September 2015
Longparish 3rd XI
Ahem! - Longparish III won their final two games of the season by a country mile to claim the league title. It would be quite cool to underplay the whole thing, chuck a jacket over a shoulder and walk away to the indoor season whistling, with no little nonchalance,
But sod It !- Book the bus, order the fizz and lets all go and soil the Prime Minister's back garden to celebrate a brilliant season for Longparish III.
By way of a musical tribute we shall at this point invoke the twin spirits of McFadden & Whitehead (Google suggests they are no longer with us) to honour this momentous achievement
"Ain't no stoppin us now
We're on the move (yeah-ee-a, yeeh-ee-a)
Ain't no stoppin us now
We've got the groove
Spice Girls, check out"
That last line may not be relevant.
Against IBM Hursley III, Martin Bearpark hit 129, Dan Bearpark, 78 and Rory Kerr 44 as Longparish III posted a mammoth 324 for 5. Callum Giles took 2 for 13 and Dan Bearpark 4 for 35 to complete a 161 run win.
In the final game of the season against Calmore Sports Dan Bearpark's good from with the bat continued as he struck 63. Will Arnold added 46 as Longparish III closed on 232 for 4. With the threat of rain hanging heavy in the air, some tight bowling by Christian Dawson and Alex Brinton ensured that Calmore fell behind the required run rate. 27overs in and the heavens opened with Calmore 42 runs shy of where they needed to be and Longparish III were confirmed as champions.
Well done to all who have turned out for the side this year and helped with umpiring duties and the scorebook. Longparish III are a fun bunch who play a great game of cricket and are fortunate to count the lovely Leckford ground as their home.
Longparish 1st XI
The away game with Easton & Martyr Worthy was cancelled after the hosts failed to prepare a wicket after a shower of rain on the Thursday.
Basingstoke & NH arrived for the penultimate game of the season and like a DJ Spoony tripping on the stairs while racing late to a disco, records began to tumble. Batting first, William de Cani and Michael Taplin bunted the ball to all parts of the parish as they put on 266 for the first wicket before Taplin departed 2 balls short of well deserved hundred. de Cani batted on to his first double hundred and was unbeaten on 239 at the close as Longparish posted 388 for 4, one of the largest league totals in recent memory. A shell shocked Basingstoke, were dismissed for 177 with Harry Martin taking 4 for 21 and Martin Savage 3 for 34.
In the final match at Liphook & Ripsley, Matt Jackman took 4 for 17 to leave the home side reeling on 71 for 6 before the heavens opened and everyone shuffled off home after a few hours hanging around.
Longparish finished 9th in County Division 2
Longparish 2nd XI
At home to Ramsdell, Chris Clarke deserved more than one wicket for his efforts as he conceded only 13 runs from his 10 overs. Scott Sturt reciprocated with 5 for 44 at the other end as Ramsdell closed on 185 for 7. The Longparish reply spluttered and stuttered but U14 William Samways batting at three remained at the end on 69 as the Longparish innings ended 20 runs short. Away at Basingstoke & NH IV Martin Bearpark struck 59, Dan Bearpark 34, George Kousseff 59 and Harry Samways 26 as Longparish posted 241 for 6 from their 42 overs.
Oliver Coetzee then took 3 for 25 and Nick Dawnay 4 for 61 to complete a 19 run win for Longparish II.
The final game of the season was lost to the weather as Longparish II finished 11th in Regional Division 1 (North)
There now follows an announcement on behalf of the East Devon Tourist Board
Now that you are amongst us, we welcome you back to Devon, enjoy our golf courses, enjoy our chips, enjoy your cricket, but please keep your clothes on at all times - 24/7
Presentation Day
Will take place on Friday 11th September and this year will kindly be hosted by The Cricketers Inn. Sparkling chat commences at 7pm with food to follow. It's a hog roast - pork in a bun with a selection of condiments, none of your five a day and not gluten free. £5 for all you can eat and as much as you can get in your pockets for the journey home - It's a big pig and it should be a festival of pork, plus speeches and a wide range of ales, wines, spirits and pop from The Cricketer' s bar. Everybody is welcome to attend for what is sometimes a good night.
Parish Messages
Could anybody who won a trophy last year and has yet to return the pot please do so as quickly as possible. It was always ever going to be for one year, bitterness about not winning it this year doesn't do anybody any favours, best just give it back and move on, look forward to new horizons not back over your shoulder, nothing is forever and who knows what next season will bring. Just give us the chuffin cups back!
Giant leaps have been taken and the voting for "Players' Player of the Year" will this year be conducted via the magic of the interweb. Could anyone who has played for the Longparish senior sides this year please email their nomination for "Players' Player of the Year" to Martin Bearpark as soon as possible. There will be no voting on the night, and could I take this opportunity to highlight some of the blatant lobbying that has taken place this season for this award. George Kousseff, who has sought to curry favour with all 3 senior sides by turning out for them at some point during the season a prime example.
The Ground
Will be put to bed on Sunday 20th September at 10.00am, all help welcome on the day. The man with the noisy machine with bits that whirr and bang at the back will then arrive to attend to the square. Thank you to all the volunteers who have helped out around the ground this season, it has never looked so good and the wraith of Kenny must surely be pleased.
Hundred Club
£35 Neil Bonathan
£15 William de Cani
£15 Rachel de Cani
No further questions your honour