It felt like the cricket equivalent of Christmas Day on Saturday, finally our first Senior fixtures of the 2021 season. The weekend kicked off quietly (due to the no spectators at private club grounds (i.e. ours and other Club's main grounds) sitch) - we miss you rabble terribly btw, especially you, but unfortunately unless you're a singular colts parent at a match or training we'll have to wait a bit longer to see you in the flesh, which meant socially-distanced at Chertsey Rec was the new place to be on a Saturday afternoon to get your cricket fix in - oh its the 3s - fancy seeing you here, that kind of thing.
Opening the Batting
Friday night sees the glamourous, extravagant spectacular that is the long-awaited CPL Auction. The four Captains of the Bourne Stars, Grove Armada, Meads Enforcers, and Gogmore Knights franchises will battle it out to secure the services of those in the Main and Public drafts on Zoom from 8pm, so join us for the drama, the tense auction faces, and millions of pounds of virtual money being thrown around with wild abandon.
Think along the lines of the Hundred auction (just not sponsored by unhealthy snack companies or involving Shane Warne (he wasn't available btw)) - talking of which, the competition is still in need of a sponsor, so if you fancy putting your brand on the competition get in quick and make us an offer we can't refuse by emailing the ladies at chertseycchire@outlook.com whilst checking out the deal here.
The CPL Auction webinar link you'll need is here (make sure you're in from 8pm, by 8.15pm latest please) or head over to www.zoom.com, click Join Meeting and enter meeting ID 94000546938 (no password required).
We hear the sponsorship packages are selling like hot cakes - many thanks to those who've got in touch so far, we can't wait to see boards start popping up around the place. To ensure you don't miss the boat head over to the website where we've got packages from £20 upwards.
Notable Mentions
With two weeks before the league season starts it was a time for some to get back into the swing of things and for the Captains to shape the teams for the season to come. On this front at Senior level we had a quintet of debutants getting a run out, Simon Bell for the 1s and Colts Alex Fenner-Melham for the 3s on Saturday and on Sunday Ciara Cassin for the Ladies and James Pearson and Henry Edwards for the Sunday XI.
It turned into a Super Sunday with all four teams in action coming away with a win. That's what we like to see. One of those teams were the Ladies, notching up their first season win against Ashford in their friendly by 10 runs, lovely to see a healthy amount of Bluebirds in the side. Big up to the team and in particular Mae Pender-Grieb who excelled with both bat and ball. The shape of things to come hopefully.
Seniors
Saturday 23rd April
1st XI 175-5 V Woking & Horsell 174-7
(Simon Bell 41, Jamie Anthony 2-12, Jacob Loveridge 2-32)
2nd XI 255-8 V Woking & Horsell 239-9
(Troy Bolger 87*, Sam Toone 60, Sam Stratton 3-49)
3rd XI 69 A/O V Walton On Thames 275-6
(Kevin O’Flynn 31, Joe Clarke 2-22)
Sunday 24th April
Sunday XI 178-2 V Vishwa 174 a/o
(Jake Taylor 103 Ret, Henry Edwards 2-7)
Ladies
Sunday 25th April
Chertsey Ladies 131-8 V Ashford 122-3
(Mae Pender-Grieb 26*, 2-22)
Colts
Friday 23rd April
U14s 79 a/o V Windsor 148-4
(Ed Marsh 23, Josh Fyfe 2-11)
Sunday 25th April
U9s V Englefield Green – Abandoned
U13s 126-5 V Normandy 114-6
(Josh Hawksley 38 Ret, Luke Russell 30 Ret, Edith Schofield 2-10)
U14s 144-2 V Woking & Horsell 104 A/O
(Thijs Wjingaarden 30 Ret, Ed Marsh 30 Ret, James Pearson 30 Ret, Ed Marsh 3-14)
Tuesday 27th April
U13s dev 71-8 v Horsley & Send 114-8
(Ryan Foley 15, Adam Osborn 2-11, Freya Edwards 2-13)
Wednesday 28th April
U10s dev v Ashstead - Abandoned
Ret - retired
Colts Corner
We had a big announcement Saturday morning you might have missed, and its very much worth shouting about from the rooftops again. We are very proud to announce our own Ed Marsh and Arthur Walmsley (them of the U14s) will be making the leap up to county level as well as turning out for CCC - Ed joining the Middlesex Cricket Talent ID Pathway squad and Arthur joining the U14s Surrey set up. We wish them both the very best of luck and we'll be following both their new paths with interest. Just remember us when you're famous…
We started the season off with the global juggernaut that is the U14s/U15s hybrid (we'll be calling them the U14s) kicking off their campaign in the picturesque backdrop of Windsor Castle no less. Most Colts teams have had a run out over the past week with the U9s having to wait to play their first ever CCC game due to a cancellation. Everything crossed for tomorrow night away to Leatherhead, our advice: have bags of fun!
Fixture Card
This weekend we have a Old Rutlishians-fest, with all four senior teams in action against said team from Merton Park. We like these kind of weeks - at least we won't forget who's playing who. On Sunday we take on Nomads, the team 2019 overseas Kobe hit 154 against two seasons ago. No pressure.
Friday 30th April
U9 dev v Leatherhead (A)
Saturday 1st May
1st XI v Old Rutlishians (H)
2nd XI v Old Rutlishians (A)
3rd XI v Old Rutlishians (HRec)*
4th XI v Old Rutlishians (A)
HRec - Chertsey Rec
Sunday 2nd May
Sunday XI v Nomads (H)
U12s v Weybridge (HRec)
U13s v Whiteley Village (HAbb)*
U14s v Horsley & Send (A)
*HAbb - Abbey Field
Monday 3rd May
U14s v Claygate (H)
Tuesday 4th May
U9s v Ashstead (A)
Wednesday 5th May
U10s v Woking & Horsell (A)
U11 dev v Kempton (H)
U13s v Chobham (HRec)
Tailender
To end, what do you think the most frequent question we've been asked coming our of lockdown is? WHEN'S THE BAR OPENING?! (in need of a proper pint much?) Well, first we have to get you back in, but spoiler alert, May 17th is the date we've circled on the calendar, pending the lockdown rollout. As with these things there's some bits to iron out first but we will be adopting rule of 6 first & foremost so get your social membership done in readiness at www/chertseycc.org.uk/pages/membership.
We're off to count some virtual coins, see you tomorrow night!
