Saturday 4th XI 2009
Sat 22 August – Poole Town IV v Cranborne at Cranborne
I have never been to Cranborne before, strangely, and when we arrived it was completely different from the picture in my mind painted by certain Poole Town stalwarts.
Still a sporting pitch on the bottom end of the square meant that batting was never going to be easy with a big slope across the pitch. We elected to have a bat based on players still to arrive and looked to be in a spot of bother at 27-5 off 10. However I was determined that we would try and get through to the end of the overs and I had great support from Brewster Surridge. I scratched and scratched for 21 whilst he played selectively and timed the ball nicely to end, agonisingly, 49 not out.
So we had managed to get ourselves to Nelson (111) and tucked into an excellent tea.
Following this I was fortunate to have the strongest bowling attack available this season and they took full advantage of bounce and slope. The opening partnership of J Randall (5-1-10-0) and M Allen (12-7-19-5) bowled SUPERBLY. In fact Grubs last over went for 9, nearly doubling the run count. I was then able to turn to N Heckford (11.2-3-24-3)and M MacDiarmaid (5-1-10-1) and we were able to come out with a great win having dismissed Cranborne for 75.
A lovely pint or two of Jimmy Riddle to follow and back to The Sloop. Marvellous, simply Marvellous.
“Strewth I’d go one step further than that and say that I think it was the best game I have been involved in anywhere in the world this summer” Richie Benaud
Sat 15 August – Poole Town IV v Parkstone at Canford Arena
Having been rollered for 43 at Branksome Rec. We were determined to put on a decent account. Parkstone elected to have a bat and they were pegged back by excellent spells from Jordan Randall and Mark Allen. No wickets fell until Tom Moysey came on for his first spell. What a spell it was 5-1-14-2. He backed this up at the end of the innings with 2-0-4-2. Jack Galton and Carl Terry bowled decently in support, but it was the warhorse Phil Quinn himself who came on to hoover up the middle order finishing with 10-2-25-4.
In response we lost a VERY early wicket and with the opposition umpire looking for an excuse to time our number 3 out, things did not look good. However Michael Porter made it to the crease and enjoyed a fabulous 2nd wicket stand with Jordan Randall(29) of 81. Tom Moysey came out to join Michael and these two saw us home putting on 63. Michael finished 81 not out and it was great to watch.
We also saw another debut. Gavin’s son Aaron Clarke took to league action and whilst we were unable to get him a bat, thanks to the knocks of Jordy, Tom and Michael I hope he had a good time and would like to have another go next time he is down this way.
MOTM – Michael’s performance with gloves on and with bat were excellent, but the position this week was set up by the bowlers and I will go for Tom Moysey 7-1-18-4 as the pick of the day.
Can we get to the end of the season without further defeat or rain, we will have to hope.
Poole Town IV v Dorchester III at Canford Arena 25 July 2009
A proper cricket match. Keen top of the league opposition arrived at the locked gates about 30 minutes before the home side. Ooops!
Our idea of a pre-match warm up generally involves some final phone calls to get that last player in.
Dorchester called correctly and opted for a bat. I think I would to having seen how many runs they have scored this season. Tom Moysey and Phil Quinn opened up for us with what can only be described as excellent spells. Tom was all over there good opening bats with straight bowling, Quinny was nagging personified. There was no joy for either of them unfortunately and at first drinks they had put on 62. Dan Farnon broke through and when number 3 followed shortly after we felt good again. Quinny bowled his 12 straight through for the best nunfer I have seen. Dorchester showed their batting strength and we were only able to take 2 more wickets. They eventually totalled a very healthy 223. The only thing I wanted to say when the fellas got back to the dressing room was that I was pleased with the effort put in, it did not appear that there were only 10 of us out there and that we were up against a strong side. Ben Baldock’s debut was particularly pleasing in terms of fielding – he is a good reader of a situation and attacks the bowl well.
Batting – hhmmmmmm. We were dismissed for 110, though against a good bowling attack and on a slow low one I didn’t think we threw it away so not too disappointed. Tom Moysey volunteering for 3 and Sam Harrison for 5 shirts made me feel very good and if we had a bit of luck at the top of the order maybe we could have got a bit closer.
We keep plugging away – Bridport away next week, no diet for me to worry about so you had better get to tea quickly before Jabba the Hut strikes. Hopefully a slow journey back punctuated by Pub cricket, stopping at each one to read the sign properly of course.
Cheers for now, everyone who answered a late call you deserve a special thanks, especially Nadeem for donning the pads and gloves. Well done fella.
Andy and Phil
Man of the Match – tricky one for Poole. I top scored, but so what. I think Phil’s spell of bowling was the thing I enjoyed most about the game that and having a cup of tea from a cup with a handle, thanks Pam.
Poole Town IV v Parley III at Parley 18 July 2009
Following a washout on 11th July and the disappointment of losing away at Chapel Gate we assembled at Parley hoping to get back on the right track.
Unfortunately the right track was probably some 4,000 miles away in South Africa and the one we were to play on could be best described as ‘sporting’.
We are asked to bat on the ‘surface’ and struggled from the very first ball. Mike Kay and I didn’t swap ends for about the first 11 overs and the scoring rate was just keeping ahead of the over rate. Parley’s tall opening bowler took the pitch out of the equation on 4 occasions through the innings the last of which gave John Dimbleby a badly broken finger. Still – what am I moaning about eh!! As we didn’t have neutral umpires we were of course unable to ask the skipper to remove him from the attack. The boys battled bravely on to a score of 100 interrupted by a lengthy stop and sportingly we decided to carry on.
They had a reduced target of 79 in 29 overs and having removed the opening pair we encountered a very useful Canford 1st team bat who knocked off an unbeaten 48 – though he was lucky to survive a good shout first ball. Must have a very good second team must Parley.
Man of the Match – Difficult from our perspective as the game never really got going for us, so I am going to pick out Dimbers who still went out to field and make stops and encourage whilst protecting a very nasty injury.
Sorry Jon.
Dorchester at home next week. They are top of the league and obviously as ever I would like to give them as hard a game as possible, so if you are reading this and are thinking that you might have something better to do on Saturday, think again. We need you.
Poole Town IV v Gillingham Town at Gillingham 27 June 2009 
A hot one at Gillingham recreation ground. Violent thunderstorms had rendered the grass wicket unplayable, so it was on to the artificial. We were asked to field and as we have come to expect Ben Richards and Tom Moysey opened up with excellent spells. I even managed to hang on to a slip catch, which we have not come to expect. However tight the bowling was the next chance just would not fall to hand and Gillingham complied 2 substantial partnerships, with one bat achieving a very good, undefeated, 100 and a quick fire 50+ from their number 5. I will pick out Ben Richards comeback spell at the end as terrific bowling under pressure and wickets for Jack Galton (who got the ball through nicely in his first 3 overs, potential there) as well as good lines from debutant Kapil Gilmhani and Phil Quinn. They finished with 229 for 4. I was a little hot under the collar at tea, but will put that down to the sun that was beating down on us and having to listen to Duffy covers coming from the band at the Cider festival in the lower field.
I accompanied Mike Kay (who held a stunning catch at mid-wicket) out to the middle. We threatened to put a stand together, but one that nipped back saw off Mike. We were 28 for 2 when George Kilpatrick played on to another nipper, but Scott Maidment strode to the crease and bar picking out an unfortunate fielder 3 times he composed a fantastic knock of 96 including some very memorable driving. I was able to stay with him, including an all run four and when he was out we had put on 160 for the 3rd wicket. Sam Leaton came out to join me and we saw us over the line with Sam unbeaten on 11 and myself also on 96.
We finish the first half of the season 3 wins 6 defeats. Our aim for the second half is to reverse that with the initial ambition of not having anyone do the double over us. This starts away at Bournemouth next Saturday. I am not available, but will be keeping fingers crossed for whoever dons the whites for us. Best of luck – COMMUNICATE with each other and have a great day out.
Man of the Match – Scott Maidment for his first major score in adult cricket and stepping in to wicket keep for 30 overs. Well done young man!!
Poole Town IV v Cranborne II at Canford Arena 20 June 2009
From one extreme to the other, last weeks show against Parkstone could not have been erased more emphatically than this weeks performance. Some constants were there, Phil Quinn phoning around on Saturday to pick up 3 players, some chances going a begging, but apart from that it was WONDERFUL.
Having been asked to bat Talby started emphatically, whilst I was scratching around he drove nicely and pulled ruthlessly as we blistered to 40odd off 7. Talby went, I followed shortly afterwards which left young Michael Porter at the crease. Some 125 runs later (personally that is) Michael departed the scene. What a sublime innings it was, timing and aggression when appropriate respect and defence when required. I would also like to pick out Pete Singleton’s debut 31 as part of an excellent partnership with Mike and also Ben Richards who increased the tempo with some hard running and harder hitting. We eventually posted 247 for 8.
In response Cranborne were pegged back by excellent bowling from Ben Richards 5-1-11-1 and Mark Allen 9-3-18-1. Both these bowlers would have had more in the Wickets column had messers Talbot and Milner been up to the task. This was followed up by Quinny with an excellent spell again of 8-2-16-3 and Andy Groome who chipped in with 5 for 30. I say chipped in, he bowled very well with good variety and only just missed out on a hat trick. In fact if we had moved the boundary at cow corner back by some sixty yards and posted a fielder there he may well have completed his hat-trick!!!
Michael Porters performance both behind the stumps where his vocal encouragement of the team and bowlers is worthy of note and of course with the mighty bat in his hands earned him the Man of The Match award.
Thankyou all, especially Jack Gaulton, James Hiscock and Pete Singleton who answered late calls and got themselves involved. Good ground fielding and support for the rest of the team was very encouraging.
Best of luck next week Gents.
13 June 2009 - Poole Town IV v Parkstone at Branksome Rec.
Difficulties with this weeks match report based mainly on the fact that we didn’t give them much of a match. Once again we were in the position of putting XI players together very late in the day and introducing ourselves to each other in the changing rooms.
We had a wide range of age and experience and having won the toss on a green one I decided to field. Ben Richards and Carl Terry opened up very well, and we were unlucky not to remove the skipper with some smart fielding and not so smart umpiring. However, from there our ground fielding did not improve – we bowled some 4 balls and never really got going. If I am going to pick out highlights it will be Ben’s spells at the top and bottom of the innings, Rob Holman’s early overs showed a nagging length and line which on another day could have returned many wickets, Nick Way’s twelve overs were full of effort and the fact that we bowled them out gave us some momentum going into tea. So, 212 to win.
43 all out, apart from an over containing a lusty 10 from Andy Haslam, nuff said.
At least it wasn’t the last game of the season so we get another crack next week.
Scorer Paula deserves a special mention this week for putting up with the locals ‘vociferous’ encouragement of their team, any female within earshot and the wheelie king.
Cranborne II at home next week. Let’s get that second win.
Sat 6 June – Poole Town IV v Cerne Valley II @ Cerne Abbas
We are off the mark. Whilst I have enjoyed all the cricket this season, its so much better to write a winning report. Though strangely this could go down as our worst performance in the field of the lot so far. We were guilty 11 times of dropped catches and bowled a number of four balls. However good spells at the top and bottom of the innings from our opening partnership of Ben Richards 9.4-2-32-3 and Tom Moysey 9-1-34-3 gave us a good base. Phil Quinn revelled in his day off from driving delivering 12-3-34-3 and Graham Underwood delivered the other wicket.
We knew batting would be difficult on a wet pitch and so it proved to be. Talby and I put on 30 at the top of the order and we scored at quite a rate, we had to keep that momentum up as getting bogged down is all too easy at Cerne. I would like to pay tribute to Andy Haslam, Tom Moysey and Scott Maidment who provided the backbone of three partnerships which took us over the line, but the Man of The Match performance from my perspective was Dan Farnon’s 33. We had plenty to do and his patience got us to the brink.
Availability next week is looking poor so I will try and get it sorted as early in the week as possible to give us the best chance of competing.
Thanks to Paula for bringing 3 lads direct from a school game and scoring it is much appreciated.
Sat 30 May – Poole Town IV v Bridport II @ Canford Arena
Another great game that we ended up on the wrong side of. Having lost the toss and being asked to bat on a hot one I was somewhat confused, when they took an early wicket I was starting to get the picture that bowling was a strength. However contributions from Selwyn Curtis (59) George Kilpatrick (36), Scott Maidment (30) not to mention good 12 from Nick Thompson and 11 from Tom Moysey got us up to 205 for the loss of 8 wickets.
One lovely scone dominated tea later we went out to try and defend. It is fair to say that we created a lot of chances and spurned a number of them. Our ground fielding was good and the vocal support from a certain Monty Kilpatrick kept us lively in the late afternoon sunshine. The catches we clung onto kept us chipping away at Bridport, but in the end they had a little too much experience for us and were able to deal with some of the poorer balls we bowled. In fact a 7th wicket stand of 90 finally ended our resistance. As far as the bowling was concerned I reserve special mentions for Tom Moysey who bowled with no luck and returned figures of 10 - 2 – 17 – 0. The batsmen paid him the respect of seeing off his second spell therefore reducing the risk of him picking up well deserved wickets. There was also some good stuff in Nick Thompson’s 7 – 0 – 33 – 3 and Monty Kilpatrick’s first over was one to focus on, containing guile and a wicket.
Overall pleased again with the application showed by the young and not so young in the team alike and I share their frustration in falling short once more. We will keep trying and we will enjoy that endeavour as that is the main reason we are doing this.
See you next week for Cerne Valley away.
I have been remiss in not selecting PTCC MOTM in the first few games, so if you will forgive this addendum I will take us back.
Game 1 – against Bournemouth. I will pick out Scott Maidment 4-0-12-1. Our only wicket success and against good opposition this was an outstanding spell.
Game 2 – against Sturminster & Hinton. All round effort from Mike Talbot (47) and 7 – 1 – 23 -0.
Game 3 – against Parley. All round effort in very difficult circumstances from Dan Farnon (30) he came in to replace the skipper 2nd ball and good bowling 10.2 – 0 – 36 – 2.
Game 4 – against Dorchester. Brewster Surridge deserves a mention for a great batting display (39) as does the 43 from Selwyn Curtis however the 12 – 6 – 22 – 4 AND spectacular tumbling catch gives the award to Phil Quinn.
Game 5 – against Bridport. Selwyn Curtis self confessed dreadful knock of 59 stood out for me and Tom Moysey bowling, in the end I will plump for the latter, achieved over two spells and as I said earlier deserved more success than we collectively achieved.
Sat 23 May – Poole Town IV v Dorchester III @ Charlton Down CC
Bank Holiday traffic avoided, toss won, 11 players, a scorer and an umpire – great start. Lovely setting for our fourth game of the season against the early Division leaders. Dorchester bowled tightly and restricted us at the top of the innings to under 2 an over; however Selwyn Curtis (43) and Brewster Surridge (39) broke the shackles and some useful contributions down the order Andy Haslam(20) saw us to a total of 160. Following a great tea we saw an opportunity to win and we went after it. Quinny took out their opening bat first ball and number 3 looked to have survived a good shout for caught behind. Phil’s spell was excellent and also contained a fine diving catch down at fine leg off Dan Farnons bowling. He finished with 12 – 6 – 22 – 4. Dan, Nick Thompson and Ben Curtis (on debut) bowled well, but some big hitting in the middle order kept Dorchester on track. They ran out worthy winners in the 42nd over for the loss of 7 wickets. Once again I was left with mixed feelings, pride in the effort of all the players and frustrated that we couldn’t get over the line. 7 more points and a great day out though, life is not so bad.
Poole Town IV v Parley III 16 May 2009
What an interesting day. A trip to Canford in the morning, forcing our way through the wind to see what condition the wicket was in. As it was the same wicket as the previous two weeks it looked well worn in !!!!!
Game on, blimey – team to get, tea to get. At 2 o’clock there was a distinct lack of us (around 6 actually). We won the toss however and elected to bat. I selected the likeliest looking under 13, Tim Hargreaves, and instructed him in the plan; drop anchor until the cavalry arrive. 1 ball later I was on my way back to the hutch – not my day. Fortunately it was Dan Farnon and Tim’s day. They complied a very respectable opening partnership and with players turning up we batted methodically through the 45 overs. Graham Underwood answered a call in the 23rd over and arrived just in time to stick the pads on and get out into the middle to take us through with Quinny. I would like to pick out Dan’s 30, Sam Harrison’s 24 and Tim’s 22 as very commendable.
After tea we had a chat and felt that we could defend 112 if we worked for each other, made some chances and hung on to them. Dan opened with the wind and Quinny bravely hurled himself into it. Phil bowled straight through 12-3-9-1, top effort really put the squeeze on. Right from the first ball our youthful group threw themselves into the task, Sam, Sam, Jack, Josh, Tim and Dobbo and the senior pro (at 19) Dan kept their concentration and wickets started to fall. In fact at one point we were favourites with them 68 for 7. However hopefully they will learn a good lesson about adult cricket that teams do not fold from that point and Parley were able to get up level with us for the loss of 1 more wicket. I would then like to make mention of Sam Leaton who bowled a maiden to squeeze some extra pressure out of the game. They finally managed to get over the line in the next over.
Parley III were very complementary of the way our young players conducted themselves and I was rightly proud of them. Win or lose they put up a great fight and I am sure we will see them throughout the season.
Thanks for a very pleasurable afternoon fellas. I hope you enjoyed it too.
Sat 2 May – Poole Town IV v Bournemouth II @ Canford Arena
Summer is here, certainly an improvement on last year already weather wise. I won the toss and amidst the hive of activity that was the last game of the football season we hid the tea and went out to bat. Mike Talbot and Chris Roberts started solidly putting on 25 for the first wicket, but over all we couldn’t get going against a strong Bournemouth team. We were bowled out for 100 in the 37th over. Still it was a green one so scoring was difficult and I am delighted to say that the team were not too disheartened. The Bournemouth openers batted very strongly and we just couldn’t create a chance, once they had played themselves in the knocked the runs off. Tom Moysey, Ben Richards, Nick Thompson and Scott Maidment all applied themselves to the bowling task very well and hopefully will have learned from the experience of playing against good adult batsmen.
Just the one point I’m afraid, but well done for sticking to the task
Sat 9 May – Sturminster & Hinton v Poole Town IV @ Hinton St Mary
Wow, what a setting. A fabulous view, a pair of horses feeling that loving feeling just behind the bowlers arm, home-made sponge cakes and another nice Spring day. A great feeling to start and a pitch that Declan Quinn accurately described as one to lose the toss on. I obliged and we were inserted. Mike Talbot opened up with Alex Ayling, they created a decent start putting on 38. We kept plugging away against some decent bowling and contributions of 47 from Talby, 31 from Paul Randall (at great pace) and 54 from myself got us to maximum batting points and a solid total of 180.
We took to the field in great heart and we retained that feeling throughout the innings, I congratulate the lads on that. I would also like to pick out Alex Ayling and Carl Terry in the field, cracking performances, I am sure that our youth will have gone home very tired at the end of the day, but they will learn a lot from that. Their opening pair were very experienced and put on 103 for the first wicket. They had to be at their best though as Tom and Ben tested them out at the start and were backed up by Phil & Declan Quinn, Paul Randall and Mike Talbot. Carl got us a breakthrough and we kept chipping away at them, but came up short in the end. They reached their target for the loss of 5 wickets in the 43rd over. I was unable to get Mike Smith into the game, but he played his part in the field and kept supporting his team mates which was fantastic.
Retired to The Bull to annoy the Landlord by being paying customers and wended our way home. Great day out, shame about the result. 7 points secured though.
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Poole Town vs Bridport 26th July 2008 |
Dorset U13 vs Cardiff-Vale 28th July 2008 |
Artist Tony Kerins
These paintings were kindly sent to me by Tony after our match against Bridport. Have a look at his website, there are some great works. www.tonykerins.com. Click on the paintings for a larger image.
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