Match Reports
1st XI | 2nd XI | 3rd XI | 4th XI |Thu 14th September
Honours even for Bridgend and their Baltic Brothers
Bridgend 138 8
Estonia 139-3
Just picture the scene, one of Wick Van Hire's finest seventeen seaters purring at the ready, star stumper Dickie Morgan at the wheel, "We all live in a Watts & Morgan House" blaring from the radio and Dominic Mobbs gathering his troops for a journey into the unknown. Welcome to the Bridgend Town Cricket Club's end of season tour for 2006.
The four day hike, to Tallinn, Estonia, was the brainchild of 1st XI opening bowler Dominic Mobbs. As well as organising two games of cricket against the Estonian National side, at the rather exotically named Hippodrome, Mr. Mobbs also managed to talk UEFA's hierarchy into organising Newcastle United's first leg in the Estonian capital during the lads stay.
Therefore with just three hours in Tallinn, the tour party found themselves in the home end of Leveda Tallinn, amongst whistles, klaxons, non-alcoholic lager and annoying plastic horns! The football was nothing to write home about as the Magpies lacked the normal penetration provided by Geordie favourite Shola Ameobe. Even so, United were more than worth their one nil win thanks to a header from Sibierski early in the first half.
Now on to the cricket. On the Friday, a Twenty20 style match was arranged with many of the Bridgend boys nursing severe headaches and stomach upsets from the terrible jet lag that can occur when travelling to Eastern Europe. However they were boosted by the arrival of heavy run scorers Alistair Dalton and Spencer Collier, leaving Mark White (Chairman of Selectors) with selection headaches.
Captain Mobbs showed his unselfish nature by winning the toss, electing to bat and opening the innings himself with 3rd XI stalwart Liam Weller. Neither managed to impress the scorers and a tumble of quick wickets saw Bridgend reduced to 30 for 5. This soon became 30 for 7 as Hampton Hill professional Alex Price, ran 1st XI skipper Stuart Morris out without facing a ball and then Dickie Morgan nicked a sharp chance to the keeper to return to the boundary edge for nought.
Thankfully Dalton was still in the pavilion, and led a fantastic revival, first with Price and then with club legend Huw Miles. Dalton finished 49 not out as Bridgend set a challenging 138 for 8 off their 20 overs.
Bridgend used the usual opening attack of Mobbs and express train Adam Weaver who both showed good pace on a lively Estonian wicket. However, wickets proved difficult to come by and Bridgend had no answer to Estonia?s resident Australian professional. A cross between Jo Mangel and Steve Waugh, the Australian cut and pulled with aplomb and saw the home side to victory with just 2 balls to spare.
The Bridgend side were clearly disappointed at this result, and the lads had decided on a team rule of an early night. Unfortunately, a faulty fire alarm led to the boys having a disrupted nights sleep and next morning a late fitness test was required on young leg spinner Johnny Davies.
By the time the team arrived at the ground, all of the team had been passed fit and IT Specialist Johnny Ling opened the batting with 2nd team regular Kenny Cadogan.
Bridgend made a much better fist of things second time around and partnerships of 50 for the 1st wicket and 95 for the 2nd saw the visitors finish on 187 for 2 from their 30 overs. Ling made 20, Cadogan 49, Collier 30 not out and once again Alistair Dalton getting the bulk of the runs ending on 65.
Aggressive bowling from Weaver, Mobbs, Weller and Miles left the Estonians struggling for runs. As a result home umpire Bert Schumuker decided to take matters into his own hands, consistently no balling Mobbs despite him not letting the ball go, penalising Weller for bowling left arm over the wicket and constantly adding a ball or two to the over as Morris wasn't provided with six counters at the start of the Estonian innings.
Despite this, Bridgend still managed to keep the home side at bay and gained a satisfying 6 run victory.
Dalton was justifiably named man of the series for Bridgend, while the Estonian man of the series was undoubtedly Chrisse, the Estonian captain, James long term girlfriend. Not only did she score both books beautifully, she also collected the boundary markers with such speed that Dai Dobbs' role at Bridgend next season is seriously under threat.
A fabulous time was had by all and a huge thank must go to Jason the Estonian CC club president, Dominic Mobbs and Wick Van Hire for all their support and organisation.
First XI scribe
Wed 9th August
Seaton savages Swansea on his Bridgend return
Swansea 183-6
Bridgend 186-7
For their first midweek friendly of the year, Bridgend travelled west to St Helens to take on Swansea. Bridgend fielded a strong team with Richard "Bubba/Audi" Morgan making his debut as midweek captain and former club star Stuart Seaton making a guest appearance.
After a brief delay to the start of the match, due to Jonny "the Fugitive" Ling being temporarily detained by an over-zealous policeman, Swansea elected to bat despite their opponents being "only Bridgend".
Swansea got off to a good if not lucky start with most of their runs coming through boundaries off the bowling of the luckless Adam Weaver who continually troubled the batsmen with his pace. Tony Green kept things tight at the other end with only 17 runs coming off his 8 overs.
With the score passing 70 for no wicket strike bowler Dominic Mabbs came off after 3 overs due to injury and Swansea looked like they should post a formidable target. The pitch offered no help for League spinner Jack Lingley, however the introduction of Andy Jones and Jamie Russell proved decisive as they took 5 quick wickets and slowed down the Swansea scoring.
With the late flurry of wickets the former Bridgend spinner Rhys Osbourne entered the arena and managed to guide Swansea to 183 for 6 off their 40 overs despite some intense pressure/sledging from the Bridgend fielders.
Following an excellent tea Bridgend set about the run chase in their usual midweek fashion with Alex Frew, Jonny Ling and captain Morgan chipping in with some 20/20 style hitting.
Unfortunately most of the top order couldn't hang around long enough and when Phil Cadogan was removed for 1, Bridgend were 103 for 5 and the game hung in the balance.
Bridgend need not have worried as opener Seaton was still unmoved and rapidly approaching an unbeaten 71* and with the team batting down to 11 these days the run chase was never going to be a problem.
Some big hitting by Mabbs, Weaver and Russell got Bridgend to the required total with 7 overs and 3 wickets to spare and secured a well deserved and enjoyable victory.