The Force was definitely against the Health as Springfield down the Elves
– again.
Springhill CC (181-2) beat Walsall Health CC (180-8) by eight wickets
Something things hardly ever change; the unpredictable British weather, the mad rush and the
inevitable queues on a Bank Holiday and Walsall Health coming away from Springhill empty handed.
After last week’s defeat at the hands of Yoxall CC at Carter Park, Walsall Health travelled to
Springhill aiming to get back to winning ways. With the absence of regular captain Alex Nunns who
was up in Yorkshire (possibly watching his beloved Warwickshire Bears knocking the runs off to earn
an important victory in the County Championship), it was left to JP lead the troops on the field for a
second week running. There were ominous signs from the very start, when despite practising the
coin toss before the game (and the opposition saying we could bat first), the stand-in skipper still
managed to lose it. However, under the clear skies, the Health batted first and Dan Dunn and Jack
Stenson went out looking to put their own stamps on the game.

Jack and Dan started off brightly, with quick runs from the beginning, putting the bowlers under
pressure going at 5 an over and looking comfortable where boundaries were coming easily. That was
until the score reached 32. Both batters, who were settled and the partnership increasing at a steady
rate, was suddenly broken when Dan Dunn was bowled by a ball that was there to hit. Any
connection would have brought up Dan’s 6 th boundary, but the only thing it connected with was the
stumps and Dan had to go after being bowled for 22. Still, there was plenty o batting to come with a
strong supporting cast to follow. In at number 3 was the youngster Will Tomlinson who was eager to
put the disappointment of last week’s low score behind him and he started with intent and
positivity. Both Will and Jack started building a good partnership until Jack – when he was on 22
came forward to defend a ball “3 or 4 yards down the wicket” as he stated later, only to be given
LBW by his “best mate” DS. It had been a steady start, but Will needed to build a strong with the
next man in who-ever that might be.

That man was none-other than the ‘Marathon Man’ Mac Perager – who had only just recovered from
his magnificent conquering of the London Marathon seven days earlier. He and Will over a period of
14 overs had lifted the score from 46-2 to 111-2. Both Will and Mac, like the pairs before them,
started to find the gaps regularly and the scoreboard was going at a health 5 an over. A consistent
run rate would surely give the Health a handy advantage. There had been a few scary moments,
when chances came and went for the bowlers, but unfortunately for Will when he was on 34, one
chance too many was taken and he was caught at mid-off with the score on 111. It looked as though
drinks came at the right time and new batter Dave ‘WG Grace’ Hill’ (who had batted superbly the
week before) and Mac started knocking it around nicely. Despite a few scares – including Mac
setting off for a run, realising there was no run and scrambling back into his crease and then going
down in stages – another partnership was building nicely until the score reached 128 and Mac was
adjudged to be out LBW when he was on 27. A good first score of the season, which will hopefully
see him gain confidence from time in the middle and this can only be good for the coming season.

With the departure of Mac, in came Hill junior as Wyatt entered the crease, possibility a little
apprehensive after his Double Duck against Yoxall, to join his Dad in one of two ‘father-son
appearances. However, any evidence of that apprehensiveness quickly vanished as each stroke that
played gave the pair renewed confidence. Dave was able to guide Wyatt along and the confidence in
Wyatt’s shot selection helped the pair put on a useful partnership of 14 until Dave was bowled for 7.
Despite a single figure score, Dave could feel pleased with his start to the season and it can only help
him when he gets out there again. The confidence he has shown after being moved up the order will
not only benefit him, but also the team.

Joining Wyatt at the crease was our 2 nd Marathon man of the week Jack Lester. The question was
would he be able the same impact as Mac after his exploits in Manchester. Like Zack Crawley at
Edgbaston in 2023, Jack creamed his first ball to the boundary. What a start! A few balls later,
another 4 from Jack. As they were starting to build something Wyatt was dismissed for 6. An innings
that he could be proud of and any worries he might have had evaporated. Well played Wyatt.
Hopefully this will surely be the start of a few more scores. Dave Stephens came out to join Jack to
rebuild the score and hit as many runs as he could. Before he could settle, his partner at the other
end was bowled for a well played 11. However, unlike last week, this was not the highest score, but
like Mac, a good knock for his first outing of the season. The next man in was our father-son duo as
Alan ‘Nicka’ Dunn came to the crease. When he arrived at the ground, I don’t think he was expecting
to be in the game as much as he was. As he said at the start “I don’t want to bowl. I’m happy to just
stand at slip”. But he came out to the crease with the intention of scoring runs through 4s and 6s. He
made a good job it too as a few lusty blows got him to 14 not out. While he was hitting away, DS
became the 8 th wicket to fall, as a ball that looked as though it was there to hit, jumped up, caught
him by surprise and was caught for 10. However, DS was going to play a major role in the second
innings. His departure brought JP in for the last few overs hoping to add a few more runs to keep us
with the early innings run rate. However, the innings closed on 180-8 – a competitive total, but was
it going to be successfully defended?

After setting a reasonable score and one that some Health players thought would be enough to get
them over the line, the Health took to the field with confidence they had the armour to defend the
score. After all, they had bowlers like DS and Dan Dunn who could keep it tight when it was needed.
So JP turned to DS and Jack Lester knowing that an early breakthrough could make all the difference.
However, the first over from DS showed that it was going to be a tough ask as the Springhill opening
pair set themselves with the aim of being there at the end. From the start of the game, the weather
conditions had changed quite rapidly, making it harder to control bowling. Any slight line or length
alteration was duly punished and sent to the ropes. Despite this DS was ever so unlucky. There must
have been 4 or 5 LBW shouts and every single one of them was dismissed. As DS claimed later “…at
least 2 or 3 were plumb”. Another day, DS may have been walking away with the match ball having
collected a 5-fer. At the end of their respective spells, DS finished with 8-0-43-0 and Jack finished
with 4-0-20-0. Unlucky both. The two opening bowlers were then replaced by Will Tomlinson and
Nicka (who wasn’t going to do anything).

Both Nicka and Will bowled tidily creating opportunities that made the batters think again. It was
Nicka’s tidy bowling that brought the first wicket. His line and length created uncertainty for the
batters and when they could run a quick two, it was none-other than DS fielding at fine leg, who
threw the ball in for Mac to take the bails off. Despite the first wicket going down and the adulationit brought, frustration was getting the better of the Health as dropped catches were mounting and
stumping attempts were being ignored. However, their efforts were not to go without reward as
Nicka finished on 8-3-11-0 and Will finished on figures of 8-2-48-1. Well bowled Nicka and Will. Soon
after drinks, JP and opening batter Dan Dunn were given the task of trying to break this impressive
partnership that had been knocking the ball around calmly, but consistently. When the good balls
came, they defended well and waited for the odd bad ball to be put away. Just like the Health
innings, there were chances towards the end, but those chances came and disappeared. Eventually,
with 5 overs left, Springhill wrapped up the victory and left some of the Health despondent. JP
finished on 5.5-0-44-0 and Dan finished on 2-0-17-0.

Despite the loss, a valiant effort was made by all who participated and hopefully a first win of the
season is not that far away for the Health. But it’s onwards and upwards for our next fixture away at
Wellington, a fixture that many will be looking forward to, fingers crossed that we will have the
weather for it.