cigar! Availability (as usual) has been an issue and the batting frailties have again been exposed with only Captain Darren Wright scoring on a consistent basis. However, there were signs last Saturday that others are getting into their groove with Matt Dean carrying his bat for 81 and Billy Bennett hitting a fluent 42. Bowling has also been a tad erratic, again, the Captain is leading from the front with 9 wickets.
The Second XI have endured a difficult start to their campaign. An abandoned game with Long Eaton has been followed up with an excruciating one wicket defeat at Kinoulton and a thumping at home to West Bridgford Legion last Saturday. Like the First's, batting has been a problem with only Scott Andrew registering a score over 50 thus far. The bowling hasn't been much better. Unfortunately getting 11 players on the pitch has been a problem due to SATS, football, rugby and various other excuses! Hopefully this problem should ease now the other silly big ball and oval shaped ball games have finished for the season!
On Sundays it's played 3, lost 3, although at least decent scores have been posted. Brinsley Kirkham has had a very inexperienced side with him, but apart from the walloping against Pakistan Kashmir, the Sunday XI have given a good account of themselves Against Hoveringham (thanks to run machine Darren Wright with 92) and Gedling Colliery again with Darren scoring 64, scores of 197 and 242 have not quite proved enough. The highlight of the season thus far came at Gedling on Sunday with Captain Brinsley Kirkham scoring his maiden century
The Cope Cup campaign got under way with a sound thrashing of Whatton & Aslockton. Chasing 140 off 16 overs, Ryan Evans 86* and Cal Williamson 52* saw us home comfortably.
On the Junior front the rain has put paid to a couple of games, but the Under 11's hardball team have managed two matches including losing one of them on the last ball. Match reports are available to view in the junior section of the website. Whilst the Under 13's have yet to play, the Under 15's kicked off their season with a super victory at home to Mansfield Hosiery Mills last night (match report to be posted shortly).
Friday nights at the ground continue to be well attended and the weather is also 'playing ball' with dry Fridays on the field and somewhat 'wetter' in the bar!!