Author: Al Rix

Lodsworth v Bury & West Burton
16th July

Lodsworth were looking to put in a big performance against West Sussex league team Bury with the Rec packed to the rafters. The Vice President’s had just seen Andy Long, captain, deliver a rousing speech but was he about to choke on his fine words after 14 runs were knocked of the first over.

It looked as though the young Bury team were in no mood to stretch this game out beyond their bed time….. Lodsworth looked ready to capitulate in the heat with the Bury batsman led by B Elliot ( Billy Elliot!!) who smashed 53 supported by a quickfire 23 from N Lewis.

However eager to impress the crowd Lodsworth showed spirit in the searing heat. A great spell from messrs Braithwaite with some tight bowling from John Houghton. Father and Son looked ominous with G Braithawaite finishing with figures of 3 overs 3 for 5 and J Braithwaite 8 overs 2 for 19. Houghton made full use of the pitch, finishing with 10 overs 3 for 25. From cruising on 102-3 the Bury innings collapsed to 140 all out.

Bury’s bowling attack was stunned by the home team reply. Graham Braithwaite exploded with a rapid 33, perhaps fitting that Lodsworth showed the youthful Bury outfit that our openers could match them both in batting and youthful good looks!! Mat Hall made a quickfire 20 with a full repertiore of his strokeplay, the late cut!! Perhaps he sensed that he was always going to lose out on the youthful good looks.

The opening stand raced through 50 however a fightback from an impressive Bury bowling attack saw off both openers and Lodsworth strarted to wobble on 75-3. John Houghton and Andy Wilson Smith took on the young guns of Bury and looked to be winning the battle but Houghton was caught on the boundary going for the big six when looking comfortable on 22 and Wilson-Smith was clean bowled by the impressive Blackwood on 36.

With the score on 123-6, 4 overs remaining, it was down to Lodsworth captain Andy Long to bury the opposition. Surely Long would deliver after that Churhillian speech at the VP’s lunch. Full toss on middle stump, out for a duck!! Long had failed to live up to his own words and waddled back to the pavillion.

Bury were desperate to make Lodsworth pay and at 129-8 the crowd sensed dissapointment. However Al Rix showed some grit and was determined Lodsworth were to get something from the game.

The match ended in a draw, dissapointing – Lodsworth have yet to destroy the nearly men tag. Next week is a match against Tangmere. Andy Long will captain the side (even after his duck!!) so please let Andy know if you are available by Monday night.

Man of the match: Graham Braithwaite

Ollie King
Wicket Keeper

Lodsworth v Tillington
9th July

England crash out on penalties in Germany through their inability to cope with the pressure against the weaker side. Sport can be cruel and people only look at results. Although Lodsworth looked to dominate against the weaker opposition in Tillington some generous bowling in the second half of the Tillington innings made sure of a victory for David over Goliath. The visitors clawed their way back from 52-5 to win with 3 wickets to spare. Lodsworth were left with egg on their sunburnt faces.

Lodsworth set a target of 148. An aggressive 68 from opener Graham Braithwaite was the story of the lodsworth innings(the presence of young love on the sidelines made sure that Braithawaite was out to impress others rather than his team mates).The rest of the Lodsworth batting stars failed to get going – the team slipped from a strong position at 104-3 to 148 All Out. Lord Lucan would have been proud the way the rest of the batsman had gone missing on this track.

Lodsworth cut through Tillington at ease with a good opening spell from Paul Phillips with figures of 10 overs 3 for 30 and Mat Hall figures of 8 overs 3 for 33. However a change of the bowling attack proved disastorous and the Tillington lower order took apart some poor bowling with M Hill scoring 42 and D Francis scoring 19 off 5 balls at the death to rub salt into the gaping wound.

A valuable lesson for Lodswoth. It seems complacency got the better of Lodsworth in a game they should have dominated, but then again it is only a game!!

Ollie King
Wicket Keeper

A Game of Two Halves

Saturday 25th June 2006.

Fernhurst CC v Lodsworth CC at Fernhurst.

Lodsworth CC 214 for 5 (Christian Budd 65, James Hickey 59, Rod Taylor 34: J Bristowe 12 overs 2 for 45).

Fernhurst CC 132 all out (S Melrose 31, J Bristowe 26: Martin Howard 1.3 overs 3 for 1, Jon Houghton 10 overs 2 for 17, Paul Phillips 11 overs 2 for 37, Matt Hall 7 overs 2 for 30)

Lodsworth won by 82 runs

In a game of two halves, starting at 1.30pm Lodsworth faced 40 overs, before taking an extended tea break to watch the England v Equador game, returning to complete the cricket match with 40 overs from 6.00 pm. Lodsworth played possibly their best cricket of the season to produce a good all-round team performance. Christian Budd (65) and James Hickey (59) both returned their best score of the season, as did Rod Taylor with a swashbuckling 34. The young Fernhurst bowler J Bristowe gave a spirited display of pace bowling to return figures of 12 overs 2 for 45.

With Beckham’s free kick safely tucked away (along with several pints of beer) the two teams returned to the field. Fernhurst were contained by some fierce bowling from Paul Phillips (11 overs 2 for 37) and Matt Hall (7 overs 2 for 30). S Melrose (31) and J Bristowe (26) put up some stout resistance but Jon Houghton applied the brakes with a spell of 10 overs 2 for 17 and then just as it seemed the home team would survive for 40 overs, Martin Howard came on to bowl 1.3 overs and take 3 wickets for 1 run.

Man of the Match: Christian Budd

Lodsworth Back On Song

Sunday 18th June 2006

Tillington CC v Lodsworth CC at Tillington

Lodsworth CC 139 for 9 ( Jon Houghton 35, Andy Long 23, Sean Chivers 15 not out: D Clarke 12 overs 4 for 33)

Tillington CC 110 for 10 (S Hodd 47, M Hill 23, D Clarke 19: Andy Long 9 overs 6 for 29, Jon Houghton 18 overs 4 for 41)

This was a much-improved performance from Lodsworth with a spirited batting display from Jon Houghton (35), and another from Andy Long (23). Sean Chivers hit an unbeaten 15 and there were supporting cameos from Paul Phillips (13) and Alistair Rix (13). But M Hill and D Clarke bowled tightly for Tillington and 139 for 9 looked at first to be a low score to defend.

Set a target of 140 Tillington were initially held on a tight rein by Paul Phillips and Jon Houghton until the 18th over, whereupon Andy Long took over and produced his best form of the season with three wickets in his first over. Long finished with figures of 9 overs 6 for 29, with Jon Houghton sharing the bowling honours with 18 overs 4 for 41. Houghton took three catches and Bob Powell two as Tillington hung on grimly to finish with 110 for 10 at the conclusion of play. Tillington’s best batsmen were S Hodd with 47 and M Hill with 23. Lodsworth welcomed Jack Dimond to the team in what it is hoped will be the first of his many games this season.

A victory for Lodsworth? Well not quite the result was declared a draw as in the spirit of Village Cricket it had been agreed at the outset that Tillington could field 12 players and schoolboys A and D Groves held out in the very last over. But Lodsworth can claim a moral victory.

Man-of-the-match Andy Long.

Lodsworth Collapse

Saturday 4th June 2006.

Lodsworth CC v Westbourne CC at Lodsworth.

Westbourne CC 210 for 9 (Butt 87, Taylor 33: Paul Phillips 8 overs 3 for 45, Matt Hall 10 overs 3 for 50, Jon Houghton 7 overs 2 for 41)
Lodsworth CC 61 all out (Oliver King 19, James Hickey 17: Rayham 8 overs 5 for 18, Haynes 10 overs 2 for 27).
Westbourne won by 140 runs

Chasing a score of 210, Lodsworth collapsed against visitors Westbourne. The team is struggling to capture the sparkling batting form of last season although some consolation can be taken from the fact that this is only the second defeat of the current campaign.Lodsworth Collapse.

Westbourne won the toss and elected to bat on a blistering hot day. Following the loss of one opener in the first over, a second wicket stand of 121 ensued, in which Butt was outstanding with an innings of 87 including three 6’s and eleven 4’s. Lodsworth’s bowlers laboured in the heat. Paul Phillips claimed 3 wickets for 45 runs from 8 overs and Matt Hall 3 for 50 off 10 overs but hopes of containing the visitors evaporated when no.8 batsman Taylor smashed a rampaging 33.

Lodsworth’s response was laboured and all their batsmen struggled to master Westbourne’s accurate spin bowlers. Oliver King (19) and James Hickey (17) enjoyed a brief period of ascendancy but with their departure the batting collapsed to end on 61 all out. The Westbourne bowlers Rayham and Haynes finished with 5 for 18 of 8 overs and 2 for 27 off 10 overs respectively.

Lodsworth CC v Kirdford CC

14th May 2006 at Lodsworth

Kirdford CC 67 all out (T Ryder 24; Paul Phillips 9 overs 3 for 9, Matt Hall 10 overs 4 for 18, Jon Houghton 6 overs 1 for 9).
Lodsworth CC 69 for (I Lusted 5 overs 3 for 32) Oliver King 19, James Hickey 18 not out, Rod Taylor 13).
Lodsworth won by 5 wickets

Opinions differed on Lodsworth CC’s decision to turn their wicket through 90 degrees in the close season. Kirdford CC the first visiting team of the 2006 season collapsed to 67 all out in 31 overs and would doubtless allege the surface was ‘somewhat lively’. Lodsworth, on the other hand, could claim with equal justification that it was the venom of their opening bowlers, Matt Hall with 10 overs 4 for 18 and Paul Phillips with 9 overs 3 for 9, that inflicted the damage. Only Kirdford skipper Tim Ryder had an answer to the Lodsworth pair and scored 24 before being caught behind leg by Jon Houghton. The dramatic implosion of the visitors batting might have been worse if Lodsworth had held all the catches that were on offer – seven went to ground and only a brilliant diving catch by James Hickey at square leg halted the anguish.

Lodsworth were swiftly put on the back foot when Christian Budd was dismissed in the second over with zero runs on the board, But Jon Houghton and Oliver King steadied the innings and with the departure of these two batsmen James Hickey and Rod Taylor turned the innings around with a burst of big hitting. Kirdford’s leg break specialist I Lusted gave the home team a bit of a scare taking 3 for 32 in a 5 over spell but Lodsworth scrambled home with 69 for 5 and five wickets to spare. Last year’s hat-trick hero J Upton did not get an opportunity to show his skills.

Meanwhile the verdict is out on the new pitch which will next be put to the test when Westbourne CC are the visitors on June 4th.

Man of the match Paul Phillips

Bob Powell
Skipper
Lodsworth CC

Sunday 7th May 2006.

Easebourne CC v Lodsworth CC at Easebourne.

Easebourne CC 112 all out (A Smith 50, Nutting 23: Jon Houghton 9 overs 4 for 30, Matt Hall 8 overs 2 for 21, Paul Phillips 8 overs 2 for 25, John Braithwaite 10 overs 2 for 33).

Lodsworth CC 114 for 9 (Rod Taylor 32, Christian Budd 13: D Smith 11 overs 6 for 36, Fourie 13 overs 2 for 34).

Lodsworth won by 1 wicket.

Upon winning the toss, Easebourne elected to bat on a wicket that proved to be temperamental, creating problems for the batsmen on both teams and ultimately leading to a low scoring game. Lodsworth bowled efficiently and kept the batsmen on a short rein. Jon Houghton returned the best figures with 10 overs 4 wickets for 30 runs, ably assisted by John Braithwaite (10 overs 2 for 35), Matt Hall (8 overs 2 for 21) and Paul Phillips (8 overs 2 for 25). Zimbabwean all-rounder A Smith mastered the bowling and the vicissitudes of the wicket, contributing 50 for Easebourne who finished on 112 all out.

Lodsworth were similarly affected by the unpredictable nature of the wicket and struggled initially. A Smith led the Easebourne attack returning 11 overs 6 for 36 while his compatriot Fourie bowled 13 overs 2 for 24. It seemed that the home team would triumph until Lodsworth’s Rod Taylor arrived at the crease and struck a flamboyant 32 including two mighty 6’s and three 4’s. This, and a high total of byes, effectively swung the game in Lodsworth’s favour though the result went right down to the wire with the last two batsmen at the crease and eight runs required. Miraculously both skipper Bob Powell and John Braithwaite struck 4’s and snatched the game from the predatory ring of fielders.

Lodsworth Man of the Match Rod Taylor

Bob Powell

Skipper

Lodsworth CC

Saturday 29th April 2006.

Ebernoe CC v Lodsworth CC at Ebernoe.

Ebernoe CC 198 for 6 (M Scaife 90, D Whittington 36 not out, C Rose 28: Jon Houghton 7 overs 4 for 28).
Lodsworth CC 140 for 8 (Jon Houghton 58, Matt Hall 11 not out: C Clark 6 overs 5 for 35, M Scaife 5 overs 2 for 10).

Ebernoe won by 58 runs.

Put in to bat Ebernoe went off at a cracking pace. Lodsworth’s lack-lustre fielding indicated they were only slowly emerging from their winter hibernation. Several 4’s, that should have been intercepted, carried to the boundary and the bowling lacked penetration. Only Jon Houghton with 7 overs 4 wickets for 28 runs troubled the batsmen.

Ebernoe’s M Scaife, just back from Australia where he has been playing a good standard of cricket, smashed 90 runs supported by D Whittington (36 not out). The home team ended with 198 for 6. Lodsworth’s response was laboured and the team struggled to 140 for 8. Jon Houghton cemented the innings with a determined 58.

In 2005 a total of 143 was sufficient to seal the equivalent game for Lodsworth but this year Ebernoe were the deserving victors by 58 runs. C Clarke bowled accurately for the home team with figures of 6 overs 5 for 34.

Bob Powell
Skipper
Lodsworth CC

The Lodsworth Cricket Club rounded off a successful 2005 season with their annual dinner and awards evening held in the upper room at the Lickfold Inn on Saturday 10th December. The guests-of-honour were the club president Don Ford OBE and his wife Mary. Thirty-three players, wives, partners and guests sat down for dinner.

In his after dinner speech the club captain Bob Powell remarked that the 2005 season was the most successful of recent years. The village team played 17 games of which they won 8, drew 4 and lost 5. In all the drawn games the team were well on top and counted them as “winning draws”. But the real success of the 2005 season was undoubtedly the fact that the cricket was enjoyable, several individuals played well above their performance in the previous years and team spirit was high.

The captain went on to thank the Hon Secretary and Fixture Secretary John King and committee member Tim Johnson – the two senior members of the committee – who generated sponsorship to fund the work on improving the cricket square, to purchase a new mower and the construction of a practice wicket. John and Tim did great work bringing on board a number of Vice Presidents of the club. Bob thanked Tim and Gillian Johnson for organising the VP’s lunch at the Hollist Arms in June.

Bob also thanked Paul Phillips the Club Treasurer and the main force behind the improvement of the wicket at the recreation ground. Andy Long the club’s Vice Captain was thanked for his support throughout the year and tactical placing of fielders! The club members gave a round of applause to Matt Hall another member of the committee who persuaded his company to sponsor the club for 2,500 to purchase the practice nets. Matt Hall’s parents sponsored the annual Awards trophies. Alistair Rix was thanked for setting up a Lodsworth Cricket Club website and organised a team in the Midhurst CC winter indoor league.

Last but not least the ladies behind the successful exploits on the field were thanked particularly those who at various times provided the traditional teas that make Lodsworth CC a venue that teams wish to revisit. The captain thanked Jill King, Vicki Braithwaite, Teggy Phillips, Sheila Houghton, Gillian Johnson, Shantheni Powell and Zena Davies.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of Awards. The Award for Batsman of the Year went to Jon Houghton. Jon was the backbone of the batting with four innings in excess of 50, a top score of 101 not out and an 87 and a 72. He finished with a total of 561 runs at an average of 37.40. The runner up was James Hickey. James was a class act with three innings in excess of 50 and an 81 and a 104 not out to his credit. That is the highest score by a Lodsworth batsman for many years. James pushed Jon all season and beat off a late challenge from Ollie King and he is the runner up for Batsman of the Year with a total of 389 runs at an average of 35.40.

The Award for Bowler of the Year was closely contested. The early leader was Matt Hall who took 5 wickets against Easeborne and 4 against Fernhurst to end the season with 27 wickets. Andy Long started slowly but picked up later in the season with 4 wickets against West Sussex Wanderers and 4 against Petworth Park to take a total of 25. Martin Howard was the bowling ‘find’ of the season and his 7 wickets against the Matt Hall XI brought his total to 22 wickets for the year. It was a close call but Andy Long’s 25 wickets were taken at an average of 10.45 while Matt Hall’s 27 were slightly more expensive with an average of 11.74. So the trophy for Bowler of the Year went to Andy Long and the trophy for runner up to Matt Hall.

The Award for Best Fielder of the Year was based on the commitment in the field but ultimately on the number of catches taken – Andy Long took 4, Rod Taylor took 4, Paul Phillips took 4, Martin Howard took 4 and Jon Houghton took 5. But the trophy went to a newcomer to the team who fielded close in on the leg side most of the year and took 6 catches – Alistair Rix.

The Trophy for The Most Improved Player of the year was a two horse race. Martin Howard scored 138 runs in 2004 and took 8 wickets. In 2005 he topped that with 148 and 22 wickets. Matt Hall scored just 93 runs in 2004 and took 12 wickets. In 2005 year he doubled his batting total to 187 and also doubled the number of wickets to take 27. By a narrow margin the trophy for most improved player went to Matt Hall.

The trophy for The Best All-Rounder of the Year also went to Jon Houghton. In addition to his 541 runs from 15 completed innings, he took 14 wickets and he claimed 5 catches. His batting early on in the season assured us of victory on several occasions.

The last trophy to be awarded was The Duck Trophy. The trophy went missing in 1995 but it came to light this year. The trophy is awarded to the player who distinguishes himself by getting the most ducks in a season. James Hickey got 2 ducks, Paul Phillips got 2 ducks and Rod Taylor got 2 ducks. But the winner with 3 ducks was Alistair Rix.

The awards ceremony was completed with a presentation to Oliver King, a former skipper of the club who will be emigrating to Australia in 2006. The club wished him and his wife Becky a successful life ‘down under’. Another player Wes Stander who joined LCC only this year will be leaving for Mozambique on December 16th. The club wish him well. The club will need to find replacements for these players and for Martin Howard who is studying full time at Exeter University in 2005-2006 and will only be available during vacation time.

Bob Powell mentioned that one of the successes of 2005 was that a number of young players from the village had played for the club. Edward Bristow, Alfie Baldwin, Harry Diamond and Richard Chase have all played at least one game and it is hoped we will see more of them in the 2006 season.

The new concrete practice wicket has been completed at the recreation ground and an outdoor carpet will be laid over the concrete by February. Not only will this give the Lodsworth team an opportunity to start practicing in March but its purpose is to attract youngsters from the village to nets sessions where they can be coached by senior players. Next on the agenda for John King and Tim Johnson is sightscreens, but more of that in a future report.

Bob Powell

Captain

Lodsworth CC 2005.

Parham Park CC v Lodsworth CC

Sunday 11th September.

Parham Park CC 104 for 8 off 34 overs (T Brand 40; A Long 11 overs 1 for 20, M Hall 11 overs 1 for 27, M Howard 5 overs 2 for 5)

Lodsworth cc 105 for 7 off 32.5 overs (C Budd 36, P Phillips 14 not out, M Hall 12 not out; D Richmond 11.5 overs 4 for 11, J Coleman 9 overs 2 for 22)

The Victorian mansion at Parham Park flanked by a lake and with deer running free was the classic backdrop to a closely contested game between Lodsworth CC and the home team Parham Park CC.

Put into bat Parham were kept on a very tight rein by a sustained Lodsworth attack with Andy Long recording 11 overs 1 for 20, Matt Hall 11 overs 1 for 27 and Martin Howard 5 overs 2 for 5. The result was Parham were contained to a miserly score of 104 for 8 of which T Brand contributed 40.

Parham were equally parsimonious with D Richmond bowling a brilliantly controlled 11.5 overs and taking 4 for 11. J Colemen supported him with 9 overs 2 for 22. But Christian Budd (36) and Paul Phillips (14 not out) fashioned a 7th wicket stand of 41 that gradually swung the game in Lodsworth’s favour. When Matt Hall (12 not out) joined Paul Phillips the pair took the Lodsworth total to 105 with just 7 balls remaining.