What a fantastic run in to the season of 2009 have our club enjoyed!
The team spirit and hard work put into the fight to stave off relegation was richly rewarded with some splendid performances over the last few weeks. In conversation amongst the players last night it was difficult to pin point a time when we have won five games on the trot but that is exactly what we have done. In doing so we have defeated some very good established clubs and no less was that of the defeat of Nuneaton yesterday.
A splendidly organised club with a good following made the day even more enjoyable and whilst it must be said they did not really have too much to play for, the job had to be done.
from the moment we lost the toss the batting was positive and relentless. the bowling folowed suit along with the fielding and the 24pts was well deserved. It is not right single out individuals but it has been so good to have gained the services of so many players this season who are not only 'good players' but have mixed into a very happy and successful group. The 1st X1 is a young side. Still growing in ability and experience and if this side manages to stick together with the addition of some other players over the winter it can move forward and contemplate cricket of a far higher standard.It has been a pleasure ( if one can actually say such) to be part of a club like ours.
Congratulations to Owen for his Ton yesterday, 110 and hopefully many more to come and also congratulations to Ross who has enjoyed a very good season and scored good runs in many difficult circumstances.
Above all, well done to all of you for the way you have stuck together and come through some difficult times. Better times must surely lie ahead!
In closing many congratulations to JD and his squad who have performed so well over the season. There have been some ordinary teams in the league, granted, but there have also been some good sides and continual good quality cricket awaits our reserve side next season. Particular mention to JD himself and Matt Hodgkin who have been prolific in the run making department. The squad depth has improved heaps over the last few weeks also with some very experienced players dropping into the side and the future is very bright indeed.Once again many congratulations to all who have played their part in another successful campaign.
What a very impressive display from the 1st and 2nd X1's once again last weekend and no less emphatic was the third team performance.
In a season of poor decisions, ordinary cricket at times and sheer bad luck, the boys have been commendable in the extreme in sticking it out and gaining their just rewards. Fantastic stuff lads now go and finish the job on a high.
No doubting JD and the gang once again after the easy victory over North Warwick. This weekends fixture will be tougher but who would bet against the lads gaining a very deserved promotion to the highest league. Celebrations await!
and as a footnote to the comments below.............Mondays results by both teams are outstanding.
A superb weekend for the club and as I write our 1st & 2nd Teams go into bank holiday battle.
Credit in abundance to all those involved in the season effort at 3rd and 4th team level in the first instance. A very difficult proposition in facing seasoned teams from over the Warwickshire area in fielding 1st and 2nd team squads. It must be said that other clubs too have followed our own example and produced excellent results at the 3rd and 4th levels but all in all everyone should be proud of the way they have played. In finishing 8th in both leagues that is a very commendable effort. Particular mention to Owen and Rob Tandy who have to endure the possibility and reality of players covering for the senior sides and have to make relentless telephone calls in engaging players at the last minute. It is not an enviable task and they should be applauded. No little help from Tony and all those who turned out weekly ( I did at least manage one game!!!)All this in the middle of a recession also - Well done all!
The 1st Eleven are at last beginning to 'gel' and show what they are capable of! Once again it would be easy to leave a team who have constantly under achieved and been more than unlucky in many instances but Jamie and the rest of the boys have stuck together in a very spirited way and the last two weeks can take some heart in the fact that we are capable of matching everyone in this league.We have been on the end of some poor and unfortunate decisions over the season and these, over time, do tend to even themselves up.Our own pitch has played a significant part in the problems in confidence building also - this, in no way implies that Tadge and Claire have anything to do with it. On the contrary; Paul and Claire have worked tirelessly in order to give us something to play on and given the way our square was looking in middle March, have produced a remarkable and outstanding effort. Thanks to both of you.I remember years ago a senior committee member who unfortunately is no longer with us stating that a Cricket Club is a confident club when its pitch is playing well!! This is true and it is no more than a coincidence that players become disenchanted and less confident in their own ability when the ball plays low or leaps off a length. The fact is that half of a seasons games are played at home and our home record has been poor.With the expectation of repair to the square, it should play much better next year with one seasons growth and hopefully become a much more even pitch.
With three games to go we now have a chance of securing Premier League cricket without the help of other teams. In many ways it has been an eye opener but next season we should have learnt much from the previous years experience and can possibly look forward to a much more successful campaign.
It goes without saying our wonderful 2nd Eleven have enjoyed another season born out of good player depth and availabilty but under the astute leadership of JD, have built up confidence and momentum. Lyndworth are a bit of an enigma and would certainly fair well at 1st X1 level and Walsall obviously rely on help from other areas given the reports coming from last weeks game so in essence, the only real true cricket club in touching distance of our lads are those we are playing today - Four Oaks Saints. A properly run cricket club whom I have had the utmost respect for over the years. Whatever the result today and whatever contentious issues might arise ( if any) the teams will retire to the pavillion for a drink and some after match banter...................something sorely missed these days!!
Jon has guided his squad perfectly through the season and if Premier League cricket beckons come 12th September, it will have been a fantastic journey. I for one would not back against Warwick 2nd X1 taking the Prem League by storm next season.
Amidst the mayhem of the glorious England victory it should not go unrecorded that our Club's senior side recorded a very good victory over the weekend.
Also, our 2nd X1 made hay and now reside in 2nd place in a very tough league.
C-mon boys, keep the momentum.
OK, so we're not having the best of seasons but one must say, hand on heart, that it is credit to everyone for having the mental strength to stick it out until the end. The teams we are still managing to field are testimony to the spirit that resides within the club despite some pretty ordinary performances at times. All of us know that the playing strength is actually a lot better than the present form suggests and someone - somewhere will be taking a battering from this 1st X1 over the next few weeks.
It is difficult to 'gel' a new side and one that is in transition and all of us should be proud of the way Jamie and the boys are keeping it together when many would simply shut up shop for the season.
It is not too late to string some results together. In many of the new recruits we have excellent players who just need a little bit of the Old Lady Luck to turn their season around. It will happen - stick in their lads.
It would be far too easy to condemn our boys for yesterdays performance. Everyone knows how dissapointing it was after such a good start and one can only hope we can pick ourselves up and put it down to a bad day at the office! It was probably the 'strongest' side we have fielded all season and discussions early in the morning covered so much about the craziness of the game and how a slight slip in the mental strength and concentration can make monkeys out of all of us.
That, in essence is what happened! There are far too many good players in this team and club to write off ad nueseum and we now have to dig deep in order to survive rather than be pushing ahead at the top end of the table.
Confidence is shallow at the moment; we are in transition with many new faces all of which are very fine players and patience is required to help gel a potentially excellent team.
Another superb result for our 2nd X1 who, by contrast, are enjoying a run of confidence and success in the Division 1 of the 2nd X1 league. Hopefully promotion beckons and congratulations are in order to all concerned.
No-one can have any complaints about Saturday- just going through the grinder at the moment but there is heaps of talent in the team and it will come good - have faith!
No sour grapes here which is all too easy to call when a team is on a losing run. Congrats to Nuneaton who played well and deserved their victory at Hampton Road. A good side, a well run side and a decent bunch of lads but we are struggling to find the 'rub of the green' in a big way this year aren't we?
As with yesterday and previous weeks, we will have to dig in and hope it turns. We do have the players, we do have the pride and we do have the commitment.
Once again a particularly poor umpiring display almost ruined a potentially tremendous match.
One has to feel for players in this climate who are putting out themselevs week in and out to be subjected to incompetance at even this higher level. This, not to tar every official, many of which are excellent as was the other official yesterday. It must be mildly embarrassing for them and one wonders what the hell happened to benefit of the doubt?
Very perplexing.
I managed to watch two close finishes yesterday afternoon within a few hours of each other, both of which had results hinging on officials.
Firstly, the brave Lions who succummed to a more than harsh penalty decision with the last kick of the match and then our own 1st X1 who, through Ross with a superb 50 and newcomer, the impressive Paul Rowe and no little help from PJ and Lee in the final throws of a game in which they had managed to chisel a great chance of victory,had it all undone by what can only be described as an 'ordinary' decision by the umpire who also gave Jimmy out rather bizzarely to begin the rot.
It has been said before, that so close is this league, that fine lines and marginal decisions by players and officials alike can be very costly.
That said, the ongoing failings of the 1st X1 were again evident although some excuse can be laid at what was a very bowler friendly pitch.
We have been on the wrong side of too many low scoring results for comfort this year but if there is one thread of comfort to take out of them, then it is that we are not that far behind these teams and better application and a little of the rub of the green could very easily turn the season around.
A good weekend for our 3rd and 4th X1's to which much credit must go. Actually playing at 1st & 2nd X1 level was always going to be a tough task this season but good cricket is what the club aspire to and this is exactly what we are getting.
Many of the sides we are playing have their own recognised and long standing club members who have scored many runs and taken many wickets over the years and it is inevitable that some of them are playing below their respective levels. It is tough on youngsters coming through the ranks in coming up against these guys and sometimes it can be a long toil in the afternoon sunshine but the experience in later years will be more valuable than they will know. Good on all you guys slugging it out in Div 6, 1 &2! A near mid table position for either side will be a fantastic feat.
Our 2nd X1 are, in context, doing a wonderful job in the Div 1, 2nd X1 championship regardless of the two team above us. Hopefully they will burn each other off and we will pick up the pieces bit by bit as the season continues but under the astute leadership of JD, promotion can still beckon.
A very mixed bag from the 1st X1 once again yesterday. They are the 'Pakistan or even England' of the club at the moment and it is going to be small margins in which rash shots or dropped catches may see us struggle. Games we were winning in similar fashion a couple of years ago are being lost now as the more adept nature of our opponents leads the result their way.
It is intrinsic to any team that the 'team' ethic remains a constant throughout the season. It was evident yesterday that we did not function as a team at times. If people do not want to play cricket for the 1st X1, then they should make it clear to the respective captains as it has a damaging effect on team morale.This is not to damn individuals as collectively, the whole team has to stand up and be counted and we have some superb clubmen and individuals. Bablake were united throughout the game; even at 20-5 and WE were not and have not been far too often.It is up to everyone in the club and team to give their full support on and off the field during play and whilst we all subject ourselves to having a sulk at times, the team always comes first.
I am equally sure there is enough talent in the ranks to climb up this very close Premiere League and each and evry one of us has a duty to be honest with ourselves and each other. Anything other is too damaging to the club.
Or so they say!!! Things in the Warwickshire Prem. are not they appear to be are they?
Take one look at the table and it is a telling indictment of how close all the teams in the division are and how important each and every point is going to be throughout the season.
No disrespect to Fillongley who are a very well run club and boast some excellent players but had we been able to play that day and won, we would now be languishing at the top of the table. Such things determine the outcome of seasons and it would be fair to say we, as a club, have our fair share of good fortune with the weather be it the determination of the players or the luck of the westerly breeze helping dump any load over the Malverns or Evesham. Anyway, from a playing perspective, Atherstone may well have been duped into thinking 'another cosy 20 pts in the bag' with the arrival of 3rd from bottom Warwick but the lads were having none of it!
After the lusty and almost brazen hitting of the opening 'stars', the wickets of those two and the accuracy of spinners Jack and Jim managed to contain the home side to a respectable but well obtainable, 221-6. Credit to Jamie and all the boys for sticking in there when, as at Kenilworth, it could have developed into an onslaught once again.The batting however was magnificent. Chasing down the total in under 40 overs and against a half decent bowling line up. It must be said our team tends to flourish against teams who believe they have a 'pace attck' and decent though it was, there are too many players in our team who love the ball coming onto the bat a little quicker.
Two avid members of Atherston who were perched on the far end covers for a while suggested their team were basically a 'two man team'.....how sad- and if they don't perform, the team do not perform.That in itself is a damning comment laid at the feet of the other members of what looks to be a well run and succesful club and one which is all too often evident in the pursuit of silverware.
I am sure that Atherstone will not be far away come the end of the season as I am sure we will spoil the party of more clubs this season. we have players out and good depth. All of us are aware the bowling is one more of containment but on our day, we are a match for anyone in this league. Well done lads.
Congratulations to Warwick & Kenilworth on providing some tough attritional cricket on Bank Holiday Monday.
Whilst the 2's were stripped of their 5th consecutive victory at Hampton Rd by a gutsy K's 2nd string the 1st X1 encounter provided a run feast with only 9-wickets falling on a very good pitch.
The Kenilworth set-up is now an impressive one after the nightmare the Town side suffered with the loss of the pavillion to fire a few years back. The side too is and impressive one laden with excellent quality in batting division and no little support in the bowling front! Little wonder they are where they are in this seasons prem but credit also to our boys for fighting to the finish and coming away with 10 precious points.
Our bowling was savaged by the big hitting of Mitch Lowe in the K's middle order and he provided a wonderfully entertaining knock despite the pain of watching our own bowling dissapearing to all parts. Lee Skrypchuk is beginning to find his feet at senior level now and bowled very well and with a little more good fortune might have made the home side fight harder. As it was, the final total of 267 was always going to be out of reach with the now regular loss of early wickets. It was left to Skipper Jamie Coleman and in form colleague Ross Briscoe to dig the team out of the hole and then try to force the run rate. They both gave their wickets up in the name of runs but the partnership was both heartwarming and solid giving rise to a fast maturing side of our younger element. Sam Dabin and Ade Passey eased any worries giving no chances and passing 200 with ease; Dabin looking extremely impressive in his short stay.
All in all a good effort and all that without three regulars. The present position in the table might reflect otherwise but it is obvious there is a lot of talent in our side and when we have a full bowling squad available, will challenge the best.
K's can be accused of being a bit negative but in no way should that undermine their superiority on the day and to coin a cliche' of modern times, at the end of the day it is points that count.
A very good day at a good club with very decent folk - Thanks Kenilworth, we await the return leg later in the summer.
OK, so we are experiencing a tough winter for a number of reasons and I do mean ALL of us.
However, there is much to look forward to this coming season and it only takes a little effort to gaze into a crystal ball and see what we have done as a club, what we are doing as a club and what we can achieve.
Three promotions in the last four seasons is no mean feat by any standards and we have managed this with home grown players and some very good people who have joined the section and swelled the numbers creating the depth. It is testimony to our Club and the social atmosphere that surrounds a very competant working committee!
Even in the darkest days of the closed season, vast amounts of much needed money and effort has been laid out to improve facilities. Take a look around you when next you visit Hampton Road and particularly if you have been part of the furniture for many years; see what great improvements there are from the now fast blooming trees over on the Goldsmith Avenue side to the quality of the oufield, Square,Screens, Covers, Boundary Rope and the Clubhouse itself!!
Despite the problems the three sections have had over many years in coming to total agreement over the more salient matters, a sub-committee is now being assembled to join forces and create something we have needed for many years - a large summer social event ( more details to follow)and more works being undertaken within the clubhouse. Times may be hard but things are moving forward at pace within.
People who work tirelessly in the background such as JD helping drawing in much needed reserves deserve much credit. Help him to help you!
Above all this is our players/members who are standing by us rather than following the gold path of moves to so called bigger and better clubs; something we have suffered from greatly over the years. This, again is testimony to our club, our facilities and our social aspect. It is great in every sense and should be embraced.
News over the last few weeks to cheer our cold hearts of Mike Looch who was so prolific in the two seasons he enjoyed with us, being able to play for us during the course of this year. Maybe not every game as he lives in London presently but he qualifies on residency this year and has made his feelings known that he wishes to play again. It was he and Danny who provided one of the many highlights of the summer of 2008 in a brilliant partnership against a very useful 2nd X1 attack at the back end.Peter Wood and John Bell return this summer also albeit for 6 weeks and Peter is so looking forward to playing in the 2nd X1 for a couple of matches and of course the now resident Memorial game. We have Jack & Ross who have both been approached by other clubs and Jack has even been following in Ross's footsteps in the County Route.
As I write we have had four people wanting to join through reading what we are all about on our website and there will be many more to come.
All in all things Cricket and Club are not looking too bad are they and those days of leather on willow will soon enough be with us - can't wait!
Just take a few moments to venture down to Hampton Road and you will be amazed at how the ravages of winter have now been turned on their head in a few short days of springlike sunshine! Sure enough, it hasn't been warm enough to fully justify the quality of growth we may have been looking for on the newly shaved square but within seven days of hard labour by our superb groundstaff, it has shown a remarkable turnaround.
The trees surrounding the field are now beginning to bud and the outfield has been shaved. Within four weeks, cricket will once again take centre stage and all the hard yards put in by the guys will be put to the test.
No-one really knows how the pitch will play! It is, to all intents and purposes; a brand new square. Inches have been taken off the loam laden ends and it is hopeful it will now serve us for many more years to come. Take a bow, Tadge, Claire, Simon, DC and Dave ( sorry if anyone has been missed) but your hard work is now being realised in full. The brand new County standard all weather track also stands proudly adjacent, virgin top awaiting the first engagement of the new summer.
Behind the scenes, many have been putting in overtime to give us the stage we crave and we will not be let down.Even in the tough times of this credit crunch we can only hope for fair weather and great cricket to gladden the soul.
It would be foolish and all too easy to suggest we might struggle this season after a fairly ordinary beginning at 1st X1 level in the new home of Prem. Cricket but alas, it is a situation we have found ourselves in many times in the past and one with which we have risen from the floor and taken the bull by the horns in the following games.
So what better game than our great competitors from near - Southam, to try to lift the spirits. Southam are a very organised decent side and will provide a stern test but that is what we aspire to and will undoubtedly meet them head on this coming Saturday. Win - Lose or Draw, playing our friends from Southam is always an enjoyable experience and a great advert for local cricket.
A small mention for a new ground and one which will undoubtedly become as iconic as its predecessor in the form of Peugeot's new place. A pleasure to play there particularly after a few years and a very enjoyable day out with the guys who played alongside - many thanks!
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