Tibbsy's Weekend Preview! 24th/25th April
The Rams welcome 2019, and I guess because of the strange year of 2020, and still reigning champions Frinton on Sea CC to Spicers. This will be SBCC first home game of the season. Having performed very major surgery to the square at the end of last year, there is a little extra nervousness in the camp, not least from Alan and Marc our fantastic ground staff.
We were very pleased to have doubled the 2019 Champions last year, including that fantastic win and performance at Frinton, at the back end of last season. I think there are a few that cannot wait for the next trip to the seaside, whether Frinton are ready for another 5th team invasion is debatable. As we have said before, last season is no real barometer for this season and now, we have lost the element of surprise the gloves will be off and we expect a very stern examination. At least with Essex in County Championship action we do not expect too many Essex first teamers to be playing, unlike when Messrs’ Brown and Wheater rocked up at Frinton last year.
That said we will be looking to build on our first day win at Burwell and be looking to be among the early pace setters. Matthew Hague became our second EAPL centurion last week, following Waqas Hussain’s one at Ipswich last year. No one has achieved the feat at Sawston for the Rams yet, but this week would be a good time to break that duck!
On the subject of form players, the opposition is likely to include Joshua Rymell, who is contracted to Essex, who hit 101 retired in the last pre-season game and made it back-to-back 101’s in last week’s game against Great Witchingham. Frinton will be smarting from that first day defeat having posted 317 for 5. However, Sam Athurton had a day to remember as his 191 not out took the visitors to an incredible three wicket victory. With George Darlow’s nasty injury, sustained playing for Bedfordshire, on Sunday, ruling him out for a good while skipper Dan Heath, has had to juggle things around with Josh Jordan and Michael Cafferkey coming in for Darlow and A P Stafford. Dan who has had great success with the coin so far this year may well be thinking that it may be a good toss to lose on Saturday.
The thirds are also in action on Saturday, and like the first team are scheduled to make their first home start of the season at Babraham. Fresh from a sparkling ten wicket victory at Longstowe skipper Jake Ellis is having a look at more squad player’s this week. His ace in the pack Sean Jenkins is down for a first appearance and is joined by Scott Barker, Rob Benson and Jonathan Windsor. Last week’s debutant, Dom Cameron fresh from his five-wicket haul will be looking for some time in the middle before the league campaign starts.
The seconds will also be looking to maintain a positive start when they make the trip to Southill Park on Sunday. Nick Griggs is able to name a very strong side with new signing Tom Barnard joining last week’s debutants Ant Palmer and Olly North. This game is also the Ann Prior Memorial Match, in memory of our late scorer and Southill Park club stalwart Ann who died suddenly, following the end of our 2019 season. It will be great to meet up with John and his family and reminisce. Most of the guys will be wary of traffic delays, and on field misdemeanours as the new fine system begins to bite.