Date

2008 Match Reports

Date	Against	Venue	Result
May 3rd	Sibford	Home	Won 107 runs Report
May 10th	Wardington	Away	Won 18 runs Report
May 17th	Croughton	Away	Won 48 runs Report
May 24th	Hanslope	Home	Won 8 wkts Report
May 31st	Evenley ‘A’	Home	Won 72 runs Report
June 7th	Warwick Univ. ‘A’	Away	Won 6 wkts Report
June 14th	Hinton / Hedges	Home	Lost 8 wkts Report
June 21st	Greens Norton	Away	No Play - Rain
June 28th	Gawcott & Hillesdon	Home	Won 118 runs Report
July 5th	Sibford	Away	Won on faster run rate Report
July 12th	Wardington	Home	Lost 49 runs Report
July 19th	Croughton	Home	Lost 14 runs Report
July 26th	Hanslope	Away
August 2nd	Evenley ‘A’	Away
August 9th	Warwick Univ. ‘A’	Home
August 16th	Hinton / Hedges	Away
August 23rd	Greens Norton	Home
August 30th	Gawcott & Hillesdon	Away

Wardington Cup
June 19th	Wootton	Away	Lost 8 wkts Report

Divisional Cup
May 22nd	Gawcott & Hillesdon	Home	Won 83 runs Report
June 12th	Hinton / Hedges	Away	Won 30 runs Report
July 3rd Semi-final	Warwick Univ ‘A’	Away	Won 9 runs Report
July 27th Final	Greens Norton	Byfield

A Word form The Judge

Ladies,

I feel it appropriate to clear up a few guidelines when it comes to the now infamous Shrimper fines.

After every match we meet in the local watering house, win or lose and basically fine the arse out of each other for certain misdemeanours.

The maximum any one Shrimper can be fined per week is £3 (unless the committee deem it appropriate to change this rule on a case by case situation).

Failure to partake in an after match aperitif is an automatic maximum fine of £3 and should be paid ideally prior to sneaking off and leaving your wing men!

Lateness seems to have raised it's ugly head once more! In '08 the following guidelines should be adhered too - if you are late and have not notified the Skipper of the day at least 24 hours prior to match day it is an automatic £1 fine.

If you have had Skipper approval for lateness it is a 50p fine. This will obviously be confirmed on the day.

You are all hopefully completely aware of the various categories deemed fineable.

In relation to the theme category this is normally decided after the announcement of the MOM and therefore if you have sneaked off early doors or not played the week before it is the responsibility of the player to find out the coming weeks theme.

The excuse of "I did not know the theme" will not be accepted in 2008!

If you do leave before a pint of apples and a gawp at a large pair of breasts then please remember to tell someone who you deem to be the MOM.

New for '08 is the MOM hat - the person voted MOM by his colleagues has to wear it the following week during the match and add to have added something to it!

Your Friend

The Judge

July 19th Croughton (Home) Lost 14 runs

Croughton 182-9 (40 overs) C Reeve 3-51

Shrimpers 168 all out T Drayton 33 B Vincent 32 A McDermott 24

July 12th Wardington (Home) Lost 49 runs

Wardington 171 all out (38.3 overs) N Bobsin 4-31 B Vincent 3-37

Shrimpers 122 all out C Waldron 34 B Vincent 29

Hmm - a fairly comprehensive defeat that keeps Wardington (and Greens Norton) hopes alive of pipping us for that crucial second promotion spot (this defeat surely ends any hope of winning the New England Financial Services Snappy Title Of The Year Award Division 2).
A won toss by our sopping wet skipper (caught on the mower in a cloudburst 30 minutes before ko), and a rare insertion to take advantage of any rain reduced targets, meant that JB and Nick Kershaw (Bazra) had first dibs on a new cherry. Both bowled a number of unplayable deliveries, but anything loose was harshly dealt with by Baker who dealt exclusively in boundaries for the first 8 overs, helping take the score to 30 without loss. Sweaty Betty eventually got the breakthrough, trapping the opener Betts plum in front and after 15 overs the game was evenly poised with our visitors on 49-3 (Ledge bowling no.3 Brooker and Schnorbs delighted to get Field caught at square leg off a rank long hop). When Baker was caught with a regulation catch by Slinky off Gandalf at short extra for 28, the impetus seemed to surely be with the home team, but it was at this point that the game went against us as Fleming (surely the little funny bald guy from Mock the Week??) and Gibbs put on a partnership of 70, and set the foundation for the inevitable barrage in the final overs. The fact that we ended up only chasing 171 was down to an excellent controlled spell of bowling from Future Gayton Legend Potter (although whether he plays for us in future seasons after his dad finds out how much fines hes got to pay on his credit card is anyones guess), and the grey bearded Kershaw. After Fleming was finally bowled for an admirable 52, Ledge performed his usual janitors duties and it was back inside for roast chicken sarnies, moist brownies and Mrs Mopp Poults on tea duty - performed with aplomb it must be said!
What to say about our batting performance? 'Not our best' would perhaps be the conservative line. A brief run through. Potter, weak slap to gully - 1. Mad Dog, weak slap to mid off - 4, Playboy bowled Gibbs -19 (ok, that was a decent ball - good disciplined knock from Playboy too), Bazra, ker-ching moment attempting to launch a 2nd successive boundary - 29 (match losing moment Betty...now go and think about your actions), Slinky, horrible HORRIBLE slash across the line that he almost couldn’t believe he did - 0, Gallah, mistimed launch over long off - 34, PJ, bowled the funnybald guy with chin hair strip - 12 (admittedly after being ankle crunched the previous ball), Lucky Burglar, bowled attempting to launch a yorker into the middle of next week...across the line - 9, Schnorbs, weak slap to mid wicket - 4, Obiwan, attempting a suicidal 3rd run - 2. Game over - 122 all out. Thats probably being a bit harsh on the oppo who batted well and bowled with good discipline (although their constant sniping at each other was a little odd....wonder what they're like when they're losing ??). This defeat means that next weeks game against Croughton takes on added importance....but never fear chaps, LORENZO is back to save the day!! (©S O’Brien)
MOM - Bazra - top bowling spell, and aggressive knock (albeit his dismissal lost us the game)
M.I.D - JB, excellent bowling, particularly at the death.
TFC - Schnorbs
Dropped Catches Gang - Luke (harsh), Slinky (self proclaimed best fielder in the club), JB (hole in hands, smashed in chest....show no pain, Campion), Paaauul (not easy, but sets high standards).
The "getting hurt trying to get out of the way but actually making a great stop" award - Gallah
The "taking 2 great catches in the last 2 games and getting no mention in the match report" award -
Best brew of the day - Poults
This Weeks Charity Collection - £34.26 - which will be donated to Marcus "Mock the Week" Fleming so he can buy some cricket whites and put that terrible rugby shirt and chinos back in the bin

Shrimper	Batting	Bowling	Fielding
L Jenkin	1	5 – 1 – 25 - 0	1 catch
S McDermott	4
D House	19
B Vincent	29	12 – 1 – 37 - 3
A McDermott	0		1 catch
C Waldron (capt)	34
P Jeyes (wkt)	12
J Bobsin	9	10.3 – 1 – 41 - 2
T Drayton	4	4 – 0 – 33 - 1	1 catch
S O’Brien	2
N Bobsin	1*	7 – 1 – 31 - 4

July 5th Sibford (Away) Won on faster scoring rate

Shrimpers 193 – 6 (40 overs) C Waldron 86 A McDermott 25

Sibford 50 – 7 (29.1 overs) N Bobsin 3-13

The Gayton caravans took to the road on their latest pilgrimage to the beautiful Cotswolds this week – Sibford Ferris was the promised land and with Sir Neil Lionheart in his Golden Chariot leading the way, we all duly arrived on time despite the perilous distance. Even Reevey, the hated and maligned Sheriff of Nottingham, turned up before play commenced much to everyone’s astonishment.

On a dampish looking track, Sir Camelot lost the toss and was asked to prepare for battle with sword and shield (we’re batting). Despite all the oohs and aahs from the crowd as the cannon balls popped all over the place, Sir Alister, aka the Bishop of Bath & Wells, took inspiration from God and proceeded to spank some lovely shots. Meanwhile at the other end, his novice Ensil (Mad Dog) couldn’t get a delivery and unfortunately when he did, it was the end and we all revelled in the thought that the taverns and inns back home were safe to venture out to later. Our young knight in training Master Luke then came out and he and the Bishop took the score along nicely to 43 ‘til alas, the Bishop lost his way skying a straight one. Like all clever clerical businessmen, the Bishop had got his 25 headcount so the church coffers were safe for another week. This was then followed closely by Master Luke’s suicidal run out. He obviously charged at the “ready” order and was left in no-mans land to be slaughtered by Sibford’s horsemen. No need to worry though with Sir Dave of House and Earl Pate in the middle of battle – onward the score went though it must be said that the Earl certainly looked more like our esteemed and courageous, though absent from battle, Lord Peachy this week. Sir Dave swished and departed and then, finally, after 9 attempts this season, Sir Camelot decided to make a contribution. At 80-2 after 25 overs and the Earl batting like our esteemed Lord Peachy, anything over 140 was looking tricky. But thankfully, outscoring the Earl and the battle-scarred wise old sage known as Simon the Grey, Sir Cam carved his sword through the Sibford attack pummelling 86 in 20 overs to bring on a healthy body count of 193-6. Only our gallant Irish Warrior – SOB – has ever run the lazy Sir Cam to a near heart failure before so well done Simon the Grey (“come on Cam, there’s 3 there you lazy bxstard”).

Whilst we all desired some roasted mutton, grails of wine, and a wanton wench for supper, we instead enjoyed a nice cup of tea and sandwiches.

To be honest, Sibford were always going to struggle on this dodgy piece of battleground. In fact, Chris from Sibford kept mentioning that the pub didn’t open ‘til 6pm in an effort to ease our enthusiasm for a massacre. With Lionheart at one end and the young pretender (Sir Lancelot) at the other, the Sibford infantry were mown down and after 18 arduous, uneventful overs, they had managed 29-3 ….. give me strength to continue oh lord. Just to liven up the battle a bit, Merlin (the witchdoctor) and the Sheriff waded in with a wicket each before Master Luke and Sir Dave threw down some pies purely for entertainment. In the 30^th over at 50-7, Sibford threw down their swords as a light shower appeared. Enough was enough, victory was ours. The killing had to stop! (©C Waldron)

Court Jester Award: Ensil (dropped catch and running away from battle) OR Master Luke (3 dropped catches and a ridiculous run out).

MOM: C Waldron

MID: The Ledge, Slinky

Shrimper	Batting	Bowling	Fielding
A McDermott	25
S McDermott	2
L Jenkin	15	2.1 – 0 – 7 – 1
P Walters	17
D House	10	2 – 0 – 4 - 0
C Waldron (capt)	86
S Trusler (wkt)	18*		1 catch
J Bobsin	1*	9 – 2 – 13 – 0
C Reeve		4 – 0 – 6 – 1
T Drayton		4 – 2 – 5 – 2	1 catch
N Bobsin		8 – 3 – 13 – 3	1 catch

June 28th Gawcott & Hillesden (Home) Won 118 runs

Shrimpers 240-8 (40 overs) P Walters 56 S McDermott 53 A McDermott 49

Gawcott & Hillesden 122 all out (38.2 overs) J Bobsin 4-31 T Drayton 3-27

After last weeks washout against Greens Norton, it was back to Shrimper HQ for the home clash against Gawcott & Hillesden, against whom we had already recorded a comfortable victory in the Cup. Chris’s Reeve and Johnson were recalled along with Schnorbs, with Ledge, Sir Beef and Playboy all having a weekend off at the Glastonbury Festival.

Gallah started events well with a successful coin toss and after electing to bat first, sprung a surprise by asking the brothers McAllister to renew their opening partnership and look to start the innings in more explosive fashion than usual. Slinks has done well with the willow this season, but is more accustomed to coming in at the back end of an innings to add some impetus, whilst Mad Dog has had something of a stop start campaign thus far. Any thoughts that this was a gamble from our antipodean leader were quickly dispelled however as the Mac Attack laid into the G&H bowlers with gusto, scoring at seven an over from the outset, and setting the hedge scavengers plenty of work as they dealt mainly in aerial boundaries. The fifty came up in seven overs, and soon after there were emotional scenes as baby bro Stuart smashed his ninth boundary to record his maiden Shrimper nifty. The century partnership was not to be however as the Insane Canine, still probably overwhelmed with the enormity of his achievement, nicked one to the keeper on 99, and commendably walked for an entertaining 53. Local superstar Slinks was cruelly robbed of his own milestone as he fell to what is known as “The Bazra” - a jug avoiding 49.

With such an excellent platform established, a big target had to be set, and the middle order went about the task without fear. Playing around the rock that is Paté, Potter (11), Bazra (16), Gallah (11) all made useful cameos at a healthy strike rate whilst Walt carved out an immaculate and elegant 56. All that was left was for Paul “most boring Shrimper batsman” Jeyes © to compile a patient 374 ball 18*, and for Spiderman Reeve to run himself out without facing a ball and a healthy score of 240 was put on the board. For Gawcott, Ash Griffith was the pick of the bowlers with 4-47, whilst I Minney won the prestigious “worst and most annoying ringtone” award.

Cue Jacko’s moment in the spotlight as Mrs J supplied her now legendary homemade scones and fruit cake, along with a plethora of other goodies to increase each sides sugar levels.

Gawcott are having a tough time of things this season, sitting as they do at the bottom of the table and struggling to put out a full XI every week (problems we are well aware of!). They didn’t seem to set about the target with a great deal of optimism, and an impressive opening spell from Lucky Burglar JB, and Nick Kershaw lookalike Bazra Vincent soon confirmed their worst fears, reducing them to 22-3 after the opening ten. Wickets fell steadily throughout the innings although the eighth wicket pair of Mears and Minney ground out a stand of 41 that would have made MTS and Playboy proud, to ensure a batting point for the visitors, but Schnorbs wrapped things up in the 38th over to ensure a thumping 118 run victory. The bowling attack of JB, Bazra, Spiderman and Schnorbs all performed admirably, particularly JB with 4-34, and we even had time for a comedy over from our beloved skipper - I can envisage an occasion where we might require a bit of double bounce magic later in the season….!

We return to cup action in the week with the 4000 mile round trip to Warwick Uni on Thursday night…gotta love local cricket. (©S O’Brien)

MOM - Mad Dog…deserved maiden Shrimper 50.

MID - Slinky…unlucky to miss out on his second half century, Paté…increasingly looking like the class act in the middle order, JB…excellent controlled spell.

Champagne Moment - emotional family celebration of Mad Dog’s Nifty. There are moments in cricket that will forever be replayed in years to come, and this was one of them. Brought tears to grown men’s eyes.

Dabbles - Step forward Christopher Reeve - would have been in by a yard, if he’d put his bat down!

Top 3 Gay Moments: 3/. See above…2/. Mad Dog calling Slinks through for “twoseys”, 1/. Mad Dog’s “story” from tour….these pages are read by minors, so our lawyers have asked us to refrain from sharing the details. I think I speak for all who were present on Ruth’s terrace on Saturday night in saying……WRONG!!!

Future Shrimper Watch - Benjamin Charles Lord, spotted thoughtfully prowling the boundary with his glamorous mother and smug father.

Shrimper	Batting	Bowling	Fielding
A McDermott	49		1 catch
S McDermott	53
L Jenkin	11
P Walters	56
B Vincent	16	12 – 4 – 25 – 1	1 catch
P Jeyes (wkt)	18*		2 catches
C Waldron	11	1 – 0 – 7 – 0
T Drayton	3	7.2 – 2 – 27 – 3
C Reeve	0	6 – 0 – 15 – 1