December 2015

 Sans Froth, there's an austerity on you know.

Winchester & District Indoor Leagues.

Longparish I

Just the one game, a four wicket win over Winchester University who batted first and closed on 80 for 3, a target that Longparish passed with 2 balls to spare with Michael Taplin top scoring with 28.

 Longparish II

Just one game this month, against Fair Oak II, I didn't attend this one but our match correspondent Georg Kousseff can confirm that neither did Fair Oak II, but it was a close game all the same.  

Longparish III

Longparish III scored heavily in the game against IBM Hursley posting 174 for 0 wickets with Dan Bearpark hitting 25, William Samways 28, Callum Giles 18, Justin Jackman 26 and Gary Taplin 16. Harry Samways, Callum Giles, and Dan Bearpark took a wicket each as IBM Hursley were all out for 84.

 Dummer Indoor Cricket Leagues

 Longparish Lightweights

Just the one game, a 97 run win over St Mary's in which Harry Martin hit 25, Michael Taplin 26, Matthew Jackman 37 and William de Cani 55, and Ben Gardner took 3 for 24.

 Longparish Longhops

Callum Giles hit an impressive 40 in the Longhops sole game of the month, an 8 run win over Sherfield Foxes in which Jamie Blackmore also picked up 2 wickets.

Longparish Lappas

Against Crown Jewels the Lappas tasted defeat for the first time this year. Chasing 140 the Lappas reply closed 7 runs short despite 29 runs for Paul Blackmore and 27 for William Samways.

Against KaKaPaPa (I know, I know) Matt Paice proved unplayable as he picked up 4 wickets for 9, runs 2 of which were sharp stumpings by William Samways,who also hit an unbeaten 25 as the Lappas cruised to 4 wicket win.

Longparish U15

In their only tie of the month, Longparish U15 set title favourites Basingstoke U15 a target of 136 for victory, which they passed with a few balls to spare. .

 Harry Martin

Longparish 1st XI opening bowler, and 1st XI bowler of the year, is running a marathon in February to raise money for club funds. Expenditure this winter will include replacing the netting on the nets and new boundary rope, plus the other inevitable surprises that crop up each winter. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored Harry so far. If you feel you would like to sponsor Harry and support Longparish cricket club, please click on the link in the main body of this email. New nets and boundary rope come in at a minimum of £2500, every pledge, be it £1 or £50 will help towards replacing these vital pieces of equipment.

Well done Harry, and thanks for all you efforts.

Christmas Draw

is on Wednesday 9th December and is kindly hosted by The Cricketers Inn, all welcome on the night at 7.30pm.  Prizes include spirits, wine, chocolates, meal vouchers, and much more besides. Tickets cost £1, are on sale at most indoor games, can be bought from most members of the committee, through the club email address or on the night. All money raised go to club funds.

If you are able to support either of these fund raising initiatives, thank you very much. The money will be put to good use replacing worn out bits around the ground.

Hundred Club Draw for December

Has yet to take place. There will be a "live" plucking of balls from the bag at the Christmas Draw when TEN BIG CASH PRIZES will be up for grabs. Thanks to technological advances not seen since Phil Collins appeared in two places at once on "Live Aid" day, the full list of results will be beamed to the LCC website by Sunday at the latest, possibly Monday if Songs of Praise gets a bit peppy.

Thank you to all who support Longparish Cricket Club through Hundred Club membership, and to everyone  who has given so much time, effort and money to Longparish Cricket Club throughout a happy 2015, it is all very much appreciated.

 We seem to have got to this point in unusual haste so with a little time left before the bell goes, some Festive Froth

 Froth

 Shall I play for you pa rum pum pum pum

on my drum?

Mary Nodded pa rum pum pum pum

The Ox and Lamb kept time pa rum pum pum pum

I played my drum for him pa rum pum pum pum

I played my best for him pa rum pum pum pum rum pum pum pum rum pum pum pum

 And there, writ large among the ancient rum pum pum pum text, is the oft forgot expose on the nativity scene brought to us by Bing Crosby and The Dame.

Yes we know the manger, yes the straw, the Mary, and the full gamut of beasts of burden that were present before the Maggi dropped by with gifts of dried noodles, stock cubes and other gifts from the east (wrong magi....ed)

But there hidden between the pa rum pum pum pum's is the clear indication that a drummer was present 2015 years ago when the infant Jesus entered our world, and if school nativity plays are to offer any kind of authenticity, (a given in these days of transparency and truth) each cast must include a small child assuming the guise of James Gadson (see main body of email)  or Cozy Powell and stand alongside oxen and lamb that can carry a tune.

Next week, Subliminal corporate creep at Christmas and how the singing of Silent Night affects a spike in memory foam mattress sales.