The 2008 season is upon us.

FEEL THE POWER!

Safety guidance on the wearing of cricket helmets by young players

The England and Wales Cricket Board has issued new safety guidance on the wearing of cricket helmets by young players. It is recommended that a helmet is worn by young players when batting and when standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket against a hard cricket ball in matches and in practice. A young player should not be allowed to bat or to stand up to the stumps when keeping wicket without a helmet against a hard ball except with written parental consent. Coaches, teachers, managers and umpires should always ensure that a young player wears a helmet if this written parental consent has not been received. Players should regard a helmet with a faceguard as a normal item of protective equipment when batting against a hard ball, together with pads, gloves and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box). There is a British Standard (BS7928:1998) for cricket helmets and it is in the best interests of players to ensure that their helmet confirms to this standard.

The ECB is recommending that this guidance is followed by all players up to the age of 18. It applies to young players in adult cricket as well as to all junior cricket played with a hard cricket ball.

The ECB is requesting that the new guidance is communicated to the parents or guardians of all young players through clubs and schools, and that parental consent is always obtained before young players are allowed to bat or stand up to the stumps when keeping wicket against a hard ball without wearing a helmet.

ECB Cricket Department
February 2003

PERSONAL CONDUCT: RULE 21

21. As members of a "family" club in which both ladies and children participate actively, and as members of a cricket club with a very long tradition it is expected that behaviour off the field shall be courteous, supportive and moderate, and that behaviour and turn out on the field shall be:
(a) subject to the Captain's leadership;
(b) in the best interests of cricket as a sporting game.

End of Season Club Day Out.

A mixed Failand squad including the first, second and third team captains and vice-captains, the club chairman and secretary, two ex-captains, perhaps a future captain and the one and only Chalky White with his box of magic pencils descended on this picturesque ground after a quick pint at the nearby Beggars Belief.

This fixture has become a bit of an annual event, and this year six of the team had played the day before in a victory over Barnstaple & Pilton. This meant six hangovers. Acting captain and Failand ambassador Bernard Raines won the toss and decided to field first, opening the bowling with Phil ‘lock up your daughters’ Dungey, and Paul Nice.

Phil soon got his hands on a decent length, and let his balls do the talking. He swung both ways and had the batsmen tied up in knots. Paul put in a good spell also, but all this good early work was ruined as Steve Purseys’ first over went for 20 runs. This would have been 24 if not for a brilliant piece of fielding by Simon Bachelor. XXXXXXXX took the attack to Failand and scored an aggressive XX runs.

He was eventually bowled by Andrew Trineman. Simon replaced Phil from the pavilion end, and his well disguised slow leg break picked up a deserved wicket. Bob Humpreys, who gave his sons an excellent lesson in fielding skills at square leg, finished off the bowling from the pavilion end with his blend of hit me if you dare.

Lynton and Lynmouth posted a total of 196 for 3 in their allotted 35 overs, which seemed like a par score on a decent strip. XXXXXXX scored an undefeated XX.

A suberb tea was provided, which included some favourites such as sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, a delicious cheese and tomato sandwich, quality crisps as well as Battenburg slices and Treacle tart. Yum yum. Henry Humphreys was unable to finish his overloaded plate as he had to pad up with John Skinner.

Both surrendered their wickets cheaply to make way for the big guns Ed Humphreys and Dick Whittington. Some thoughtful running between the wickets besides putting away the bad balls kept the scoreboard ticking over and the run rate required, rarely went above eight an over. Together they put on 148 runs and left Failand within sniffing distance of victory.

When Dick was eventually bowled for XX, a further 34 were needed from 23 balls. Andrew Trineman hit a four from his first ball, but an excellent over from XXX(fast bowler that bowled the last over) XX left Failand requiring 21 from the last 2 overs. Ed Humphreys showed pure class as he virtually single handed took on L & L’s best two bowlers, hitting them both for decisive sixes and eventually winning the game with 3 balls to spare. Ed finished with 87.

It was all back to the Beggars Belief for some more hospitality, including roast potatoes, samosas and pork pies. Chalky White performed the entertaining man of the match ceremony, which was deservedly awarded to Ed.

Phil won the man of the tour award, not just for his bowling but also for his dance-floor antics and wonderful storytelling, most of which will never be forgotten.

An excellent fixture and day out, in a beautiful setting, with goats crunching on the reddening bracken and the added attraction of local runners struggling along the boundary edge (up the hill) in a half marathon , making us all realise what a gentle relaxed game cricket can be. We all hope to return next year.

OLD BRISTOLIANS (away)
[report needed]

BLAGDON (at home)
[report needed]

Draw down at Taunton St Andrews
[march report needed here]

TAUNTON ST. ANDREWS
Our Sunday XI is looking forward to visiting you this weekend in the first of our annual double-headers.

Be seeing you!

VICTORY AT PORTISHEAD
[Tony Bamber needs to supply report here]

Can someone please get the Sunday scorebook off Tone soonest!

SUNDAY XI GETS GOING
Most games on Sundays early season are North Somerset XI or National Village Cup games (see applicable pages for news here). But the 3rd week in June sees the full Sunday XI programme get going as returning students boost player availability to require 2 fixtures on Sundays from now until end August.

Skipper Tony Bamber returns to the country (he has been in Wales) and after he has sobered up is expected to be leading the side in succession of attractive fixtures home and away.

SUNDAY XI TOO STRONG FOR STAPLETON!
With F & P having the strength in depth this year to field 2 sides on a Sunday in May, the Sunday XI set off for Stapleton while the 3rd XI headed for Chew Stoke. But getting to Stapleton was the first test of character for the F & P Sunday squad - they left from Failand having no idea where they were going. On car had to be "talked in" from the M4 when it should have been on the M32 and another arrived an hour late having been to Chipping Sodbury and Coalpit Heath grounds beforehand without success.

And when they got there they learned that the Stapleton ground is right next to Ed Smith's house - he had travelled to Failand first so as to be able to follow the convoy without getting lost!

Anyway, F & P won the toss and batted. Henry Humphreys batted through for 89* and Ed Humphreys (after arriving at the ground) struck a rapid 58, backed up by Will Humphreys 25 and Chris Smith 30* to finish on 251 for 2.

Stapleton were never in the hunt and were shot out for 122. Medic Ollie Binchcliffe with his leg spin took 4 for 19, Hallinen 2 for 30 and Sid Mistry, Sweet and Neil Harrison chipping in with a wicket each.

So this higher league opposition was swept away by our Sunday boys. Bring on Bamber!!

For full scorecard go to http://fpcc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=286154

THE WORLD EXPECTS
Players and prospective players alike are waiting with bated breath to read the thoughts of new 2005 Sunday XI Captain Tony Bamber. Speaking recently, Tone was heard to mutter: "Wot me?"

Come on, Tone. Your 2005 drivel can appear here! You have the passwords!

Cheesewire 29.12.04*

* Wot happened to 2004? Charlie

Sunday Captain’s Report 2003:

I am standing down as Sunday Captain after what I feel has been a decent spell in the job. Success on the field has been underpinned by the influx of youth and the continuing energy of the older team members. During this time we have experimented with 45 overs a side, two innings games and have examined the idea of a cup of tea between innings and a barbeque after the game. We have also revelled in playing teams in higher leagues and on the better pitches. In passing on the baton it is submitted that friendly Sunday fixtures at Failand should be, and have been, run on a two-pronged basis.

Firstly, we should offer those people who want to play cricket the best opportunity possible to do so. Those people who turn up to bowl must be offered full allotment of overs in which to do so. Those people who turn up to bat must be inserted into the correct place in the batting order to allow them to do so. Those people who are good, very good, or even those who have reached star status will have the same chance to excel even when those without the same levels of skill are enjoying the same level of opportunity. This has been the ruling ethos this season and the last. It has allowed a star batsman such as Hugo Hanchet to score big runs and a young and potentially vulnerable leg spin bowler John Watson to get long spells under his belt and make radical progress forward. Similarly Kalpesh Patel developed in the later part of the season into a substantive batting force and Paul Teasedale started bowling spin and realised that he could clean sides out.

The thinking running alongside this has been a desire for victory and pride in performance. There seems to be little point in playing cricket on a Sunday or indeed at all if one has not set one’s sights on victory. Those who have played this year and the last should be satisfied that this has almost always been the case. The second to last game of the season was against Street CC. The previous year we had lost in a nail biting finish a game in which it was probably lucky that only nails were broken. The game this year was probably better natured but still remained competive and edgy. The desire for victory was summed up when a crucial catch was taken by senior player Chris Smith just centimetres of the ground with a salmon like dive.

I must congratulate stars, young players and players learning their trade alike on taking up this attitude. In particular Anthony Bamber excelled with the ball and could be relied upon to break partnerships with a real consistency. Hugo Hanchet, Ed Humphreys, Kalpesh Patel, and the occasional Bachelor excelled with the bat. There was a showcase of young bowling talent throughout the year and there was marked progress by those who had bowled so well last year. In particular; Craig Robshaw, John Watson, Ed Smith, Anthony Bamber, Paul Teasedale and, of course George Vaughan. These guys should be looked after and must be offered long spells in whatever teams they play in after schools and universities break up next year.

My thanks also to senior members of the club who helped out. In particular Dick Whittington is an invaluable man to have present at (or even just umpiring) a game. Paul Bachelor, Bob Humphreys, Bob Andrews, Chris Smith all turned out for games and showed that they still are gripped with an unshakeable desire for success and sporting excellence. My thanks to; Paul Bachelor for his work on the pitch without which of course we could not play and also to Bob Humphreys for his work with the youth teams. Many of those who played and indeed are listed in this report would never have played for us or perhaps even at all were it not for his work.

Henry Humphreys

Late afternoon rain

justifies Groundie's earlier decision to call off Cheddar game despite dry conditions. "He who laughs last laughs loudest" commented an interested bystander.

Lynmouth on tour 2002