Weybridge Vandals 104 all out

Merstham 106 for 7

Putting the opposition in at The Hawthorns for the first time, without any hesitation, Weybridge Vandals were soon having problems with the opening Merstham attack of Safyan Aslam and Liam Powell. Never looking that confident they were finally bowled out for 104 with skipper Andy Ayres top scoring with 26. John Young,s first ball of the new Fullers season saw him hitting the stumps, not bad for starters. Safyan finished with 4 for 22, Liam 2 for 26 and JY 3 for 20. These figures were helped with some excellent catches from Ameer Pasha(3), Chris Lowe and good work from keeper Dan Sheriff a catch and a clever stumping.

Now batting is not this teams strongest suit and it took a classy innings of caution by Shakir Khan, starting his first full season at the club to show us the way.He carried his bat for 31 with some useful contributions along the way from Dan Sheriff(10) John Young (9)and Gary Powell(8). Old Tiffs at home next week, 1.30 start.

Squad for Saturday AWAY to Deando Ruxley Tolworth 12pm Meet at Club

Dan Feist, Richard Feist, Richard Turner, Jason Drewitt, Dave NEal, Tristan NEwton, Eddie Loader, Jo Shinners, Dan Hamilton, James Vincent, Dave Loader.

The 3rd XI have won their first game of the season by 95 runs, a friendly away to Reigate Priory VI.

Batting first, Merstham started slowly with only John Young (36) putting in a significant contribution from the top order, which saw the loss of 3 wickets without score. It was left to the lower order to pick up the run rate and post a respectable total. A vital last wicket partnership from Farooq Naseer and Safyan Aslam saw the total reach 145-9 off 40 overs.

The Merstham attack started with Safyan and Liam Powell, who were told to pitch it up on a slow and damp pitch, Powell producing a wicket with his first ball. With good accurate bowling from a muliple seam attack, Merstham bowled Priory out for 50. Wickets were shared by Safyan, Liam, John Young, Omar, Farooq and Gary.

This was a tremendous start for the team and spirits were high. We now look forward to our Fullers League campaign with great expectation.

As usual the thirds put in another fine bowling and fielding display. However, if we are to improve on our league position this year the batting must improve. Once this is achieved we shall be a force to be reckoned with!

Cup Game 12.15 meet at Merstham.
1.30 Start at Westfield

1. Eddie Loader
2. Rich Turner
3. Dave Neal
4. Rich Feist
5. Jayson Drewitt
6. James Vincent
7. Neil Maplesdon
8. Dan Hamilton
9. Dan Feist
10. Ian Mcgilvery
11. Dave Loader

Following an enjoyable indoor season and following results going in favour of Merstham last night we have been crowned 2008 Indoor League champions.

So well done to the team this year, lets hope it is the start of another positive Summer for the club.

We are working on having some sort of system that allows players to see what fixtures they will be playing in. It should be on the site in the next week so keep your eyes peeled.

Despite a very cold April day unlike the year before the Golf day was another success, though i think the Eventual winner for the second year running may have played into having a very low handicap next year.

16 club members turned out and were split into teams as well as playing for the Individual Prize. Their was some interesting golf played in all the groups including Dave Neal killing a bird on the 14 and Ray upsetting a mother who had adopeted his ball as one of her eggs.

In the end it was between Ray Shinners and Jayson Drewitt for the individual prize with Ray holiding on to his title, in the team competition Ray JOhn Turner & Mike Wadsley coleected the honours.

A good day was had by all and the evening was a good social get together that saw the start of James Vincent Stag Weekend and the sight of him in a Pink Dress!!!!

BIg Thank you to all who took part, and to Simply Sports and Nutfield Priory for their kind pirzes.

All fixtures will be entered as soon as we can we want to enter them in a slighly form from last year....You can always pick them up on Play Cricket or Fullers League sites.....

It all starts again on Tuesday at 6pm all parents and youngsters are reminded about coming down and giving us the completed forms and meeting your new or your old coaches from last year. We have a very full programme planned as you can read in this weeks Surrey Mirror and we will need to see more commitement from members and families on and off the ground . We have some uncompleted tasks in progress at the ground and these areas are out of bounds for all except authorised members.

A great effort by everyone who broke into their weekend and helped with the dozens of jobs we started. Special mention to Terry for a great Shepherds Pie. It goes without saying that we didnt achieve all the jobs we hoped to get done I have been informed by Terry due to the snow etc! so please if anyone who can make it in the coming weekends before the season starts please do and bring a friend.

We have added some photos to the gallery, see them by clicking this link.

Antoher Strong batting perfomance chasing Nutfield 107-4, kept Merstham top of the league. In the field tight bolwing from Bobby Sharp 3-0-7-0 and good variation from Kent 3-0-23-1 had help to restrict Nutfield to a managible target. This Target was made to look comfortable though with Merstham top 4 batsman all retiring leaving Kent to hit the final runs and help Merstham to a bonus point after chasing the total within 10 Overs.

Team Rich Feist, Steve Bennett, Peter Freeman, Kent Tristan, Bobby Sharp, Herschel Pant.

Merstham made the most of batting first with it's strong batting line up, to post a competitive total of 128 - 3 with Rich Turner 31, Ed Loader 30* and Jo Shinners 26*.

In reply Merstham bowling was a little wayward but cool heads in the field led to four run outs and Black and Veatch were eventually all out of 105.

Merstham: Richard Turner, Steve Bennett, Jo Shinners, Bobby Sharp, Ed Loader, James Vincent.

In what was a top of the table clash Merstham putt in a strong batting display, Top scorers in their innings were Peter Freeman 25* and Rich Feist 20* who showed how easy the game is with good positive running. Their was also a usefull contribution by the returning Jo Shinners 14* the MCC finishing up with 110-2

Merstham knew they needed a tight start with the dangerous Morgan always likely to give the grammar school a strong start, but with James and Jo both getting sharp bounce and Jo bowling at Good pace it was hard work for the Grammar school, and a sharp catch by Rich Feist in the corner got rid of Morgan and the Grammer school never really recovered. In the end they were bowled out for 73, with both Richards picking up 2 wickets each.

Team Jo Shinners, Richard Turner, Richard Feist, Steve Bennett, James Vincent, Peter Freeman

Fancy developing your Cricket this Easter?

Merstham Cricket Club will be running a Pre Season coaching camp for 8-12 Year old at Quality Street on 15,16 & 17 April running from 9.30 - 3pm.

The cost of the course will be £40 for all three days or £15 for individual days.

If you are interested in booking a place contact Dan on 07793952496 or email Dan.feist@richmond.gov.uk

Wishing you all a good Easter

CRICKET FORCE WEEKEND 5/6 APRIL

All members over the weekend of the 5/6 April the club will be preparing its self for the new season as well as making some long term improvments to the ground by being part of the ECB Cricekt Force Weekend.

Such projects include building of the new score box,

Removal of the old pavilion due to safety fears,

Tidy and preparation of the nets,

Cleaning and preparation for the season of the pavilion.

To help get the ground ready for the season it is important as many members as possible play their part, if you can spare any amount of time over the weekend it would be greatly appriecated by all and will go along way tomaking sure that Quality Street continues to be an enjoyable place to play Cricket and to enjoy your summer evenings and weekends.

For more information please Contact Bernard Feist or any other members of the commitee.

PS Work on the new score box has allready begun if you are able to spare any time on a Saturday morning to help with this developments the club would once again be most greatfull.

GODSTONE CRICKET CLUB

TWENTY 20 CRICKET KNOCKOUT TOURNAMENT
THE DRAW & LOCAL RULES

The draw took place in late February 2008.
28 May Whyteleafe v Old Whitgifitians
4 June Merstham v Royal Oak
11 June East Grinstead v Outwood
18 June Godstone v Limpsfield Chart

25 June Winners 28/5 v 4/6
2 July Winners 11/6 v 18/6

9 July Final

If interested in playing in the 20/20 in June or any other midweek games please contact Richard Feist

At feistr@hawthorns.com

Merstham put in another strong performance last night, with the help of 4 sharp chances being held by Freeman and Pant as well as sharp work in the field by the rest of the team, helping to reduce Horley to 84-5 from their 12 Overs. Herschel 3-0-15-1, James 3-0-16-0, Rich T 3-0-23-2, Rich F 3-0-23-2.

In reply after the early loss of Bennett two strong partnerships from Turner & Freeman and Feist & Freeman saw Merstham safely to their target. Turner 20, Feist 18 Not Out, Freeman 17 Not Out.

Team: Richard Feist, Peter Freeman, Steve Bennett, James Vincent, Herschel Pant, Richard Turner

Merstham have a week off next week but return to play the Grammer school on the 19 March.

Dates for the Diary

30 March - 5-6pm start of Pre Season nets at Hawthorns

5/6 April - Natwest Cricket Force please come down and help the club get ready for the season any help small or large will have a massive impact on getting ready for the season.

18 April - Club Golf Day, Reigate Hill, Please contact Dan asap.

6 Weeks to the start of the season.

Merstham were back to winnning ways in the indoor league last night. Merstham batting first found it hard to score runs of the slow pace bowling of Salfords with the top 3 batsman all back in the hutch after trying to hit the back wall. James Vincent helped get the score board moving in the middle order, but it was left to Rich F 34Not Out to give Merstham a reasonable score to defend.

In reply Salfords set of for the required target with a tactic of hit and run, this put Merstham under pressure in the field but composure was kept and 5 Run Outs led to Salfords being all out for 59. Once again tight bowling from Herschel and Trigger plus the return to bowling of Rich F and natural keeping of Steve 'no byes' Bennett also gave more positives to the Merstham display.

MCC 105 - 5 Rich F 34 Not Out

Salfords 59 All Out

Team Steve Bennett, Rich Turner, Rich Feist, Ed Loader, Herschel Pant, James Vincent

As we fast approach the season, we can now inform you that Indoor nets will be held at the Hawthorns School (http://www.hawthorns.com/default.asp?id=65)

Nets will be from 5-6pm on March 30, April 6,13 & 20, when we will move to Outdoor Nets on Friday evenings at the club from 6-8pm so you can get rid of the stress of a week at work and get ready for that game on a Saturday or Sunday, with on and off field preparations as the bar will be open too.

All current and new members are welcome and we look forward to seeing you on the 30 March.

For more information please contact Dan Feist dan.feist@richmond.gov.uk

or Rich Feist  feistr@hawthorns.com

Merstham lost their first game in this years indoor competition against current league holders South Nutfield, Fielding first Merstham found it hard to break through a confident South Nutfield batting line up and some under parr fielding ment that South Nutfield were always likely to set a good total.

Chasing 135 was always going to be a hard task and opening pair of Rich F and Steve B though batting well found it hard to find the gaps, and in the end Merstham fell well short of the Target though mention must go to the team for not losing a wicket and Steve Bennetts 28 Not out.

Team - Rich Feist, Steve Bennett, James Vincent, Jez Gray, Herschel Pant, Bobby Sharp

Following the early game Merstham also played a friendly against Reigate Grammer School and in a high scoring encounter Merstham fell 6 runs short chasing 127,

Reigate Grammer School 126 - 4 S Rivers 26 Not out

MCC 120 - 1 S Bennett 30 Not out, Herchel Pant 29 Not Out,  J. Vincent 25 Not out

Team - Rich Feist, Steve Bennett, James Vincent, Herschel Pant, Jez Gray, Dan Feist