HWRCC SUNDAY XI vs COLTS COACHES

Wick Future and present stuff the past (and present) Friendly match becomes a lively affair as someone allows colts into the score box

HAMPTON WICK SUNDAY TEAM – 167/8 off 30 overs (James Maddoc – Jones 28, Tun up 38, Kirky 27)

Defeated

HAMPTON WICK COACHES – 134/7 off 30overs (Jimmy C 2 for, 2 for Imran, 2 for Vaider)

Arriving at the Wick early on a Sunday morning is always an experience. FACT. I don’t know whether it is the sheer volume of colts that are flying about, the barbeque blazing or the hung over players from Saturday night coming back to collect their kits bags that makes it standout above all other days. But, whatever it is, it is certainly lively at the very least.

As someone more famous than I said a number of years ago, “our children are our future…teach them well and let them lead the way”. It’s a profound statement, and one that I would certainly sign-up to if there were a street petition happening. Not that there would be.

So what kind of future is their in store for the Wick, given the sheer volume of colts we seem to be producing at the moment? I think the future is bright, perhaps even orange. The talent and enthusiasm of some of the colts is like nothing I have seen before (partly because I’m not very perceptive). They LOVE cricket and talk about it all the time, even more than we do. Some under – 15s are making big hundreds, while others are taking a hatful of wickets. It’s a great news story all round.

And it was with the sense of a new dawn at the club that the Sunday XI took on a Coaches XI at the Wick on Sunday. Wick Skipper Jimmy C brought together a mixture of colts (the future and present) and a more senior bunch of players (the present and past) to battle against the likes of Tony Copeland and Sam Kemp (the past), two of the club’s biggest stalwarts (you might need to check that). It was a chance for the Sunday team to get some much needed time in the middle and, I suspect, an opportunity for the coaches to get away from “those meddling kids” and actually play some cricket. The scene was set.

On to the match.

Having lost the toss again, the Sunday team was sent in to bat. With Tonga and Lloydy at the crease, there was a sense of “belief” that we could amass a massive total. However, it was soon realised that this would not be a walkover by any stretch. Colts coach Graham Smith (have we heard of him before?), who opened the bowling, put together an amazing spell of bowling. How amazing? Well, GT and Lloydy never looked comfortable against him – nuff said.

It was little wonder then that both he and Tonga were back in the pavilion after just a few overs. The pair were both caught out after trying to play a few rash shots. It was clearly game on. James Maddoc Jones and Imran then came out to the crease, and would have been the star performers of the match had there not been a late show of runnnnnns from Kirky and Tun Up. James, who has been consistently scoring runs for the Under 15s, showed us all what the future of the club might look like. Playing a mixture of beautiful long drives, cuts and pulls, this kid has it all. The Maddoc-Jones family obviously have a little extra something in their gene pool.

Imran, joining MJ at the other end, looked just as effective. His shot selection and timing is in a different class, and he looks to be a quality player for the future (and present). With two wickets down, and at roughly 100 runs, the boys looked confident. While MJ Junior and Imran were given out in quick succession to a few lively deliveries, followed shortly after by Whinney and Harry (who couldn’t by a run), the boys had reached 120 of 22 overs and looked like getting a decent score.

However, while everything seemed to be going well out in the middle, it was anything but by the boundary line.

Firstly, there was the invasion of the score box. Somehow, during the course of the match, around 7/8 colts decided to gatecrash Jimmy C’s pleasant afternoon watching the cricket and taking numbers. Screaming after every ball, cheering every boundary like a goal in football, and asking questions about anything and everything, such as:

· “Why didn’t he hit that for six?” – JC: “You can’t hit every ball for six!” · What number do you bat? What kind of bat do you have? – JC: “I’m batting 11 today, and I don’t know what bat I have.” · Who’s your opening bowler? JC: (wanting them to shut up….) “Nelson and Barry. They do a bit” · What do you think of the military industrial complex? JC: “You boys are lively!” · What did you think of Steven Seagal in Above the Law? Was it ever given the recognition it deserved? - JC: “Great movie. Had Oscar written all over it….”

And so on….and on….and on….until Jimmy C decided to storm out of the box.

The future of the club is far too lively even for Jimmy, who likes to “talk it up” during matches. However, these kids don’t need to be shown the way, as they are already talking it up – a little too much perhaps….

Secondly, there was the arrival of Wickman and his Wick Mutt. Wickman Junior feels sorry for the little fella at the moment. Having been stripped of his todger, the little bloke has to wear a flaming big dish around his head so he doesn’t “get any ideas”. Just think for a moment if the same thing applied to humans when this happens. Poor bloke. He definitely turned heads – FACT.

While all of this was going on, the Sunday team reached 163 for 7 after 30 overs – a great total. A final flurry of runnnnnsss by Kirky and Tun Up, ensured that there would be plenty in reserve to bowl at.

Teas – Tony C organised a BBQ and we got stuck into the burgers. Job done, and no DBW special.

After the break, the Sunday team headed out to defend their strong total, and never looked in doubt from the off. Junaid and a rejuvenated Tun Up were masterful in the opening stanza, bowling line and length to bamboozle the batsmen. The runs were not flowing freely.

Things changed slightly when Sam Kemp and Tony C came to the crease. Sam bashed Whinney about to make a quick fire 48 runs, before being caught at cow by the skipper. Tony, who was also looking comfortable, made a positive start with the bat as well. However, his innings was cut short after being triggered for LBW when he was at least 5 foot outside his crease. Needless to say, Tony wasn’t happy, and said as much to the umpire as he left the pitch. I doubt they will be catching up for a beer sometime soon.

A late flurry of wickets from the Skipper, Imran and Vaider all but ensured that the Coaches XI fell 30 odd runs short of the total. It was a great game played with a tremendous spirit, and a big thank you must go to all of the coaches for coming out to play and to Tony C for organising. In all seriousness, these guys, and the other parents, do a terrific job in developing the next generation of colts at the Wick.

MOM: James Maddoc – Jones – made a composed 28 runs, took a catch, and threw a direct-hit run out. The future of the club - FACT TFC: The colts in the score box who were “too lively”.

Wickman Junior