FIND EMBERTON   CRICKET GROUND

TOTE  WINNERS

THE ANNUAL QUIZ & RANKINGS DRAW  scroll down for photo's

Nick and Katie Shelton led their team of Simon Driver, Haydn James and Matthew Jones to victory, - pushing Lynn Perry's bright young things into second place and Dick Underwood and co just hanging on to third.

At the other end of the leader board was Count Duddular and the Vampires who cut and slogged their way to a fighting 7th place.

In the "Ratings Draw" David Mercer emerged as the fortunate punter who was
lucky enough to have backed top ranking Andy Luck, and second prize
went to Simon Parsons whose money was on Steve Musgrave.

In third place was Mark Carter whose hopes rested on Matthew Jones, with the booby prize
going to Adrian Ward who had unknowingly selected a non-playing Haydn
James as his champion.

The evening was a great success with a carefully selected range of
questions - thanks to quizmasters Andy & Gemma Luck and Darren King.

Thanks also to our sponsors, The Wollaston Inn for providing the
excellent value.

 THE WINNING TEAM!  -with their chocolate eggs.

Back row:             Matt Jones &  Katie Shelton

Front:      Haydn James             Nick Shelton          Simon Driver

Below - The Organisers  - Any Luck, Darren King and Gemma Luck

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EIGHT A SIDE DAY JUNE 17th 2007

SCOTT BADER WIN EIGHT A SIDE

The mighty Scott Bader beat a strong Howard Smith Paper Group in the final of the Club's Eight-a-Side Competion after finishing runners-up to them in the group stages.

But the competition was not without controversy. When Darren Laughton, running to the non-striker's end after skying an intended hook, "accidentally" barged into the bowler who was about to take the return catch, umpire Simon Parsons had no hesitation in raising the finger. It was the first case of a Wollaston batsman given out "obstructing the field" in this competition and the first time a batsman has tried to bounce a bowler out!  

 However, normal service was resumed and HSPG sailed though the preliminaries to finish with four wins from four games and went into the final as firm favourites. The other final spot was not decided so easily. Baders had tied for second place with the pre-competition favourites - the Aussie-laden Print Data Source - and a bowl-off was necessary. 

Each team nominated their two most "accurate" bowlers for the job of hitting the stumps without a batsman in sight. Andy Cotter and "Dangerous" Darren Laughton were given the job for the factory boys and skipper Steve Musgrave and Martin Batley for PDS. Muz went first and hit the stumps just once in his three attempts, Andy went next and missed all three and Martin did the same - so  it was left to Darren to save the day and keep his side's hopes alive. He missed with the first two, but under enormous pressure he disturbed the woodwork with his third ball and forced  a play-off between himself and Muz. This time England came out on top when Darren managed two strikes - one more than his opponent. This decreed that Baders' would meet HSPG's in the final.

Would it be a repeat of the group stages when the Northampton outfit posted a mammoth 106 which proved to be the day's highest score? In this case history didn't repeat itself and the group runners-up prevailed. 

 Baders' scored a spicy 89 with Craig Boddington and Lloyd  starring with the bat and had the favourites chasing shadows in the field. But would 89 be enough or would the paper boys make mincemeat of such a total? It was the former, and despite a late rally by one of HSPG's non cricketers who hit Obstructor Laughton for two of the day's biggest sixes, and a few Matthew Jones' classic shots from the text book, the total fell short at a moderate 68 and Scott Baders picked up the trophy as worthy winners.   

We would very much like to thank the following teams for taking part and making the day such a success.

Scott Bader    Howard Smith Paper Group Print    Data Source   The Crispin Arms Wollaston

The Royal Oak at Carlton   Aspect Builders 

We really appreciate the support,  and hope for another successful and enjoyable day next year

Wollaston CC Footballers v Wollaston Victoria FC Veterans

On the 23^rd September 2007, still fresh from the previous week’s celebrations, a team of footballers made up of cricketers took on the Vets Sunday side at the field of dreams.

 The side was hit by several high profile withdrawals in the days leading up to kick-off but this did not dampen team spirit. Driver - cottage in the Cotswolds, Silsby (christening, - his own) and James (savaged by his own dog) were all ruled out at various times meaning the side was down to bare bones, with coach Perry on the bench.  

Playing an adventurous looking 4-3-1-2 formation that manager Jose Jones dreamt up whilst making an omelette, the away side started well. After soaking up some probing passes from the elder statesmen, the cricketers turned defence to attack in one fluid movement and Chris Perry shinned in the opening goal. The lead doubled a few moments later, in a chain of events that looked like someone had hit the slow motion button on the video,  the much maligned Steve Musgrave galloped onto a clever through ball, bore down on goal, calmly rounded the keeper and slotted home.  

The solid defensive display was being well marshalled by Scott Bailey and Nick Shelton until the latter’s hamstring twanged like a banjo string. The unusual step of swapping goalie for centre-back was taken and this proved to be the veteran’s route back into the game as Pike sliced a cross awkwardly over Nick’s head and into the gaping net. With the opposition within touching distance WCC FC took some time to consolidate, Andy Luck proving to be a useful outlet on the right side with some silky touches and proving the cynics right who had commented that “he turns like the QE2”. A brilliant piece of improvisation saw the beanpole striker’s audacious knee chip (that he had picked up from watching the Copa America throughtout the summer) fall just the wrong side of the bar with the keeper all but beaten. This was just the prelude to the two goal cushion being re-established however as the dangerous Perry found enough space to add his second and the team’s third. 

The half time dressing room was a quiet one as most of the team tried desperately to suck in oxygen and it was the general consensus that it would be wise to continue ‘as we were’. Shelton’s injury however was proving to be too restrictive and Perry senior entered the fray with Pike moving back between the sticks. Elvis’s experience was to prove vital in a tough second 45 as the Vets realised that they were facing a defeat they perhaps would not have been expecting. 

The first serious action of the half was to see Chris Perry complete the hat trick that his endeavour and hard work deserved with a smart finish. Hudson’s powerhouse performance in midfield was worthy of a goal but his volley passed just over the bar during a period in which Jones, Marcus Shelton, Carter and Musgrave went close. A fifth was to follow though when Jones was pushed into an advanced attacking role on the left and responded by squeezing the ball past the onrushing keeper.

The opposition were then to produce their most sustained phase of pressure but a combination of poor finishing and goalkeeping heroics kept the score at 5-1 until a misplaced pass allowed them to pull a goal back towards the end. This was to be the end of the scoring as some valiant last ditch defence secured the hard fought victory that was so richly deserved.  

Darren King was voted man of the match amongst his piers for providing an almost wall-like presence in front of the defence and spurring on a lions share of attacks.