And So to Bed

For those looking out from the Pavilion at Garboldisham on that late-August evening, waiting for their turn to bat, it was clear that the end of the season beckoned. Somewhere in the gloom was a game of cricket that was coming to an end, harbingering the end of another season – the first ‘real’ one since the pandemic.

At Walsham, cricketers know that the end is in sight when the goals go up again and the Sumner Road side of the ground becomes that little bit more difficult to clip the ball through midwicket for four along the ground.  But, across the Club, there is much to look forward to in the months ahead.

Both the Senior sides are ‘safe’ within their respective Divisions, playing out in August some thrilling matches.  The Sunday XI in one of the best finishes to a match in some time, took the runaway league leaders, Melton St. Audry, to a 1 wicket finish.  Showing nerve beyond their years, Tom Ridding and Sylvie Melvin, saw it over the line with the usual Sunday crowd gathered on the boundary.  In truth, Walsham must have known it was their day by the manner in which Trevor Newman rolled back the years with a spectacular run out in the first innings, and Ned Campbell took a skier under the critique of John Wright on the bench.

Just the day before, the 1^st XI had a similar end in their match against Mistley.  Chasing a comparatively low total set by Walsham, Mistley were held in the final over to just the 7 runs, resulting in that rare occurrence of a tie.  With the advent of live ball-by-ball scoring by Tim Gilbert this season, the constant checking of phones across Suffolk has become a regular Saturday afternoon past-time (wlwcc.play-cricket.com).

In the Juniors, both the U9s and U11s have had further successes in festival tournaments.  Jack Campbell and Harriet French have both taken hattricks; Albie Howe-Bryant hit 3 sixes in a row; Macey Leeks conquered her bowling demons and Tobias Macrae took a pivotal catch to see Walsham to 3^rd place in the Woolpit Festival.  Henry Jackson, aged 5, made his debut for the U9s – playing with a beautiful enjoyment of the game.

The final word, though, is reserved for all those that make those moments possible in the background.  Our collective thanks should go to the triumvirate of Richard Land, John Wright and Rick Meyer for the toil and work on the pitch each week, preparing the way for those thrilling finishes.