A great start to the season if you are a physiotherapist or any kind of doctor! In 22 years at Long Melford I can't remember a season when so many players have been injured in some form or another. Thankfully none are life-threatening but it has certainly affected our ability to field full strength sides.
Our opener against Sudbury saw some cobwebs blown away from those who were fit, and although we fell to a seven-wicket defeat, we wish Guy Robins and his second XI a good season at Friars Street, and hope to see them next year in the league. It was g
ood workout for both sides.
Our Hunts opener saw a repeat of last season with Lavenham getting one over us again. Greg Wiggins again was in the runs before 11-year-old Nicholas Bigg sent him packing.
Our first Two Counties league games were affected by the aforementioned injury crisis. At 8pm on Friday evening we had 18 players for two sides. We made up the 22 but fell to two defeats, although there was a lot to be positive about.
The first XI went to Chantry Park and went down by 42 runs. We picked up six points, which I was more than happy with. I give special mentions to Ben Barnbrook who bowled well picking up three wickets as he attempts to cement his place in the firsts.
Sean Cooper was drafted in at 10pm on Friday and he bowled well and top scored with 38, and 14-year-old Jo Murray, making his debut for the club, fielded admirably throughout.
Our second team fell to a 210-run defeat against Abberton's second XI... or so we thought. Struggling for players we put a patched up side together, only to find out that Abberton's first team game had been called off, and several players had been drafted into their seconds.
Abberton hit 264 and scuttled us for 54. Hats go off to our openers for the day. Skipper Ray Black and Brian Challis, playing his first game in over a year after recovering from a broken foot, put on 34 for the first wicket, and at a combined age of double the final total, that was a great effort against division one bowling.
At the club we now have a darts team on a Friday night and invite anyone who fancies a game to join us. Ashley Skeggs hit a 180 in his first game. They are all in local areas so the more the merrier. More information can be found on our website. www.longmelfordcc.org.uk.
I'm now also running the bar at the club and we will have guest real ale every week. I look forward to seeing you over the season.
The full article contains 469 words and appears in Suffolk Free Press newspaper.
