Massive weekend for The Rams
I know I’m beginning, or continuing, to sound like a broken record! However, hard on the heals of three big weekends comes another one. This week the EAPL and Cambs and Hunts Premier leagues return to PJ’s and the pink ball game.
For the Club not only have we four Saturday games but we are also hosting our first ever National Counties three-day game when Cambridgeshire meet Northumberland, starting on Sunday. We have taken on this fixture at short notice and the fact that we were considered is down to the efforts of our groundstaff, both Council (Will and team) and our volunteers (Dave and team). I’m equally sure that part of the decision-making process to award us the game is also down to the efforts of our hospitality crew (Louise and team) and our off-field support team. I have visited a lot of grounds this year, and previously, and I’m totally convinced that our off-field team is the best around. This effort comes after hosting four days of midweek County Age Group fixtures for Cambridgeshire! We should also thank the Parish Council for their help and permission for Cambridgeshire to use the ground and to allow us to showcase the excellent facility.
In the premier league we are entering the final couple of furlongs of the EAPL race where all games can have a massive impact on each team’s fortunes, at both ends of the table, as the shorter format is win or lose cricket and the points swing can be at least fifteen over your opponents. The Rams visit Great Witchingham. I don’t think my health would stand a repeat of that red ball nail biter where all four results were still possible up to the last ball. In the past SBCC have enjoyed their trips to Walcis Park, especially in clinching the title there in 2021, but as the financial advisors would say past performance is no guarantee of future success!
The home side have generated a lot of the headlines this year with a number of marquee signings but have been inconsistent on the field. They currently sit seventh in the table but are some fifty points adrift of sixth, so unless they have a dramatic run to the line that may be the best they can expect. They have lost their last couple of games, against Mildenhall and Walden, but before that they had a moral boosting win over Swardeston. Any side that beats Swardeston have to be respected. It is rumoured that Jake Weatherald has been recalled to Australia and of course they recently lost the long serving Andy Hanby to Copdock. However, both Monty Panesar and Phil Mustard have been regularly available and on Saturday they may give a debut to former EAPL legend Joe Gatting, who is back in the UK from Australia.
The Rams are delighted to name an unchanged line up as they look to make it four in a row. This is almost an unprecedented luxury. In recent week’s a lot of the squad have turned in major contributions in the winning run and skipper Dan Heath will be pleased to have retained all of the squad’s versatility for the tricky trip into Norfolk.
Elsewhere the game of the day sees leaders Mildenhall take on fourth placed Horsford, as the Norfolk side look to maintain their title challenge. Towards the bottom the two Essex sides in need of a win Walden and Witham meet at the Anglo American Playing Fields. In the other games its top half versus bottom half as second placed Copdock host struggling Sudbury, Bury host Frinton, and AB Wanderers visit the Common to face up to multi-title winning Swardeston. With the table tight at both ends the potential for massive points swings could have its first major impact on what looks like being an exciting end to the season.
The seconds are also looking to extend their record-breaking run to four on the trot but face the severest of challenges when they entertain leaders Ramsey. On the bright side at least, we are guaranteed a victory for the Rams, as both sides share the nickname! The team from the Fens went back to the summit last week when they did SBCC a huge favour by demolishing Southill Park. The Ramsey side is packed with quality with Michael Cafferkey and Ben Saunders sitting in the top two of the run scorers in the division, and their overseas, Sundan Mandushanka, sitting ten clear, with forty-five, in the race to be the top wicket-taker in the division. Fortunately for the SBCC Rams most of their rivals at the lower end of the division also face tough assignments on Saturday.
The Third team return to Babraham Park badly in need of a victory to keep them outside of the relegation dogfight, in the ultra-competitive Junior 1 South where five sides are pushing for a promotion place but could just as easily be relegated instead! The Rams face Newport, who despite being bottom are a very dangerous opponent on their day.
The fourths have a short trip to Thriplow, or more likely to Fowlmere, where it is likely that at least another one of our juniors will make his senior debut. Its third versus fourth with the Rams looking for a victory to leapfrog their neighbours. However, as usual playing the game is far more important than the result at this level. The benefits of player development far outweigh gaining twenty points.