Date

Opposition

Venue

Result

22/4/09

Swanbourne House

Away

Won

56/4/09

Bilton Grange

Away

Won

29/4/09

Beachborough

Home

Won

06/5/09

Wellingborough

Home

Won

09/5/09

Spratton Hall

Home

Won

13/5/09

Oundle

Away

Won

16/5/09

Bedford Prep

Home

Lost

20/5/09

Stoneygate

Home

Won

17/6/09

Akeley Wood

Home

Lost

24/6/09

Great Houghton (1sts)

Away

Won

V Swanbourne House
 

It is always nice to kick things off with a victory and hopefully this comfortable win will give the boys confidence for the season ahead.

We posted a very competitive first innings total of 151, thanks largely to a terrific man-of-the-match performance from Nick Bell whose 69 has certainly given Mr. Schofield, the 1st team coach, a selection headache for the weekend. Ably supported by Milo Smith (23) and Edward Buxton (10*), Nick’s swashbuckling innings included 11 boundaries.

We managed to dismiss Swanbourne fairly quickly, with Edward Ashton Johnson taking three wickets and Edmund Wells two. Milo took two sharp catches behind the stumps. The only blemish on the day was the number of wides we conceded.

We expect a tougher encounter at Bilton on Saturday

V Bilton Grange
 

This was a very clinical performance from the seconds and we outplayed our hosts in every department. I was particularly pleased with our bowling and fielding. We bowled far fewer wides than on Wednesday and made no mistakes in the field. Kai Sampo was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 1 off 5 overs. There were also two wickets each for Edward Buxton and spinner Alfie Stephenson. Milo Smith again impressed behind the stumps, taking two smart catches and a stumping. George Broughton’s sensible 27 not out saw us comfortably home. Two games, two wins, but we can expect sterner tests.

V Beachborough
 

This was a third successive convincing win for the seconds. In ideal batting conditions, we won the toss and set about posting a big total. Much credit goes to George Broughton (63) and James Macdonald Buchanan (51) for an opening century partnership which set the tone for the match. Both batted sensibly, George making Beachborough pay for an early dropped catch, and they maintained a run rate of seven per over throughout. Jack Francklin added a blistering 45 and Jasper Upton hit the first six of the season.

We dismissed our visitors fairly comfortably, Julian Martin Smith taking three wickets. There were also three run-outs while wicket-keeper Milo Smith took his tally of dismissals for the season to seven. The boys should take confidence from a great start to the season into some tougher looking fixtures after Leave Out.

V Wellingborough
 

Another win, but this was our toughest test to date. Our visitors won the toss and batted, posting a respectable but ‘gettable’ target off their 25 overs. Their number two batsman hit a fine 65 and gave us much food for thought. We did not help ourselves, though, dropping him three times. It was also very quiet in the field as, for the first time this season, we came under a bit of pressure. Skipper Alfie Stephenson’s introduction turned the game our way, batsmen unable to resist the lure of his well-flighted leg spin. Alfie, it was, who eventually removed the dangerman and finished with 3 for 18.

We scored the runs without too many problems thanks, in part, to another sensible opening stand, of 68, between George Broughton (32) and James Macdonald Buchanan (20). Sensible knocks from Patrick Bullard (20*) and Jasper Upton (17*) saw us across the finishing line with 2 overs to spare.

V Spratton
 

Won by 66 runs

A fifth straight win, but the most dramatic and satisfying so far.  George Broughton has scored a lot of runs for us this season, so when his middle stump was uprooted off the first ball of the match, we knew we were in for a battle. Spratton's opening pair were bowling straight and fast. A rebuilding partnership of 46 between James Macdonald Buchanan (20) and Jasper Upton (17) during that opening burst would ultimately prove crucial. However, at the time, as 46-1 became 47-5, the outlook was decidedly bleak. A mature 25 from Edward Ashton Johnson with some support from Julian Martin Smith (9) and Freddie Collie (8) helped us to a respectable but ‘gettable’ 112.

After a very quiet and slightly sloppy fielding display three days earlier, the boys responded magnificently here. Attacking field placements, vocal fielders and aggressive bowling, from Edward and particularly Julian (4 for 6) combined to see us rip through Spratton’s top order. Jasper took yet another great catch at point, second ball, to set the tone and amazingly it was soon 10 for 6. Despite a brief rally, we dismissed our visitors for 46, Edward Buxton with 2 for 11 and Freddie Collie taking his first wicket for the seconds. A great day for this team.

V Oundle
 

won by 173 runs

Credit to both sets of boys for playing this game in a good spirit, but it was a mismatch of giant proportions. We batted first with everyone making runs, Edward Buxton top scoring with 29* and Milo Smith 28.

Oundle’s slow start meant that they were never in the hunt. I was able to use ten bowlers and the wickets were shared around with Alfie Stephenson’s hat-trick the highlight.

That’s six wins out of six but the biggest test will surely be Saturday’s visit of Bedford.

V Bedford Prep
 

Lost by 6 wickets

And so the unbeaten run was brought to an abrupt end by a very strong Bedford side.

Batting first, Nick Bell’s second ball duck was a sign of things to come. A combination of good bowling and poor shot selection saw us collapse to 25 for 7. Milo Smith (21) put up some late resistance, but 70 was never going to be enough against this sort of opposition.

Bedford quickly knocked off the runs, but not before Kai Sampo had earned himself an impressive ‘3-for’.

We need to learn from this experience and bounce back quickly next Wednesday against Stoneygate.

V Stoneygate
  

Maidwell won by 137 runs

It was important that we got back to winning ways after Saturday’s defeat. We talked before this game about the need to put in an improved batting performance – I was not disappointed with the response.

George Broughton (60 ret.) and James Macdonald Buchanan (56 ret.) deserve yet more congratulations for their second hundred partnership of the season. This platform allowed Nick Bell (42*) to come in, late on, and bludgeon eight 4s and a 6.

After a comparatively slow start in response, Stoneygate were never in the hunt. Despite a brief flurry of mid-innings boundaries, we dismissed them in 20 overs well short of the target. I used eight bowlers and the wickets were shared around. Edward Ashton Johnson, Edward Buxton, Jack Weatherby and Jasper Upton each bagged a couple.

That makes seven wins in eight, heading into a month's break – well done, guys.

V Akeley Wood
  

Maidwell lost by 6 wickets

Credit to Akeley Wood who were a very well-drilled and talented side, unbeaten all season, but there is no hiding from the fact that ours was a damp squib of a performance.

Batting first, we made a start to match the weather, losing two wickets in the first over. As the drizzle fell more heavily, so did the wickets - 15 for 5. A spirited 32 from Edward Ashton Johnson helped us up to a total of 80. True, our visitors had done very well with some good line and length bowling plus three run-outs from direct hits, but only one batter in double figures? Disappointing.

I could not fault the fielding or the efforts of the bowlers (Edward Buxton picked up two wickets), but the damage was already done and we just couldn't recreate the fireworks which had seen us win from this situation against Spratton.

I hope that this experience serves to reignite the boys’ determination going into our final match of the season.

V Akeley Wood
  

Maidwell won by 90 runs

After a disappointing showing last time out, I was delighted with this response, and against our hosts’ 1st XI, to boot. Batting first on a glorious afternoon, we mustered a very reasonable 147, with several batsmen making ‘starts’ but no-one really pushing on to make a big score. George Broughton, as we have come to expect from him, dug deep and held the innings together, nudging and nurdling his way to 33. There were double figure scores for Nick Bell (12), Edward Ashton Johnson (16), Jack Francklin (15) and a pleasing debut, on his old ground, for Archie Hughes, who hit a belligerent 27.

Great Houghton began their reply in alarmingly explosive fashion, 21 coming off the first 2 overs. A sharp catch by Archie to dismiss the dangerman, though, helped to calm the nerves and set us on our way. Six wickets then fell for just 12 and the game was as good as ours. Kai Sampo took 4 more wickets and was voted Man of the Match by his colleagues. AJ and Edward Buxton each bagged a brace while Jasper Upton and Freddie Collie (with his only delivery) took one each. I was particularly pleased with the vocal and aggressive fielding display.

A fine and fitting finale to a fantastic season – well done, lads.