Summer 2010 - Update

The Branch cricket team has performed admirably in its last two games. Against North Star the main news was the non-appearance of Neil Campbell who was still recovering from the effects of a Toots & the Maytals gig the previous night. We won the toss, batted and scored 200 in 30 overs. Matt Woolston hammered 88* and there were useful contributions from Garry Jones, Richards Hopkins and Richard Jaques and John Howey. We then bowled them out for about 115. The wickets were shared between the Jones gang, John Howey, Steve Trow and debutant Pete Boyce, a useful addition from the football team. A good drink was had by all ... well the four of us who reached the pub.

The following week we played a strong West XI and although we lost we went down blazing ... for a while anyway. West XI batted first and looked set for a huge total when they were racing along at 7 an over by the drinks interval. However, a lively second spell of 4 wickets from Matt Woolston pegged back the Westies who finished on 234 after 35 overs. In reply we batted solidly until falling away in the last three overs. The feature was Matt Woolston's 112 which was, the bar sages considered, the highest individual innings for the branch. Supported particularly by Richard Hopkin with 25 and Mark Stewart with 41 we got within reaching distance of the total before the innings fizzled out with a sudden tumble of desperate wickets as we fell some 20 runs short.

The Branch Cricket team after defeat by West XI 

Our next games are on tour in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk where we play in a four team 20/20 tournament against two teams of locals and a bunch of Brummies. The tour party currently numbers 29 (including players, WAGs, umpires and children) and a good time is guaranteed. If you fancy coming along, you’d be very welcome – don’t worry if you haven’t played before. You could make a day trip (about 1.5 hours from London), stay overnight in a B&B or, if you’re the younger/more adventurous type, camp by the ground. For further details, contact the skipper John Howey: johnhowey73@aol.com and to see how we got on check out Nowton 2010