Author: Al Rix

LCC V West Chiltington

Away 40 overs.

West C 217 for 5. Lodsworth 203 for 9(+ 1 retired). Lodsworth Lost.

Lodsworth arrived in the pouring rain at this fantastic facility…New oak pavilion, covers, flat wicket and a good tea and bar. Luckily the rain was short lived and we were off. It was 2.30 by the time we started and their captain having chosen an optimistic 40 over bout and to bat first. In spite a good all round performance in the field by Lodsworth after 40 overs West C had amassed 217 runs.

Alfie Bunker (56) and Harry Dimond (26) opened our account with a flourish. Finn added a handy 36 and with various lesser contributions from the middle order we were approaching a great victory, but it wasn’t to be. Seeing they were about to lose their skipper (22 for 4 from 7) brought himself on to skittle the tail in the twighlight. With Andy damaging his ankle and unable to continue we fell just 14 runs short. It was close game against an opposition who were playing well beneath their standard. A few of the tired and disappointed were left wondering if there is any point to this fixture. Is this the spirit of Sunday village cricket? Just sour grapes perhaps?

MOTM Alfie Bunker

LCC V Singleton. Away.

3^rd August.

40 overs.

Singleton 218 for 6. Lodsworth 174 for 9. Lodsworth Lost

A charming ground nestled at the foot of Goodwood this was a first for Lodsworth. Opening the batting on a sluggish wicket with a very fast outfield, Singleton put on a solid 218 for 6. Perhaps the pick of Loddie’s attack coming from Hall (34 for 2 from 8)

Hall also opened our riposte with a quality 33 but with little help from the other openers. Young Alex Brazier, a new recruit, put on a useful 20. With Phillips (39) and Ed Marland (60) putting on a good partnership, we were in the running; but the tail end failed to capitalise before our overs were gone.

MOTM Ed Marland

LCC V Ancient Mariners. Home.

20^th July.

Sussex Rules.

Lodsworth 212 for 8. Ancient Mariners 112 all out. Lodsworth Won.

Ancient Mariners are a touring side and turned out with a good crowd on a beautiful afternoon. Lodsworth were happy to have Rod Taylor and his son Jake amongst our eleven after several years abroad. Having lost the toss we began our innings tentatively and with only Hall(12) and Rod Taylor(17) making double figures. Then a solid partnership from Waller(65) and Phillips(47) also running a leg burning number of byes! The home side were back on track and with a useful 25 not out from Long we went into a delicious tea with 212 on the board.

Some accurate bowling by Long (21 for 2 from 10) and Hall (30 for 1 from 7) kept the Mariners openers under control with Phillips (18 for 4 from 5) doing for the middle order and Waller (3 from 2 from 2.2) tidying the tail the only person to struggle with a 62 not out name is unfortunately lost but without support they were to fall a ton short.

MOTM Joe Waller

LCC V Bury 13^th July @ Home.

Sussex Rules.

Bury 144 all out; Lodsworth 146 for 2. Lodsworth Won

Winning the toss we put Bury into bat. But an accurate and sustained attack by 7 Lodsworth bowlers and some great keeping from Rix kept Bury in check. The pick of our fielders was Andy Long (28 for 5 from 11). By tea the visitors had crept to a respectable score.

Joe Waller opening for Bury saw of our opening pair but Finn Campbell(31 n/o) and Tom Atkins (87 n/o) were just too good for them. And we romped to an emphatic victory.

Glad of a better performance this month we celebrated by washing down the remains of our ample tea with ample beer…We even have a photo of Andy with bankcard at the bar!

MOTM. Andy Long

LCC v Tillington

6^th July Away.

Sussex Rules.

Tillington 148 all out; Lodsworth 149 for 4. Lodsworth Won

With the 6 a side at Lurgashall , Tillington’s slightly weakened side put on a solid score mainly due to Groves (38) and Westmore (26) . With great spells from Fergus Cruickshank (29 for 4 from 5) and Matt Hall (15 for 3 from 6) it could have gone either way when we sat down for tea.

After a fabulous spread of home-made goodies akin to a village bake off, Lodswoth padded up. Bruce Wickham (33 for 2 from 7) was the pick of Tilly’s attack but Hall (24), Campbell (46), Gough (47 n/o) and Hickey (21) cruised us home.

MOTM. Matt Hall

LCC V. Graffham

29^th June @ home.

Sussex Rules.

Graffham 47all out; Lodsworth 48 for 4. Lodsworth Won

The application of a heavy roller, mainly steered by Finn Campbell, helped improve the strip for the Graffham game. Graffham were first to bat but Dave Clarke (24 for 3 from 10) meant only their skipper Leon Fourie (19) could course us any bother. With James Main (6 for 3 from 4) tidying up the tail the visitors could only managed 47 runs.

Lest we arrive at the pub before tea we juggled the order a bit, but Finn (23 n/o) finished the job. Not a fine game of cricket but a very friendly and enjoyable afternoon and good to see a few youngsters playing.

MOTM James Main.

LCC V. Madehurst @ home

Sussex Rules.

Lodsworth 119 all out ; Madehurst 91 for 9. Match drawn.

After our unsuccessful start to the season the team sheet was in need of some reinforcement. Draughting in Joe Waller our occasional fast bowler from Bury. There was also another mysterious addition billed as ‘Brother Marland’.

Having chosen a timed game, in the hope of possibly rescuing a draw if needed against this strong opposition, I then lost the toss (ie their advantage) and we were put into bat on a lively and inconsistent wicket, the worst for many years. With even full length balls whipping past our ears and only Hickey (13) and Cruikshank (14) making any impression, we collapsed to 50 for 7. However to the crease came Ed Marland’s brother Dave, who far from being a monk, came along with his lovely Spanish fiancée. His quick fire half century added some respectability and we were all out half an hour before tea.

The subtleties of the rules mean Madehurst could use our remaining time to bat. Long (22 for 2 from 14) and Clarke.23 for 1 from 11) bowled well and a sharp run out from Ed kept the visitors on a tight lease. After tea, Joe Waller (27 for 3 from 9) took apart the middle order and Madehurst were left with a long time to bat out. A tenacious 25 from R Smith, eventually trapped in front by Long, left Madehurst with 2 overs and a shaky last pair. There were several appeals and much Ohh-ing and Ahhh-ing but they limped home to save the draw.

MOTM. Dave Marland

Lodsworth CC v Matt Hall XI
Sunday 8th September at Lodsworth
35-overs
  
The long hot summer came to an end and autumn was ushered in. Dark ominous clouds on the horizon did not bode well but the game got under way at 1.30pm and 12 overs were completed before the players raced to the pavilion in torrential rain. Fifteen minutes later the sky cleared and a second attempt was made but at 20 overs another heavy downpour saw the two skippers opt for an early tea brilliantly organised at short notice by Teggy Phillips.
 
As the rain continued, to Matt Hall’s XI dismay, his team appeared to loose heart and individuals gradually slunk away until by 3.30 pm half the visiting team had gone AWOL and the game was abandoned. The player who suffered most by this decision was Ed Marland who had scored his first half century of the season only to see it erased from the statistics.
 
But by 4.00 pm the skies had cleared and the 16 individuals who remained enjoyed a hugely enjoyable knock-out tournament – won by Richard Gough and Paul Phillips. The last ‘home game’ of the season concluded at 6.30 pm with a marvelous barbeque courtesy of Paul Philips, Matt Hall, Rob Collins and Dave Clark. Miraculously, families and supporters appeared as the aroma of grilled burgers and kebabs drifted across the field. Beer and wine was consumed amid an atmosphere of end-of-season joviality.
 
Man of the (abandoned) match Ed Marland
Scribe Bob Powell