Ware CC 2014

Summary Review

Ware CC began 2014 with much to look forward to but with a degree of trepidation. The primary aim was for both

league sides to basically win more than they lose whilst remaining competitive, with the Sunday side and youth

section continue to build on the foundations laid over previous seasons. Further to this the aim was to bring forward

the younger players into the senior sides, giving them the opportunity to taste league cricket and hopefully flourish.

The first XI having accepted a three division demotion from division four to division seven presented a different

challenge, dropping three divisions was always going to be an eye-opener with respect to playing standards but was

seen as a way of providing the club with a more solid footing for the years to come, with a positive reaction required.

The second XI remained in division 11 (East) with the four division gap between the two sides seen as adequate, thus

enabling those 2's players stepping into the 1's with a chance to play without feeling out of their depth.

On top of this we also had the marquee game against the Bunbury XI which was very popular with several notable

celebs taking part, Steven Finn (Middlesex & England), Dawid Malan, Jon Simpson (Middlesex), Floyd Honnigan

(boxing), Joe Lewis (Cardiff City FC) to name just a few with Paul Nixon on the Ware side. If only the weather would

shine for us.

2014 Ware v Bunbury XI

Off the field the club has looked to develop both a social function, a bar and improve the facilities for both training

but also development of our existing talent pool.

2014 1st XI Review

Seven wins, six defeats, so objective achieved, final position 14th, just missing out on a top half finish with only 11

batting points pointing to the real story. Cricket is a game with too many statistics, but one very interesting statistic

the average runs per wicket at Widford was only 15, the lowest in the league by a distance which doesn’t really give

any indication of batting ability but suggests something else may be wrong.

Division seven was very even throughout the season with Old Camdenians (5th) winning 9 only two more than us.

1st Xi 2014

Back Row – Martin Bosson, Tom Parker, Nick Verrill, Nick Cave, Jon Perrett, Seb Brownhill

Front Row – Matt Gilewicz, Phil MacMurdie, Garry Orton (Capt), Zach Gilewicz, Stuart Hitch, Simon Knott

The season began in typical fashion, home to Baldock and a hideous damp dog of a track at Widford, the game was

effectively settled by the toss, which Baldock won and as the wicket dried in the sun, Ware were literally knocked

over for 81. Baldock took the route that if the biffed hard enough they would get away with it, and won by seven

wickets. Not the start that everyone wanted. However off to Northchurch next and a beautiful ground with a cricket

square to be proud of. The return of Simon Knott and raw pace of Adam Price saw the Ware boys skittle a solid

Northchurch side out for just 107, the season getting off the ground with a morale boosting win, as Tom Parker (40)

guided the batting home. A desperate defeat against eventual runners up Holtwhites was difficult to take, having

dismissed them for 139, with Simon Knott's outstanding 8/74 taking the plaudits we were unable to score the runs

(111 all out, Phil MacMurdie 62). Watton-at-Stone had also followed us from division four and seen as an obvious

benchmark to measure ourselves against. Dismissing them for 159 on a good track at Watton was seen as a great

effort (especially as they hit 330 two weeks earlier), but at 8 for 3 our optimism had taken a bit of a hit. However

Tom Parker continued his good run with a maiden 1st XI league fifty (55*) and with skipper Garry Orton 69* put on

an unbroken 154 to seal the game.

Tom Parker (55*) in great early season form, cuts loose v Watton.

High flying Eversholt were held to a draw, Nick Verrill smashing a fine 74. Encouraging wins against Potters Bar

(Knott 4-68, Steve Lerigo 40* from 18 balls !), St Albans (Darren Patel 4-34), Waltham Cross (Knott 4-40 Jon Perrett

3-43, Phil MacMurdie 43* )and Old Owens (Knott 4-53, Verrill 51*), put the 1's in with a chance of finishing in the top

six at one stage, but in games not won, batting points especially at home were proving difficult to come by. Simon

Knott continued to be the stand out player eventually amassing 43 league wickets (third highest in the league).

Darren Patel, 4-34 v St Albans, with new scoreboard in the background.

What was just as encouraging was the breakthrough of some of the younger players, Jon Perrett, Scott Dinnes and

Nathan Adam, being three. Indeed the season finished on a real high, away to league champions Mill Hill Village,

unbeaten at home all season, and determined to keep it that way, we made our way with what was effectively a 2nd

XI side. But if the spirit and determination shown in this game is anything to go by we will be in for a thrilling 2015.

Mill Hill had only been bowled out once all season, and when batting first never failed to get past 200, but Ware

inspired by Nathan Adam's bristling opening spell, (3-29) reduced the home side to 75-5, Knotty (3-55) removed the

middle order then as Mill Hill threatened to get away, Scott Dinnes (2-12) showed a glimpse of what lays ahead by

whipping out two more wickets, leaving Mill Hill all out for 164. So we set off to end the season on a high, early

wickets fell, but Matt Gilewicz and Stuart Hitch steadied the ship until 45-2 became 50-5. Hitch remained firm and

when joined by Knotty the score soon climbed to the 90's, but Hitch (28) then Knott (20) both went in successive

overs. (94-7) and still 71 needed – game over – not quite. Enter messrs Risby and Dave "sticky" Bly with cuts, drives,

and a Risby straight six into the cow field, and the game had swung again. Sticky (23) went to a superb catch with the

score on 149. Scott Dinnes batted really well under pressure, facing 28 balls supporting Riz as the score inched up

until Rizzo (36) was deceived and bowled with just 3 to win. So one wicket left Nathan Adam joined and the

apprehension was huge, but we didn’t need to worry, a Nathan straight drive through the covers was enough you

would have thought the league title depended upon it.

This game and the fantastic spirit and determination that the side showed gives me great hope for the future.

A season of ups and downs, but moving in the right direction.

Club honours

1xi Batting - Darren Patel – 213 runs avg 23.67

1xi Bowling - Simon Knott – 43 wickets avg 15.49

Simon Knott in full flow v St Albans

2014 2nd XI Review

The 2's had a creditable season with five wins and five defeats, (but 6 of 17 games not played, weather, concedes

etc) however another objective achieved, final position of 10th but similar to the 1's only 18 batting points.

A stop start season, with only four of the first 9 games played, a nerve jangling win at home to Preston, 89-8 chasing

88 was followed by several humbling defeats, interspersed with cancellations. Andy Milton (5-25) took a maiden five

wicket haul against Potters Bar. However the season turned around in July with a visit to high flying Wheathampsted.

Wheathampsted were restricted to 146, Scott Dinnes taking 4-40, in reply Steve Dinnes (35), Steve Risby (45*) and

Andy Milton (37*) blazed the runs in just 25 overs. Tom Giblett (50*) saved the match against Cheshunt with a

battling fifty, but the season kicked on, a visit to Baldock, saw one of the rising start of the 2's Seb Brownhill,

continue some fine form from Sunday by hitting 41, followed by Risby (42), then a quick fire 73* from Steve Lerigo,

setting Baldock an imposing 196 to win from 46 overs. Sam Tilbey took three wickets, but Baldock batted out to a

draw. This was the cue for an astonishing display in the next match against Knebworth V. Kevin Meakin plundered a

superb maiden hundred amassing 143 including 8 sixes and putting on 223 with Seb Brownhill. Seb narrowly missed

out on a maiden hundred, falling for a fine 89 with the score on 254-3. In reply Knebworth capitulated for just 83,

Tilbey and Dave Smith both taking three wickets. Smith was in the wickets again at Tewin (3-40) and added a fifty

with the bat. The final game was at home to championship chasing Broxbourne who needed seven points to win the

league. Batting first the visitors nerves clearly got the better of them, Kevin Meakin followed his big ton, by taking 5

wickets for 8, as Broxbourne subsided to 106 all out, two wickets each for young Aaron Reeves-Smithson and Dean

Utley. However Broxbourne were not done yet, regular wickets fell, but Meakin (72*) kept the runs flowing and with

just 5 to win Rory Findlay was caught to give Broxbourne the league title but Ware still won the game.

Another great end to an entertaining season with several of the younger players stepping to the fore. Special

mention must be made for Seb Brownhill, Sam Tilbey, Scott Dinnes and Nick Griffin who all demonstrated what

great promise the club has coming through and why our youth section is so important to the clubs' future.

Club honours

2xi Batting - Seb Brownhill – 201 runs avg 33.50

2xi bowling - Dave Smith – 14 wickets avg 11.15

Maiden hundred

Kevin Meakin 143

Maiden Fifty

Seb Brownhill 89

Steve Lerigo 73*

Maiden 5 wickets

Andy Milton – 5 for 25

Kevin Meakin 5 for 8

Sunday XI (Pete Devonshire)

Sunday cricket this year has seen a 300% increase in victories increasing last years one victory to 3 this year.

However, Sunday cricket as played by Ware CC is not focused on winning. In fact we would feel is a failure to win a

match but only 3 people bowl and 2 bat. The way we play is to let everyone bowl and almost inevitably everyone

bats. In the majority of games 10 players bowled and the wicket keeper chose where he bats. I believe that most

people who played got something out the season, wickets runs catches stumping’s or just a really good tea.

We had a few new players this year and it was particularly nice to get a few more youngsters involved in playing

Sunday matches all of whom took wickets and even a few runs. We had the explosive 4 weeks of Sven Brookes in

which he scored a ton and a 90. Nick Reeves who took wickets, Nick Griffin who kept wicket well later in the season

got some wickets and runs. Fred, Sam and Alex who all got wickets and a few runs here and there and later in the

season Stick and Jon Perrett brought reliable bowling and a number of runs to boot. We had Matt Gilewicz with his

maiden ton (We should have declared with him on 99) and the odd appearance from Steve Lerigo and Steve Risby

(although he played for the opp also). The Brownhill brothers provided us with some runs and wickets and the Tyrers

partnership at Hertingfordbury is one we will never be allowed to forget.

Sven Brooks sweeps on his way to 100* v Wareside

However as captain one player stood out to me this season. Not only would he bowl (well) when asked bats when

requested and field anywhere he was asked but he also took over the team when the captain was unavailable and

was only too willing, along with his wife Lisa to organise and produce teas.

Sunday play of the year 2014 is Nick Cave.

Off the field

Off the field the club has looked to develop both a social function, a bar and improve the facilities for both training

but also development of our existing talent pool. We have sought to add some considerable assets to the club during

2014, including: New portable nets and to complement this a new bowling machine has been purchased that have

already been put to good use and will enable quality coaching on the all-weather surface at Walnut Tree Walk as

well as assisting with training for the youth section. On that subject, the long standing finance agreement that

funded the purchase of the all-weather surface concluded seven months early, with a saving approaching £2,000 to

the club. The youth section also funded the purchase of a new electronic scoreboard, which will significantly

enhance the running of the youth section matches as well as the seniors. Further to this new covers have been

acquired and existing covers repaired which have already saved several game from the weather and it is estimated

will pay for themselves in two years just by saving lost revenue where matches get cancelled.

These significant developments are only possible through the diligent work carried out by the committee, but also

the members who support the club and its functions. Members can now see where their subscriptions, prize draw

funds etc are going towards.

Finally - A huge vote of thanks must go to the Committee for their tireless work during this season of re-building,

to mention just a few:

Steve Risby, 2nd XI captain, stand in Secretary, social butterfly, Bunbury co-ordinator……….

Mike Vaughan – keeps us honest with his tireless treasurers work and badgering for membership subs.

Les Hitch – Youth section co-ordinator, Bunbury barman…….(enjoy the sun lounger & Fosters in 2015)

Another good Sunday crowd v Wareside

Phil MacMurdie