Its squeaky Bum time!
The first team have just three games left in EAPL 2024 and face a potentially tricky tie when they visit AB Wanderers for the first time in the league. Fortunately, it will not be totally new territory as the Rams enjoyed their EAPL T20 title win at Barton Turf. The ‘new’ boys have acquitted themselves brilliantly in their debut season and they must be delighted with what looks like being a comfortable mid-table finish. Which for most sides would be considered a huge success. The sides ‘enjoyed’ a tie, or in EAPL parlance a draw with equal scores, earlier in the season in a rain effected red ball game.
The Norfolk outfit are a well-balanced side and many of their players have put their hands up at some point. Statistically Joe Everett with over six hundred league runs, sits third in the top run scorers league, just behind Sam Arthurton and our own Callum Guest. On the bowling front Romario Roach sits joint fifth buts trails second placed James Vandepeer by five wickets.
The only change from the last game played is that skipper Dan Heath is out with a broken toe and Lee Thomason comes in and will take the gloves.
The run in for the title contenders is:
SBCC = (A) AB Wanderers / (H) Sudbury / (A) Frinton
Horsford - (H) Swardeston / (A) Saffron Walden / (H) GT Witchingham
Copdock & O.I - (A) Bury / (A) Mildenhall / (H) Swardeston
Mildenhall - (A) Witham / (H) Copdock & O.I / (A) AB Wanderers
So, with the exception of the Copdock v Mildenhall tie which will knock one of the sides out of contention its looking like someone will need to win all their remaining games to lift the trophy! It appears that the EAPL management may need a helicopter on standby to deliver the Cup on the last day of the season.
The Rams second team face the other side that has spent most of the season in the bottom two when they host Old Leysians at Spicers. Like the Rams they are making a late bid to avoid relegation, their feat even more remarkable given that they had a fifty-point penalty. On their day they are still potentially a top four side but perhaps do not have the strength in depth. Both sides will be looking for a win or at least more points than Southill Park, Walden II’s and Blunham who all have challenging games. Both sides have at least a thirty-five-point cushion to avoid the drop. Mathematically the Rams will need thirty-six points from their last three games to avoid the drop.
Last week’s washout at least confirmed that the Rams thirds will play Junior One cricket again next year. They face Birchanger who will be promoted as runners-up in the final game of the season at Babraham. Although the pressure is off, I’m sure Jake Ellis and his side will want to finish on a high note and add the scalp of another of the promoted sides to the double they achieved over champions Bassingbourn.
The fourths finish their season with a trip over the bridge to Stapleford, looking for a double over one of their closest rivals. With Stapleford captained by ex-Ram Gareth Everson it should be a good game to finish the season on. Once again, we have gone through another season without a default and more pleasingly ‘blooded’ another batch of juniors as they start their, hopefully long, journeys as Senior Rams!