Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

Sitting on Gimblett’s Hill with Over Stowey stalwart Simon Pickard this last Wednesday, watching Somerset bat against Durham on day two of their County Championship match, Simon turned to me and said “there is nothing better than sitting in the sunshine, with a glass of beer and hearing the sound of leather on willow.” With that, Peter Trego played an awful shot, a horrible nick was heard all around the ground, the ball goes between first and second slip and hits the boundary. “With shots like that,” I replied, “I concur.”

That particular Wednesday it just seemed like an Over Stowey ‘Old Boy’ convention, bumping into Alan Prowse, Steve Darch, Les Biffen and Phil Baker; the only person missing was Julian Cattanach (perhaps not!).

It was an absolute delight to see Somerset win inside three days against Durham, an even better delight to pick the paper up on Friday morning to see them top of the league – also knowing full well that it would be short lived for 48 hours.

With all the injuries and now no overseas player, the victory over Durham must have been an absolute delight for all the team, plus all the backroom staff. Nearly all home grown talent, especially the Overton twins, what pleasure they must of got out of that victory.

Now then, can all those who said to me at the start of the season the George Dockrell is not worth his place in the Somerset team, please stand up, and that includes you a former Over Stowey player who has now gone umpiring! He has had a great start to the season, taking 26 1^st Class wickets at 23.46. It is also great to see Pete Trego with wickets, he also has 26 1^st Class wickets, but at 26.88.

As for Nick Compton, he is in touching distance of getting a 1,000 1^st Class runs by the end of May. Only needing another 59 runs, Compo has two days to reach that milestone when Somerset take on Worcester starting next Wednesday; how crucial will that toss be for Nick?

What happened to Over Stowey on Saturday? I have some grave news, the 1^st XI lost on Saturday, going down by five wickets to Carhampton.

I shall not dwell on that as the 2^nd’s won again, continuing their unbeaten start to the season, this time Crowcombe 3^rd’s were steam rolled by the Stowey juggernaut!

So who is on the honours board this weekend?

1. David Rowsell – 2^nd team – 55 not out
2. Andrew Jeanes – 1^st team – 55 (before he was unfairly triggered by a short sighted umpire)
3. David Rowsell – 2^nd team – 4 wickets for 3 runs, plus a run out!

I also hear in dispatches that Rhys Satchell bowled well, but have no figures; perhaps everyone was surprised that there wasn’t that many wides!

Now then, I must finish with the result from Friday night. Over Stowey 1^st XI took on Roadwater All Stars, sorry 1^st XI, who play in a Division higher than Stowey, in a cup match and Stowey gave them a dam good spanking. Well in fact Stowey won off the last ball, with young Micheal Barrow smashing a six to win – take that!

Ok, it is now 9.57, and no not time for a pint, such a lovely morning, going to watch some kids cricket, only for an hour mind you, then it will be Thatchers time and then perhaps a trip to the County Ground!

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

The first Test match of the summer means the English summer is here, you can tell, it is overcast and threatening rain.

Well not wishing to go over the same old stuff again, but Tim Bresnan has been selected to play against the West Indies, well surely that will mean England will win. I mentioned this in my blog before England played the second Test against Sri Lanka back in March, and guess what, Bresnan played and England won. Now it seems that everyone (Sky, All Out Cricket) have jumped on the band wagon in making noises about this.

Well done to Andrew Strauss, hitting a ton in the first innings, and hopefully this will put all his doubters to sleep, in fact all England's critics to sleep. It seems they (the critics) have had a witch hunt on nearly every main batsman in the England line up, all, apart from Eoin Morgan, have stuck up two fingers to them, who will they pick on next? The tea lady, not enough cream on the scones I hear!

Now down to more serious matters, both Over Stowey sides have made it two victories out of two, what a great start. The 1^st XI chased down 211 to beat Huish Champflower, and the seconds defended 111 (now that’s two weeks on the trot they have hit that score), by bowling out Milverton for 96.

So this weeks’ roll of honour:

• Julian Pocock – 2^nd XI – Five wickets
• Andrew Jeanes – 1^st XI – 61
• Greg Arlott - 2nd XI - 51
• Phil Rich – 1^st XI – 46
• Mark Sortwell – 1^st XI – 44 (off 2500 balls!)
• Jack Rich – 1^st XI – 38 (off 10 balls!)

Well done to both sides yet again, cup match on Friday for the 1^st XI against Roadwater and then they entertain Carhampton, where as the 2^nd’s travel to Holford to play Crowcombe!

Now what are Somerset going to do about another overseas player? Just when I got used to spelling Du Plessis, he goes and pulls out of the team; so who next for Somerset? Richard Levi off course, the South African (again) opening batsman who jointly holds the record for the highest score in T20 internationals, that’s who! Hopefully a more than capable replacement for Marcus Trescothick at the top of the order – don’t drop the Olympic Torch Marcus!

Somerset came so close again to another victory in the County Championship, this time against Surrey, but another draw. It just goes to show that injuries to key players, especially bowlers, have hampered Somerset’s start to the season. When are you back Alfonso? When are you fit Tango? Well sitting in third spot, Somerset are poised! Durham on Tuesday, come on the Set!

Well that’s about it for now, 10.57, time for a Thatchers! See you in The Old Pavilion from Tuesday!

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

This week Somerset had only 11 fit players to pick from for the match against Durham, now somehow I think selection could be quite easy, even though Brian Rose may be a little frustrated.

Rose should think himself lucky, I remember the days at Over Stowey when we struggled to find 11 players, and if they were fit or not was another matter. With a couple of pints down their necks, they were soon match fit and off we went to play the game.

Stowey actually managed to get a game in yesterday, which is some sort of minor miracle having seen the ground on Thursday evening, the ducks were still enjoying themselves out on the square, quacking away as if they had not a care in the world.

However the weather intervened for the better, a fresh wind and some yellow thing in the sky appeared (I believe people call it the sun!) and the ground took a turn for the better, but how do you prepare a pitch in less than 48 hours – over to you head groundsman Mark Sortwell!

Well prepare he did, and didn’t Stowey respond to the game being played. Ok, I know I mentioned a couple of weeks ago there were (and still are) a lot of low scores around the County Championship, well it has seemed to off rubbed off on the West Somerset League, in particular the Over Stowey matches on Saturday.

Normally a score of 111 would be quite gettable, that what both Stowey’s 1^st and 2^nd XI posted on Saturday, how bizarre. Even more bizarrely that total proved to be enough at the Stowey won by 51 runs and 65 runs respectively, would have been funnier if the opposition was bowled out for the same score, would of made my life easier  writing out the match reports this morning.

Anyway, both Stowey sides won on their first outing of the season, now when did this last happen, or has it ever happened, anyone got any answers for me, I expect the West Somerset League would have old records somewhere, best I ask them.

So the hero’s for the weekend:

• Micheal Barrow – 1^st Team – 6-11
• Phil Rich – 1^st Team – 39
• Julian Pocock – 2^nd Team – 4-13
• Ben Enever – 2^nd Team – 36
• Carl Woodley – 2^nd Team – 34
• Rhys Satchell – 2^nd Team – 3-4
• Ryan Dray (on debut) – 1^st Team – 29

The real hero, shall I give him any credit? It pains me to do it, Mark Sortwell, head groundsman, and to all his team of helpers in getting the ground ready for Saturday. Well done.

Back to Somerset, a tame draw, with two days being washed out, it was hardly surprising. Poor Craig Kieswetter, with a Championship ton beckoning, Somerset’s number 11, Dockers, get run out, leaving Kies stranded on 96; best you make up for it today Craig. Somerset remain fourth in the table, nicely poised…. I hope, come on the Set.

Well, it’s that time of day, 10.57,best I have a Thatchers at The Cottage Inn, hopefully it will help cool down my sunburn!

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

I wonder if Brian Rose has a love affair with South Africa. On the announcement that Chris Gayle was not coming to Somerset for the T20 season, Rose announced that South African all-rounder Francois du Plessis would be his replacement, and with that I hear Somerset have changed their name to Somerset Springbok!

Over the years there have been some great South Africans who have graced the turf at Taunton, and with Albie Morkel also turning out this summer you can nearly name a side of South Africans who have / will have represented the county over the years; let’s give it a go shall we! 

1.     Graeme Smith

2.     Jimmy Cook

3.     Neil Mackenzie

4.     Zander de Bruyn

5.     Francois du Plessis

6.     Roelof van der Merwe

7.     Craig Kieswetter

8.     Albie Morkel

9.     Alfonso Thomas

10.  Vernon Philander

11.  Charl Willoughby

12^th man Steve Snell 

Not a bad line up I suppose, one thing for sure there will definitely be a South African twang in the Somerset dressing room this summer.

Somerset’s season is staring to become a bit worrying, especially the manner in which Surrey beat them on Friday evening. All these high hopes at the start of the season have turned into reality, especially with injuries to key players, plus a bowling line up which has been decimated through injury and IPL, will Somerset go for Ajmal Shahzad? Well they need something quick and we are not just talking about his bowling here!

Ok, enough about Somerset, let’s talk Over Stowey. Nothing to mention here really, except that the rain was the winner yesterday, in fact it was favourite to win since about last Sunday. Stowey’s first game (games if you include the youngsters) should have been this weekend when they were supposed to play North Curry, now it does make me wonder whether the home game against Hinkley Point will take place next week, time will tell.

All Out Cricket magazine for May certainly caused me to open my eyes somewhat this week, especially Michael Vaughan tipping Somerset to win the County Championship this season, Michael, if you happen to read this, I do hope you are right, and if you are right you are more than welcome to come for a celebration half or two (ok perhaps a lot more!).

The magazine also featured one of Over Stowey’s keenest supporters, Richard Villis, promoting the Cheeselympics which is due to take place on June 16^th. I was quietly reading AOC the other evening in The Cottage, and almost choked on my Thatchers – now that would have been a waste - when I saw Richard’s beaming smile on page 34 of the magazine, along with Tres, Hildy and Simon Francis.

So if you are into your ‘Apple Smashing’ and ‘Cheese Tossing’ Quantock View is the place to be on June 16^th, along with live bands, cider and cheese. I will certainly be there, it’s only a couple of fields away from my back garden, plus the event contains two of my favourite words: Cider and Cheese! Oh, and have a look on You Tube for the trailers, they are hilarious!

I don’t know how many more plugs I can get in one blog, I have already mentioned Thatchers Cider, All Out Cricket magazine, The Cottage Inn, plus the Cheeselympics. I think I will leave it at there, as it’s 10.57 and time for a birthday pint of Thatchers at The Cottage Inn!