Whitchurch-on-Thames Cricket Club

The day long working party made great progress on replacing the roof of the tea hit today. Thanks to all who turned up.

  Jon Steward has sold the original of this painting, but he thought we may like this for the website.  "This is my last painting", he says, "and I am not doing any more ever". "The style of the painting is called Impast and it is mostly done with a palette Knife the material is loose weave Canvas and the Media is Oil and it was finished with clear car lacquer." Jon does have a higher fidelity copy if you'd like one. Personally, although I don't know much about art, I'm seriously impressed. Andy H

It's been a difficult start to the season with four losses to two wins, albeit that we've been close on some occasions. Today was a case in point as we failed to defend 222, the final runs coming off the last over. The have been some good individual performances however. Lyn Williams made his first ever ton, 119* at Woodcote. Richie Leach was 69* at Gray's Green and Jim Shanahan made 80 odd today against Sonning Common. Two bowling performance deserve mention, both by Ben Karlo: 7-4-11-4 at Greys Green, and 3-0-7-3 at Crazies Hill. Picture: James Cartwright: Andy Mutepfa Batting vs Sonning Common. Apologies if I've missed anyone. Andy H ps. Some more pictures from James Cartwright available for a while here .

GROUND Parties If you didn’t manage to get to either of last weekend’s working parties please make the effort to attend on either Saturday or Sunday this week. Working Parties  on both days will be from 10.30am to 1.00pm – Alan Kilford in control the first day and Lyn Williams on the second.  If the ground isn’t playable and the facilities aren’t usable then we can’t play cricket.  Thanks to all those that attended last weekend. INDOOR NETS The last pre-season indoor net is next Wednesday 9 April at Bradfield College from 9.15pm to 10.15pm.  Beer to follow in The Greyhound, Tidmarsh. FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON The first game of the Season is on Sunday 13 April at home to Lower Earley.  As there are only Sunday games in the early part of the Season team selection will ensure that everybody is given a game. Lyn

Averages have been posted and can be found in the usual place.  Many thanks to Lyn for compiling them. Top of the bowlers is Andy Heard , by mere hundredths over Lyn Williams in second place. The batting was dominated by Nick Hill , with an average more than twice that of all-rounder Nick Turner , who leads the rest of the pack. Most catches were taken by Lyn , closely followed by Paul Vaughan ; and Jon Steward was top of the 'keepers. Andy H.

Fixtures for 2014 are uploaded and in the usual place. Thanks to Killer for his work over the dark months.

Pre-Season Nets Indoor Cricket Nets have again been booked for Wednesday evenings at Bradfield Sports Centre.  The first net is next Wednesday 5 March between 9.15pm and 10.15pm and the last on Wednesday 9 April.   Cost this year will be £5 per session; colts and students free. We’ve got 2 nets every evening so there’ll be lots of opportunity to bat and bowl.  Thereby ensuring that you pull and strain every muscle you haven’t used in the last 5months and can’t move for two days after.  Post-net recovery will be in the Greyhound at Tidmarsh. Cricket Club AGM The Cricket Club AGM will take place on Thursday 20 March commencing at 8.00pm .  The meeting will be at David Mattimoe’s house on Hardwicke Road and be followed by a curry in Pangbourne. Pre-Season Work Parties Work parties are being arranged for the weekends of Sat 29 / Sun 30 March and Sat 5 / Sun 6 April .  There is a lot of work to be done – including rebuilding the tea hut!! ...