A bad day at the office!

It was a bad day at the office for the Rams as both the 1st and 2nd teams suffered disappointing results. T

he first team surrended the only remaining unbeaten record in EAPL when they were soundly beaten away at Mildenhall on Saturday. The home side won the toss and not surprisingly inserted the visitors on a surface that looked a bit under done. Callum Guest Sawston’s leading run scorer again showed his class in his new role as opener as he almost followed up last week’s magnificent century with another. The opener carried his bat last week and was seventh out this week. He shared stands of twenty-five with Charlie Lewis (11) and thirty-one with Luke Spears (25). Sawston skipper Dan Heath in at four became Tristan Blackledge’s (2-62) second victim and Jack Loveday (1-30) backed him up at leave the Rams at 59 for 3. Debutant Ant Phillips (25 from 59 balls) on his promotion from the seconds then helped Guest to repair the damage before he became the first victim for the experienced Tom Rash (2-47). Guest and Phillips had taken the score to 115.

Ben Clilverd’s run drought continued as Rash dismissed him to leave the Rams on 117 for 5. Tim Moses has played a number of innings rescuing roles in recent week’s and again stepped up to the mark on Saturday. The tall left handed made light of the surface and the situation as he scored forty-six of just fifty balls, as he and Guest added sixty-six precious runs before succumbing to Matt Allen (1-38). Guest (84 from 126 balls with just 8 boundaries) had just got the score to 200 when he was run out by Joe Tetley. Peter Hatzoglou with 26 not out (from 24 balls) tried to assist the tail in adding vital runs but his efforts were undone as Mildenhall’s own overseas Naveen Gunawardena (2-50) ensured the Rams was all out for 229.

The Rams would have been delighted to see Jack Potticary (23), who is often a thorn in their side, and Ollie Jeffries (4) depart early as Clilverd (3-63) made too early breakthroughs. Skipper Darren Ironside was joined by Joe Tetley, another regular nemesis of the Rams, and they steadied the ship before Ironside became Clilverd’s third victim. However, Tetley and Suffolk white-ball skipper Tom Rash ensured the spoils were enjoyed and celebrated in Suffolk as they added almost 150 runs to take the home side to a stunning seven wicket victory. Tetley finished on 101 from 94 balls (17 x 4) and Rash on 67 (from 102 balls). The Rams ruing an early chance given by Tetley.

This is Mildenhall’s first victory of the Rams since the Sawston outfit’s promotion to the EAPL, and it has confirmed Mildenhall’s pedigree following an impressive 2021 campaign. The Suffolk side now sit second and need a win at Swardeston next week to catch the Rams at the summit of the table. The Rams can lick their wounds and re-group during their week off. Swardeston bounced back in dramatic style to heavily defeat Frinton, as the 2019 Champions find themselves propping up the division. Saffron Walden hauled themselves above Frinton with a home win against Bury. Third placed Copdock hung on for a draw as they chased for a victory at Horsford.

The Rams lack of batting, made worse by Ant Phillips’s promotion, finally came back to bite them as they suffered a disappointing defeat at home to Kimbolton. The Sawston second team have been carried by the bowling unit in recent week’s and g=followed up last week’s demolition of Foxton Granta by dismissing the visitors for just 114. Chris Dixon (3-29) again spearheaded the attack before skipper Nick Griggs (3-4) and Matt Day (2-16) inflicted further damage. James Gould (26) was the only significant scorer as Isaac Clarke and Lee Ingram both added 15 runs each as the tail wagged a bit. Ingram out to an absolute worldy as Matt Day clung onto a full length catch. Unfortunately for the Rams Kimbolton then produced two stunning catches of their own to remove two of the Rams top three with Gould and Tom Parratt taking the plaudit. Robbie Matthews’ patient 27 from 59 balls kept the Rams in the hunt before Kimbolton’s overseas Heinrich Dippenaar (4-30) slammed to door to back up Mark Roberts (2-19) and veteran Martin Moore (2-27) to dismiss the home side for 91 and an a much needed victory.

The third team managed to salvage some Club pride when they recorded a comfortable 86 run win at home against Aspenden, Standon and Puckeridge CC. The Rams were given a solid start after surprisingly being asked to bat on what is usually a reliable surface at Babraham. Gareth Everson (30) and Alex Day (35) both got starts but it was Sanish Gopalan (67) who made the most significant contribution. Sanish was unlucky to be released by the 2nd team, who perhaps may have regretted the decision in hindsight!. The Rams finished on 214 for 9 with Albon (3-43) perhaps restricting the damage after the Fitzgerald’s had picked up a brace apiece. Jon Windsor was on fire with the ball as he picked up 5-49 with excellent support from Joe Greenstock (2-11) and wickets for Sam Browne, the returning Joe Latham and Gopalan. Jon Steel (46) the visitors opener had given them brief hope but wickets tumbled at the other end. It need a spirited 21 from number eleven Aaron Ricketts to get Aspenden to 128. With a run of three home games skipper Jake Ellis is hoping that this win will get his side’s season moving once again.