WMCC V Springfield at home

On lovely warm and sunny afternoon Woodham entertained Springfield in the last game of the season. Woodham batted first and the openers Brown and Fannon got us off to a steady start. Chris Collis looked in great form as he stroked his way to 45, including a great six over the clubhouse. Chris was out caught on the boundary. David Wells 65, Steve Collis 44 not out and good contributions from Fannon, Shaw and Brown, Woodham posted a competetitive total of 280 for 9 on a good wicket.

The opening attack of Shaw and Flash kept things tight but wickets at first were slow to come. Any hope, however, of Springfield mounting a run chase was removed as Chris Shaw, in a long opening spell, took the first four wickets to fall. Simon Barrett took wicket number five. Approaching the end of the game David Wells took one of the best return catches you will see anywhere!! Tony Martin bowled a tidy spell from the bottom end and was replaced in the attack by the returning Shaw. But a draw at this point still looked a possibility. This was until David Wells took the last wicket with two over to go to give Woodham a deserved win.

This wicket was fittingly via a catch from Richard Kneller who has been on top form behind the stumps for the Sunday team all season. Well done Richard you are an inspiration to us all to keep going!!!! And well done to Andy Brown for undertaking the difficult task of Sunday captain. You have done the club proud Andy.

A great way to end a great season for WMCC

Sunday side defeat South Fambridge. Woodham score 351 in process

WMCC V Springfield (Away)

Due to the captains super accounting based mathematics woodham actually turned up with 12 players for this one and after realizing his mistake andy brown dropped himself out of the team so as to balance the teams up.

Woodham could have done with the 12th man in the field though on what was a batting paradise with a very quick outfield.

Woodham fielded first and opened up with the pair of Conor Hayman and David Huett. These two bowled a very tight opening spell and David took a wicket in his fifth over. After this we turned to our bowling and batting wicket keeper Andy Smith who bowled a fiery spell beating the bat many times. Unfortunately by this time Solomon (went on to make 104) had got himself in and preceded to punish anything with pace on it. This brought about the change to Flash and Peggy Mitchell who between them bowled very tightly with Flash bowling 10 overs for 36 with 1 wkt and Mitchell bowling 6 overs for 22 runs. This helped slow the rate for a while. Mitchell was then replaced by Nathan Hayman who preceded to go for 26 runs off 2 overs and was duly taken off and replaced by David Huett. Whilst at the other end I myself bowled 2 overs for 6 runs and then Andy Smith came back for a couple of overs. David Huett picked up a couple more wickets with Andy also getting one. With Springfield notifying us that they would bat for only one more over Daniel Karkocki got the nod and preceded to bowl two balls that were apparently so he reckoned caught by the wind and did not reach the other end!

But after this dan got his act together and bowled two nice deliveries before bowling a ball that made the young batsmans eyes light up, as the ball came out of the stratosphere ( the batsman having time to light a cigarette and go for his tea) he charged at the ball and was stumped by Richard Kneller behind the stumps. This brought about springfields declaration on 221 for 6 wkts.

In reply John scott and Geoff ‘Boycott’ Redding got us off to a flyer with geoff hitting 3 fours in one over? John scott was the first to go scoring 21 out of 62 runs. This brought Richard kneller to the crease hopeful of scoring his first fifty. Geoff was then removed for 27. This meant we had Conor hayman and richard kneller at the crease both however were removed for the identical score of 11. This brought the goliath partnership of Steve Flash Collis and Daniel the Polak Karcocki to the crease. These two put on 63 runs before dan tried one attacking shot too many and was bowled for 32 runs. Andy smith replaced dan and the scoring rate continued until andy and then flash were removed. Flash scored a very attacking 45 and andy 23. With David Huett and Nathan Hayman at the crease wmcc needed 10 runs to win in two overs. Nathan got out and this left us with 8 needed from 8 balls. With david and myself at the crease due to some very good death bowling by Springfield we were very much restricted and in the end the game was a draw with woodham finishing on 220 just two runs short of a win!

All in all a very good day was had by all in splendid weather with a good spirited game of cricket. Thank you to everyone who played and lets hope we have as good a game for the presidents day next Saturday. – Chris Collis

WMCC v Navestock

Inspirational captaincy was the key as Woodham defeated Navestock by 7 wickets at the Pheasantry on Sunday. Stand-in skipper, Fannon, inserted Navestock on a warm day and, after Nathan Hayman made the initial breakthrough, tight bowling and keen fielding kept the Navestock batsmen to a total of 192-7 on another Carver paradise. Steve 'Flash' Collis was the pick of the attack with a FANTASTIC 5-60, well supported by the rest of the attack, including Spujuju who bowled five creditable overs.

Woodham responded FANTASTICALLY with the father/son pairing of Nigel and Stephen Richardson adding 84 for the first wicket before Spuju was bowled for a fine 38. He was replaced at the wicket by the surprising choice of R.D Kneller who, at number three, proceeded to nudge, flick, block and, at times, drive the ball around the ground for a career high 41*- a notable achievement which sadly comes the week after the 'Player of the Year' voting came out. Spudley made 81 and Conor Hayman saw WMCC home with an unbeaten 11, but the plaudits must go to Kneller who purchased a jug for his comrades as the festivities continued well after his usual bedtime of 9.00pm.

WMCC v Rayne (final league game of the season) at Home

Woodham batted first and scored 233 for 8

Geoff Reddin 73 not out (his best ever, well played Geoff) and David wells 66 were the main contributors

In reply Rayne were no match for the Woodham bowling attack, being all out for around 100. Wicket takers were: Andy Smith 3, David Huett 2, Keith Mitchell 2, Steve Collis 2, Stuart Phillips 1.

Woodham finish with a good return of three wins. Well done everyone and thanks to Mark 'Majic' Johnson for a fantastic tea yesterday.

Woodham v Lt Baddow

Woodham fielded first & through good bowling and fielding restricted Baddow to 183 all out.

Wicket takers: Wells 3, C Collis 2, David Huett 2, S Collis 1, Mark Johnson 1 and a run out. These along with John Scott and Matt Fawcett kept things really tight on the bowling front.

In reply Andy Brown 39, Flash 22, Chris Collis 18 along with John Scott, Mark Johnson, Matt Fawcett, David Wells all got starts. David Huett batted really well and almost won the game for Woodham. Woodham all out 172

Sunday League team win against Rankins!!!

With only 10 players, including Connor who had never played before, Woodham produced a fantastic win. Batting first the openers Andy Brown and David Wells were soon dismissed. This left Chris Baker and Steve Collis to rebuild the innings. Chris departed, via a good catch, for 20 ish followed by our new import 'kiwi' Bruce. Fannon and flash rebuilt again before Damien was out, caught behind. Enter Keith Mitchell to keep flash company. These two ensured that Woodham's score would be competitive. Flash was first out for 76 followed by Keith for 30 ish. Stuart Phillips 20 and Richard Kneller then took Woodham to 179 all out in the 40th over. A great effort!!!

Woodham opened the attack with Wells and Collis. Flash was first to strike via an outstanding catch from Chris Baker. This was then repeated a few overs later!!! Kiwi Bruce was next to strike, again via a juggling catch from Baker!!! Things then went quiet as rankins consolidated. Keith Mitchell bowled well and took a vital wicket. Overs were now ticking by and the woodies were in with a chance of a great win. Stu Phillips kept things tight at one end but it was the returning David Wells who broke things open again. David took four wickets as Woodham won by 15 (ish) in the last over. Wicket takers: Wells 4, Collis 2, Bruce 1, Phillips 1, Mitchell 1 and a run out!!! What a win and a great team effort!!! Well done EVERYONE!!!

Special thanks to Rankins who loaned us a little lad named Richard who fielded brilliantly!!!

Woodham Mortimer Sunday XI

Date Opponents Ground Start

06 September 2009 The Journeymen Home 1.30pm

13 September 2009Margaretting Home 1pm

20 September 2009South Fambridge Home 1pm

27 September 2009Springfield Home 1pm