July 2016

 Heavens to Murgatroyd, what times we live in, the stuff of Kafka,

Old Albion, stands alone, leaderless and rudderless with  Eric Carmen warbling "All by myself"  as indeed he did back in 1975, and who knew so many people had a hankering for the state of play back in the day..

This week Longparish Cricket Club were drawn into the whole sorry mess with a Committee meeting postponed and no clear plan in place for Longparish CC during  the coming month. Yes we have the fixture list and OK things will carry on as normal with regard to cutting grass, but the  nuts, bolts, cogs and wheels that keep the LCC pantechnicon on the road will this month remain unoiled,

Now I may be reading this wrong, but if due process is disregarded we are now a club in turmoil careering through the current month with no idea as to how it will all end. To quote another old favourite from 1975   "We're doomed"

As a result this chunk of  guff is currently brought to you from a cave where your correspondent has retreated to don loin cloth and cultivate a beard to live the life of a hermit, emerging periodically to shake a fist at the outside world.

First Brexit, then  Tony Blair & his  WMD (and Adrian Mole was all over that one - a true seer of the age) and now a postponed LCC Committee meeting, What is going on?

But at least we have the cricket

Only we don't, because many games have been cancelled.

There now follows a brief report (take note Chilcot) on movements (not bowel)  at LCC during the past few weeks.

Longparish I

On a damp track away at Easton, Longparish batted first and were dismissed for 139 with Paul Blackmore, 56 and Sam Trinder, 32 the principle contributors. Ben Gardner took 3 for 35 and Scott Sturt 4 for 25 including a brilliant catch of his  own bowling to secure a tight ten run win.

The game with Porchester was lost to the weather and at Hythe  & Dibden the heavens opened and the tie was abandoned two overs in with Longparish clearly on top.

Bramshaw batted first on a Longparish track where 250 looked a par score. Matt Jackman took 5 for 33 as the visitors were dismissed for 191. Longparish lost a couple of early wickets but a 4th wicket partnership of 13 between William de Cani, 82 and Ben Gardner 57 saw Longparish to a 4 wicket win with 14 overs remaining.

Longparish currently occupy top spot in the Division

Longparish II

The ties with OT's & Romsey IV, Winterslow and Andover III all fell to the weather.

Away at Camberley based Crown Taverners Longparish II were reduced to 86 for 9  but a last wicket partnership of 47 between Chris Clarke and Ollie Coetzee saw Longparish II close on 133  a target that  Crown Taverners passed for the loss of 5 wickets with a few overs remaining.

Longparish II currently lie 8th in the division

Longparish III

In an exciting home tie with IBM Hursley II, Longparish III were dismissed for 116 with Martin Bearpark hitting 44 and Jordan Blackmore 23. Christian Dawson and James Young picked up 2 wickets each and Jordan Blackmore took 3 for 8 but could not prevent IBM Hursley II securing a 1 wicket win.

The Longparish III bowling attack put in a superb performance away at Herriard II where James Young and Christian Dawson picked up a brace each and  three for Nick Dawnay and Nathan Smith to dismiss the hosts for 78, a target that Longparish III passed in the 18th over for the loss of 3 wickets.

The game against Basingstoke & NH V fell to the weather but at home to Oakmount Longparish III closed on 137 with Martin Bearpark nurdling 45 and James Young hoiking 16. Jordan Blackmore's fine form with the ball continued as he claimed 4 for 35 as Oakmount stole a narrow 3 wicket win with 9 balls remaining.

Longparish III currently sit 3rd in the division

Details of all Senior side fixtures and results can be found at www.longparishcc.co.uk and www.hantscl.com.

Longparish Midweek 20/20

Well, it's rained a lot, with two games to go top division status is maintained with a mid table finish likely, while in the Tichborne trophy a much postponed quarter final with Bishops Waltham was eventually completed with a convincing win for Longparish in which Alex Coetzee struck 45 and Callum Giles picked up wickets to set up a tough semi final with Fair Oak, which has only been postponed once so far due to weather.

Longparish U15

Remain unbeaten and vie with Longparish U11 as the form side of 2016. Liam Whitehorn and Tally O'Farrell took 2 wickets each and Oliver Buck and Callum Giles one each in the 7 wicket win over Sparsholt U15 in which William Samways top scored with 32.

In the cup quarter final against Easton & Martyr Worthy, Jordan Blackmore, Tally O'Farrell, Callum Giles and Liam Whitehorn picked up wickets and Luke Benzing, William Samways and Jordan Blackmore struck runs to secure an 8 wicket win to set up a tough semi final against St Cross U15.

Longparish U13

Are also mining a rich seam of form that began with an impressive win away at Andover U13. Ben Arnold, Daniel Parkin, Louis Pereira, Oliver Oram, Harvey Randall and William McDermott all scored runs and Harry Cardno top scored with 34. Jude Cooper-Smith took 2  for 11 as Longparish secured a 14 run win.

Away at Amport, Kieron McHenry, Oliver Oram, Louis Pereira, Harry Cardno, Harvey Randall and Luke Robins picked up wickets  and Daniel Parkin scored 11, Oliver Oram 15 and Harry Cardno an unbeaten 30 to seal a 6 wicket win.  

Longparish U11

Have lost more games to the weather than any other (11 cancellations, and it's a short season for colts)  but still managed to make it through to the final of the cup competition, but first the league.

Zac Allen struck 16 and Alfie Smith 25 and Harry Randall took 2 wickets in a 24 run win away at Twyford U11

At home to Bishops Waltham U11 Kieron Tasker, Zac Allen and Conal Proctor picked up wickets and Alfie Smith hit 25 and Finn Jannaway 14 to secure a 7 wicket win.

And so to the cup and a semi final with Twyford U11, who batted first and were all out for 80 with Harry Randall and Alfie Smith taking a wicket each and Finn Jannaway, Joe Fish and Zac Allen a brace apiece. Zac Allen top scored with 22 as Longparish U11 perfectly paced their reply to ease past the target with a ball to spare.

Longparish U11 face Ropley U11 in the Cup final on Sunday 17th July at Broughton CC.

The Ground

Has declared independence, borders are in place and we currently aspire to the status of San Morino, Lichtenstein or possibly Christiania. Loxit is upon us, prepare for a brave new world, where the grass will continue to grow, blades will continue to turn and cricket will once again take place, albeit under our own rules. Match fees are now free from tax and as newly appointed LCC ambassador for Bransbury,  I declare free Ferrero Rocher for all.......enjoy.

It's been raining a lot, pitches have been prepared, grass has been  cut and few games played. Frustrating times, hence the unexpected addled tone to this report.

Hundred Club Draw - July

Numbers have once again been created from the edge of the galaxy via the medium of binary code

Or possibly an app on a smart phone,

To keep the club on an upward curve, maintain progress and a position at the forefront of things,  the choice of font for this month's winners is GungsuChe,

Any man of the cloth will attest that fonts can be fun.  If anyone has a request for the font used to display the hundred club winners, please send a postcard to:  Fonts can be Fun, PO Box 34, Stable Cottage, Bransbury, Barton Stacey, Winchester, SO21 3QJ

£35    Rachel de Cani 

£15    Martin Savage

£15    Malcolm Spence Herbert