The traditional TSJCC end of season fancy dress night was particularly well attended this year, with approximately 20 people making their way from the Dungeon right down to Bury.

As usual, we will not reveal too many details of the night, mainly because we can’t remember many of them, but a few highlights:

Stephen Brooks: “Dad … are you wearing my Mum’s bra?”

Teenager to Doc P: “Oi, Vicar, where are your tranny mates?”

Ash and Marshy on the pool table in the Oddfellows … after they won their match!

Nelly B blessing the food in the chinese chippy … “bless these fish … and these pies … and the holy chips …”

The Twist and Shout karaoke singer in the Globe, suddenly surrounded by 20 frenetic gyrating cardinals, vicars and tarts (probably nothing new in there)

Kieran’s gold stilettos

Dickie P’s chest

Marshy. Full stop!

An imposing performance against Blackley saw the firsts snatch runners up spot for the 3rd straight year. Despite terrible conditions over the past fortnight, tireless work from the team saw the ground fit for a 4pm start and a 20/20 contest!

Intentions were clear from ball 1 when Craig took a smart catch at gully off the Doc. Despite a few edges and lusty blows, Blackley never really settled into any pattern with wickets falling regularly. Doc ended the season with 6-30, and Asif, Bird and Ash all chipped in with a wicket apiece.

In reply, Kieran and Doc settled any nerves, putting on 40 in no time. Doc’s dismissal sparked a mini-collapse with 4 wickets falling for 10 runs, but Ashley strode in to seal the game with a brisk 20 not out to add to Kieran’s crucial 29 not out.

With ELPM losing at Elton Vale, the firsts jumped back into 2nd place, ending the season 6 points adrift of Catholics again …

It looks like Flash should win the 1st division batting, and Marshy the 1st division bowling, with Doc 2nd. A fitting end to what’s been a pretty good season once again with the memorable cup triumph too!

A powerful display from the 1sts brought home the 2008 Calverley Cup in spectacular fashion at a sodden Woodbank on Sunday. After the traditional Robin Hood breakfast, the teams assembled at a wet and dreary Woodbank; after some waiting to see if the skies would clear, the captains finally decided to get cracking in a 32 over contest.

Having won the toss, Totts skipper Doc P chose to bat, hoping to build on Saturday’s fine batting performance against the same opposition. The best laid plans and all that … within 3 overs Totts were 7-2 with two of Saturday’s batting heroes, Kieran and Big Bird back in the shed!! It was left to the skipper and Nelly B to take charge - and take charge they did, building an assured partnership despite heavy early pressure from a fired up Westleigh and their tremendous band of spectators. Both batsmen put away the bad balls well, although Nelly was fortunate to escape after a dropped catch in the outfield.

After a terrific partnership of 65, Doc fell to his first loose shot for 39, leaving Marshy to join Nelly with the score about 72-3. With only about 15 overs left, a score of 130 or so was on the cards; we felt this would be a good effort on a dreadful wicket, with a slow, damp outfield. Of course Nelly then seized command, smashing the ball all over, and with Marshy both stylish and bullish when called upon, the pair hammered the bowling to all corners, putting on 90 in no time to take the game out of reach.

One of the highlights of the day occurred in the final over! On Saturday Asif had been sent in in the final over to try and hit quick runs, only to perish first ball … with friends and family in attendance on Sunday, surely the same fate couldn’t befall him? No … the cheers were immense as his first ball disappeared into Woodbank school for a massive 6!!! Totts ended on 173-5, an imposing score against a demoralised Westleigh.

As with Saturday, the only way into the game for the underdogs was to produce a strong opening partnership, and for a few overs it seemed possible. But then Asif came good, with 4 wickets and a stunning run out of star man Lloydy. 15-0 had become 20-5 and it was effectively game over. Doc came on and picked up quick wickets to further turn the screw, and it was only a couple of lusty blows from Ralphy that got Westleigh up to the 50 mark. When Marshy finally took the last wicket with the rain falling steadily again, Totts had produced one of the most dominant final performances in years.

All credit to the Westleigh lads for their commitment and effort, and their fans were magnificent!

But it was a proud day for a very determined and skilful Totts side, who now are looking to get back up and reclaim 2nd spot …

Nelly B was a deserved man of the match for his 69 and 5 overs 1 for 1, but Asif’s 4-18, Doc’s 39 and 3-14 and Marshy’s superb 46 not out and steady bowling were all worthy of mention. The fielding was also excellent, with Clive having a superb game behind the sticks!

A super all round performance from the Doc set the tone for cup final weekend as Totts completed the first half of the Westleigh weekend with an emphatic league victory. Having lost the toss and been inserted, Doc and Kieran were made to work hard by an enthusiastic Westleigh bowling attack, well led as always by Lloydy and Ralphy. Having weathered the early storm, the opening pair set about the change bowling with some gusto, both openers passing 50 with relative ease.

After a superb 137 opening stand, Kieran finally succumbed for 57, but Big Bird then joined Paul to ensure the momentum continued. Doc brought up a long-awaited ton with a 6 over long on, and with both men motoring, Totts entered the last over on 205-1. Despite losing a couple of quick wickets, we ended the innings on 209-3  (Doc 109 not out), a fantastic score on a soft and slow wicket.

Any thoughts of Westleigh chasing the game ended within 10 overs. Despite a brief onslaught from Kieran Lloyd, Doc knocked over 4 wickets in 2 overs. With only Andy Lloyd offering any resistance, Russ and Paul completed the job to end with all 10 wickets between them (Doc 6-15, Russ 4-10 or so) as the visitors ended on 88 all out.

Final Breakfast:

The following are booked in - please can anyone else who desires to support the 1st team and have a cracking breakfast for £3.50 on 31st August at the Robin Hood 10 for 10.30 - please contact Kieran - cos he has to give final (get it!) numbers this weekend.

Eater           Adults        Children

K.Coe            1

C.Brooks       1   

R.Brooks       2                2

C.Parky         1                1

M.Deegan      1                

S.Marsh         1        

N.Butters       1

P.Allen           1

R.Peacock     1                 1

P.Meehan       2                2

D.Phillips       1

M.Ainscoe     1

Total                14               6

1ST TEAM CALVERLEY CUP FINAL BREAKFAST!
SUNDAY AUGUST 31ST 10.00 FOR 10.30AM AT THE ROBIN HOOD

Price subject to numbers but around the £4 mark - for a massive fry-up

Open to everyone at the club - not just those playing on the day

Please come and support the lads on this big day for the club.

Kieran is taking names - so contact him to get your place or drop an email to any of the committee and we’ll pass it on!

Despite a few nervy moments, the 1sts won a decent encounter at Ashton on a baking hot day. Having won the toss Flash decided to bat, and although we lost The Hud in the first over, the skipper and Boris then added 60 very easily - well, Ashley added almost all of them while the Prof added superb staying power at the other end. When Ash departed for 54 the score was then 65-2! Unfortunately, the brittle Totts middle order then fell away and all of a sudden we were struggling at 80-6. A great partnership of 45 between Big Bird and Pete Allen then ensued, on a wicket which never let you feel in on!

Once Pete fell, Deegan helped Bird to add more valuable runs, with the big man ending on 41 not out as we amassed 160.

A fired up Doc P then started the Ashton innings by bowling one of the openers, and with Ash also hitting his stride at the other end, the score crept to just 18-3 off 13 overs. Asif and Doc picked up firther wickets before one of the most fun passages of play we’ve seen.

One of the Ashton Asian lads came in at 7 and proceeded to open up, with a few lusty blows. Havign hit the Doc into the tennis courts, some of the more vocal followers then started screaming to end the game in 10 balls … a seriously annoyed Doc then took 3 wickets in the next 4 balls to effectively clean up the game. Big Bird also bowled superbly to play a part, and when skipper Ash caught out the final man, we’d eased to a comfortable and very welcome 50 odd run win to keep us in the title race. Doc ended with 5 for 30odd off 14 overs, and all the bowlers performed very well in excruciating heat.

On a weekend in which every other NMCL game was abandoned, Crompton Meadows saw cricket at last - and despite a 4-1 defeat, the Totts boys felt happier for getting a game in. Visitors Robbies were inserted on a damp pitch, with the game reduced to 33 overs per side. Meehan removed danger man Smith, swinging wildly at a straight one, and when other key danger man Faulkner was also dismissed, Totts looked set to skittle the visitors. However a couple of vital dropped catches saw skipper Massey hang around to add valuable runs, but the accuracy of Meehan and Parkinson saw off the Robbies tail to leave them 110 all out in the final over. Skipper Ash ended with 5-14 in a hostile display, while Doc bowled unchanged through to claim 3-35.

Totts reply began disastrously, with both openers and the captain back in the shed very quickly. Doc looked in fine form for his 23 but then played back to a skidder and was trapped in front. Big Bird Russ finally showed some welcome form, hitting some lusty blows, but the middle order couldn’t provide enough support as Totts slumped to 90-8. When Russ was out it looked all over, but the final pair of Phillips and Peacock inched us closer and closer. As the final couple of overs arrived, mixed messages conspired to leave us blocking out and gaining a point, as we ended just 6 runs adrift at 104-9.

TSJCC is pleased to announce a joint comedy night to be held in conjunction with Greenmount CC at their ground on Friday September 5th. This is an important fundraiser for the club, and we hope that all club members will be able to attend.

 Salient details …

Cost - 15 quid. Let any of the committee know you’d like to attend.

What do you get? - 2 comedians, a 2 course meal, bar, the chance to sit next to Kieran, a raffle, various other bits and bobs, and a whole evening with no talk of mowers

Why should I come? - The club depends on fundraising. This is a fantastic opportunity offered to us by our friends at Greenmount, and if we can bring along 30-40 people representing TSJ, it’ll bring in a good deal of revenue for us - as well as giving us a decent night out.

Can I bring my friends? - Yes, the more the merrier. Sell to them NOW! We will need to give Greenmount confirmed numbers closer to the event, so please let any of the committee know how many people you’ll be bringing with you. If you’re not a member of TSJCC and would like to come along, just let us know! Drop us an email to info@tsjcc.co.uk or tsjcc@aol.com and we’ll be in touch.

Any restrictions - YES! This is a MALE-ONLY event, so no partners or female relatives please!

With the windscreen wipers on full blast just an hour and a half before the scheduled start I have to say I didn’t hold out much hope of this one taking place!! I think we were all a little surprised by the state of the pitch however on arrival at Springhead…..it must drain bloody well up there because we knew from first glance that barring any more downpours this game would be on!!

From the very first ball we knew we were going to have some fun, it was popping up more than I’ve ever seen and unpredictable does it justice. To give some idea, from all the years snr fletcher has been playing, he described it as one of the worst he’s played on………..anyway, now I’ve made my excuses its time to say that we were in some trouble at 25-5 and there were some eager glances upwards….maybe to pray for a little assistance from the big man upstairs or maybe just hoping it would tip it down and become unplayable (more so).

No-one really covered themselves in any glory, top scores of 13, 14 and 15 are nothing much to write home about…..so I wont!!

We finished making a total of 86, and even at the half way point while scoffing a distinctively average tea (besides from those little mini pizza’s me and smifffffy took a fancy too), I had visions of uppermill away early this season…..we set just over a hundred that day on a shocking wicket and we knocked them all over for 72, so its do-able!!

I’ve got to say it did start better scoring wise for them than it did for us, they were around 25-0 however far from comfortably…..the only way to really sum up their reactions to young jebby’s bowling on a pitch like that was scarred!!!!! In his first spell without taking a wicket he really put the cat amongst the proverbial pigeons and I think they quickly realized they were going to have to work for this, a realization that was cemented when holty came on and started tearing through them!! At the other end Danny was bowling well (again) and taking regular wickets that, dare I say, we now come to expect (calm down danny, its only a bit of praise).

The field was in buoyant mood and the fall of key wickets just kept on coming, we had them on the ropes at 56-9 when a loose shot from one of their tail-enders came my way……..so anyway, they moved on to 76-9 with their number 11 digging in and number 10 just picking off the bad balls…..enter the return of Mozzer Snr…..just took 1.3 overs to finish it off….good honest bowling at the number 11…..you miss, I hit……he eventually missed, we took all 5 points and I didn’t drop the match at 56-9, cheers steve

A great days entertainment, a real rollercoaster game that swung one way then the other and one of the most positive aspects for me was the liveliness of the field. Its something I think we’ve been lacking in slightly this season, even when on top in games so it was great to see and hear how lively the field can be!!

A massive game, a massive victory and back to the top!!!

Matt H