Sportsman Dinner Thursday 19th January – Special Guests: Steve McManaman & Terry Brown, hosted by Ian Darke (ESPN commentator).
Winter Nets start on 31 January through to April 3rd.
- See Forum for more details on all events…
Claygate and Hersham Cricket Clubs have agreed to join forces in a working partnership for the 2012 cricket season. These two Elmbridge-based community cricket clubs will support each other with players from each combining to play together, running the clubs together and hosting regular joint social events.
Both sets of members voted overwhelmingly to set up the partnership which will come into operation right away.
For next season, the two clubs will jointly run two league teams on Saturdays in the Surrey Downs League and one in the Surrey Cricket League. In addition there will be at least two teams playing friendly matches on Sundays as well as an expansion of Claygate’s highly successful Colts section, which currently has five full youth teams as well as a thriving Kwik Cricket section.
Boosting overall club and playing strength is only one of the advantages, the greater use of the Hersham facility at the Coronation Recreation Ground will be another.
Claygate President David Milner commented, “This is an historic move for Claygate. This pioneering partnership agreement comes at the same time that the club has just been confirmed as Surrey Downs League Champions for 2011 winning both Division One and Division Three and the development of the much needed new clubhouse at Claygate Recreation Ground. This move really marks our progress on all fronts.”
Hersham Chairman Vincent Lyseight commented, “This is a great opportunity for Hersham and Claygate Cricket Clubs. Both clubs share the same values and social outlook. We hope this partnership will bring together professional and organisational skills from both clubs as well as an enthusiasm to play and enjoy cricket. Hersham and Claygate have been playing Sunday friendlies against each other for the past two decades and many games have been close and exciting, but all have been played in the manner in which cricket is meant to be played. The advantages to both club and community will be very significant.”
At the end of a testing season Hersham stepped on to the
field looking to finish on a high. The opposition having had the upper hand on
us in previous years won the toss and elected to bat. Those who have played
this year knew that it was tough to chase on a Hersham wicket that has
certainly favoured the bowlers.
Milky and Wolfie led the attack but went for nearly a run a
ball off 3 overs each and without encouragement (apart from a regulation slip
catch put down by Matt off Milky). The captain turned to his left arm spinners
and immediately proved a good decision as the next 10 overs only conceded 9
runs. Slim bowled steadily with no success while Andy Lewis was getting some
turn and bounce. Finally an attempt to hit over the top into the wind (howling
at times – although that could have been Wolfie!) led to a wicket. However,
this was not the simple catch expected. Mark managed to crop circle round it,
miss it completely, but in the same floundering motion pick it up and hit the
stumps direct to cause a run out instead. A review afterwards claimed it was
not a dropped catch as he failed to get anything on it – the jury will be out
on this one! Andy then deservedly picked up a wicket inducing a leading edge
held comfortably by Dan at gully. Matt replaced Slim with some interesting off
spin that spanned from Swann turn to something more suited in Afghanistan after
releasing the pin! Inexplicably a long hop was eased into Andy’s hands at square
leg and then after a 25 minute ordeal Matt got one to turn and bowl the number
5 for a duck. At the other end Andy completed his 8 overs for just 10 runs and debutant
Tamil replaced him. The chairman had informed us that he was a fast bowler so
as normal we expected slow medium! The first over consisted of wides, no-balls
and a lack of consistency. The captain gave him time to settle in and gradually
the pace, bounce and direction was back. An impressive spell led to 2 wickets.
A full toss smashed to the waving right hand of the captain was pouched to the
surprise of everyone, not least the captain who had also dropped one he managed
to get hands to! The second wicket was an off stump Yorker. Meanwhile Milky had
returned and removed the danger man for 44, caught by Prev at mid off at the 3rd
or 4th attempt – the 1st attempt was at extra cover! A
couple of run outs in the last over by Matt and Milky with the help of Slim
destroying the stumps and everything around it left the total at 135 for 9.
This type of score had been too much for any Hersham side
this year so a steady start and sensible play required. Tom and Dan settled in
well, before Tom was bowled by a beauty from the off spinner. Prev took his
time to get off the mark, hit a great boundary and was then out shortly after.
Mark joined Dan (18) who was looking good but as he smoked one that was looking
like a boundary, cover managed to pluck it low to his left. Tamil joined the
captain and with his own style and the captains more orthodox approach got the
scoreboard ticking well. Mark then chipped one off a leading edge back to the
bowler for 17 and Tamil was bowled for 18. This brought Matt to the crease
joining the youthful Wolfie. They managed to play very well picking up runs
sensibly and at a good rate reducing the run rate to just 4 an over when Wolfie
succumbed for 23. The writer joined his brother at the wicket and calmly helped
Hersham over the line, although leaving it to the penultimate ball of the match
certainly kept the finger nails of the supporters short! Matt finished on 25, showing
that everyone contributed on the day, leading to a solid team performance and
fantastic win to round off the season. A few beers were then enjoyed by players
and supporters with 10 of us ending up having a curry and a few more beers!
Well done to everyone on Sunday.
Yesterday the Hersham Sharks travelled to Bec Old Boys for a league match. Just as we walked onto the pitch with the Sharks in the field, the heavens opened. Can you believe we actually ended up playing on this wicket just a hour or so later!
