Rams in search of 3 in a row

The Rams return to action on Saturday looking to make it three in a row for the first time this season. They face their closest geographical rivals Saffron Walden at Spicers. It is only in the last four or five years where the pecking order has been reversed with the Rams enjoying unprecedented success in general and against this opposition. For the other forty-odd years of my association with the Rams we have regularly been the whipping boys for our Essex neighbours. The terrific results and performances against two of the strongest sides in the league, Copdock and Swardeston will count for nothing unless we can overcome the Crocus.

Earlier this year three half centuries from Guest, Claydon and Evans and nine wickets for our left arm spin twins Darlow (6-37) and Beaumont (3-21) propelled the Rams to a sixty-run victory at the Anglo-American Playing Fields. For much of the first half of the season Walden have struggled amongst the lower reaches of the table. Of late they have improved and have been bolstered by the return of Nick Taylor and a return to fitness of Ali Hancock as well as some encouraging performances from a number of the squad. Tom Bonham and overseas Brynn Mendel have been the top scorers so far with Cambs player Sam Robinson leading the way with the ball. They pushed Mildenhall very close two weeks ago and chased down two hundred and fifty plus to win against Witchingham last time out. They have given themselves a full match breathing space between themselves and Frinton who are currently bottom. They are bound to raise their game, as they always do, when local pride is at stake.

The Rams will be pleased that the middle order got time in the middle and runs last week, and delighted with the excellent performances put in by the Rams for Suffolk and Bedfordshire in their three day game at the start of the week. It will be interesting to hear the differing accounts from Messrs. Beaumont and Darlow. It was also good to see Alex Evans get some more overs under his belt, as his skills may be needed at the weekend. Callum Guest knocked off his perch, last weekend, at the top of the run scorers’ chart will be eager to catch up. We have three bowlers in the top ten league wicket takers with James Vandepeer leading the way from George Darlow who is just two ahead of Guest.

Elsewhere Mildenhall travel to Norfolk for the potentially tricky tie at Witchingham, who may have EAPL legend and former Swardeston talisman Joe Gatting in the side. Second placed Copdock visit the improving AB Wanderers. Frinton badly in a need of a win have a home tie against third placed Horsford. Two other sides in need of a win Sudbury and Witham entertain Bury and Swardeston respectively.

The seconds who are also looking for a hat-trick of wins, now I for one wasn’t expecting to say that this season, visit Walden in the reverse fixture. The side from Essex will be keen to avoid their own hat-trick as they have lost two in a row going into Saturday’s match. The home side sit just seven points and two places higher than the Rams. In the personal stats battle the batters are fairly evenly placed with Machado and Bailey for the Rams being matched by Keelan Mendel and Mahir Chandraker. The Rams however seem to have an advantage with the ball as Phillips, Bailey, Machado and Raven all appear ahead in the standings of Mendel the highest placed Crocus.

The third team entertain Foxton perhaps needing a victory to keep, and open up, the gap on their opponents in this ultra-tight division. The Rams have three defeats in the last five but their opponents have lost the last four! Skipper Jake Ellis will hope that availability is good from the sides above and with no fourth team game there should be numerous players to pick from.

It’s a big day on Sunday when the Rams play in the regional play-off final at Bury. They face Oundle in the first semi with a meeting against ex-Ram Nathan Buck and his Rothley Park teammates in the final should both teams get through the semis. The Rams are hampered however as Cambridgeshire have their NCCA Trophy (50 over) semi-final away in Norfolk on the same day! Just our luck! Oundle should also be missing Harrison Craig as he is likely to be on duty for Cambs.