Ongar Cricket Club

Neal Clark has left for his 3 month stay in Australia playing Cricket for Willetton Cricket Club, the home of Blake Hall.

Watch this space for an update each month from Nobbler.

Hi There From Down Under

The season has been pretty good so far personally and for the club. I didn't make it into the 1s for the first game, but was appointed captain of the 2s. Won the toss and bowled them out for 136. I picked up 3/38 from 28 overs - boring stuff haha. We ended up passing them 7 down and only made the 150, I put in a handy 7* at number 11. Then we had to go out and bowl for over 2 hours in the last session. So pointless, but it all goes towards points at the end of the year.

During the week of the next game one of our opening bowlers in the 1s told the club he wouldn't be able to play for the rest of the year as he was returning home due to some family issue and he had a job set up. He is from Kalgoorlie which is about 500km east of Perth so I came into the 1s to take his spot. We were crusing at 2/150 then collapsed to be all out for 197. I made 0* at 11 again. Overnight we had them 2/30 and came back the next Saturday to finish the game and ended up rolling them for 110. I managed 4/21 from 22 overs! Just dried those runs up and made them get themself out. 2nd innings our state player came in at 4 and proceeded to make 107 in 60 odd balls with 9 sixes including 5 in one over! He can play. He has made two hundreds a 65 and a 30 (where he was run out) so far this season for us.

Then on Sunday we had a 1 day game against last years finalists and we crushed them. Michael Yardy who has played some 1 dayers for England was playing for them because of Stewie Walters who is their captain and plays for Surrey tends to get someone each year to come over and play with his club. Yardy, being a left hander edged me straight to the keeper for 6 which was good fun! We bowled them out for 170 and proceeded to make 3/240 from our 50 overs. I ended up with 1/22 from my 10 overs. In first grade we are 3 wins and 0 losses and on top of the table. I think from the first 3 rounds our 4 teams have only lost 2 games combined. This is by far the best start to a season I can remember and it is exciting times down at Willetton. Just the time for Nobbler to come over and play a few games.

There is a website http://mycricket.cricket.com.au/ if you go to it and search for Willetton, then customise it for Willetton you can see all our results and stats etc for this and the past few years.

Blake

Congratulations go to Dave Coles who was presented with the Dick Arnold Trophy at the AGM on Thursday evening.

Dave is a worthy winner of this prestigious award. Dave currently serves on the Committee as Fixture Secretary and epitomises the role of an ideal clubman. He also very successfully organised the raffle this year which reaped much needed funds.

Well done Dave!

Due to the cancellation of the Annual Dinner & Dance, the player of the year awards were announced and presentations made during the AGM held on Thursday evening. The respective winners are as follws:-

Saturday 1st XI - Blake Hall

Saturday 2nd XI - Peter Ellis

Sunday XI - Matthew Adcock

At the recently held Annual General Meeting, there has been a number of changes in personnel on the Committee.

After a long association and having undertaken a number of roles at the Club, Nigel Shuttleworth announced that he would be stepping down as Chairman. His position has been filled by Mark Suker. In addition, Mark has taken on the role of Club Representative and will represent the Club at OS&SC meetings.

Another significant change sees Rakesh Bagga take over the matle of Hon. Secretary from Neal Clark after a tenure of four years.

Other changes on the Committee sees Peter Ellis take over from Mark Suker as Assistant Secretary whilst Sam Sweeting replaces Andy Love as Membership Secretary. To conclude a full compliment to the Committee, Paul Stolworthy has taken up the previously vacant position of Social Secretary.

Due to lack of interest, this years' Annual Dinner & Dance has regrettably been cancelled.

Chris 'Gumsy' Sims beats Neal ‘Nobbler’ Clark to win the Single Wicket Competition.

On a day that was threatened to be a wash out before a ball was bowled, the single wicket was completed just in time, before the heavens opened. Just 13 cricketers played their hearts out to win this Single Wicket Competition.

All the games were played in the true spirit of the game.

THE QUARTER FINALS
Chris Sims bye
Blake Hall beat Pinal Patel
Peter Ellis beat Jamie Watson
Neal Clark beat Matt Adcock

THE SEMI FINALS (Two 8 Ball overs)
Semi-final 1 saw Chris Sims and Blake Hall do battle. Blake scoring 20 from 12 balls before getting out. Chris scoring 21 from 14 balls.

Semi-final 2 saw Peter Ellis and Neal Clark do battle. Peter scoring 4 from 6 balls. Neal scoring 6 from 3 balls.

The Final (Two 8 ball overs)
Chris Sims v Neal Clark. Neal scoring 10 from 9 balls.
Chris scoring 11 from 6 balls reaching the required score with 10 balls to spare.

So Chris Sims stepped forward to collect the much coveted Trophy from Nigel Shuttleworth.

Some other awards on the day:
Over zealous celebrations - Peter Ellis
For qualifying for the 2012 Olympics at throwing the cricket bat - Sam Sweeting
Best catch of the day - Sam Adcock.
Longest time to deliver Pizzas - Stars and Stripes.

Many thanks must go to:
Ian Groves & Greg Sims for umpiring the competition and to all those who took part in the competition.
Jo Couglan for her nibbles during the competition.
Steve Adcock for the wicket.

Some Single Wicket Trivia:
30 dot balls bowled
43 Fours hit
4 Sixes hit

Those of you who failed to turn up, you really missed out!!

BILL FRINDALL

The draw took place after the single wicket competition.

Ticket No. 1286 - 1st Prize - £200.00 - Ben Groves
Ticket No. 1835 - 2nd Prize - £100.00 - Nigel Shuttleworth
Ticket No. 3541 - 3rd Prize - £50.00 - Mrs K. Coles

Many Thanks to all those who bought tickets and helped OCC raise over £700 for club funds.

David Coles
Promoter

Sunday 2nd August 2008

Nigel & Janet Shuttleworth are proud grand parents as Daniel and Heather had a healthy baby boy at 12.11pm today.

They have named him Liam and he weighed in at 7lbs 13oz. Mum and baby are both fine.

This Annual Cricket Match took place at Love Lane on Friday 25th July in fine sunny weather.

OCC won by 79 runs

Awaiting match report

This article appeared in the Ongar & North Weald Gazette on Wednesday 2nd July and is reproduced in full below.

To see the article on line, please use the following link.
http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/ongar/Cricket-club-s-future-uncertain/article-200548-detail/article.html

Cricket Club's Future Uncertain

THE future of one of the county's oldest cricket clubs hangs in the balance as it struggles to secure new members, despite being able to attract interest from Australian players.

Blake Hall, who shares his name with one of Ongar's most historic venues, follows a long line of experienced Australian cricketers brought over to play for the club.

Once thriving, Ongar Cricket Club has faced a steady decline in membership since the closure of the local secondary school.

Chairman Nigel Shuttleworth said: “Who knows what will happen? I hope the club goes on but if membership continues the way it has been the club may look for an alternative to league cricket and may end up only playing friendly matches.”

Anyone interested in joining should call 07793 236432 or visit www.ongarcricketclub.co.uk

PLEASE

Can all playing members assist the team selection each week by udating their availabilty on the website.

If you have any problems contact either Nigel Shuttleworth or Neal Clark

Please remember to pay you annual subscription for this season. Anyone who does not pay by 30th June will incurr a £10.00 fine - this is not up for discussion as it was previously agreed at the AGM in 2006.

Andy Love is the Membership Secretary and he has been given the full backing of the Committee to harass those who have yet to pay.

The subscriptions were again frozen for 2008:
Seniors: £100.00
Under 18's, Students, Unemployed: £35.00

Don't forget that you are also required to pay the Ongar Sports & Social section fee which is £20.00 for adults, £10.00 for juniors or a family membership is available at £40.00 which covers two adults and under 18's. You must be a member of OSSC to play cricket.

All cheques are to be made payable to Ongar Cricket Club, this includes the OSSC section fee amount as well.

Remember, if you haven't paid, you are only cheating those who have - your team mates. More importantly, you are cheating your club.

FRANK COLLINS
8th January 1935 - 15th April 2008

Ongar Cricket Club is sad to report that Frank Collins has sadly passed away.

For those of you who knew and remember Frank, he was a larger than life character both on and off of the cricket field. He was a fast opening in-swing bowler who deceived many a batsman bowling off of the wrong foot. He was also a more than capable batsman himself and could even hit the best of attacks to all parts of the ground on his day. He played the game in the right way and was a true gentleman off of the pitch.

Frank was a keen supporter of the club both during and after his playing days and was a regular attendee at the Presidents Day match and was also the clubs auditor. He was also one of the few Vice Presidents who regularly attended the Clubs AGM which is an example of just how much interest he had in the club.

His funeral took place at Chelmsford Cathedral on 6th May and naturally, with Frank being a very popular person, it was extremely well attended. The Cricket Club was represented by players past and present, Vice Presidents and the Club Chairman.

He will be missed and our thoughts go out to his widow, Lyn.

If you have any ideas for the newsletter, please e-mail your comments direct to the editor at howzatt@btinternet.com or, if you prefer, pass to a member of the Committee and it will be included in the next issue.

Volunteers are required from each team to provide match reports. Reports can be short and sweet or as long as you like and they can remain anonymous.