Tibbys Previews Week 1: Let’s get ready to ruuuummmbbble!!!

After a superb pre-season the Rams kick off their EAPL campaign with the short trip to Burwell and Exning. It is some years since the Clubs last met competitively, and long before their respective mergers. Burwell were placed in the North division of the mini EAPL last year and so Saturday will bring our first EAPL game against our old foes.

The sense of unknown will be heightened as the Burwell squad has undergone a major overhaul. Significantly last year’s skipper, and Sawston old boy, Sam Rippington has left and that will leave a hole in terms of quality and sheer number of overs to be bowled. New skipper Tom Griffiths stated that they took the opportunity to blood a few youngsters last year, hoping that this will reap long term dividends. He is also more bullish about his side’s prospects with the Club aiming to move forward rather than just consolidating in the lower reaches of the EAPL. To back this optimism the Club has recruited five new players.

They have gone for youth with two young South African’s James Hickman and Tony Dezorzi, and seventeen-year-old Olly Jeffries (who we know from Eaton Socon). The two Saffers have experience at SA Under-19 level whilst Jeffries is also interesting Northants. Hickman is an opening bowler and Dezorzi a middle order batter, from memory Jeffries is an opener who bowls some tidy leg spin. They have also recruited all-rounder Alex Woolliscroft from the Derbyshire Premier League and Matt Jones an opening bowler from Berkshire. They aim to marry this youth with experience from the likes of the Skipper, Tim Catley, Joe Tetley, Jay Ghelani and Jamie Seabrooke.

They warmed up last weekend with a narrow defeat to Eaton Socon and a comfortable win against Foxton. SBCC in contrast are able to fall back on a great deal of stability with all of the 2019 and 2020 squad still on board. On top of this new recruits Noah Thain, Ant Phillips and Leicestershire’s Rishi Patel will add to the depth and quality of the side. The Rams are also boosted by the recruitment of a new old boy or an old new boy in the shape of Club talisman Matthew Hague.

The first team enjoyed a highly successful pre-season with four wins from four, and everyone getting time in the middle or with ball in hand. Skipper Dan Heath, has been pleased with the preparation but has some tricky selection issues to think over before naming his starting eleven from a full strength squad. Both sides will be looking for that confidence boosting first win. Saturday’s game is over the shorter 50 overs a side format.

The Rams second team also start their pre-season preparation with a visit to higher grade rivals Saffron Walden II’s on Sunday. Skipper Nick Griggs has named a strong eleven that includes new boys James Drummond, Ant Phillips and Ollie North as well as much of last year’s squad. This strong squad together with a few waiting in the wings underlines the overall greater depth in the squad and the Club as a whole. The skipper is looking forward to the increased challenge that the Cambridge and Hunts Premier will bring this term. It should be a big step up but its one welcomed by the skipper and his team.

The third’s also kick off their preseason with a trip to Longstowe. Captain Jake Ellis has named a strong looking squad with a mix of third and fourth teamers, Dom Cameron comes in for his official debut and Abhik Mukhopadhyay and Wes Potschul return after a bit of an absence.