Romany Cricket Club

Romany CC vs Swinton Park CC Match Report

I think it is fair to say we all enjoyed the day – lovely venue, excellent tea, friendly opposition (and the only rainfall was during the tea interval)  – all as usual at Swinton Park – but sadly this year we lost…Romany batted first – on probably the softest, spongiest, slowest pitch and outfield any of us have ever seen… so there was hardly any ” value for shots” – and Swinton Park’s bowling turned out to be a bit stronger than in several previous years.  All of Matt Knight, Howard Elgot and your scribe were bowled – and in the whole innings, only Steve Hardy , 32 not out retired and John Surtees 14 not out in the later stages, made double figures in a Romany total of 95-8 in 30 overs. The Swinton openers took the aerial route from the outset, hitting Matt Knight for successive sixes and after 5 overs SP had half the runs they needed! One opener retired, your scribe came on and bowled the  other one (a visiting South African) and Romany pulled it back a bit. Young Jamie Bielby making his debut for Romany bowled well, as did his Dad, and Howard Elgot,  but Swinton Park reached their target with 5 wickets in hand – there might have been a tighter result but we were generous not pursuing 2 stumpings John Surtees had got against SP’s youngster, and 2 catches had gone down –  Howard doesn’t have much joy with skyers…Onward and upward for Yapham next Sun…

Romany Cricket Club

Romany CC vs Druids CC Match Report

Romany v Druids 19th May 2019

Match report

For the first game of the season the weather was mild with light cloud and the Goldsborough pitch was quite green. After the usual Captains’ discussion Druids won the toss and were put in to bat.  George Holden and Rob Bielby opened the bowling for Romany with a maiden each.  Druids acquired runs with a good opening stand of 48 and steadily scored runs to make 3 for 111. We then brought Howard Elgeot on to bowl and he took 3 wickets and Romany debutant Harry Abel took 2 wickets and a direct hit run out which kept Druids to 150 runs in their 35 overs for 7.

We had the most lovely home baked tea courtesy of Druids. After tea Romany opened the batting with Matthew Knight and George Holden who faced some tight bowling and managed an opening stand of 70 with Holden caught for 24. We then lost a couple of cheap wickets and were then 83 for 5. Knight was bowled for 70 when Romany were needing 30 to win. In came Duncan Read and Marcus Robinson and when Marcus was caught for 15, Howard partnered Duncan (23 NO) who scored the winning runs with a 4 and one over to spare.

It was a very enjoyable day of cricket played in the right spirit and everybody contributed to a good Romany victory, especially 12 year old Harry Abel who will be welcome back.

Romany Cricket Club

Romany CC 2018 Averages

Below  are the abbreviated overall averages for the 2018 season for Romany CC.
In the batting, club captain Matt Knight topped the table with 276 runs at an average of 55.2.
Matt narrowly pipped Sam Smith as the highest run scorer, by only 3 runs.
The club batted strongly all year with 8 players averaging over 30 and 7 50’s scored overall.
In the bowling, the leading wicket taker was Nick Hawkins, with 9 wickets in total including a great 5-for at Burnt Yates early in the season.  The averages were topped by S Pierce, taking 3/10 in the Yorkshire Gentleman match.
Romany_Batting_Averages_RS_20181228 Romany_Bowling_Averages_RS_20181228
Romany Cricket Club

Romany CC vs Arthington CC – Match Report

Arthington v Romany 16th September 2018:         ACC won toss and batted first

ACC 193–3           40 overs               RCC 194-5            36 overs

The weather forecast wasn’t good, but we started the game on time and the sun shone for most of the afternoon. This was another very enjoyable game, and victory.

Arthington batted solidly all through their innings and scored steadily, we used 9 different bowlers in the 40 overs but we were only able to get 3 wickets.  They didn’t seem to be ‘getting away’ but they didn’t give many chances and managed to get regular boundaries.  However, D. Fitzpatrick, M. Graham and E. Smith all bowled very tightly giving away few runs.

We all sat in the sunshine and had a delicious tea, and the sunshine stayed with us for the rest of the afternoon.

S.Smith (26) and S. Hardy (17) opened our batting and made a fine start with a stand of 41. Sam was unfortunate to be given out LBW by a trigger fingered umpire (who shall be receiving an official warning), then Steve was well caught. M. Knight (50 n.o.) and D. Fitzpatrick (45) had a productive partnership and moved the score on by 75 runs and by then we were well on the way with M Graham (18 n.o), R. Smith, and J. Surtees securing the victory.

Again, the match was played in the right spirit and was a very enjoyable game with all our team contributing with bat or ball. All finished off with a jolly pint at the local pub. MK

Romany Cricket Club

Romany CC vs Yorkshire Gentlemen CC – Match Report

MATCH REPORT

YORKSHIRE GENTS VS ROMANY CC 22ND JULY

ROMANY WON BY 30 RUNS

The game last year was a heavy loss for Romany, and neither us, nor YG enjoyed the day. So this year we selected a much stronger XI to have a much more competitive game and a possible chance of victory, so we had 4 new players to Romany who play good league cricket and kindly came along to help.

A special mention, and thanks to Keon who came along at the last minute after a drop out.

The weather was glorious, and hot, and after coffee at 11 and warm welcomes as ever from Paul, we won the toss and batted first.

Knight and Naylor opened the batting and it soon became clear that despite appearances it was not an easy batting wicket, also YG had some decent bowlers. The runs were spread around the batting order, Naylor 29, Watling 31, Carver 20, and notably Keon Williams 41, facing some very tight YG spin bowling. The YG team this year was very strong, with all XI playing very good club level cricket and it was a good contest from the start.

After 51 overs Romany were bowled out for 176 at about 3.15pm, so we had a good period of time to bowl at YGs, and, even though it was a very hot day, we had a good paced attack that we thought could cause problems on that wicket: and so it proved.  L Carver opened from the top end, and bowled their opener with his first ball. J Morley opened from the Pavilion End and kept it very tight: 5 overs, 2 maidens, 11 runs. The other YG opener, Harry Adair, is a very decent player, and he batted very well as we changed bowlers regularly in the heat. We took regular wickets and Adair kept on batting; he was losing partners but YG were definitely looking for victory, and could have done so, had Adair not tried one reverse sweep too many against Watling who knocked back his leg stump. Then Carver came in again at express pace to clear up the tail, with figures at 7 overs, 1 maiden, 28 runs and 4 wickets. Stuart Pierse also bowled superbly from the top end, taking 3 important wickets for 10 runs from 6 overs.

The Man of the Match award goes to Keon Williams for a superb all-round performance: his vital 41 runs, his bowling getting an important wicket, and a top-class diving catch at point to remove no 3 batsman, who plays for Yorks 1st X1!!

It was a very competitive game, with some high-quality cricket played, all in the right spirit, and it was appreciated by YG’s who enjoyed the challenge.

All 22 players stayed for drinks afterwards in the evening sunshine and toasted our umpire Mike Bosomworth who did a fine job in the heat. All in all it was a fine cricketing day, and made even more so by the fact that we haven’t beaten YG for about 15 years!

 

– Matt Knight, Match Manager

 

 

Romany Cricket Club

Romany CC vs Lofthouse & Middlesmoor CC – Match Report

The match at L & M was another close game that lasted the full 70 overs and Romany managed another victory by 9 runs.

The weather was perfect for cricket, at this super ground in the Dales.
We won the toss, and as we were still waiting for George to arrive we decided to bat.
A new player Marcus Robinson and Knight opened the batting and got off to a solid start. (George had now arrived.) We made good progress and kept the scoreboard moving taking us to 103-2. Knight retired and then Keon and Matt Walker kept the score moving, both scoring 50.
It was the sort of blissful, sunny afternoon that one could have a siesta on the balcony, and George had done just that, so when he was called to bat he was away with Fairies. Once woken he and Geoff ( just touched down in Blighty from Marbella!!!!) Completed our innings of 209 in 35 overs.
We then had the most lovely home cooked tea, which brought some of our players, George, back to life.
Lofthouse got away to a good start, even with George gliding in on fumes to bowl his 7 overs for 1. Marcus also bowled very well to take 3 wickets, one being a fine catch by Geoff heading DOWN the slope.
Then 2 of their middle order made a stand of over 100 and took them close to victory, however Keon came on to bowl at the end and the extra pace slowed the scoring. They were 200 for 6 off 35 overs.
It was a super day of cricket and the pint in the pub with the opposition afterwards ( water for George) was a perfect end.
 – Matt Knight, Match Manager
Romany Cricket Club

Romany CC vs Yapham CC – Match Report

Sunshine, Pizza (!) and cricketing drama….

Following the theatre of the 2017 fixture when it came down to the last ball with Romany needing 6 to win and President Hockin on strike, could this year’s game possibly be as tense……?

The Romany ‘caravan’ headed over to Yapham a couple of players short despite the daily pleas from the match manager and the assurance of a fine tea and glorious weather awaiting us. President Hockin made his seasonal debut alongside the sprightly John Walford and Richard Reynolds for whom it was a local encounter. Yapham very kindly lent us a player (Andy) so at least we could take the field with 10, well 9.5 really, as Matt Knight seemed to be still on the dance floor at the 21st he had attended the night before….

It was the hottest day of the year and as we rocked up, listening to the England football starting, it was slightly dispiriting to see that the opposition had half a dozen 18 yr olds from Pocklington school warming up! No matter, we took the field and two of their young bucks strode out to open their innings.

George opened the bowling from the top end with a tight 5 overs including the dismissal of one opener, clean bowled. After the scorer had asked the name of our other opening bowler, response: ‘Walford’, his response: ‘what as in EastEnders?’, a slightly bemused John opened up with an equally tight spell removing the other opener with only 20 or so on the board. Number 3 and 4 bats weren’t of the same athletic build as the openers and their run rate quickly slowed. Tight slow bowling from Walford, Hockin and C.Read (with over 150 years’ experience between them – and Charlie is 12, so you do the maths…) meant that their scoreboard progress was thankfully limited. Richard Reynolds also bowled a very economical spell and it was only when we picked up another wicket courtesy of C.Read and a retirement did their score board accelerate with a couple of youngsters at the crease at the end. Fielding was tight with John Surtees and Sam Smith sharing the gloves for a tidy display of keeping.

Tea was as good as promised by the match manager (phew,….!), hummus, carrot sticks, pizza, wedges, ciabatta sandwiches, strawberries and meringues, and soon it was time for us to chase down their posted 148 in 35 overs.

D.Read and Sam opened the batting and got off to a brisk start with Sam hitting the first 6 of the match in to the adjoining corn field. Other boundaries followed but then a top edge from Sam saw him back in hut, quickly followed by Read.  Read was slightly unsure how/why he was given out by the overzealous Yapham loan player, however he followed the rule imposed on his children and didn’t question the decision but walked back with dignity – only to then moan a bucketful for the rest of the afternoon!! Knighty was now at the crease, sweating the beer out from the night before and complaining of having to run 2s never mind 3s. Yapham bowled tightly with their Pock lads fast and straight and once George was caught at slip (at the second attempt) we needed to steady the Romany ship. Richard decided the best form was attack and he slapped several boundaries and a huge 6 in a display of power hitting before being unlucky to be out to a great catch at mid-on. Knighty contributed a very important 26 before being bowled off his pads but soon we were heading towards 100 up with still a few wickets in hand. C.Read chipped in a valuable few, as did Andy the loan player, but a couple of wickets fell and things started to look tense…..

What you need in these circumstances is experience – our 8th, 9th, 10th batsman all certainly had that and John Surtees sensibly picked off the singles and kept the fast bowlers at bay. John Walford hit a lovely straight drive for 4 and suddenly the scores were tied. Their opening bowler returned, John got one that jumped on him a bit and now it was down to the President again, our last batsman, to find that winning run. The field came in tight, the Pocklington 18 yr old extended his run and the ground fell silent in anticipation…. Peter showed him the makers name with a text book defensive shot straight out of the first edition of the MCC coaching manual. The fielders came closer, the run up got longer, and the next ball slightly faster. Unfortunately, Peter Hockin is just far too good a batsman to get the streaky edge or a Chinese cut which would have done it for us, and instead he hit it too well and the bowler managed to pluck it out the air to secure a tie!

Who would have believed it – two years in a row tension down to the last ball. It makes you think about that extra run we could have perhaps pinched, the generosity of not giving wides when umpiring, but no matter – this was Romany cricket and whilst the win would certainly have been nice, it was as always, an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday. Who doesn’t like being in the sunshine, playing a close game, with great teas and good company? So why not get your name down for the next few fixtures…….

Romany CC vs Mutineers CC – Match Report

Romany 198/2 Mutineers 198/9. Sunday 1st July 2018. Match tied.

The match commenced with a minute’s silence for Rupert Wyard, who tragically passed away this week. He will be sorely missed. It goes without saying that if Rupert had played we would have won.

The match itself was probably the most exciting Romany game I’ve ever played in, from the moment Sam Smith was run out before facing a ball, to the final over bowled by Rupert’s son, Ben, who ran out the Mutineers’ number 10 to secure the tie.

Earlier Harwood Williams had retired at the second drinks break on 94 not out enabling me to join Ben Wyard at the crease for the last 12 overs. It was a fitting tribute to Rupert that Ben was able to complete his 50 in the fortieth and final over.

Mutineers reached 107/0 with their opener, who made 70, lucky to survive a caught behind by John Surtees before he reached his half century.

Romany, for once, had a team stacked with bowlers and up stepped Matt Graham with a diving caught and bowled off his first ball He went on to bowl his 8 overs straight through and ended up with 5 wickets. Newcomer Dan Kilby bowled some left arm spin magic at the other end and it looked like we might grasp an unlikely victory. Unfortunately Stoddy, Mutineers’ captain, manager, owner, spokesman and rules arranger, made a defiant 25 not out to thwart us. Still, as Mutineers had won their last 11 matches on the trot, it has to go down as a success for us of sorts.

Other plaudits go to Rob Bielby and Harwood Williams for their tight bowling and to commiserations to Dan Pitt, who was padded up and raring to go, but didn’t manage to get a bat or bowl, and had to leave before the excitement of the final 10 overs.

Final Fun Fact. Romany have tied their last 2 matches. Club Record. Anyone got a Wisden handy?

 – Howard Elgot, Match Manager

Romany Cricket Club

Romany CC vs Swinton Park CC – Match Report

As usual we were warmly welcomed by Mark Cunliffe-Lister at the magnificent Swinton Park, but as he had lost a couple of players that morning he suggested that Romany had a bat whilst he tried to bolster his side. Whilst we offered substitute fielders, the home team were happy to make do with what they had including Mrs Cunliffe-Lister and a couple of youngsters.

Nick Palmer and Harwood, batting together for the first time since the 1994 Sussex tour, opened our account with both of them striking the ball sweetly and quickly getting the scoreboard moving – Nick was the first to go however when he cleanly struck a half volley in to covers, only to pick out their best fielder, Mrs Cunliffe-Lister who took a blinding catch. When asked if it was the first time he had been caught by a woman in jeans, Palmer was heard to reply ‘well yes, but only on a cricket pitch….’

Keon batting at 3 was unlucky to be out cheaply, and D.Read and Harwood put on a few before the traditional retirement at 25. C.Read kept the middle order together with 18 not out especially when Rob ‘brave’ Smith decided to jump out of the way of the ball rather than use his bat! A flurry of runs from George (batting at 11 for turning up late!) brought us to a total of 126 from our 25 overs, which perhaps looked a bit short.

 Tea in the snooker room was as good as ever, with the fruitcake and wensleydale cheese proving a good seller…..

 Keon opening the bowling with some fast and straight deliveries, with his dad giving encouragement from behind the stumps. However it was Rob Bielby who got the first breakthrough as the opener aired one to D.Read who closed his eyes and hung on. Mark Cunliffe-Lister retired at 25 along with their big hitting number 4, which allowed us to run through their middle order. The bowling was rotated with a limit of 3 per bowler and Matt was particularly unlucky not to take a wicket during his tight spell, conceding only 4 runs from his 3 overs. Mrs Cunliffe-Lister had elected to weed her vegetable patch rather than bat, and so the imposing B.Read (9yrs old) made his senior debut, for the opposition – he managed a couple of runs, before the big nasty bully George Holden bowled him! Tight fielding and good catching by Rob, Charlie and Keon meant that we soon had our sights on their number 10, a certain M.Knight who had just come up to watch but had also brought his whites and so offered his services to Swinton.

Grinning nervously, he took his guard, before producing the shot of the day, and steering the ball down a rabbit hole under the tree within the boundary. Romany fielders were bemused as to where the ball had gone, and they managed to run four before it was retrieved from thumpers lair! Knighty then had the temerity to clip Keon for a boundary off his legs, and so the next ball came a bit fuller and faster and removed Knighty’s off peg – it was a slow walk back to the ‘pavilion’ for him!

Swinton had always been up with the required rate and now they had their two retired batsman back in, needing 20 from the last 4 overs. A few boundaries later and Romany were looking down the barrel of defeat, until an inspired bit of captaincy that saw Harwood take his pads off and take the ball. We needed 1 wicket, they needed 4 runs. A couple of tight deliveries built pressure and then their batsman lobbed one up to D.Read who managed to pouch it. A great game and a Romany victory by 3 runs.

A good fun day, with plenty of families spectating and even a confused bunch of Japanese tourists from the hotel taking a moment to shake their heads at the finer points of the game! Perhaps this wasn’t one that entirely stuck to the MCC rules……but a fixture that always produces a great game and plenty of enjoyment nonetheless

 – Duncan Read, Match Manager

Romany Cricket Club

Romany CC vs Leeds Super Kings CC – Match Report

Match Summary:Romany WIN

Romany CC 183-7

Leeds Super Kings CC 68ao

Match Report:

We were very grateful to Alistair Maiden for arranging this short notice replacement game, on a lovely day. The Indian side Leeds Super Kings were our opponents. For a lot of the early part of our innings they had 9 players- we lent them 2 fielders – eventually a 10th player for them arrived. They wanted a 25-overs a side game with everyone bowling and batsmen retiring on 25, so George agreed this.

Alistair also provided a new Romany player – who has an international cap for the Netherlands – Johannes Van Ee, known as “Vee”. We hope he will play for us again. Basically everyone for Romany did well – Alistair and George had a good opening stand till Alistair played on. Vee and George continued to bat well, Vee was eventually well caught in the deep, and George retired. Scott Munro came in, hit big sixes and fours and thus retired quickly. Runs continued through the rest of the batting order, Steve Hardy, Howard Elgot, John Surtees, Rob Bielby all contributed, Keith Egerton was unlucky, and Adam Bowen and Nick Hawkins were not out having stolen some quick singles at the end – Romany 183-7 not counting the retirements.

When we bowled, none on the opposition got going at all – wickets shared around with most bowlers getting one but the stand-out was Keith Egerton with 3 for 4, including two in successive balls. Vee bowled quickly. Highlights were Adam Bowen’s diving caught-and-bowled, and John Surtees’ great catch at the wicket off George to get the last man out – (George’s “Hollywood” dive after a ball had already passed him for 4, was also memorable…). LSK were 68 all out – A pleasant celebratory drink at the New Inn afterwards – a good time had by all… (sadly hearing the closing stages of England losing to Scotland at Edinburgh…)- NH