Cookie Leads As to the Title

The mass exodus of cars from the car park seemed to indicate that word had got round that Potter and Cockinson had been drafted in for the vital game against Harold Wood B. However, at the start with the slumbering Clarkie and Rob Glassberg still making their way to the game (well the clocks went on) the presence of these two took on greater significance. The importance was somewhat diluted when Goresbrook lost the preceding game to hand Green the title.
Wood, who needed to win to stay up, inserted the Green with Cookie and Cockinson making a cautious start to allow the other players to arrive. With the side restored to 6 players Cookie departed to one that bounced a bit more than expected. Smudger went first ball when he failed to get on top of one that ballooned on pitching. Potter hit a fine six before Cockinson departed in similar fashion to Smudger for a turgid 13. When Potter followed, Clarkie and The Cadet boosted the score to 73 with some sensible batting.
The Green bowling was soon on top taking two early wickets and putting Wood well behind the rate. Rob Glassberg went for 3 sixes in an over and with the catches going down at at regular intervals, Wood briefly threatened. However Clarkie cling on to two good catches and bowled the last me to give Green victory and the championship. After the game, all departed without adopting the B team tradition of a post game beer which brings into question the purpose in playing the game.
Green now advance to the area final against Wanstead next Saturday morning at the Peter may Centre.

Shine on You Crazy 'B's

The 'B' team finished off their indoor campaign with a surprisingly competent performance in completing a comfortable win against Essex Taverners. Put into bat the openers made a cautious start to enable the No. 3 (Inspector Clouseau) time to get his pads and gloves on. Graham Cook was showing off his newly acquired defence before opening out with some lusty blows to reach retirement. Toast's stodgy performance came to an end on 24 when stumped by a record margin. Cockinson satisfied Umpire Clark's hunger but useful contributions from The Inspector, The Pig and Fat Cas boosted the score to 103.
All of the Green bowlers performed admirably with the wickets shared. The Tavs were given a stay of execution by an incompetent keeper and Toast's poor geometry but the inevitable victory followed. Third place in the league represents a job done to specification.
The Inspector's drink was cut short with most players attending a Think (hardly an appropriate word in the context of the 'B's)Floyd concert.

Ardleigh Green Welcomes 'The Chop Dawg'

Ardleigh Green welcome Chris Hopper for 2006. Chris plays 2nd grade cricket in New South Wales for Hawkesbury CC, North Sydney. Known as "The Chop Dawg", 19 year old Chris is a right arm seam bowler and lower order batsman. Recently, Chris made his debut in Grade 1 cricket.
Chris is in the final stages of his coaching course but will have his work cut out in improving Al Surrey. He works as a barman for his local golf club but may meet his match with the demands of the Ardleigh Green ladies.
We hope he will enjoy life at Ardleigh Green.

Pig Revives Floundering 'B's

The pattern of the 'B' team innings changes little with the personnel. This time it was Graham Cook (out 1st ball), Cockinson and Toast (to smart catches) who caused a collapse to 10 for 3. Harry Potter is very consistent in such situations and he didn't disappoint by running himself out which only went to prove 1) he hadn't batted with The Inspector before (no run when he doesn't hit it) and 2) he is no judge of a run (there was never a run for a 2 yard push). It was left to The Pig and The Inspector to rally the innings but the Rainham attack gave very little away. It was only a last over blast from the Pig which boosted the total to a modest 66.
Green's bowling was equally tight and Cookie took the first of 2 smart catches to make the breakthrough. There were wickets for al the bowlers assisted by 3 catches from Cockinson. Potter atoned for his batting with a couple of wickets surprising all concerned with the odd Jaffa.

Lodge Trip Over Beached Whale

Kevin Brailey, called up for his first indoor game for some time, made a circumspect i.e. slow start to the Green innings in partnership with Keith Abbott against Britanic Lodge. With an average age of 52, it was always likely that Green would be outshone in the field and the enthusiastic Lodge youngsters made scoring difficult with some fine stops. Both openers were dismissed stumped in quick succession and Cockinson followed shortly afterwards. The Pig and Clouseau began a promising stand until the former had an unfortunate rebound from the ceiling straight back to the bowler as he was about to open up. John Doughty struck one sweet four but became over adventurous after a morning on the treadmill and was run out. With one over to go, Green were in deep trouble but The Inspector slogged 3 sixes to boost the total to a respectable 83.
The Lodge openers looked in no trouble until a firm drive was well held by JD who was in danger of knocking the wall down in completing the catch. Lodge continued untroubled until a crisp low drive was brilliantly held by the sprawling Whale. Green now got back in the game with The Pig claiming a wicket and Cockinson hanging on to one behind. With the retired opener returning Lodge still looked favourites as they scored at ease off The Inspector whose last over almost cancelled out his excellent earlier effort with the bat. However, the impetuosity of youth proved to be the downfall of Bones who, after batting superbly, set off for an improbable run with The Pig completing the run out. Only 3 were required off the last over bowled by The Point. After 2 dot balls the batsmen slogged to the legside which rebounded from the wall to provide the bowler with a return catch and victory by 2 runs.

Battling Under 11's Go Down

Green’s young under 11 side produced another battling performance in the Chelmsford Indoor League before going done to a strong Wanstead outfit.
With the early start time hampering availability due to soccer commitments a somewhat lacklustre bowling performance saw Wanstead run up 114-2 with both wickets coming via run outs. Conner Daws, Paul Simmons, Calvin Allen and Thomas Loomes shared the overs but for once all were guilty of bowling far too many wides.
The Green reply started disastrously with Simmons (3) & Daws (3) both gone with only eight on the board. However a splendid rearguard action followed as George Burke (11 n.o.), Chloe Allen (6) and Loomes (12 n.o.) battled through the overs to see a respectable 53-3 posted and claim a batting point.

Blistering Start Inspires 'B' Team

Mark Gorsuch and Graham Cook got the 'B' side off to a blistering start in their indoor game against Chadwell Heath. Some big hits went for 6 or 4 but many more threatened to bring down the ceiling for just a single. Gorsy perished to a fine catch to be followed next ball by skipper Toast to another splendid effort. Clouseau and Cookie continued in a free flowing manner until the latter retired. The mathematical genius of The Inspector managed to keep Cockinson off strike for quite a while. The retirement of Castle enabled The Pig and Cocko to scramble a few runs with some alert running. After The Pig, the two returning batsmen fell quite quickly leaving Cockinson to bring the score up to 113.
The Pig struck early in the reply. Graham Cook also induced a stumping as did The Inspector. Toast and Gorsy also chipped in with wickets as Green ran out comfortable winners.

All Rounder Mitchell Puts Green in the Final

The Over 40s reached the final of the indoor competition following a tense semi final. Witham, who had won all of the their games in the group stage, bowled well to rein in Green after a solid opening start by Sir Harold (21) and Clouseau (25 ret). The half century opening partnership would have been boosted further with a better understanding (i.e. The Inspector moving from the crease) between the wickets. Sir H was dismissed shortly after Gavin Castle retired and the scoring rate slowed with Fat Cas (3) and Gibbo (6) struggling to get going. It was left to The Pig (12 n.o.) and Bones (6no) to provide a late boost to rhe score, making 14 off the last over.
Witham began confidently against Green's respectable total of 91 although The Inspector arrested their progress by claiming the wicket of the opener who had been prolific in the group stages. It looked bleak for Green as the next two Witham batsmen retired and they were well ahead of the rate at the half way stage. The breakthrough came with the introduction of Cas albeit from a run out with the batsman surprised by a rare stop from Sir H. The Pig then bowled his only reasonable over of the night and the Inspector further tightened the screw. It was left to all rounder Keith Mitchell to dismiss both of the returning batsmen in the final over without addition to claim victory by 18 runs.
Green now face Coggeshall in the final on Friday 13th January.

Super Draw Winners

£100.00      29      John Coyne

£ 20.00       6        Andy Symes
£ 20.00       9        AGCC
£ 20.00      11       John Jillings
£ 20.00      33       Jacqui Coe
£ 20.00      36       Keith Mitchell
£ 20.00      49       Diane Gibbs