V Highwood Park (03/07/16)

Walsall Health CC 99 all out (34.4 ovs) lost to Highwood Park CC 103-5 (22.5 ovs) by 5 wickets

The Elf suffered their first loss to Highwood Park since before 2014 in a low scoring affair in Aldridge.

Playing their first game of July, stand in skipper for the day, Dave Stephens lost the toss and was asked to bat by his opposing number.

Usual opener Ian Chuck was joined by Nathan Martin or ‘Larkin’ as he is now affectionately called by his team mates. Chuck and Nath put on a decent opening stand of 38 before Larkin was caught at a deepish mid on for 13.

Chuck was then joined by his more common opening partner, Andy Gorton, fresh from a three day golfing weekend, Gort was looking to tee off against a more familiar bowling attack. Unfortunately, this was not to be. Gort was caught behind off the bowling of Holiday for 6 which started a magnificent batting collapse similar to England in the 1990s you might add.

Nathan Reeves who was in and out ‘oke coke’ style, he hit his second ball for two but was bowled by his third. Chuck was next to go, he was triggered by Larkin for 34 even though the Kolpak player was adamant he hit it. Surprisingly though, there were no fireworks in the changing room after and Chuck seemed relatively calm after being given out.

Next in on debut was new recruit Andy Carrick. A strange choice as he is not from the Rob Hewlitt talent pool but recruited by Tom Davies down the pub. Carrick, a true Yorkshireman played some excellent shots for no reward and tamely chipped Holiday to mid off for 2 on debut. Two ducks then followed. Firstly, Chris Hall for a rare ‘quack’ trapped in front by Holiday. Shortly after, Greg Philpott notched his third duck of the season when he was bowled by Perks.

Having been 61-1, the Elf were 68-7 and soon were 69-8 (way out of Stuart Slater territory) when JP was bowled for 1. Skipper for the day Dave Stephens was next to go with the score on 75 for 6, leaving him 22 short of his 1,000th run for The Elf. Matt Wright and Tom Davies put on 24 for the last wicket which included 5 boundaries. This was the second highest partnership of the game which summed up the Elf’s performance when your number 10 is also your second highest run scorer.

With only a feeble target to chase, Stephens and Davies opened but the skipper soon took himself off for Hall after getting harsh treatment by Holiday in his second over. Davies at the other end was not getting such bad luck, in his opening spell he picked up 2 wickets off his 5 overs for only 4 runs.

The moment the match could have turned the game around but it didn’t. It happened at the other end when Hall thought for all money he had trapped Smith plumb in front on a duck which would have had Highwood Park 30-3 and on the ropes but the one person that mattered did not raise his finger.

Even the opposing players after the game suggested it was plumb. Unfortunately with no DRS at such village level, Hall had to take his medicine which hardly seemed fair for such a good delivery.

Hall did eventually get Smith for 19 from a good catch by Philpott at mid on but the score had progressed well into the 50s and the situation looked bleak. Nath Martin also bowled but has now overtaken Davies as the most unlucky bowler in the side, his four overs going for 15 and no reward.

The next two bowlers brought in by Stephens managed to pick up a wicket. Carrick on debut bowled a couple of pies before finally the Elf got an LBW, when the same umpire raised his finger, this time the score on 93 and only 7 to record victory.

This didn’t happen before Wright picked up Hutton for a duck, a nice take from behind the stumps by Andy Gorton.

A bit of a damp squib in the end for The Elf, who would have backed themselves to be victorious. All credit to the visitors who bowled superbly on an awkward track, especially Holiday who went through his 8 overs five for thirteen.

The Elf must pick themselves up for a tough fixture against Oak n Ash next week who have proved themselves to be a strong outfit in the past

Man of the match – Tom Davies

Written by Tom Davies

Batting		Runs
Chuck, I	lbw (Triggered by Larkin)	34
Martin, N	c, b Holiday	13
Gorton, A	c behind, Holiday	6
Reeves, N	b Holiday	2
Hall, C	lbw Holiday	0
Carrick, A	c, b Holiday	2
Phillpott, G	b Perks	0
Stephens, D	b Brownhill	6
Preece, J	b Allsop	6
Davies, T	c, b Allsop	14
Wright, M	not out	8
Extras		13
Walsall Health		99

Bowling	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Stephens, D	2	0	16	0
Davies, T	5	2	4	2
Hall, C	5	1	25	1
Larkin, N	4	0	15	0
Chuck, I	3	0	13	0
Wright, M	2	0	15	1
Carrick, A	2	0	10	1

Batting

Bowling

V Beaumont (19/06/16)

Walsall Health 34-2 (12 ovs) BEAT Beaumont CC 68 all out (28 overs) by 16 runs via Duckworth Lewis

Elf win on Duckworth Lewis

For the first time since records began, the Elf were victorious via the Duckworth Lewis method on a rainy mid June afternoon in Aldridge.

Captain Hewlitt won the toss and invited the visitors to bat first on a wicket that looked to favour the bowlers. With overcast conditions also helping the ball swing like a cul-de-sac in Solihull, it was no surprise that Dave Stephens picked up the first wicket of ‘R Hodgson’ (shouldn’t he be in France?) for 11. However, this was not just ANY wicket, this was DS’ 100th wicket for the Elf. BIG HAND. With that he joined an elite club of players to reach that milestone. Soon after DS was up to 101 when he bowled Rando for 12. DS’ opening partner Nathan Martin, or as he is in the opposition’s book ‘N Larkin’ was again extremely unlucky to not pick up any further wickets himself, when their spells finished Beaumont were 27-2 from 12 overs. On at first change was Matt Wright who was straight into the action when Hall spooned a catch into Dollyland for skipper Hewlitt to re-open for the season. The away side nudged and nurdled their way to 55 before Davies and Wright took the final seven wickets between then for only thirteen runs. Khrisna was next to get when Tom Davies picked up his third (yes third) LBW of the season after his first ball of his spell was extremely close, it left Davies asking Hewlitt for the review.
The next over saw the end of Johnson off the bowling of Wright. Gary Fitzpatrick took a splendid catch out on the square leg boundary to see off a real dangerous batsmen. Wright moved to a ‘three for’ when we bowled Esp for three after the batsman had only survived a stumping shout because the ball had not passed the stumps for Gort to take. A real collector’s item was in store for the next wicket, Nathan Reeves gobbled up a catch at point for what has to be his first catch for the Elf. With Wrighty on a ‘Michelle’, Davies took aim and in his seventh over produced two deliveries that were no match for the Beaumont lower order. Hall had taken a few minutes to re strap his pads, move the sidescreen and scan the field leaving Davies at the top of his run up seething he could not start his over but with the first delivery he went to the McVities factory and produced an absolute jaffa which pitched on middle and swung away to clip the top of off. Davies then later in the over produced an ‘in ducker’ to Sandhu who was clean bowled. With one wicket remaining, screams of ‘jug avoidance’ for Wrighty when he could not get the illusive five for in his final over. It left Davies with his last deliver of his eight overs to trap Johnson in front to leave both bowlers a wicket short of a milestone.

Wright and Davies both produced career best figures for the Elf. Wrighty bowled his eight overs for 21 runs, 4 wickets and two maidens. Davies followed in the same fashion in the maiden and wicket column but only went for 14 runs from his spell.

With The Elf needing to chase a small target for victory, the rain began to fall but they decided to play the first 12 overs until tea and reconvene.

Elf nudged their way to 34 before the tea break for the loss of two wickets. Gort was triggered by Dave Stephens for 6 for the fourth LBW of the day and Nathan Reeves scored four before his was bowled. Gary Fitzpatrick was 12 not out the end with a couple of excellent shots to boot. Stuart Slater was 4 not out after crashing his first delivery to the boundary. At the tea interval it was decided that The Elf had to claim victory via The Duckworth Lewis method after demolishing the Beaumont batting line up.

A real top performance that was really about 3 people. Stephens for getting to a century of wickets and then Davies and Wright for producing career best spells with the leather.

The Spirit of the Elf lives on!

Batting		Runs
Gorton, A	lbw Granger	6
Fitspatrick, G	not out	12
Reeves, N	b Granger	4
Slater, S	not out	4
Hewlitt, R	dnb
Hall, C	dnb
Phillpott, G	dnb
Stephens, D	dnb
Martin, N	dnb
Davies, T	dnb
Wright, M	dnb
Extras		8
Walsall Health		34

Bowling	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Stephens, D	6	0	10	2
Martin, N	6	2	17	0
Wright, M	8	2	21	4
Davies, T	8	2	14	4

V Blackwood CC (05/06/16)

Walsall Health CC 181-5 (40 ovs) beat Blackwood CC 129 all out by 52 runs.

The Elf played their first game of the summer months at home to Blackwood after a long absence without a fixture against the side from Birmingham.

With temperatures in the twenties Rob Hewlitt won the toss and elected to bat first which was music to the ears of the Elf lads who all watched on a fantastic opening partnership from Gort & Chuck.

It took thirty overs for the visitors to get the breakthrough of Andy Gorton for 59, his first real runs of the season and a welcome boost to the side to finally side Gort cash in with the willow after rolling back the years so far in 2016 with the gloves with some exceptional keeping. Next in was Nathan Reeves who got a duck as the wickets started tumbling after the 145 (big hand) opening partnership.

Skipper Hewlitt was in next but to everyone’s surprise Ian Chuck walked after nicking off on 95 no less. Chuck now only has just over 200 runs to go to beat the Elf most runs in a season record which everyone is hoping the Kolpak player will achieve. Hewlitt made a steady 24 in quick time and ran well to up the run rate but was caught at mid off in the final over selflessly going for the runs. In next was presumptive fielder of the year & nailed on best looking player of the year Greg Phillpott who got off the mark to 3 before leaving a straight one the penultimate ball and got triggered plumb in front by Tom Davies.

Gary Fitzpatrick and JP Jonathan Preece were both left on 0 not out as The Elf set Blackwood 182 for victory.

D, Dunn and A, Dunn

A proud moment for the Dunns who are in contention of the Cat Stevens ‘father & son’ award behind Dave & Sam Stephens as they opened the bowling together for the first time. It took 20 balls until the first run was scored in the younger Dunn, Dan’s second over. Every player was sharp in the field to get the Elf off and running. The Blackwood opening batsmen teed off and hit a few boundaries but wickets started to tumble at the other end when elder Nicka Dunn got Garish caught behind for 4. Once the Dunns were replaced, old Wednesburyites Chris ‘Chally’ Hall and Tom ‘insert ginger nick name’ Davies came on and turned the screw.

Hall had Couchman caught very well at mid off by Dan Dunn and the away side were reeling on 49-4. The next wicket was off the bowling of Davies who knocked the bails off to run out Clarke off some excellent fielding by Phillipott whose work in the field was by no means done. By this time, the Blackwood opening batsman Milliard had played his way to 55 out of the 69 team total, leaving the scoreboard at the drinks break on Stuart Slater’s favourite scoreline, 69-4.
Slates would have been even more impressed when the next score change was to make it 69-5 when Tom Davies got Milliard to feather a delivery to Gort and the Elf were half way home.

Hewlitt showed excellent captaincy and brought on JP who picked up a wicket in his first over after another good catch from Phillpott to have Blackwood 98-6. Even better captaincy from Hewlitt who brought Dunn back on and after being hit for a few boundaries showed excellent skills to get Brennan LBW and continue on his merry way to cleaning up the tail in his second spell, which saw Phillpott take his second catch and also Chris Hall making a dipping catch over his shoulder into the low sun look terribly easy.

The Elf ran out winners by 52 runs in their second victory of the season and have come close in the two games they have chased in.

Next week sees the Elf travel to Whittington to face usual yearly opponents Lichfield Nomads.

Written by Tom Davies

Batting		Runs
Gorton, A	b Couchman	54
Chuck, I	c b Millard	95
Reeves, N	b Millard	0
Hewlitt, R	c. b Millard	24
Philpott, G	lwb Millard	3
Fitspatrick, G	Not out	0
Preece, J	Not out	0
Dunn, D	dnb
Hall, C	dnb
Davies, T	dnb
Dun, A	dnb
Extras		7
Walsall Health		181

Bowling	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Dunn, A	5	3	5	1
Dunn, D	5.3	1	43	3
Hall, C	8	2	24	1
Davies, T	6	0	24	1
Preece, J	3	0	27	2

V Aston Unity (28/05/16)

Aston Unity CC 169 all out (37.2 ovs) beat Walsall Health (138 all out 38.2 all out) by 31 runs

The Elf made the shortish trip across the second city to face Aston Unity in Bassett’s Pole on the second May Bank Holiday of the year.

In their third successive away fixture, The Elf welcomed back Ironman Chris Hall and all round sportsman Gary Fitzpatrick to the side on their season debuts. Captain Hewlitt lost the toss and was asked to bowl first by the opposition captain. Dave Stephens and Alan ‘Nicka’ Dunn opened the attack for The Elf. It was Stephens who got the first two wickets but not before Unity opener Maddams charged his way to a quick fire 57. Sterling was the first go, caught behind by Gorton. Maddams then fell going for one too many straight sixes and he was caught well at long on by Gary Fitzpatrick. The unsung hero of the partnership Dunn had bowled well too, with his six overs going for less than 20 runs. The first change bowlers came on in Hall and Tom Davies in what is becoming somewhat of a bowling tandem by the two men from the Black Country. In his first game back, Chris Hall flew through the Unity middle order and managed to get through his eight overs for the loss of 28 runs but more importantly three of the Unity middle order wickets. Davies at the other end picked up just the one wicket, a stumping after some fabulous work from Gorton behind the sticks to finish his eight overs for 19 runs and 1 wicket. Dan Dunn and Matt Wright then came on the slow the pace down a bit. The latter Wrighty picking up two wickets in his first over proving that you have to spin it to win it. When the Elf picked up the ninth wicket on 121 they thought they were in sight of an improbable victory but Unity had kept a few batsmen in the hutch and a partnership by numbers 9 and 11 hurried Unity onto 169 all out leaving the Elf the tough ask of reaching 170 for victory.

Gort and Chuck opened the innings but Gort was out cheaply for just a single. Nathan Reeves was next in, fresh from A & E after splitting his lip giving 110% as always in the field from a bobbling ball he showed great character to come in and post 7 runs before being bowled.

Hewlitt joined Chuck at the crease and a respectable partnership between the two saw the Elf never really get out of touch of their hosts. Hewlitt was eventually bowled for a well made 30 to steady the ship. Dave Stephens came in at 5 and made his way to a solid 14 runs before he was triggered by Nath Reeves. This left Chuck at the other end trying to win the game on his own and he unfortunately nicked off on 47 to leave the Elf on 109-5 needing 61 more off 11 overs to secure victory. The change in the game came when Unity brought on demon spinner McCarthy who cleaned up The Elf’s tail with some excellent bowling, too good for Sunday pub cricket. He took all five remaining wickets for only 8 runs off 5.2 overs to see off The Elf’s fight for victory. Only Chris Hall managed to score off the danger man and eventually finished 15 not out.

This was a good performance from The Elf who were always one or two batsmen short for this fixture. They played well against a strong outfit who clearly had some good cricketers in their ranks.

Written by Tom Davies

Batting		Runs
Gorton, A	c b Peel	1
Chuck, I	c b Wilkes	47
Reeves, N	b Peel	7
Hewlitt, R	b Wilkes	30
Stephens, D	LWB Frost	14
Fitspatrick, G	b McCarthy	8
Dunn, D	b McCarthy	0
Dunn, A	b McCarthy	0
Hall, C	not out	15
Davies, T	b McCarthy	1
Wright, M	b McCarthy	4
Extras		11
Walsall Health		138

Bowling	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Stephens, D	8	1	52	2
Dunn, A	8	0	26	1
Hall, C	8	1	28	3
Davies, T	8	2	19	1
Dunn, D	3	0	19	0
Wright, M	3	0	23	2

V Lapworth (22/05/16)

Walsall Health are singing in the rain as Lapworth Chuck it away

Walsall Health 215 all out (39.2 overs) def. Lapworth CC 128 all out by 87 runs

The Elf travelled down to rural Warwickshire for their third game of the season, their second as visitors on what was a ‘day after the day before’ for a few of the regulars after spending the previous 24 hours in Headlingley watching the mighty England.

A few old faces returned to the sides for their season debuts in Sam Stephens and Nathan Reeves.
Captain Hewlitt was third time lucky whilst tossing today and he correctly called and decided to bat first. Music to the ears to The Elf’s tail who were still sobering up from their day at the test.

Usual opening pair Chuck and Gorton strode out to the middle and had to face one of the better opening partnerships they would have ever faced.
Gorton was the first to go for 8 but a decent 35 run opening stand was good effort against some top bowling.
Sam Stephens was in at three but was bowled by the impressive Winters for a solitary run.
Nathan Reeves, fresh from military service hit a few lusty blows to the boundary but did went AWOL on 8.
Captain Hewlitt survived a couple of decent deliveries from first change bowler McCormick but eventually played on for two.
Dave Stephens was in at six and there were claims of child abuse when Stephens cashed in to the Lapworth youngster Dean’s bowling but was bowled by the impressive McCormick for 16.

0, 0, 29 – Greg Phillpott

In at seven was Elf suerman Greg Phillpott. Having already impressed with ball and with his excellent fielding (as well as being a tall dark and handsome good looking *expletive*) Philpott produced a top knock in the midst of chaos and put on an great sixth wicket partnership with Chuck of 88 to ready steady the ship for The Elf. Philpott went with the score on 171 after getting 28 himself, his first for the club.

Nathan Martin was next in and he and Chuck put on 29 to get the score exactly on 200 by the time Chuck was excellently caught by the Lapworth youngster Dean, who will remember that catch for a long time.
Like all good partnerships, when one partner leaves, so does the other. Martin fresh from doing the job as a barman the day before and clearing a table of drinks (by falling through it) was bowled for seven.
After a long tea/rain delay the Elf were back on and JP was soon to fall for a duck. Tom Davies and Matt Wright put on 15 for the last wicket until Wright was bowled by Batti for 9.

With 215 to chase, the hosts were straight out of the blocks with opener Arnold hitting the first three balls the boundary for 4. This was a sign of things to come as with other opener Winters Lapworth looked like they would be home in time for Songs of Praise but a shining light in their way Sam Stephens, had other ideas.
On at first change, Stephens bowled a great away swinger to Arnold who knicked off to Gort and the Elf were on their way. At this point the Elf had Lapworth 72-1 after nine overs.
Nathan Martin came back on and after a few expletives produced a quality over in which he got three wickets from 4 balls in a treble wicket maiden. Double dangles all around in fines after for a fine spell in which Martin took 4-55 after being blitzed by Arnold (which there was no shame of) early doors.
Dave Stephens got in on the act and produced a full length ‘Jonty Rhodes esque’ attempt at a catch but was not to be. Stephens finished his eight overs 3-30.
In what was a mini collapse for Lapworth having been 71-0 to 128 all out. Wright and Davies came on and took a wicket each.

The Elf celebrated their first of hopefully many wins of the season in what at one stage looked as though it would not happen. A really good team effort from all concerned.

Written by Tom Davies

Batting		Runs
Gorton, A	cb Arnold	8
Chuck, I	c dean b Batti	100
Stephens, S	b Winters	1
Reeves, N	c b Arnold	8
Hewlitt, R	b McCormick	2
Stephens, D	b McCormick	16
Phillpott, G	c b Batti	28
Martin, N	b Batti	7
Preece, J	ct b Dean	0
Wright, M	b Batti	9
Davies, T	not out	3
Extras		33
Walsall Health		215

Bowling	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Martin, N	8	2	55	4
Stephens, D	8	3	30	3
Stephens, S	2	0	8	1
Chuck, I	3	0	23	0
Davies, T	4	1	6	1
Wright, M	2	1	2	1

Man of the match – Ian Chuck for his first ton of the season for the Elf.

Dai Watch – Dai this week did not keep score in hut which was a good 3 miles from the pavilion, he instead chose to be sociable and score with the team which upset a few locals. Well done Dai. (I think he wanted to be closer to the sheep who were incredibly close to his vantage point in the first innings…true Welshman!)

Rach’s pop scene – Miss G this week was on scoreboard walkie talkie duty with Wright but also produced some epic chicken pakora.

AOB – Dave Stephen’s signal for the five penalty runs was like something out of Flashdance. A joy to behold.

Batting

Bowling

v Peopleton (08/05/16)

Peopleton 252-5 (40 ovs) beat Walsall Health 230 all out (37.4 overs)

The Elf travelled down to rural Worcestershire this week to play Peopleton in what turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far.

Skipper Hewlitt lost the toss and is now 0-2 in the tossing stakes this season. Unfortunately for the Elf, they were sent in to field in the sweltering early summer heat.

Opening bowlers Nathan Martin and Dave Stephens did an excellent job in restricting the home side to as few runs as possible in the opening exchanges. Stephens unlucky to have a catch dropped by Tom Davies at full stretch at point.

Davies came on at first change for Martin and in his fourth over two wickets fell. One was the run out of Seconde for 29 off a great throw from Martin. The ‘seconde’ wicket of the over was Lane who survived a loud LBW shout first ball but succumbed to Davies getting his ‘seconde’ LBW of the season the fourth ball of the over trapping him plumb in front.
After the drinks break the Elf stifled in the heat and a partnership of Jamil and Smith put the home side in the driver’s seat. This was broken by Elf spinner Jonathan Preece whose brother David took a very good catch to see off Jamil for 42.

Another good partnership by Smith and Bird saw Peopleton bring up their 200 and Smith his 100 before Greg Philipott (who was excellent in the field as well as with the ball) took two wickets. One a caught and bowled and the second a superb catch from safe hands Matt Wright showing his team mates how it’s done taking a good catch.

The Elf battled but could not restrict the home team to less than 252, Nathan Martin once again imperious with the ball and once again very unfortunate to not have a wicket finishing with 8 overs going for 24 runs.

The Elf opened up their innings with Ian Chuck and Dave Preece, they put on a decent opening stand of 40 until Preece was bowled for 9 in his first knock of the season.
Long serving Andy Gorton was in at three and he produced a few lusty blows until he was dismissed for 13.
Captain Hewlitt was in a four and he made a quick fire 32 to get The Elf back on track he even hit three sixes to boot.
The middle order wobbled a bit with Philpott making an early claim for the duck trophy by collecting his second duck in as many games.
Dave Stephens hit a beautiful straight six but was bowled for one more than that and youngster Dan Dunn was triggered first ball to leave the Elf batsman scrambling for their gear in the hutch.
Nathan Martin joined Chuck who had easily made his second fifty of the season by this point but both men went in quick succession going for the win. Chuck eventually going for a really well made 77, already staking his claim for the 2016 batting trophy.

Davies was quickly bowled scoring a solitary run which left the Elf 199-9 needing 54 of the final six overs until the unthinkable nearly happened….

Matt Wright and JP put on a 31 run partnership in quick time, Wright hitting four boundaries to take the Elf to within 23 of victory but was bowled going for the win.

All in all a good game of cricket from both sides played the right way. The Elf’s next game is away at Lapworth in two weeks time where they will be trying to get their first win of the season.

Written by Tom Davies

Batting		Runs
Chuck, I	b Reason	77
Preece, D	b West	9
Gorton, A	b	13
Hewlett, R	b Reason	32
Philpott, G	b Reason	0
Stephens, D	b Reason	7
Martin, N	b Reason c ?	6
Dunn, D	lbw Tanner	0
Preece, J	Not out	5
Davies, T	b Clarke	1
Wright, M	b West	20
Extras		60
Walsall Health		230

Bowling	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Martin, N	8	1	24	0
Stephens, D	4	1	33	0
Davies, T	5	0	33	1
Dunn, D	6	0	43	0
Wright, M	5	0	42	1
Philpott, G	4	0	36	2

Bowling

Batting

V Sportsman (24/04/16)

24th of April 2016

Walsall Health V Sportsman @ Aldridge

Sportsman CC (126-2) def. Walsall Health CC (123 all out) by 8 wickets

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Rich Fell on his 200th appearance for the club.

The Elf kicked off their 2016 campaign a week later than planned after last week’s opener was called off due to a rather moist outfield. New skipper Rob ‘Hewlitt the dogs out?’ did a great job flipping the coin at the toss but the opposing captain decided to stick the Elf in on what was definitely a ‘bowl first’ morning.

Rich Fell (who had flown in every member of his family) strode out to the middle for his 200th game for the Elf, in what is seen by all as a fantastic achievement.

He was joined by Sportsman CC’s arch nemesis Ian Chuck, after last year’s ‘glove gate’ scandal he may want to trade in his ‘iChuck’ t-shirt for a newer ‘iGlove’ model.

The Elf openers battled through the first few overs with Rich Fell using everything but his bat but he was removed for a single digit after missing a straight one. Chuck was joined at the crease by Greg Philpott on debut who gallantly charged down the track to Walder who was bowling decent pace but the Elf debutant failed to trouble the scorers. Everyone’s favourite Blues fan Lyndon Billingham was the next in and after a few meaty blows to the boundary he was also dismissed for 9. None of this seemed to phase Chuck at the other end who was plodding along nicely into the twenties. Hewlitt joined Chuck but was clean bowled for one after ‘playing all round a straight one’ to his own admission for the same score as Fell. Stuart Slater, The Elf’s very own playboy was next in (modelling a rather swarve pair of slick white Calvins in the changing room after) he managed two before he was back in the hut. Dave Stephens became the first golden duck of the day (but not the last) the very next ball. Nathan Martin joined Chuck and the pair put on a handy 38 run partnership for the seventh wicket. Martin’s runs down the order have become extremely valuable to the Elf in recent years and this year was no different. He was bowled for fifteen. Blink and you’ll miss it, Tom Davies was next in but was bowled for the second golden duck of the day. JP Jonathan Preece was next in and he became only the third batsman to reach double figures with ten handy runs down the order. The next man to go was the valiant Chuck who has battled his way through more than thirty overs to score fifty-eight on what was a difficult day for runs.

The Elf set the Sportsman 124 for victory and the lads piled in for tea. On return from a brisk shower over the tea period Nathan Martin and Dan Armstrong bowled the first ten overs for a little over 30 between them. It really was a top effort from both men for no reward. Martin topped the bowling figures with five overs, one maiden, none for eleven. The only two wickers for The Elf came from the first change bowlers. Dave Stephens came on and bowled Patel for a well made 18. The second wicket of the day was a moment most of the Elf contingent have been waiting a long time for.

In the middle of his fourth over Tom Davies (post mini meltdown after bowling a few no balls and full tosses) produced the ball of the day. It pitched on a good length just on off stump and nipped back the right-handed opener who missed the ball and it cannoned into his back pad just on the knee-roll. The whole of the Elf team including Davies could see that it was an absolutely stone dead LBW and for the first time in his Elf career, the umpire did not turn Davies down. As he turned around to look at the umpire the finger was already being raised and Davies had finally got an LBW at long last.

At drinks, the game was evenly poised at every cricketer’s favourite score, 69-2. But a few hefty blows from the Sportsman CC to both Phillpott and Preece saw them reach their total by the 25th over and the game was done. A big hand to the visitors who would have impressed many a fisherman with their tight lines in their bowling display but a lot of their batting shots were aerial and if the Elf would have had men in the right places, it could have had a different story to their bowling.

All in all, it’s good to get the season off to a start but just a few unfortunate factors led to The Elf not being able to pull off the victory, hats off to the visitors who played well.

Batting		Runs
Fell, R	b Sangha	1
Chuck, I	run out	58
Phillpott, G	b Walden	0
Billingham, L	b Sayad	9
Hewlitt, R	b Zohib	1
Slater, S	b Nasser	2
Stephens, D	lbw b Nasser	0
Martin, N	b Walden	15
Davies, T	b Sayad	0
Preece, J	b Nasser	10
Armstrong, D	not out	2
Extras		24
Walsall Health		123

Bowling	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Martin, N	5	1	11	0
Armstrong, D	4	0	13	0
Stephens, D	6	0	36	1
Davies, T	6	0	25	1
Phillpott, G	1.3	0	22	0
Preece, J	1	0	11	0

Man of the Match – I.Chuck for an excellent innings with a few real class shots to post the first of many half centuries of the season.

Rach’s pop scene – Rach was only in attendance for the first innings of which she spent the majority of it indoors due to the Baltic like conditions. She was also quick to dismiss any kind of romantic relationship with Davies after being questioned by one of the locals.

Dai watch – This week, Dai braved the weather to score in what mustn’t have been the friendliest conditions. Big hand for Dai.

AOB – There are new showers in the home changing rooms at Aldridge which give the boys’ ‘shower club’ a new meaning with mood lighting and everything.

Report by Tom Davies.

Batting

Bowling

Walsall Health PU 2015

This years PU took place at the Red Lion in West Bromwich on Friday the 13th of November.

Can’t really remember a lot due to it being some time ago and plenty of beer tokens flying around on the night, so I’ll just go a head and post the winners for the season.