Great Waltham 2017 Season Review
1st XI
2017 was a year to remember for the 1st XI as they won the Division 2 title with 2 weeks of the season remaining. There was talk of an unbeaten season but that was brutally cut short by Goresbrook II and despite a loss to fierce rivals Little Waltham the following week, the team rallied to win their last 3 games and a first league title in 19 years. Consistency has been key, as 11 players have played 11 games or more.
I could pick any number of games for team performances or individual highlights. The season started in emphatic fashion with winning margins of 178 runs and 9 wickets over Eastwood and Ingatestone, respectively. Wins just kept on coming as our momentum built including a 3 game stretch where we beat Havering by 159 runs, Rayleigh II by 9 wickets and Chadwell Heath by 167 runs. Runs and wickets were flowing so easily that it was a pleasure to stand back and let the team control itself. The title was secured at home to Havering in a game that we dominated from start to finish under the stewardship of VC D. Bloom.
2017 signified the return of Dave Clout to village cricket as he smashed his way to a Saturday league GWCC website record of 841 runs @ 64.69. 3 match winning hundreds and 4 50s was ample return for the effort expended as DC was the catalyst for our strong batting showing all year. Dan Bloom continued his form on from last year as he proved his class with important runs, despite the lack of opportunities due to the strength of the top order. His streak of playing every 1st XI game for 2 seasons in a row was broken due to his unselfish desire to support the 2s in the last game of the season. Simon was a batsman reborn after relinquishing the burdens of captaincy as he formed a solid partnership with DC at the top of the innings, blunting attacks before opening the shoulders with many a ‘Richardson’ ™.
Ollie made me regret not bowling him more often earlier in the season by taking 31 wickets and scoring 158 useful runs in pressure situations. Duggers once again topped the batting averages, averaging 131 as he proved once again what a competitor, cricketer and Kiwi he truly is. In any other season 29 wickets would have seen him take home the bowling cup with ease however in such a successful year he could only manage 3rd spot behind the Fitzwater brothers. Both Gary and Swanny were a safe pair of hands, Gary in a more literal sense, as the pair provided great experience and wisdom to a new captain as well as runs, wickets and unnecessary dives down the legside.
All the bowlers this year claimed to be batsmen and only at the end of the season when Chappy opened was that question finally answered. Despite his 2nd ball duck against Rayleigh, Chappy had another wonderful season with the ball as his miserly figures will no doubt demonstrate. I’m sure all my predecessors will agree that it is wonderful knowing that you can throw the big man the ball and he will deliver under any circumstances. Tucks seemingly followed Chappy’s stingy behaviour as he offered opposing opening batsmen nothing to hit, going at just over 3.5 runs an over and taking 15 wickets. However, the bowling show was stolen by the younger Fitzwater as he took 35 wickets @ 16, terrorising batsmen throughout the league. He added a cutting edge to his game this year as he was able to run through teams when the conditions suited him and hold a line and length, suffocating batsmen, when conditions weren’t in his favour.
Thanks to everyone who played for the 1st XI this year, who sacrificed their time to make the year so successful. Thanks to everyone who came to support the team this year; it’s wonderful, heart-warming and inspiring to see so many people supporting this little village team. Thanks to everyone who contributed to teas this year, there seems to be as much competition on the tables as on the pitch this year. Finally, I look forward to next year as promotion has taken us back to Division 1 where I hope that we can continue our enthusiasm and commitment. If this endures then who knows how far we can go next season…
Sam Harris
+++ Sam also contributed the small matter of 586 runs at an average of 65.11. A class act, a joy to watch and arguably the best batsman in the Division.
The less said about his bowling at Ingatestone, the better +++
2nd XI
In March 2014, Leicester City FC were bottom of the Premier League and were odds on favourites to be relegated. History unfolded with a Hollywood tale and they became everyone’s s 2nd favourite team the following season.
Although we were never bottom of Division 4, we hovered above the relegation zone for much of the season. On 15th July, we travelled to South Woodham Ferrers without our Captain and one of our experienced batters. Chasing 251 to win and avoid a 5th successive defeat, a remarkable batting performance from Luke Tanner and Lewis Chapman guided us to victory and much needed confidence.
The following 2 games were abandoned, however we still had the bottom 2 sides to play. Victory over both would ensure safety. No Hollywood tale there. A better script would be to lose the next three games, including a defeat to an ageing Brookweald by just 5 runs. As if someone took pity on us, Stock were unable to raise a side the following week and we were handed a walkover. However, much to everyone’s surprise, Brookweald defeated Rankins which meant our respective fates would be decided on the last day of the season! Like the ‘Foxes’ we rose to the occasion with a competent victory at East Hanningfield bolstered with Chappy Snr and Bloom Junior. Division 4 status secured.
You make ask, are we good enough for this division? Are we likely to be in another relegation battle next year? How will our youngsters fair next season when we face six 1st team opposition? Like the ‘Foxes’ I am full of optimism. Why?
a) Our crop of young players: Lewis, Joe, Matty, Jamie, Ryan, Tom, Rhys, Ross, Cameron and Harrison will have benefited from a challenging season this year, playing five 1st eleven opposition. I have no doubt we will see many of them blossom; b) A good group of experienced players: Nindi, Mickey, Slippery, Phil, PA and of course our skipper Robbo. A number of them will be hoping for a greater dividends from their efforts next season; c) the emergence of the 3rd XI…
The highlights of the season?
The emergence of Lewis as a genuine all-rounder - 420 runs @ 60.00; 13 wickets and most catches (8) from 14 games. Undoubtedly he was the best player who was instrumental in our all victories. Next season, he may well be accompanying the 1st XI on a Saturday; Joe’s bowling developed throughout the season. He finished our leading wicket taker with 21 wickets. With better catching, he would easily have got to 30. Nindi also had another solid season - 389 runs @ 35.36
What did we learn from this season?
- Joe’s run up is longer than Michael Holding’s
- Nindi finally realised league games start at 1pm
- We held 48 catches… but dropped 72! And another 66 whilst practising before we took the field
- PA is the nicest man in Cricket, even though the umpire banned him from bowling after a couple of gentle ‘beamers’ at Stock
- After 28 years, Slippery has finally ‘knocked in’ his Stuart Surridge bat
What do we need to focus on next season?
Obviously catches win matches. We didn’t score enough runs this year. We have the talent and we need a few more batters to average over 40. Most sides in this division have a couple of decent bowlers. If we can get through them and post 210, we are likely to win 8 out of 10 games.
And finally…
It has been my first season with the 2s this year (hopefully many more to come). It has been hugely enjoyable and entertaining, more importantly I get to play with real men who drink real beer (Ale) as opposed to some raspberry & passion fruit flavoured alco-pop. One column that we must improve next year is ‘100s scored’. All senior batsmen must make scoring a hundred one of their 2018 goals, myself included.
We are 1000-1 with Paddy Power to win Division 4 next season…must be worth a few quid ;) AP
3rd XI
This wonderful season started on the 6th May 2017 and each game just got better and better! In Game 1 Tillingham 3rd XI were the opponents and our home ground for the season was Hatfield Peverel CC. Micky Headon had been persuaded to ‘dust down’ his whites and a youthful side took to the field. Headon scored 119 not out, Ollie Brittain took 4 wickets and the first game was won by 17 runs – the closest margin of victory for the whole season.
Game 2 saw us struggle for playing numbers as we travelled to Havering atte Bower. Brownie thought we were lambs to the slaughter as Cumpstey and Tokley Senior donned their newly purchased ‘whites’ but little did he know. Having spent a tiring 40 overs in the field, the Waltham Babes chased down 183 runs like old pros. Webb made 39, Eaglesham Senior 41 and Brown 43 not out. A victory by 6 wickets, scoring the winning runs in the 39th over. In Game 3, Rayleigh 7th XI were skittled out for 21 and in Game 4 Westcliff 4th XI were the visitors to Church Road, Hatfield Peverel. Both Tom Gore and Oliver Brittain scored half centuries and Alfie Eaglesham was the pick of the bowlers. Another win, this time by 60 runs. Real camaraderie was developing among the spectators as scorer Simon Webb sharped his pencil and Lee Brittain showed his pineapple carving talents to all at the tea interval. Game 5 saw the Green Caps travel to Chelmer Park to play Chelmsford 6ths. Tom Gore scored 93 and Spencer Eaglesham a powerful 50 in a total of 228 for 8. With Chelmsford being bowled out for less than three figures the margin of victory was wide. At this point both Deano and Gavlar need a mention. Both have been selfless in their approach to Great Waltham 3rd XI this season. Always available and only slightly adjusting the direction of the rudder when needed. True captaincy qualities.
We entertained Galleywood 4th XI in Game 6 and this was being billed as our biggest test to date. Galleywood chose to bat and went from being 57 for 2 to 78 for 6 in 11 overs. Joel Barker, Louis Cumpstey and Gavlar got the middle order in a spin as the ‘Galley’ made 124 in their allocated overs. Harrison Elles made an important 50 as the other Babes ‘chipped in’. A win by 5 wickets. The milestone in Game 7 was the century scored by Harrison Elles, 102 retired not out, again against Chelmsford 6th XV. As always Rhys Chapman picked up wickets and the margin of victory was even wider than a Guy Cumpstey delivery!
Game 8 has to be the favourite of the scribes. A minibus trip to Bradwell on Sea where Tillingham entertained us in a Dutchman’s back garden. At this stage of the season Webb Senior was desperate to swap pencil for cricket whites and the finer details of the Great Waltham CC calendar were being discussed. Luke Tanner you have a lot to answer for! A win by 70 runs – could the Waltham Babes remain unbeaten?
A match against Billericay 5th XI saw victory in Game 9 chasing down 156 in less than 30 overs and the final match of the season was against Rayleigh 7th XI. Cameron Brown scored his maiden century, 103 not out hitting 16 fours and Kieran Webb scored 85 in a partnership of 182 runs. There was no turning back for Rayleigh after this. Victorious and unbeaten.
The success of this season can be put down to regular availability. The Waltham Babes of Barker, Brown, Chapman, Cumpstey, Eaglesham, Elles and Webb were always available and these were sandwiched between the older lads of Gore and Brittain and the younger boys of Tokley and Heaton. Top run scorers for the season were Harrison Elles with 238 runs, Kieran Webb with 217 runs and Cameron Brown with 204 runs. Top wicket taker was Rhys Chapman with 14, closely followed by Cameron Brown with 10 and Joel Barker, Alfie Eaglesham and Gavlar took 9 wickets each.
Let’s hope that our T Rippon league application is successful for the 2018 season. The Waltham Babes need the next challenge… so just remember, if your phone rings in May next year you might be in the starting XI!
‘The 3rd XI Scribe’
Ladies XI
The Ladies XI have had a successful season; winning five of their eight league matches, coming 2nd in the Southern Division and making it through to Finals Day. Despite our best efforts we lost out to Mistley who went on to become League Champions. The squad has also increased this season, with 24 players turning out for us. Eight players made their debut for the club this season, some new to the game and others more experienced. Two of these players deserve a special mention; firstly, Frances Mower, who joined us this season from OC’s and contributed over 100 runs with the bat as well as turning her arm over when needed. The second mention goes out to a homegrown player that joined the senior team this year, Hermione Clout, who has been confident both in the field and with the ball and shows much promise for the future.
This season is also the first time, in which three generations from one family all played together in the same team when Theresa Harper, Rebecca Clout and Hermione Clout turned out against Maldon. This was something so unusual, the three were interviewed and featured on BBC Essex’s ‘Around the Wicket’.
Our best achievements this season have not been individual performances but the successes that we have had as a team. We kept opponents scores down with tight bowling and sharp fielding, most memorably against Kelvedon and Feering, when we played with four new team mates and got KFCC all out for 66; also when we played Maldon at home our bowling and fielding at the death restricting them to 101 in their chase for our total of 117.
Our batting this season has improved game upon game; with five players regularly retiring at 25 runs and several others hitting double figures each week. Although we were slow off the mark we made it to our target more often than not and we benefited from having batting right through the order.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that turned out for us and made this a successful season. There are a few people that deserve extra recognition for their help this season so thank you to Paul Brown, Jake De’Ath, Josh De’Ath and Matty Reed for umpiring and scoring for us this year. Also a big thank you to Theresa Harper and Rachel Bryan for making GWCC known for having the best tea in the league by providing their famous chilli and manning the BBQ on home games.
Special thanks goes to Natasha Bourke for begging and bribing her friends to play for us this season which resulted in her making a round trip from Dunmow to Kelvedon via Wanstead (and back again) so that we had a full side. She has also been a great source of entertainment, being able to keep the teams spirits up on cold dark nights and getting a laugh out of everyone, even in tense situations.
Finally and most importantly I would like to thank Rebecca Clout, my Vice Captain, for being a sounding board for my frustrations, providing wise words at the perfect moment, helping me to keep my sense of humour and without whom I would not be able to do this job and get through the season.
In the words of our on field comedienne, Natasha, and a phrase which has come to be the team motto this season, same again next year ladies…but better please. Mary Shaw
Sunday XI
2017 was another season of success for the Sunday XI, culminating in a very satisfying and healthy-looking results record, with the highest number of wins in a Sunday season since online records began. Throughout we only lost 3 games, interestingly (?), one in each fixture type: League, Cup and Friendly. These losses were significant because the loss in the cup meant we were knocked out, the loss in the league meant we had to share honours at the top of the table, and the loss in the friendly… well, no-one likes to lose to Chelmsford!
A last-minute decision to take part in the Village cup was well supported by everyone at the club and even though the competition started as early as April, the pitch was in excellent condition and lots of players were ready and willing to give up their Sunday afternoons. Our opponents were often at the ground an hour before the start time, in their one-day kits, engaging in some pre-match training drills to make sure they were fully up for the contest. We tended to wander in, some still bleary eyed and groggy from the previous night, no doubt having taken full advantage of the excellent deals on cocktails at Wetherspoons. Not that I’d know much about that myself. Never the less we acquitted ourselves well against some strong teams in the area, only falling just short in the regional semi-final against eventual region champions, Horndon-on-the-Hill. Some excellent bowling figures of 4-14 from Mark ‘Frosty’ Chapman and a stoic 81* from Bloom Jnr saw us breeze past Worlington. Despite a blistering 100 from Sam Harris Esq., we just couldn’t quite make it over the line against Horndon. The dream of playing at Lords will have to wait for another season…
After a 3rd place finish in the league last season, we started the season with some big expectations and I really thought that with the players coming through from the colts setup, we had a good chance of at least matching the previous year’s accomplishments. The players surpassed those expectations in style, winning 7 out of a total 8 League fixtures, the only loss being a rather dramatic & contentious one to Hutton CC. This left us finishing the year joint Champions of the Warsop Sunday 1st Division! We played a very positive brand of cricket and I feel that, given the quality and sheer size of some of the clubs we faced, the players should be very proud of the performances they gave and what they accomplished this season.
There were some outstanding performances with the bat this season, notably the entertaining and match winning 6th wicket partnership of 124 between Joel Barker and Joe Reed, Joe falling just 2 runs short of his maiden 50, a very watchful and impetuous 50 not out from Ryan Brown and a destructive maiden century against the county standard* bowling attack of Willow Herbs from Josh Fitzwater. Later to be matched by a more cultured and stylish knock by his older brother in a Fitzwater ™ partnership of 197. You can’t talk about batting without someone at some point mentioning the name Sam Harris. Sam has been superb this year on Sunday scoring 511 runs in all formats and averaging 113 in the league. In one case, Sam came in to bat at South Woodham Ferrers and cut his second ball for 4, one of the fielders was heard to say, “This guy is pretty good”, the bowler replied, “No he’s not, that was a lucky shot”. Sam then proceeded to drive him though cover, clip him through midwicket and then deposit him back over his head, each time for 4, off consecutive balls. He’s not bad.
There were also some similarly excellent contributions with the ball. Jake De’Ath swinging the ball around corners to decimate the Old Southendian middle order, returning with 4-17 from his 5 overs, James Taylor rolling back the years with an exemplary spell of 5-34 and Rhys Chapman showing great skill and control, returning very Chapman-esque figures of 2-14. Another person who has had a great season with the ball is Joe Reed. I’m sure Joe would be more than happy to give you a ball by ball replay of each of his 22 wickets taken this year but, if you don’t want to hear about the devious ‘slower ball that swung away and nipped in to take the top of off stump’ you’ll have to take my word that Joe bowled with aggression and determination and thoroughly deserved his 22 wickets at an average of 16.
I feel a special mention needs to go to Matty Reed. Matty has been a Sunday stalwart for the last few years and whilst his batting maybe hasn’t quite been what he’d hoped this season, lots of people have remarked how much his keeping has come on and I would definitely agree. He and several other more experienced players are the backbone of the team and their enthusiasm and commitment is invaluable.
A few opposition teams have told me this year how much they enjoy playing at Great Waltham and that it is their favourite fixture of the year.
I feel that we as players sometimes forget how lucky we are to play at such a club.
Ollie (probably with a little bit of help from Mum and Dad)