Nowton 2010

Evening folks. Just a few words about the Nowton tour that took place last weekend.

It was a momentous occasion as we won the tournament, beating two local sides and the other visitors, the Elephant Wanderers. We played tough, competitive and aggressive cricket in all three games and won the competition with some ease.

In the first game we batted first, scored 151 - 6 against the Nowton Wuffings, an innings which included 62 from Steve Devenport and useful support from Neil Campbell, Burkey, and Tony Jones. In reply we limited the home team to a lacklustre 107 - 8 which included wickets for Steve Trow, John Howey, Tony Jones and 4-20 for Matt Woolston. In the second game we again batted first scoring 128 - 6 which included 20s from Devenport, Tony Jones and veteran Geoff Lambton, whose innings included a rare, and unlikely, non boundary 6. In reply the Nowton Abbots were simply pinned down and limped to 111 - 3 with Tony Jones taking two vital early wickets and Neil Campbell returning the remarkable figures of four overs for six runs. In the final game we reversed the previous trend and bowled first. We held the Elephants to 105 - 8 with the wickets shared between Tony Jones, Ben Bradshaw, Neil Campbell, Matt Woolston and John Howey. We them replied with a well paced 109 - 4 with the decisive runs being spread among Burkey, Devenport, Matt Woolston.

The victorious Branch Cricket Team - Nowton 2010

This was the first time we have won this tournament so congratulations to the players and, particularly, the skippers John Howey and Mark Stewart. Special mention should also go to Geoff Lambton whose appearance for the last game of the tournament marked his 400th appearance for the club. He has promised to buy a pint for anyone who congratulates him on this achievement ... so, well done Geoff.  Congratulations too for Elephant Martin Denver who broke a world record in the tour talent show. (For those who are interested, it was the record for breaking eggs by headbutting while blindfolded.) Indeed, to show the all-round skills available to the squad over the weekend, Mick Coad introduced his customary dignity to the proceedings by reprising his airing of the hairiest arse in the world. However, given the talent that was available over the weekend, the arse was only called upon briefly on the Saturday evening. The final thanks should go to Andy Nichol for the background work he put in arranging a lot of the tour and for the 65 pints (if Mr McWhirter is interested, this volume has been verified) he managed over the four days of the tour.

This win will need to be celebrated collectively so I shall look at the fixture list and try and arrange a pre Xmas drink. All the best until then,

John

Nowton 2010 Picture Gallery - to follow