May 2017
All day I've been inside, and I've got the feeling
I'm trapped beneath the walls and underneath the ceiling
I feel a bit off track and now I'm trying to get back
Back in the cool cool air,Where the sun is shining
Nothings gonna stop me, it's all in the timing,
It's finally again my turn, It's time to return
Cause I won't stay inside No more, no more,
And there speaks a cricketer on the back end of an interminable indoor season.
And hey kids. you never mentioned Jason Mraz was a cricketer (google him Heads, he's very much the Joni Mitchell of today)
Let's go outside, in the sunshine you know yo....(easy Georgey boy -ed)
What we are trying to say is, and by the way if you're a new member to LCC welcome aboard, Fake News has been a staple in this parish for Eions or possibly aeons, one means a long time the other is the captain of the England One day cricket side, we don't know, take your pick.
Anyway, where were we, Oh yes, here we all are on the cusp of another outdoor season at Longparish Cricket Club.
Longparish 1st XI
After an absence of twenty years Longparish returned to the top flight of the Hampshire Leagues with an away day at New Milton II, who won the toss and asked Longparish to have a bat. William de Cani 59 and Ben Gardner, 28 put on 91 for the 2nd wicket but a bit of a wobble saw Longparish slump to 120 for 6. A seventh wicket partnership of 80 between Jack Levy, 75 and James Bevan, 26 restored order as Longparish closed on 259 for 9. Scott Sturt, Sam Trinder and James Bevan picked up a brace of wickets each and Jack Levy capped a fine all round performance with 3 for 20 as New Milton II were dismissed 149 runs short with 15 overs remaining. Longparish currently sit top of the Hampshire Leagues on alphabetical order.
Longparish 2nd XI
Longparish II suffered an agonising defeat at home to Sparsholt II. Dan Bearpark struck 57 and Jamie Blackmore 36 as Longparish II were all out with 4 balls to spare for 163. Chris Clarke took 1 for 16 from 10 overs as Sparsholt II struggled to score and Harry Samways, Alex Brinton, Barry Blackmore and Callum Giles all picked up wickets but with 2 balls remaining, Sparsholt stalwart Mark Stone batting number 11 struck the winning runs in a tremendously exciting game.
Longparish 3rd XI
Longparish III struggled to get to grips with a Laverstock & Ford attack brim full of local nous. Martin Bearpark top scored with 27 but Simon Hartley took 5 for not very many as Longparish III closed on 58.
Tally O'Farrell picked up a couple of quick wickets for Longparish III, but could not prevent promotion favourites, Laverstock easing to an eight wicket win.
Midweek 20/20
Only one game so far, the opening salvo of the Tichborne Trophy cup competition and a convincing 108 run win over Millers in which Michael Taplin hit 51, Paul Blackmore 50 and William Samways 45.
Longparish U11
No game yet, but training hard. Details of fixtures on website
Longparish U13
For their first game of the summer, Longparish U13 travelled to Sparsholt and batted first. Oliver Oram struck a rapid 12, Jude Cooper Smith reached 31 and retirement and Zac Allen and Myles Cole were unbeaten in 18 and 19 respectively as Longparish U13 closed on 154 for 2. Cameron Wigmore, William McDermott, Harry Randall and Alfie Smith all bowled well, Kieron Tasker took 1 wicket and Harvey Randall bagged a brace to clinch a 44 run win for Longparish U13.
Longparish U15
No game so far but training hard, as are the U13s by the way. A bust schedule of matches is imminent, details, as ever on the website.
Sunday Friendly Fixtures
Have been friendly and, as the title suggests, taken place on Sundays.
The game against Amport included an impressive 50 for Tom Trinder and 3 wickets for 9 runs for Brendon Tasker.
The home game against the combined forces of both Compton and Chandlers Ford featured 51 for Ben Gardner, 41 for James Bevan and wickets for Alex Bundy.
Against Hook and Newnham, There were 50's for Williams Samways and de Cani and 5 for 21 for Alex Brinton.
Donnington visibly shrank before the flashing blade of LCC's Zorro - George Kousseff and his quick fire 50. Jamie Blackmore's 3 for 16 proved the perfect foil to the earlier efforts from the man in the mask.
At St Marybourne, Rory Kerr hit 38, William Samways 45 and Jack Proctor claimed 2 for 40.
The Ground
Is Hotter than July, and even Stevie Wonder, a notable tweaker, would attest that the outfield is super quick and the tracks are taking spin. The place is parched and can we all agree to do tasks such as draining of vegetables, emptying of baths and all urination at the ground as it can only help. Your Outfield needs you! feel free to expectorate.
In other news we've a thatched roof to pay for. It's been the elephant in the room for a while, but now the elephant is out and about and living it large on a diet of doughnuts.
It is a requirement of the club's long lease with Middleton Estate that in return for our annual rent of £5 we stump up for the roof.
If anybody has a thatched roof they are not using, or is able to learn how to thatch in the next few years or knows a Thatcher who is willing to bring back a few reeds at the end of each day then don't be a stranger as the thing will need attending to sometime in the next decade and could cost around £40,000.
A lot of money when funds are already required to redo net surfaces, keep machinery running and maintain training equipment in a current and safe state.
There, elephant out, club finances aren't great, we need a roof, whose going to run the Ponzi scheme? .
Match Ball Sponsors
Thank you very much to everyone who stumped up for Match Balls at £15 a pop. It is very much appreciated and we now have only a few games without a ball.
Hundred Club Draw - May
Thank you to everyone who wrote in with their font of first choice to herald the winners of this month's hundred club draw.
A Mr Leonard Sachs from the Fading Lights rest home for hams and hoofers, Eastbourne, writes:
My Lords, Ladies and Gentleman. Here for your delectation, titivation and enervation is a font of such substance that we are all transported back through the ages to a time of musical theatre when all we aspired to be was a buzz, buzz, buzz ,buzz, busy busy Bee.
I miss Arthur,
The smooth lines of Monotype Corsiva always serve as a reminder of his signature black round glasses,
Turned out nice again.... or was that Georgey?
Thanks Leonard, Arthur or George it's still a great font.
£35 Anne Herbert £15 Sarah Nicholson £15 Alex Wills
If anyone out there (hoofer or ham) has a font that they are fond of with an accompanying tale that they would like to see used to display the Hundred Club winners, please send a postcard to: Fonts I am fond of, Stable Cottage, Bransbury, Winchester SO21 2QJ.