Entries by The Umpire

Annual Dinner
The Rose and Crown
Old Romney
Saturday 17th April
7.15 for 8.00pm
£16.50 a head

Places limited strictly to 35 so please book your place with me early!

The menu:
Prawn Cocktail
A generous helping of prawns dressed in a marie rose sauce and served with a fresh salad garnish and brown bread & butter

Thick Vegetable Soup
A bowl of freshly homemade Vegetable soup served with a crusty baguette & butter

Breaded Garlic Mushrooms
A generous helping of garlic breaded mushrooms served with a fresh salad garnish and homemade garlic mayonnaise

-followed by-
Local Spare Ribs
Pork ribs braised with herbs, finished with our own special barbecue sauce served with homemade coleslaw, chips and salad garnish

Fillet of Salmon
Boneless fillet of Salmon, poached and served with Saffron and dill sauce, served with a fresh salad and new potatoes

Sussex Chicken, Bacon and Cider Pie
Double short crust pastry filled with breast of chicken & chunks of bacon, served with vegetables & new potatoes

Macaroni Cheese
Homemade macaroni cheese, served with salad garnish and a crusty baguette and butter OR Chips

-followed by-
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Lemon Meringue Pie
Gypsy Tart
(All served with a choice of Ice cream, cream or custard)
Cheese & Biscuits (£1.50 supplement)

Tea & Coffee available

Please let Ed know the following as soon as possible:
How many places you would like
Names of people attending
Menu choices for each person

Please let Ed know by email or phone

I have provisionally booked nets at the Marsh Academy again this year. Subject to confirmation, they will run between 4pm and 5.30pm on the following eight Sunday afternoons: 21st & 28th Feb; 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th March; 11th and 18th April. As with previous years, I have not booked 4th April (Easter Sunday). I will confirm the dates with Marsh Academy after the AGM on Friday.

First of all, I'd like to apologise to my friends and colleagues about my lack of communication over the winter. As many of you know, I was dealt some challenging health news last summer, but in November I was given the most wonderful opportunity to take an extended stay in an alternative health clinic in Germany. I won't dwell on the details. Suffice to stay that there were a dozen or more weird daily treatments, including large quantities of organic coffee, although sadly it was for pumping up my back passage, rather than for drinking!

Anyway, I returned just before Christmas, and I am delighted to say that I am feeling better than I have for a decade. Fitter, younger, and a stone lighter. And the future prognosis is good. I'll be around for a season or two yet! But I want to thank all of you who have been in touch, especially to those who tried to make contact but didn't get a response.

I am very excited about the season ahead, although I want to pay a personal tribute to three rocks of the club who have decided that 2009 was their last league season for Bilsington. First of all, every one of us owes a debt of gratitude to Robin Smith. He has been a marvellous ambassador for the club, as player, as a former captain of the league side, as a friend. I've never learned to play Robin's inswinger, and I'll never understand where the power to hit a cricket ball so hard comes from. Since I have been captain, Robin has always made a point of offering helpful and welcome advice - I really will miss him in the side. Sunday's loss is Saturday's gain, because Robin will continue to play friendlies for a good while longer yet!

The end of the 2009 season also saw Paul Frith hanging up his gloves. Frithy has been a superb wicket keeper for Bilsington, and a wonderful opening bat. And no one should forget his nagging, irritating medium pace. A genuine all rounder! I'll always remember the first league game that we played against Exiles a few seasons back, when Frithy and I bowled a dozen or more frugal overs between us to shut the game down. And then the ribbing he gave me when I didn't ask him to bowl again for most of the rest of the season! Frithy has always made me smile - not least when he used to leave me a voicemail to let me know when he had switched his mobile phone on, in case I needed to get in touch. It's a huge shame that Frithy is retiring, and I still hope to change his mind once again!

Last, but not least, I received a letter this week from Steve Hills, confirming that he just doesn't get excited about playing cricket any more. Last season was a tough one, and the league's stance on what happened at the start of the season really knocked him for six, if you'll excuse the pun. Steve was the best out and out batsman that Bilsington has had in my time at the club, and he batted with real class and maturity. He batted how we were taught to bat as kids. Play yourself in. Get a feel for the ball. And then just when you thought he was starting to look settled, he'd pull a decent delivery over midwicket for four, or even sometime six. He was a very supportive vice captain to me, and both he and Nicci were real club people - whether they were fundraising, barbecuing, playing or supporting! Steve, I hope the fire returns, and I wish you well in the meantime. (Ed Peppitt reporting)

As a result of complaints from Wye, and disciplinary procedures from KVCL for Ed, Steve and Graham, we would like to replace the match report for this game with the following:
Wye called the game off as a result of a 'saturated pitch' and as a result each team was awarded two points.

As you all know, the first league outing against Wye is fast approaching. And as you also know, I have a very tough challenge ahead selecting the team for this initial game. As I see it, there are fifteen players who in previous years would expect to be automatic selection choices for Bilsington’s League side. Fifteen, from whom we have to pick a winning eleven. They are, in alphabetical order:

Continue reading "Selecting the League Side"

Whichever way you look at it, we were comprehensively beaten by the better team on the day. Ed lost the toss, and Sheldwich decided to bat. We were overjoyed to get James Creed out, as well as the other opener Phil Stanford who caused us such grief last season. But it didn't seem to matter as their batting was solid and deep. David Prior got 68 in a third wicket stand that lasted until their score had reached 100. Dan Ray got 37 and Holmes 25, and it looked as though Sheldwich would pass 200 comfortably. Once Graham had broken through, a late spurt of great bowling from Ian and Paul meant that we took the last wicket with the score on 183. A bowling point in hand, and it could have been much worse.

Our batting, by contrast, was simply awful. True, the pitch had dried up and had become unpredictable, but this was no excuse. Until Ben came in at 8, only Colin had reached double figures. For the second week running, Ben showed the rest of us how to bat on this wicket. He batted out the innings, supported for a couple of overs by Tom, for another couple by Ed and for about half a dozen with Ian. When Ian was out LBW for 12, Ben was sitting pretty on 23 not out. Lovely elegant batting from a player who grows in stature each time he plays. All out for 85, but with the future looking rosy! We still have a long way to go with our game when chasing runs, something for every one of us to ponder. Scorecard here. (Ed reporting)

Bilsington won the toss and elected to bat and made a steady start on a somewhat unpredictable pitch. Milo was soon triggered LBW by Dave Nice, and Ben Ashton, making his first Saturday appearance, was run out as Trev Nicholas had made up his mind to run whatever the outcome. Jon Jaros and Trev then steadied the innings put on 62 for the next wicket. The most memorable part of this partnership came when Trev, again head down, ran to the same end as Jon who shouted words at Trev that the rest of us could not believe had come out of his mouth. I thought it was a Sunday game for a minute! Unbelievably Jon escaped to the other end as the fielders fumbled. Jon eventually made 24 and Trev continued in his correct manner and enjoyed another 60 partnership with Dan who bludgeoned his way to a quick 34 with seven fours. Dave Nice and Trev took the score to 211-5 at the end of 40 overs and Trev hit a career best 95 which was full of good shots.

Hythe Green then lost a wicket in the first over as Ben took a great catch in the gully. Alan and Dan gave little away in their opening spell and Hythe Green were never in the hunt for the runs. Wickets continued to tumble with Ben supporting the openers well, bowling his new style of seamers and took 3-28. Greg ran out the other opener with a direct hit of the stumps and again was responsible for ending a stubborn last wicket partnership of 50, with another throw to the wicketkeeper. This was a comfortable win against a tired team who had just returned in the morning from a five day tour of Sussex a little worse for wear.

Ed lost the toss for the second league in a row, and Stowting decided to bat first. Ian bowled a fine opening spell, finishing with 3 for 25 from his 9 overs. After nearly 20 overs, Stowting were struggling at 49 for 4. Paul was very unlucky at the other end, getting edges from the batsmen, some of which didn't carry, and others which carried but were spilled. Milo bowled a lean 3 over spell for 10 runs, but today wasn't Graham's day with the ball. Robin saw out the overs with a typically robust 3 for 38. Despite this, Stowting recovered well, and this was not our best day with the ball. The visitors ended on 151 from their 40 overs, a good performance after the start they made.

In reply, we needed to show that we are capable of chasing both small and challenging targets. Six of us made solid starts, only to get out having scored 20 or so. For a while it looked as though we might run out of batsmen, rather than overs in our run chase. A daft bowling change, bringing on a slow, harmless bowler, enabled Ed to hit one over for 17. But then he, too, gave his wicket away, leaving Milo and Ben with the challenging job of staying in, whilst accumulating the last twenty runs. It was tense stuff. But never underestimate a member of the Ashton family. Ben suddenly took it upon himself to clinch the game for us, hitting several classic boundaries. When the scores were level, Stowting crowded Ben to save the single. Ben's response? A lofted drive over mid off for an easy run. What a game, and what a performance from Ben! Well done. Scorecard here. (Ed reporting)

Having been put into bat Great chart made steady progress against the luckless Trev and Danny. Neil Picton was again the scourge of Bilsington and he hit 80 out of a total of 174-5 dec. The Bilsington highlight was a stunning catch by Trev to dismiss Graham Prior on the boundary. This was also a good performance by Bilsington in the field as the throwing and ground fielding saw a higher standard reached than in previous weeks. There were good performances by Luke Bingham, Dave Beeching, Adam Martin and Andy Robinson in the field.

In reply Bilsington slumped to 45-5 before Danny Samson (50) and Dave Nice (26) gained respectability to the innings with a stand of 66. Danny played a typical hard hitting innings including 7 x 4’s and 2 x 6’s while Dave played an uncharacteristic steady innings. After this partnership was broken the innings finished quickly on 124 all out and therefore a loss by 50 runs. (Milo reporting)

Having lost the, toss we were put in to bat and lost a wicket in the first over on what was a very ‘lively’ wicket against the new ball. Gerard and Milo then gradually wore down the attack and put on 94 before Gerard ‘played on’ for a steady 35. This brought Gregg to the wicket who scored 26 and batted like he has never done before. Amidst the normal array of ‘cow corner’ slogs were two defensive prods and the shot of the day when he turned the ball just behind square leg. Milo was then out for 42, and then Craggy 17 not out, Danny, Andy and Luke made useful contributions and we reached tea on 173 for 6.≤br≥
East Malling suffered a similar setback to us in the opening over when Ian took a sharp return chance to send back their captain. Steady bowling by Ian and Alan pegged the home team back to 50 for 3 with Andy taking a fine catch to dismiss the dangerous looking Davies for 29. There then followed a partnership of 55 and East Malling were looking as though they may reach an unlikely target, but then Danny struck when he clean bowled McGrath for a swashbuckling 42. Milo then got among the middle order with some cunning slow bowling. He had one batsman caught by the reliable Dave Beeching at deepish mid on and then lured the last real batsman down the wicket for Craggy to snap the bails off for another stumping. However we couldn’t get the last experienced pair out and the home team finished on 122 for 9, with Milo taking 5 for 35.

This was one of our better performances and the fielding was of a higher standard than late with Graham in particular putting in a good performance. Well done lads! (Milo reporting)

On arriving at the Hawkinge ground, a new ground for most of our team, we were very impressed by the ground and particularly the wicket which as many of our guys said "it looks like a road". The general opinion was win the toss and bat first. Ed managed to lose the toss and to our surprise the Hawkinge skipper put us into bat. On a fantastic wicket and a lightning fast outfield we knew we had to post a big score to have any chance of winning. Colin Bingham and Paul Frith opened and gave us a solid start before Colin was suckered into a loose shot from a part time bowler. This brought Paul and Steve Hills together and they set about the bowling with purpose and skill building a superb partnership and both passed there 50's to rousing applause. Paul Frith scoring 55 and Steve Hills 68. They both played with intelligence and skill and began to accellerate at just the right time. After 20 overs we were at 90 and after 30 were were at 150. With only losing 2 wickets Ed looked to push for a big total sending in Paul Webb and Graham Bingham who both enjoyed the good pitch and scored freely, with 5 overs to go Robin knocked off a quick fire 35 which carried the Bilsington total to 249, 100 runs coming off the last 10 overs. This was probably the best batting performance from us in many years with all batsmen contributing and the run rate increasing all through the innings. We settled down to a lovely tea and prepared for what we knew would be a tough task to bowl them out on such a good pitch.

Facing such a large total Hawkinge sent in their hitters and they set off at an very quick rate slogging over 30 off the first 4 overs. But we were not phased and we knew if we set the field right and kept bowling straight the wickets would come and they did. Paul Webb and Graham Bingham opened the bowling and despite being slogged to many parts of the ground they did the important job of clearing away the Hawkinge top order, Paul picking up 3 wickets and Graham 2. We knew the main threat would be the Hawkinge skipper who was building a good innings when Ed introduced Paul Frith who managed to bowl the Hawinge skipper with a good ball, we felt that this was the big wicket and now our tails were up. The rest of the wickets were shared between Robin with 2 and Ed with 2. We walked off the field with an emphatic victory of over 100 runs.

All in all this was the most impressive Bilsington performance in many years and a performance built on strong team spirit and good technique. We have all said that we have a team that when it clicks we can bat and bowl any team out of a game, today was that day and all round we were excellent and as a member of Bilsington for over 15 years it was a priviledge to be part of it. Full scorecard here. (Robin Smith reporting)

Amazingly Milo won the toss for the second time this season and put Saltwood in on a dry and windy day. Alan Morris was the pick of the bowlers as he took four of the top five Saltwood batsmen for 34 runs off 10 overs. He was well supported in the field by the old guard, of Gerard and Jon, who both took two catches. Trevelyan and Luke also bowled particularly well, as did debutant Andy Robinson who played his first game for three years and took 2-12.

Milo and Jon Jaros got the innings off to a steady start and when Milo went for 15, the experience of Jon and Colin Martin saw the home side through to a comfortable win by 8 wickets. Jon was undefeated with 35 and Colin 23.

On a pitch that just a week earlier Aldington had described as dangerous, rubbish and impossible to play on, Bethersden struggled to just 228 from their 40 overs. Two great performances from Ripley (80) and Crawford (68). The pick of the bowlers was Graham Bingham, with a fabulous 5 for 45, supported by Danny (2 for 29) and Colin (2 for 29).
In reply, we put up a great fight. Runs were plentiful, with decent scores from Colin (41), Paul Webb (25), Steve (37), Danny (35) and Robin (21). We got respectably close, finishing on 200 for 7 in our 40 overs. A great game, played in the best of spirits. Click here for scorecard. (Ed Peppitt reporting).

Exiles, who had two Bilsington players making up their numbers, won the toss and put Bilsington in. Milo and Jon Jaros put on 56 for the opening wicket before Jon was bowled for 18. Matt O’D came in and soon retired hurt after using his head to stop the ball rather than his bat. However some soft dismissals saw him return and he scored a useful 21 before he was out. Milo reached 77 before he was out near the end going for the runs.

Wickets fell steadily for Exiles and it was only their ‘borrowed’ player, Trevelyan Nicholas, who made a splendid 53 who kept their innings together. They were finally all out for 133 leaving Bilsington the victors by 36 runs.