Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

Have you ever wondered how players and officials relax after a tough days play? No, neither have I!

I do know the likes of Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen enjoy a glass of wine; some of the Somerset boys, Craig Kieswetter, Jos Buttler and Nick Compton to name but three, go and find an old Over Stowey player,  namely Les Biffen, at The Swan at Kingston. Reporters, journalists and commentators tend to favour restaurants, especially when abroad. That’s all we hear about on the radio the day after!

So how do the cricketers from Over Stowey relax? Well I’ll tell you, straight up to Over Stowey Village Hall for some value for money drinking, a few jugs of cider / lager, a quick spoof, then they are joined by the WAGS!

However, it does pain me to do this, but Neil Buller and Dale Shepherd were out together on Wednesday evening after the victory against Lydeard St Lawrence, having a romantic dinner for two at The Cottage Inn, table 14 in fact, the one right by the window. There was a slight look of horror when I walked in and caught them together, only thing was missing was a lit candle!

When I first started playing, when I was about 14 yrs old, I always wanted to travel to away games with Steve and Timmy Little, usually on the back of the milk float, as I can guarantee they will call back to the local pub after a game – now that’s the way to relax after a game. After a game against Bagborough, the Little brothers had a bit more than usual to drink back at the Rising Sun, and the trip home was a bit adventurous, Bomber, Bronco and myself clung on to the back of the milk float for dear life!

Now, I mentioned spoofing and I also mentioned Timmy Little, there is a little story in which these two go together. After a friendly against Chilton Polden in which Stowey lost heavily, we all went back to the White Hart for post match drinks, we were discussing who to drop for the following week, as we had someone to come in and no one wanted to be left out. Timmy suggested that we would spoof for our places and the one who lost was dropped. Timmy, having suggested the method, promptly lost and to his annoyance had to be dropped. “Too clicky!” he remarked to everyone’s amusement!

Nowadays, I tend to sit at the end of the bar, take things in over a few pints of cider and try to talk sense, but you know how little that happens.

Now it beats me how I am writing this today, or should I say this morning, as went to the Cheese and Cider Fest yesterday, all that cheese tossing and apple smashing takes it out off you, or was it something to do with the cider. Great day, good music, and an interesting walk home across the fields!

Over Stowey’s game was called off yesterday against Bagborough, and it seems that all the Stowey players ended up down the Cheese and Cider Fest, they certainly know how to enjoy themselves. No games on Saturday, so unfortunately no roll of honour this week. But one player worthy of a mention is Micheal Barrow, who took six wickets for 13 runs in the West Somerset League Knockout Cup against Lydeard St Lawrence. With Stowey winning that game they now march on to the Quarter-Finals, now isn’t that exciting?

This has now opened up a can or worms, as the question was asked has Over Stowey won any major honours? I know the 2^nd XI have won various league titles in the lower divisions, plus the 1^st XI have come runners-up in Division Three and Two a few times, plus also the Bridgwater Wednesday Evening League there have been a few trophies handed out there. But have they ever won The League Knockout and Division One of the West Somerset League. It would be great to get this information, so if anyone knows, let me know.

Somerset are back in action today, when they take on Northamptonshire in the T20 at The County Ground. Unfortunately I am unable to attend this match, somehow after last night I may be still unfit to drive, so an afternoon watching them on TV will suit me.

Somerset won their first game in the T20 quite comprehensively against Warwickshire, with the big hitting South African Richard Levi smashing the ball all around the ground, well mainly to leg side, but who cares; he does give it a thump. After that win, it was a bit of a disappointment that the Gloucestershire game was off, but it was raining quite hard so understandable, oh well, at least we are undefeated and don’t moan about it like someone who plays for Blagdon Hill (see West Somerset Cricket League on Facebook to see what I mean).

Anyway, enough of that, it is 10.57ish and I think I will be trying a nice pint of Thatchers Gold.