Telling Tales: Festival Day [Colts, Screaming Eagles & Sundays vs WANCC]

It's taken so long to write this final match report of 2024 firstly because I don't really want the season to end and this marks that inevitable end and secondly because there is such much to say to remember the day that I'm struggling to work out the best way to record it. I'm still smiling from ear to ear. It was PURE joy, surronded by friends and family. Not a second that I didn't love! I fear for 2025... I just don't know how we can top it!?

Okay... lets give this a crack. Sunday was like a summary of 2024, all the emotions (of which the vast majority are good) rolled into one day. This day had it all, the best of RCC, bottled, aged, popped and served back to us, and probably with a cherry on top or suchlike.

In our ever-growing festival day we had our Ramsbury Colts take to the field early doors to entertain the eager crowds. A true marker of the successes of our junior development when you compare to a year ago when we have no Colts team, let alone enough to play an inter-club game! And the team are looking strong too, we've had some brilliant games this year against a variety of opposition. It looks positive for our future junnior team development and we hope 2025 will be another year when we push on and add to our junior setup.

Ramsbury Brewery & Distillery, a key sponsor of ours kindly came down to run the bar for the day and served the crowd who where not just thirsty for cricket. Thanks to them and the super friendly staff for giving up their time to be with us! Of course, our locality helps, but we're thrilled to be supported by this brand and their contribution does not go unnoticed. The quality of beer and spirits and a very welcomed bonus!

As the much anticipated Sunday Socials vs WANCC game loomed, you could sense the tension, excitement and trepidation. The sun was shining (and yes Ramsbury did pay extra to the weather gods for that) especially given the downpour just 24 hours before... no better advertisement to keep us playing on a Sunday over a Saturday, at least for now.

For those unaware, playing WANCC on the final day of the season has become a solid favourite fixture and one we've been developing into the legendary festival day that it has now become. This year we've welcomed the club manager of WANCC, namely Bart, to our T20 Ravens side after his recent entry into village home ownership, and thrilled we are about it too. But for one day a year, he'll now play away, at his new home ground as he takes to the field in the pink and blue baggies adorned by the visiting side.

We've had some legendary games against WANCC too, the last wicket decider in 2023 and the close-call in 2020 when Roger and Caspar nearly brought it home for RCC live long in the memory. All in all, of the sixty wickets available across the 3 most recent games together, 56 have been taken and both teams have been bowled out twice in under 35 overs. To say we're evenly matched would be as accurate as our all-star Evill's bowling.

And back to the action itself. As an onlooker in Sundays game, I was in the wonderful position of being on the field for every second as I umpired my way through every ball. Of course, those who kindly brought liquid refreshments to me will be positively remembered come next seasons team sheets, as well as those who double-stack burgers... you know who you are and I thank you! This was always going to be a tough gig though. To be impartial in a fixture I'd love to see us win would not be easy, so I did what any great umpire would do and copy the actions of the legend, Dave Smith, a stalwart of umpiring against Ramsbury CC and ensuring the game is played by the rules and of course in the spirit of cricket (other spirits including locally produced vodka and gin where available to purchase at the Ramsbury bar).

Right, the toss, which when playing WANCC ensures a few school-boy giggles. Nevertheless to avoid Chris needing join a WANCC-er in the middle for a toss it was decided we'd field first. Out walks the team, one brimming with allstar RCC players. We're talking Cowen, Criss, Hawes, Jephson, Judd, Lowe, Mitchell, Osmond, Renwick, The Wall, and led by the man in whom we trust, Roberts. But could a team without our 2024 front-line bowlers in Slade, Lithgow and Evill make the grade?

We start with the left-hand, right-hand combination of Cowen and The Wall. Cowen finds pace and bounce on the pitch which, on occassion the batsman use to their advantage to dispatch quickly to the boundary. Lee was clearly pumped and giving it everything he had from the off (let alone how he finished things later). And in a quick-paced 5 over spell it was a story of two halves as almost every ball was either a dot or a boundary... you don't run twos off Lee! Still not sure how Lee didn't take several wickets.

With The Wall at the other end, the ball was swinging round corners. Bart was nearly sent packing in his opening over as Warwick used all his height to dart one down which started on about 8th stump and ended up striking Bart's leg low down close to leg stump... I've never seen it swing so much (I've even got the footage to prove it). A solid spell for Warwick against some quality batting unfortunately saw a wicketless end to his final game this season, but what a tremendous season with some match changing moments dotted throughout! You should be proud mate!

By this stage we're 9 overs down and WANCC have somehow totted up 65 runs without loss. We needed a change of direction. Welcome to the stage Will Renwick. A true dirtbag, by his own admission, we needed a repeat of the week prior when Will casually grabbed the match ball with a stunning 5-fer. Of course, by writing last weeks report, he barely mentioned it, so I'll humbley write more truthfully about his awesome-ness this week.

Will loves bowling. It's obvious too, he doesn't hide it as he spends hours in our nets, before and during games trying to get things feeling right and then taking that to the middle. This week, he nailed it, taking a wicket in his opening over. As Bart departed off a dirty-dirtbag full toss which Lee snatched perfectly, things were looking up.

Cue Jamie Judd. A man who has, through his pure passion and determination for this game, made many of us into better cricketers. This man leads by example... and in style took a wicket in his first over too, bowling the other opener. WANCC now 66-2. Tables turning? Maybe.

Jamie's second over was much the same, hitting the stumps once more to the crowds enjoyment as WANCC are now 71 for 3. Unfortunately Jamie sustained a side strain, but keen to end the season on a high, decided a full can of Deep Heat would both gas-out the opposition and also be worthwhile with 8 months to recover through the underlying pain.

At the other end, Will has slowed the pace right down as the run rate has all but collapsed. A week ago, Will was 9 wickets behind Sean in the season tally. Now just 3 behind, he was beginning to feel a tad better about his overall performance. But as a left-handed batter knocked him down the ground for 6... which Jamie very nearly caught jumping (take note Lee) on the boundary, you could see the gear change in Will's eyes. With just a maximum of 2 overs left in his season, it was fate (and bloody good bowling and teamwork) which ensured the sixth over was a success.

Dot ball, quick single, dot ball. Okay, cool, chuck a pie down, SMACK, oh christ... oh hold on, Jamie's there, Jamie's got it, wicket ball! Will HATES it... it's a wicket but it's a rank dirtbag ball that gets the man. And as we've heard too many times before at Ramsbury CC 'sh*t-gets-wickets'. Will's quality is what comes next. New batsman at the crease, WANCC are 110 for 5, Will strides in, ball hits the pitch, turns and bowls the batsman around his legs. 110 for 6. New batsman, everyone in, hat-trick ball. Will bowls, it pitches on off stump, it straightens, misses the bat and hits the pad. Will turns and realises it's yours truly umpiring... 'be like Dave Smith, think like Dave Smith, act like Dave Smith'... well it's plum and Sunday plum at that, it's out. Hat-trick smashed, WIll darts off to celebrate with someone, anyone, but he's so quick an energetic in his celebration that he's run past and beyond all the fielders who were in close catching positions. They eventually catch up with him to celebrate the incredible moment with the love and joy that this family-style club has become accustomed to. And Will is he's now equal on wickets for the season with Sean, who due to pure-lad-like actions a week prior is flipping burgers on the BBQ with a strapped up finger, still being a legend, but being unable to make a difference to his own tally.

With an over to go, Will gave it everything, and somehow didn't get a 5th for the day, but an incredible spell and an incredible season. Nice work dirtbag.

Here's a lovely 2024 fact: every time Paddy bowls, he takes at least 1 wicket. And Sunday was no exception. Grabbing another vital one with a lovely catch from Pete and a vital contribution to get us closer to bowling out the visitors.

Harry was more than ready for a pint, but as 'Cornwall' threw down some left-arm-magic, it was the wagging-tail of WANCC that we needed to dispatch. Having been 113 for 8, the 9th wicket fell at 133, a far more defendable score. With that wagging tail on and WANCC close to hitting 150, the batsman called for a quick single. Now Lee may not be able to jump that high, as Chris put it... 'you'd struggle to get a rizzler between the grass and the base of his shoes', but he can field poetically on the ground. As the footage shows, Lee slides to collect the red leather, spins and despatches the ball with pin point precision to snatch the final wicket in style to end WANCC's inning on 149. The reactions of everyone speak volumes, it was pure class, professional quality fielding that would be replayed on TV screens for years. Glad we've got the footage to remember it.

With the two teams frequenting the bar and BBQ, the Screaming Eagles took to the field, including two of our Sunday side in Laurie and Pol (if you haven't read or watched the Nomads game yet... do!). The ladies look in fine form and in fine style with those fabulous hoodies, hitting some wonderful shots around the ground. It's clear to see that the coaching on Wednesday evenings is not just fun, but improving everyones game... and I hope we will be successful in arranging some more inter-club games in 2024 to help that improvement continue.

With burgers and beer in bellies, we hit the turf for the final flourish of 2024. And why not continue with the theme of the day and start the innings with a left-hand, right-hand combination? One we've all waited very patiently to see as well. Harry and Jamie, 1 and 2. Goodness gracious me.

WANCC have quality bowling up top though... they've ripped through us before. But Harry is ready for the challenge. A flash of the blade on his first ball is despatched at pace to the boundary with enough on it to avoid every fielder who saw it. Duckett style batting continues with the second ball, a wide-ish delivery and a second flash of the blade. Less willow meets the ball this time and a diving Bart takes a catch behind the stumps which will act positively in his favour when he's competing for the WK position in our sides next season. It was class. Any keeper would be proud... it would be replayed on TV screens and we have the footage to remember it. Sadly this brilliance meant that we'd lost our first wicket just 5 balls in. Goodness gracious me.

Nevermind, Jamie's still there. Oh no, 13 for 2.

Trouble looms.

With Paddy and Steve at the crease we looked to calm things down and score when we could. Sadly there wasn't much on offer and we've lost both by the 11th over and we're 30 for 4.

With the onlooking Screaming Eagles, their key coach in Pete is keen to ensure he leads by example. So he does. And with Captain Chris leaving the wicket early thanks to a wonderful WANCC catch at extra-cover it's our very own Sir Mitchell who joins Pete. Capitalising on the change of bowling, grabbing a few runs, smashing a 6 and then getting caught trying to repeat the action sends Laurence back to the pavillion for a beer.

We're now 6 down, 59 runs to the good. needing 91 and desperate for our own tail to wag.

Out walks Nick. Also a keen ladies cricket coach, and also ready to show them how it's done... so he does too.

The 'golden old guard' put on a partnership. Taking quick singles, rotating the strike, placing the ball around the ever-changing field and pushing us closer and closer to the target. By the time the 7th wicket falls, we look in control. Pete is sadly dismissed in the most unusual of ways as he edges one onto his foot, the visitors ask the question and I'm stood thinking it's not out as he's edged it... only to be informed that Bart has taken the ball behind the stumps, and without it bouncing the claim for caught is correct and Pete has to make way for someone else to try and seal the victory. His walk back to the onlooking crowd is met with cheers of joy and rightly so. A standing ovation to one of our all time greats as a score of 39 will be honoured and remembered for a long time. A match changing knock and part of an 84 run partnership. 143 for 7 needing just 7 runs. Easy right. Wrong.

Out walks Lee and with Nick on strike the visitors have gone back to their opening bowlers to try and swing the result their way. It works, as Nick (wrongly) is sent on his way LBW and he too is unable to be there for the end but nevertheless receives the same heartfelt applause and cheers that Pete received moments earlier. 143 for 8.

Here comes 4-fer dirtbag Will. Right then. Easy. 7 runs to win. It's hit his pads... it's hit his pads... it's not out. Goodness gracious me.

"Run 'em up boys". And we do, crossing the line and reaching the 150 target with around 5 overs to spare. Joy of joys. A winning end to the season, a tight and nervous finish and an onlooking crowd who have been entertained and supported us all brilliantly.

Hand shakes and smiles between the players and talk about 2025 begins as we grab a beer, eat more burgers, finish off the great array of cakes and listen to the live music!

WHAT A DAY!

This club is simply the best. It's a family, it's full of joy and everyone feels it and long may it continue.

A huge thanks to everyone who has watched, supported, umpired, scored, coached, taxied, cooked, served drinks, made tea, brought drinks, cut grass, marked wickets, cleaned up, washed up, bowled, fielded and batted this season. It's impossible without us all playing a part, and when it all comes together, there is nothing like it.

Bring on 2025, and until then I'll see you at:
September-fest Beer Festival 21st September
Wine & Quiz Night 12th October
RCC Awards Dinner 2nd November
(more details for all to follow, but drop those dates in your diary now).

Over and out on 2024.

Go well. Cheers.