We didn’t win, but we had a good laugh. Following the toss we ended up in the field and actually put on an excellent bowling and fielding performance. Not a single dropped catch, excellent ground fielding, tight bowling from the dependable Perky and a wicket keeper keeping the byes in single figures.

Batting wasn’t so good. Clearly we need to spend some time in the nets. We looked very rusty and you could pick the guys playing on the Barney team that had played already by the way they batted.

Still hope springs eternal and now we move onto a home game next week, if it keeps dry…….

A game that was always going to be influenced by the turn of a coin, the damp pitch was always going to improve as the day progressed, so Swanton Morley were fortunate to win the toss and put Halvergate A in to bat. The wicket assisted Swanton Morley’s spin attack with Mckinney returning figures of (8 for 24) and Nathan Raines (2 for 16). Supported well with Ben Hudson behind the stumps taking two catches and a stumping, Soren Gauntlett only conceding 9 runs from his 6 overs and Hayden Daniels 6 runs from his 4 overs. Halvergate A finished 57 all out of 32 overs, with a notable batting performance from J. Howley of (28 not out).

Swanton’s opening batsmen Gauntlett and Chetwood, started cautiously, aware that many teams have stumbled in the past when chasing down small totals. The newly formed opening partnership looked professional in their approach against some very tidy bowling from A. Booth, however with the aid of a much improved wicket, Gauntlett ended the game when he hit the wining runs in the 21 st over of the innings. Gauntlett (26 not out from 49 balls) and Chetwood (26 not out from 79 balls), including the shot the day, a beautifully timed ondrive for 6.

Whilst all this rain is depressing for us cricketers is does bring with it the chance for random comments on the news. So far, during this wettest of Aprils now moving into May, my favorite has been, and I quote verbatim from Radio 5 Lives Breakfast a few weeks back, “this is the wrong kind of rain.” Well at that point I almost crashed the car!!

Anyway lets all hope that the rain kindly moves on, now please, and we get a sunny spell and can FINALLY play cricket.

This is probably of more use currently then match reports that say, game called off due to rain. I am beginning to wonder if we’ll ever play cricket and if those Test Match tickets for the end of May were a wise investment……..

Weather permitting, outdoor cricket coaching sessions for girls and boys aged 8-13 years will resume on Monday 30^th April, from 6.00pm – 7.30pm, at the Angel Cricket Ground, Hoe Road South, Swanton Morley NR20 4PU and continue throughout the summer, including Bank Holidays. The Club is ECB Clubmark accredited and four qualified coaches will lead the sessions, assisted by other Club members. All equipment, including helmets, is provided free and there will be opportunities for the under 11’s and under 13’s, to play in competitive games organised by Youth Cricket Manager, Laura McKinney. The cost is £2.00 annual subscription and then £1.50 for each session attended. The Club welcomes youngsters from local villages and Dereham as well as those living in Swanton Morley.

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So it’s the first official game weekend and I have one question. Why do the weathermen and water boards have to get involved in forecasting??

Can’t they just leave it to the professionals, village cricketers and the like. We all know that announcing it’s been the driest March since the last driest March and the introduction of a hose pipe ban means monsoon like conditions for two months. If they’d just kept quite, rainfall would have been adequate for the time of year, the sun would shine on the weekends, village pubs would see increased takings, the odd ice cream van might sell another 99, wives would get some piece and quite, the nations health would improve through exercise and we’d be able to play cricket!!!

On that basis my reason for calling off this weeks game is ………… tampering with the wicket by Anglian Water and the Met Office. Clearly they have conspired to produce a sticky wicket to prevent high scoring games.

Next week its the first Saturday league match, now not wanting to spoil it, have you seen the weather forecast…………..

Broadsword calling Danny Boy, over……..

Yes it’s that time of year, rainy season! ha! No it’s the cricket season and I’m back to bamboozle you with random wanderings from the far fetched reaches of my mind, well that and report on the games and stuff. So, whats new. Well I’ve put a new grip on my bat, replaced the fiber-glass tape, bought some new coaching kit and have procured a death bowling device. And now onto club matters.

So the Saturday side went BANG last year and this year we start in pastures new, Norfolk League Division …. errr … yes well I do Sundays so perhaps someone will post the division numbers. New players and some returnees should give us a good blend and with all the youngsters coming in we should have plenty of talent to get along. On the Sunday front, its more of the same. A continuation of the youth development and lots of fun and laughs whilst attempting to win enough games to stay in the league.

As Wayne has already posted Barry claims a punt was seen moving gracefully down the wicket earlier today and that meant there was enough water for even Barry to agree it would not be playable on Saturday, so instead we shall be having a net session. Same goes for Thursday, so get yourself down to the ground and get ready for next weekend when we start proper.

Tally Ho chaps……..

The game will commence at 1.30 sharpish, so please arrive early to help out with preparations and the usual chaos when dividing sides, the format will be along the lines of previous Youth v Experience games, 35 overs per side, batsmen retire at 25 runs, etc.

Conventional teas will not be provided, so bring along your own nutrition, however if the weather is suitable the chairman has threatened to run a barbecue, for which he may need a little assistance and as ever the pub is just around the corner for essential refreshments.

Any questions or queries about the game then please do not hesitate to contact me and please make the effort to invite along those who are not on this mailing list, all new and old members are more than welcome.

wayne

SMCC provides a series of coached sessions at the clubs ground, these follow the cricket season and are intended for anyone interested in learning and participating in the game of cricket.

The club actively welcomes anyone, no matter what ability or previous experience, the sessions are attended by both boys and girls aged from 8 – 14 years old.

We currently have three ECB qualified coaches and a number of assistant coaches, who as a team deliver sessions that are tailored for all abilities.

If you are interested in playing cricket why not come along, simply turn up to see what goes on or even have a go!

Monday evening (6:00pm to 7:30pm) Fee £1.50 per session,with all appropriate equipment provided.

For more information then do not hesitate to contact us.

George or Rosemary Northall Tel. (01362) 637620 / E-mail: rosemarynorthall@ymail.com

It looks like the weather is going to be reasonable tomorrow, not exactly cricketing weather, however we should at least be able to undertake some batting practice, so look forward to seeing some of you hardy fellow’s after 12.00.  Following on from this Saturday’s Senior practice session, we again invite all members likely to play senior cricket this season to participate in a practice game on Saturday 14th. The intention of the practice game is to let the relevant people have the opportunity to have a bat or a bowl out in the middle. So we are anticipating players from all the senior sides to take this opportunity to at least get one game under their belts before the start of the official league season.

The game will commence at 1.30 sharp, so please arrive early to help out with preparations and the usual chaos when dividing sides, the format will be along the lines of previous Youth v Experience games, 35 overs per side, batsmen retire at 25 runs, etc.  Conventional teas will not be provided, so bring along your own nutrition, however if the weather is suitable the chairman has threatened to run a barbecue, for which he may need a little assistance and as ever the pub is just around the corner for essential refreshments.

Any questions or queries about the game then please do not hesitate to contact me and please make the effort to invite along those who are not on this mailing list, all new and old members are more than welcome.

We have our final youth coaching session at Neathered on the morning of Saturday the 14th, 10.00 – 12.00. If you would like to help out, then again please contact me, your help would be very much appreciated.