West Mersea C.C. Weekly Roundup


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Week 7 - 31st May & 1st June 2008
Rain about again in the final week of May, and although the weekend was dry many games fell foul to waterlogged pitches. The Two Counties side saw their game at Coggeshall cancelled on the Friday, meanwhile, elsewhere in Division Nine Felixstowe Corinthians and Haverhill 2nd's are now the only unbeaten sides, as Corinthians ended Kesgrave's unbeaten start.
Mersea seconds played at home on Saturday to Little Clacton in Division Three and ended up comprehensively beaten as the Clacton side climb to second in the Division. The only other game saw Real Oddies score their first win of the season at the expense of Chappel & Wakes Colne 2nd.
The Cup First Round took centre stage on Sunday, Mersea overcoming Fourth Division Wormingford by seven wickets, in a game that marked a welcome return to action to Luke Bruce. There was no real drama in the Cup as games seem to go the way of the favourites, although Division Five side Wickham Bishops did account for Little Clacton. Cup holders Halstead thrashed Galleywood by 8 wickets chasing 76, and the Real Oddies were shot out for just 33 in their game with Division One side Eight Ash Green.
The monthly Mersea statistics for May are attached. May 2008
Week 6 - 24th, 25th & 26th May 2008
A weekend that was more miserable than John Terry in Moscow, washing out the entire programme on both Sunday and Monday !!
The Two Counties side played their first home match of the season on Saturday, against bottom of the table Ipswich 4th's. Mersea batted first and racked a club record 334 for 7. Luke Conway cracked his second century of the season with 114, whilst Chris Storrar scored a career best unbeaten 72. Mersea secured their second victory of the season by restricting the visitors to 217 for 7. Elsewhere in Division Nine the top three all maintained their unbeaten starts.
The previous highest score for the club came in 1995 when Mersea posted 330 for 8 against Braintree, with two players from the 2008 side also playing in the 1995 side. Graham Pryke scored 57, whilst Luke Conway batting at number eleven did not bat and saw his six overs go for 54 runs !!! He was only 12 bless him !!
Week 5 - 17th & 18th May 2008
A cooler weekend with some rain about, but nevertheless a full weekend of cricket. The Two Counties side were done at Sudbury by a late replacement who was drafted in following the cancellation of their second team game. He spanked an unbeaten 110 in a nine wicket win. All three of the top teams remain unbeaten courtesy of the fact that their matches were cancelled due to inclement weather. At the bottom Ipswich are the only team yet to taste success, and they are the first visitors to The Glebe next weekend.
The PDQ First Team defeated their Chappel & Wakes Colne counterparts in a low scoring encounter at The Glebe on Sunday. Set 102 to win following an excellent bowling performance from Mills (3 for 7) and Conway (3 for 34), Mersea were reduced to 56 for 6 before Peter Phillips batted sensibly for 26 to see Mersea home by 2 wickets. Elsewhere, Great Bromley were defeated for the first time this year at home to Abberton, to leave the champions Halstead as the only unbeaten side in the league. Copford shocked St Osyth with a six wicket win at Cowley Park, whilst at the bottom it looks as though it is going to be a difficult summer for Galleywood and West Bergholt who both suffered defeat to remain winless in 2008. Gosfield scored their first ever Division One victory at Galleywood.
The PDQ Second Team secured a double by winning comfortably at The Hobbies, Mersea skipper Digs Taylor putting in the Mersea performance of the weekend with an unbeaten 83 as Mersea raced to victory by seven wickets. The win lifts Mersea into second place behind unbeaten leaders Little Bardfield Village who saw off Earls Colne & Bures by 4 wickets. The other game saw Great Braxted & Tiptree score their first success of the campaign at winless Real Oddies.
Week 4 - 10th & 11th May 2008
Another beautiful weekend weather wise with glorious sunshine and temperatures up into the mid twenties. Mersea batsmen finally hit their straps as all three Mersea teams post scores in excess of 200. The Two Counties side score their first victory of the season with captain Luke Conway blazing the first century of the season with 113 from 66 balls including six sixes. Digs Taylor takes a career best 3 for 14 with the ball, and Harley Seago took his first senior wicket for the club as Mersea win by 74 runs. Mersea's win takes them off the bottom of the table. Felixstowe Corinthians, Haverhill 2nd and Kesgrave are still unbeaten in 2008.
In the PDQ League Division One West Mersea beat Eight Ash Green to move into the mid division. Ian Young scores his 62nd fifty for the club, top scoring with 53 in the match. Elsewhere, Great Bromley made it four wins on the bounce with victory over Gosfield, and Halstead are now the only other undefeated side having beaten St Osyth by 3 wickets. Bromley have a big task this coming week when they entertain free scoring Abberton who racked up 300 against Chappel.
The second eleven went down by 39 runs to Earls Colne & Bures, despite an excellent all round performance from Richard Fuller who returned career best batting and bowling performances (77 and 4 for 57). Already the Third Division would appear to be very competitive with only Little Bardfield Village boasting an unbeaten record and that was courtesy of a one wicket victory at winless Great Braxted & Tiptree.
Week 3 - 3rd, 4th & 5th May 2008
Wall to wall sunshine...well almost for the Bank Holiday weekend. All three games that Mersea play in end with the same result...an eight wicket victory. Mersea trek to Eye for their Two Counties encounter this week, and the only highlight is the first fifty partnership of the season between Adam Rutter and Luke Conway. The first's are thumped on Sunday by St Osyth, before restoring the balance on Monday with an important victory over Galleywood. Daniel Harness records the first fifty of the season with an unbeaten 70, and also records the first century stand with Stuart Mills 38 in the win. The second's match at Abberton 'everglades' is called off despite the glorious sunshine as there was still lying water....they hope to play at The Brow in July !!!
Elsewhere the Preliminary round of the Cup sees a shock as Cavaliers defeat Copford by 4 wickets, all other games go the way of the favourites. Mersea meet Wormingford on the 1st June in the First Round. In Division One Halstead beat Abberton in the top game of the weekend, whilst Great Bromley continued their excellent start to the season with a third successive victory this time at the hands of West Bergholt who are blitzed for just 60.
Week 2 - 26th & 27th April 2008
All three Mersea sides are in action in the second week of the season. The Two Counties side travelled to Felixstowe to play the Corinthians. Mersea perform well in the field to restrict the hosts to 191 for 8, Jamie Phillips the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 33. However, it is a disaster when Mersea bat as they slump to their lowest ever Two Counties score.....34 all out..Graham Pryke does reach the 9000 run milestone in the carnage.
On Sunday the first's travelled to champions Halstead and were put to the sword being bowled out for 115, and then seeing the hosts race to victory in 20 overs. Graham Bowers suffers a knock out blow when struck on the temple by an errant throw. Elsewhere Great Bromley made it two wins out of two, with a comprehensive victory over Galleywood and Eight Ash Green scored a narrow victory over Copford.
The second's raised the club spirits with the first victory of the season, a thrilling two run win over Great Braxted & Tiptree. With the new sightscreens in situ, and a wicket playing above average it was surprising that the wickets tumbled. Mersea were bowled out for 100, and GBT slumped to 98 all out, with Mersea's very part time bowler James Tilsley claiming the plaudits with a career best 6 for 24.
Week 1 - 19th & 20th April 2008
Freezing weather saw the Two Counties side open the campaign at Kelvedon. Mersea posted a competitve total of 142, with Graham Pryke 48 and Luke Conway 36 leading the way. Kelvedon won in the final over for the loss of just three wickets. Sunday's PDQ Division One game at Abberton was called off on Saturday, with The Brow being unfit for play.