Welcoming the Champions

Saturday sees a big event in Sawston, and no I’m not talking about the annual visit of the funfair! Swardeston the reigning EAPL champions visit the Rams in a clash between the two sides that have won the EAPL in the last four years. Swardeston’s wins in 2020 and 2023 sandwich SBCC’s triumphs in 2021 and 2022. Indeed, the side from Norfolk are the only side to finish above the Rams in our four years in the competition! Saturday’s clash sees both sides on identical records one win, one defeat and one cancellation and with both sides in unfamiliar territory with the Norfolk outfit in sixth and the Rams one place behind in seventh. Both will want a win to close the gap on those above them and hope the strange and unpredictable results continue for the others.

Elsewhere on Saturday the two unbeaten sides in EAPL 2024 Copdock and Sudbury visit Witham and Horsford respectively. Bury travel to AB Wanderers for a Norfolk derby and Mildenhall travel to Frinton, the latter hoping that it’s third time lucky following two earlier home game cancellations for the Essex club. The bottom two Great Witchingham and Saffron Walden meet in Norfolk with home hopes high that they will at last see some return on their investment!

Swardeston, are very similar to the Rams in many ways, whilst both sides possess some excellent individuals it is the collective and squad depth, allied to an outstanding will to win that has perhaps set them apart in recent seasons. That statement is perhaps a little unfair on their overseas Saranga Rajaguru who had a stellar year last year picking up fifty league wickets and just over five hundred runs, with some match winning knocks amongst them. He has had a slow start this year with the ball but is as dangerous as ever with the willow.  He was ably backed up last year by Callum Taylor (36 wickets), Matthew Taylor and Adam Todd (25 each) with the ball and with the bat by Jordan Taylor and Lewis Denmark who both added over five hundred league runs at the top of the order.

Last season the honours were even with the Rams somehow winning the limited overs clash at Sawston, thanks largely to Alex Evans’ fireworks, but the Norfolk side gained revenge and a significant victory in the long format game on the Common. Although we can claim a points victory over the two matches it was perhaps Swardeston’s greater consistency that won them the title in 2023.

Sawston will be hoping that Ben Claydon’s excellent trot with the bat continues following an excellent weekend for his ‘new’ county, Cambridgeshire. Skipper Dan Heath makes a couple of enforced changes with Yousuf Choudhary (exams) and Ben Clilverd (injured) not available. He is, however, delighted to have Noah Thain in for his seasonal debut, as Essex have no game, and Ethan Rice returns.

The Rams second team face another tough trip in the Onyx Premier One when they travel to Caldecote, to face St. Giles who have been amongst the challengers in recent seasons. Skipper Ant Phillips will be hoping that the side shows continued improvement in both performances and availability as the side attempt to find their feet in their new division. Despite his injury first team regular Ben Clilverd plays for the second team as a batter. The home side are skippered by Noah’s elder brother Sam. They are a good all-round side but they have had an inconsistent start with a defeat at Ramsey (not an easy trip for anyone), a crushing victory over Saffron Walden II’s and perhaps a surprising defeat at Blunham. They sit seventh in the table four places above the Rams.

The third team have a tough looking fixture at home against Rickling Ramblers who came down from Senior 3 last year. The Rams skipper, Jake Ellis, will be hoping that his side can emulate his midweek side by getting off the mark with a home win. Improved availability means that he recalls Liam Flynn from second team duties and holds on to second team squad members Luke Herholdt and Jake Paris. There are seasonal debuts for Niall Barber, Oli Borley and Arya Saeb-Parsy, and he is delighted to welcome back his former lieutenant and all-rounder Dom Cameron after a year away. Youngster Alex Miles retains his place after impressing last weekend when called up from the fourths. The Ramblers have yet to play any cricket this season with no league game last weekend and one cancellation and one concession in their midweek program.

There is no cricket for our fourth eleven this weekend.

The Club and home ground will be buzzing on Friday night as our All-Stars and Dynamos program kicks off.