Leverington blow out…….so it would have been rude not to have gone to the pub!
As Mystic McKinney predicted a good week in advance, Leverington decided against the long trip to Swanton Morely, and thus we did not get the chance to continue our cracking form and sign off for the year in style. However, in the face of such disappointment every cloud has a silver lining and all that jazz……..we did the only other decent thing we could….we headed to the city for a few beers! Opening at the good public house The Alexandria, a motely crew of Nathan, Johnny, Wayne, Adam, Stu and Becks sorry Lakey (i’ll get to that in a moment!) visited some fine establishments and promptly lowered the tone. After seeing how rubbish Lakey is at pool we then moved on to the Fat Cat. For those of you unaware, the Fat Cat is a haven for real ale’s and cider’s and is very much a pub not to be messed with! In the spirit of the day everyone ordered a fine array of ales from the lovely barmaid bar one man……yes…Lakey….who, well……it’s best put simply…..ordered a pint of Becks!!!!!!! This was beyond disgraceful and he has been fully made aware of this!!! Next followed a few more pubs before we ended up on Unthank Road where we settled to down to watch the end of the England v Pakistan game. After watching Swanny pathetically attempt to bowl spin with two Swanton guru’s watching on we went our merry ways…..well…..to hangovers i assume………..if the seasons gonna end early, not a bad way to see it out! Well done guys on a good season and a cracking second half which saw us take some good scalps to end up the form team….here’s to a championship run next season!
SMCC A heading for division 4
Saturday 21 st August / Swanton Morley A v Narborough A
Swanton Morley A entertained Champions elect Narborough A in their final home league match of the season. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat. Opening bowlers Oli Hood and Paul Brown reduced Narborough to 25 for three before Mark Hammond joined Jonathan Coe at the crease. Hammond was dismissed with the score and 79 but Danny Yates (26) and Coe took the score to 156 before David Powell had Yates caught by Brown. The last five wickets fell for 51, Coe finally being bowled by Powell for 78. Andy Swann Graham, finally catching the captains eye and getting a bowl, wrapped up the visitors innings taking three for 21 in 2.3 overs. This was a reasonable performance in the field by Swanton to dismiss their visitors for 207 but better catching by the more senior players would have seen the innings over much sooner.
Unfortunately Swanton’s performance with the bat did reflect that with the ball as they were dismissed for 44 with only Ricky Forder reaching double figures.This latest defeat confirms that Swanton will finish the season bottom of division three of the West Norfolk league.
Arthur Lake (SMCC A Captain)
Make that 4 in a row……..!
Saturday 21st August 2010 / Swanton Morley v Hayley East Anglia
Well, 10 men is clearly the future of cricket since that is now 2 weeks in a row we have pulled off fantastic wins against two strong sides minus a full team! With the weather gods for the fourth week in a row being more than kind to us, the day got off to a shocking start…….Nathan won the toss!!! With points in mind Hayley batted first and after 10 overs were going at a good rate and with a couple of dropped catches off of Sozza (i speak for myself Adam and im sure Wayno in apologising officially!) it looked like a big run chase was in store. However, another fantastic spell for next to nothing by Wayne and quite shockingly 2 wickets and very few runs from Adam meant that Hayley were under pressure. Wickets kept tumbling and then the turning point of the innings…….. With the big hitter at the crease, Nath serves up what can only be described as a pie which is promptly TAPPED over for 6. This was clearly always his plan as next ball he served up a juicy full toss which as we all looked to the boundary somehow found its way directly into Nathan’s hands!!!! We couldn’t quite find the 10th wicket but a great performance alround in the field kept Hayley to 150-9. With a very make shift batting line up Swanton set about knocking the runs off carefully in the face of some good bowling. With 30 up the first wicket fell and Sozza came to the crease. In the face of a lot of banter, some great shots, patience and running saw Adam and Soren put on 110 for the second wicket. Adam went for 75 in the 40th over with the score 139-2 but a beautiful drive from Soren saw us home and another fantastic win was in the bag!
Adam
SMCC A V Swaffham A
Saturday 14th August 2010 / SMCC A V Swaffham A
Swanton Morley A were invited to bat first by their visitors Swaffham A on a track that had been well protected from the recent heavy rain. The home side were dismissed for 115 with only Arthur Lake (22) and Barry Green (38 not out) reaching double figures. For Swaffham David Annakin took five for 19 in his twelve overs and fourteen year old Phillip Balls four for nine in 4.2 overs.
In reply Swaffham reached their target with four wickets down, Paul Brown dismissing both openers. Darren Goldsmith made 26 before being caught and bowled by David Powell but Alexander Payne (23 not out) and Annakin (24 not out) saw the visitors home.
Arthur Lake (SMCC A side Captain)
SWANTON SECOND’S WIN AT LAST
Saturday 1 st August / Swanton Morley A v Necton CC
Swanton Morley A entertained their boogey side Necton at the Angel Cricket Ground looking for their first win of the season at the twelfth attempt. The home side won the toss and invited the visitors to bat first on a damp wicket. The ever improving teenager Oli Hood bowled an opening spell of 6 overs, 2 maidens, one for nine. However, this was totally over shadowed by Peter Fuller who, with a combination of swing, seam movement, unpredictable bounce and supported by good catching finished with the remarkable figures of 10 overs, 4 maidens, NINE for eleven to dismiss the visitors for 31.
Swanton made very heavy weather of pursuing their victory target losing four wickets but captain Arthur Lake steadied a very rocky boat finishing on 18 not out. Swanton won by six wickets and with one or two of their more experienced players now available can hopefully look forward to another win in the remaining four weeks of the season although finishing in a relegation spot is almost inevitable.
Arthur Lake / SMCC A Captain
SAME OLD, SAME OLD
Sunday 11th July 2010 / SMCC Sunday league side v Munford
Swantons visitors this Sunday were a very strong Munford side, looking to keep the pressure on the teams at the top with a good win. Swanton won the toss and decided to bat in clear and sunny conditions, however this didn’t seem to help there batting. Duncan Appleby and Richard Packham opened the batting and in only the 4th over Duncan was caught behind off the bowling of P. Norman, This brought young Soren Gauntlett to the crease looking to bat for as possible. In the 11th over Richard was bowled once again by P. Norman making a solid 12. Wickets were hard to come by for Munford however Swantons scoring rate was very low. Swanton continued to bat solidly until the end finishing on 143-7 from the regulation 40 overs, highlighted with a cracking knock from young Soren (36) and andy graham finishing on a solid 28 (not out).
After the tea interval Swanton chose to open the bowling with young Ollie hood and Rob Vargeson, this was a good choice as in only the 6th over Rob made the much needed break through came when M Webster caught by the senior member of the team , former teflon award winning, Mr Lake taking a good catch at mid on. Soren then picked up the good wicket of R. Mail leaving Munford wobbling on 67-2. However good batting from D white pushed the score onto 126-2 in only the 20th over. Last hope where resting on the introduction of Captain Nick Richer, who picked up two quick wickets in his first over, however this was not enough, Munford continued well and knocked the runs off in only the 23rd over for the loss of only four wickets with thanks to a great knock from D. White (79).
Soren Gauntlett (SMCC Sunday League / Vice Captain )
Memphis Rolls Back the Years as Lake Ton Lifts Swanton off Bottom
Saturday 3rd July 2010 / Terrington v SMCC
Swanton travelled to Terrington looking for consecutive wins as the season moved into its second half. Swanton lost the toss and had to field first on a very flat looking wicket, knowing they would have to bowl well to stand a chance of chasing down the target with a weakened batting line up.
A good start put Swanton on top but Terrington soon got going and reached 50 in just the twelfth over. Daniel Lake eventually got the breakthrough having opener Osborne caught behind by Bidewell. Some tight bowing from McKinney (12-0-37-0) put Terrington under pressure through the middle overs which allowed N Raines (9-0-44-5) to roll back the years and pick up his first five wicket haul of the year. With some good fielding and constant wicket taking Swanton restricted Terrington to just 204/8 off their 45 overs.
It was the case of another day, another different opening partnership for Swanton with D Lake replacing the missing B Head at the top of the order. With Whitney looking in good touch along with Lake Swanton got off to a good start, bringing up the fifty in the twelfth over. When Whitney was out caught behind for 28 Swanton were 59/1, this brought N Richer to the crease. Richer soon showed why he had been promoted up the order with some delicate late cuts to the boundary early in his innings. He and Lake batted well together and moved the score on to 120 before he was trapped LBW for 21. Hudson went quickly for a duck which bought the skipper Jonny Bidewell to the crease to join Lake who had brought up his half century in good time.
At this time Swanton needed 80 to win in 15 overs, after a slow start Bidewell soon got going and was soon scoring as freely as Lake was at the other end. As Swanton got closer to their total Lake marched on to score his first hundred for the club. Lake brought up his hundred, which contained 14 4’s and 2 6’s, with a fine clip through mid-wicket for two. Swanton reached their total comfortably with nearly 4 overs and 7 wickets in hand, with Lake finishing on 103no and Bidewell on 36no.
Swanton are at home next week to Northwold looking for a hat trick of wins.
Jonny Bidewell / SMCC captain
WIN AT LAST
Swanton Morley made the long trip to Leverington looking for their first win of the season, and for the first time this season, they got it. Things got off to the best possible start by winning the toss and electing to bat, on what was a very unpredictable wicket. Swanton got off to a slow but positive start having only lost the one wicket in the first twentyone overs (Stuart Whitney 13). From this point on Swanton had a shakey period losing two quick wickets for twelve runs, Brian Head 22 and Daniel Lake 28. Swanton were then soon back on track with a stand of 50 between Jonny Bidewell and Soren Gauntlett before Gauntlett (21) was caught. Bidewell continued to make a well played 51 before he was also caught. Swantons tail wagged to take the score up to a more than respectable 200. Swanton took to the field knowing they had a very competitive score, this was soon to be the case with Swanton restricting their hosts to 58 for 5 off 18 overs through good bowling for Gauntlett, Ryan Hawkins, Lake and Wayne McKinney. From this point Swanton looked to be cruising, but this was’nt to be the case, Leverington re grouped and moved the score on to 186 for 7 needing only 15 to win and three wickets left, there looked only one possible outcome, another defeat for Swanton, but this week Swanton dug deep and when Nathan Raines was given the ball he picked up two wickets in his first over and when Lake took the tenth wicket in the next over Swanton had their first, and well deserved win of the season. Pick of the bowlers D Lake 14 for 3, Wayne McKinney 2 for 36 and Nathan Raines 1 for 2 .
Lakey (Vice captain SMCC)
Swanton youth finish with a win
Tuesday 29th June 2010 / Swanton Morley under 13 v Cromer under 13
Following in the foot steps of the first team, Swanton’s youth side finish their season with a much deserved win. Sam took over the Captaincy in the Absence of Callum, and took to the field with his team in tow. We must thank Sofie for stepping in at the very last moment and helping out the team by contributing to both the fielding and bowling, following her performance she will certainly be playing a more regular role in the team next year, so watch out boys!. Everyone bowled well, particular highlights must go to Joe for his control, a skill he has showed throughout the season. Conner W and Conner A for taking a wicket each and again for their control. Sam for taking two wickets and once again Oli for his excellent turning legspin, a form of bowling that is difficult to control but if mastered can reap its rewards, which he once again proved by taking another good wicket.
Swanton opened their batting with Sam and Luke, although some good shots from Sam started the runs forming, a few mistakes soon had them behind the starting score. Conner W and Joe where next into bat, both looked determined to keep their wicket secure and with some unexpected shots from Conner they soon had the score back into the positive. Oli and Conner A where next into bat, looking relaxed and determined to keep their individual wickets safe. Much to the surprise of everyone including Oli himself, he dealt out a series of fantastic shots. Two fours that raced to the boundary, from well timed pullshots. Supported well by Conner they took the score into double figures, securing a good score for the last batsman to push forward and win the game. Sam and Scott the last men in, batted as a team both hitting the ball well and running fast between the wicket. Scott contributed with a great pullshot for four and Sam ended his batting with a display that included five fours.
We owe the Cromer Team a big thank you for letting us field Sofie and for letting Sam bat twice due to Swanton being a player short. Generosity that may well have had an effect on the result of the game, an excellent game played in good spirit.
Dereham Youth V Swanton Morley Youth
Swanton batted first looking to put right some of the poor batting so far this season. Its all about holding onto your wicket, when a loss of a wicket costs your side a deficit of eight runs and scoring fours being relatively rare in under 13 cricket the tactics should be simple. Swanton opening batsmen, Joe and Luke batted very well losing only one wicket and scoring over the eight run penalty they suffered. The middle order batsmen, Oli, Nathan, Sam and Sam also did well, all following on in the foot steps of the openers, a few mighty blows from Sam had the scoring traveling in the right direction. The innings finished on a high with Callum and Conner putting on some very quick runs leaving Swanton posting for the first time this season a competitive score.
The strength to Swanton Morely’s game this season has been their bowling and fielding, so expectation was high that they were going to be able to defend the total they had set. Dereham opened the batting with a positive start, both batsmen looking solid and showed they had the ability to score runs quickly by good shot placement and not trying to knock the leather of the ball. This immediately put pressure on the Swanton Morley bowlers who had found taking wickets in previous games was straight forward enough. Not today, uncharacteristically both their fielding and bowling was patchy and undisciplined. Possibly the pressure of a possible win had its effect, they continued to try hard despite the feeling of inevitably that Dereham where going to score the runs, and as it turned out unfortunately leave Swanton Morley wicket-less in the process.
