Second place Great Horwood CC travel to top of the Four Counties Cricket League Division Two table Printers CC this Saturday looking to claw back some of the fifteen points that separate the two sides. Printers haven’t lost this season with five wins from the five games they’ve played, Horwood suffering a solitary defeat at New City two weeks is all that separates these two sides, with Newport Pagnell sitting level on points with Horwood in third having played a game more, this game takes on quite some significance but Horwood won comfortable last Saturday against Aspley Guise whilst Printers had a weekend off, who will benefit the most?

Ken Cronshaw comes back into the side

This week Sports Shots caught up with Horwood skipper Stuart Parker to find out how he felt last week’s game went:

Firstly we were surprised at how well the ground had held up with all the rain and that we managed to start on time! After winning the toss and bowling, again early wickets were key, Billy (Harper) continued where he left off the week before picking up four and Robby, after turning up late, managed his customary solitary wicket too! He did only go for five runs off nine overs though so gets a bit of credit this week. Once we had got the top order out it was always going to be a low total and Haydon & Ridders picked up more wickets in dismissing the lower order with ease. Despite losing myself and Chris (McStraw) early, Dale saw us home in quick time and Glyn got his first knock of the season too, probably his last too knowing his availability!

And the thoughts on this week’s trip?

This week, weather permitting, we play top of the table Printers who are unbeaten so it should be a good game! Only fifteen points separate us at the top of the table

This week’s squad news:

Unfortunately this is one of the trickiest week’s we have had with availability! Glyn, Army, Sam K, Olly, John O’ Grady and Robby are all unavailable which isn’t ideal with a top of the table clash! So we have had to bring some up from the 2’s and some out of retirement!!

Team:

Stuart Parker

Dale Armitage

Ken Cronshaw

Simon Gale

Billy Harper

Simon Harper

Chris Mcstraw

Haydon Morrison

Simon Ridgway

Greg Saunders

Sam Willett

Start: 1.30pm

Great Horwood CC – 53-2 off 10.4 overs

Aspley Guise CC – 52 all out off 27.4 overs

08.06.2019

Great Horwood eased to victory over Aspley Guise on Saturday despite the wet conditions, they skittled their guests out for just fifty-two runs & had it not been for Matthew Funge coming in at eight and making twenty it could have been a lot worse! With the dark clouds looming both sides agreed not to take their tea interval and instead the hosts came straight out to bat, despite losing a couple of wickets they eased home to victory off just sixty-four balls.

Horwood won the toss and put their opponents into bat which immediately paid dividends with Billy Harper taking a wicket in the first over, from there Aspley never competed and of their first seven batsmen the top scorer made four, Funge the only one to make it to double figures and their afternoon was summed up as their group of players on the sidelines cheered heartily when they managed to reach fifty overall. Harper once again finished top wicket taker with four for eighteen off his nine overs, Haydon Morrison took three for ten off his twenty bowls.

Click on above league table for larger view

Stuart Parker & Dale Armitage opened for the home side but the skipper made just a single before being caught, Chris McStraw was trapped lbw on his first ball leaving Armitage to make thirty-six ably assisted by Glynn Davies to see their side home, the win lifting Horwood into the top two places in the Four Counties Cricket League Division Two table ahead of the trip to league leaders & unbeaten Printers CC next week.

For match scorecard: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/results/3851383

For 2 pages (120 images) of matchday photography please click here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEaXEpA

Please Note: If you use any of our material or images, please ensure you credit sportsshots.org.uk

Great Horwood CC host Aspley Guise this weekend looking to bounce back after last weeks defeat at New City (MK) and again look to put pressure on the top two spots in the Four Counties Cricket League Division Two table. Whilst Horwood were suffering their first defeat of the campaign last Saturday Aspley were winning just their second game of the season against Harlington with two of their opening three batsmen scoring over seventy each, these two sides now sit three places apart & are separated by just twenty-four points, this game is vital to both teams.

This week Sports Shots caught up with Horwood skipper Stuart Parker to find out how he felt last week’s game went:

Obviously suffering our first defeat of the season was disappointing but let’s hope it’s just a minor setback. We were in a strong position at seventy-five without loss but then unfortunately I was out after getting fifty-five and looking set, we struggled to build any partnerships after this. Olly Prendergast with twenty-three and Sam Krajnyk with twelve did do well to ensure we got a half decent score on the board but one hundred & forty-three all out felt below par.

That said Billy Harper again bowled brilliantly with the new ball to put us on top with five wickets for thirty-six as he reduced them to seventy-one for six, Robby did aid him with a wicket too, and at this point it looked like we’d go on and win. Unfortunately three dropped catches and deciding to give Haydon Morrison a bowl combined to quickly let their number eight get over fifty and win them the game!

And the thoughts on their visitor’s this week?

Aspley Guise at home this week. They are currently mid table and seem reliant on a few guys at the top of their order who have scored heavily thus far, so hopefully our bowling at the start will continue to bring early wickets and the lads will practice their catching beforehand! I might also have to go back to my all-rounder Olly for the spin option after Haydon’s figures last week!!

Glyn Davies returns

This week’s squad news:

We are still without Army (Adam Armitage) so just one change from last week as Glyn Davies is allowed out to play this week surprisingly so comes in for Sam Krajnyk who is at a wedding

Team:

Stuart Parker

Dale Armitage

Glyn Davies

Billy Harper

Chris McStraw

Haydon Morrison

Olly Prendergast

Simon Ridgway

Deran Taylor

Rob Taylor

Sam Willett

Start: 1.30pm

New City (Milton Keynes) CC – 144-7 off 28.4 overs

Great Horwood CC – 143 all out off 37.4 overs

Billy Harper took a 5fer

01.06.2019

Great Horwood suffered their first defeat of the season at New City on Saturday despite another half century from skipper Stuart Parker and a 5fer for Billy Harper, a similar bowling feat from Manjit Singh helped keep the visitor’s score down & then with the bat the same player struck fifty-seven to steer the home side to victory. Despite the defeat Horwood remain in third place in the Four Counties Cricket League Division Two, but the chasing pack have closed the gap and the weekend saw the top two play each other where top of the league Printers beat Newport Pagnell to maintain their one hundred per cent start to the campaign.

Horwood won the toss & elected to bat first, the captain made fifty-five before being bowled by Singh, Olly Prendergast made twenty-three, Sam Willett made seventeen & Sam Krajnyk making twelve were the only batsmen to reach double figures, Singh ending the day with five wickets for twenty-five runs of his eight point four overs.

Saqlain Ishtiaq opened for New City and made twenty-one but his team mates fell cheaply until Viral Shah made thirteen before being trapped lbw, Singh came in to bat at eight and made an unbeaten fifty-seven to see his side bag the points, Harper finishing with figures of five wickets for thirty-six runs off his nine overs.

For match scorecard: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/results/3851404

For league table: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/websites/view_division?id=83514

Please Note: If you use any of our material or images, please ensure you credit sportsshots.org.uk

Great Horwood CC travel to New City (Milton Keynes) CC this Saturday in fine form after last Saturday’s comfortable win over North Crawley II’s saw them extended their winning run to three games. Horwood will be looking for maximum points once again as they chase down the top two sides in the Four Counties Cricket League Division Two table, their hosts currently sit two places behind them in fifth position but some thirty-two points behind having won two & lost two of their opening four matches, New City are no strangers to their guests having been in the top division alongside them last term.

Stuart Parker

This week Sports Shots caught up with Horwood skipper Stuart Parker to find out how he felt last week’s game went:

Last week’s game was very pleasing, after losing the toss and being asked to field Army (Adam Armitage) and Billy (Harper) bowled really well from the start as they have done in every game so far and at one point it looked like the game would be done very early. Crawley dug in though and managed to get up to ninety with Ridders (Simon Ridgway) continuing to take wickets. Robby Taylor even managed one too!!

With a few batsmen missing and chasing a small total we were able to mix the order up and give a few others a chance to get time in the middle. Personally it was nice to get past fifty this week after being forty-nine not out the week before!

Billy Harper took three wickets last weekend

Onto this week, what are the squad expecting?

This week we go to New City who came down from the top division last season along with us, after having two good close games last season with them I’m sure Saturday will be no different. They have started a little inconsistent but last week posted two hundred and seventy-six so are picking up!

What’s the squad news for Saturday?

We are missing Army this week which is a big blow but this gives somebody else the opportunity to take the new ball. No surprise to hear that Glyn is unavailable again but we are also without John O’Grady. Dale (Armitage) returns though to strengthen the batting and youngster Deran Taylor steps up from the two’s

Squad:

Stuart Parker

Dale Armitage

Billy Harper

Sam Krajnyk

Chris McStraw

Haydon Morrison

Olly Prendergast

Simon Ridgway

Deran Taylor

Rob Taylor

Sam Willett

Start: 1.30pm

Great Horwood – 92-4 off 22 overs

North Crawley II’s – 90 all out off 25.1 overs

Horwood skipper Stuart Parker made 55 n.o.

25.05.2019

Great Horwood beat North Crawley II’s on Saturday to make it three successive wins and keep the pressure on the top two places in Four Counties Cricket League Division Two, that table shows the top three sides separated by just thirteen points & the victory stretching the gap between third placed Horwood and fourth placed Crawley to twenty-eight points, although still very early days with all clubs having played just four or five games, Stuart Parkers men and second place Printers CC are the only two sides in the division who remain unbeaten. The visitors were ripped apart by the home bowling attack, three wickets for three different bowlers set Horwood a comfortable target in which skipper Parker finished fifty-five not out to see his side home.

In truth they made light work of winning this game in the warm sunshine as they skittled Crawley out for just ninety, and even that score looked unlikely when they stood at 23-7 with Adam Armitage & Billy Harper ripping through their guests batting order with three victims apiece, a mid-order fightback saw Max Jordan & Rajah Thangartnam show some resistance but Simon Ridgway with three and Rob Taylor with one saw the away side in for an early tea.

Billy Harper one of three Horwood bowlers to take 3 wickets

Sam Willett & Parker opened for the home side after the interval and were looking good to knock the runs off unbeaten until the wicket keeper was trapped lbw when on nine, John O’Grady partnered his captain making eight before he was caught, Olly Prendergast edged into the skies for a duck before Sam Krajnyk lasted ten balls before falling lbw leaving Haydon Morrison to walk to the crease, with his skipper already passing the half-century mark it was left to the new batsmen to knock the winning runs, Steve Sharpe for Crawley finishing with two wickets for twenty-four runs off his four overs.

Match scorecard: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/results/3851389

League table: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/websites/view_division?id=83514

Please Note: If you use any of our material or images, please ensure you credit sportsshots.org.uk

For 2 pages (153 images) of match day photography please click here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDQMiMw

Great Horwood CC host North Crawley II’s this Saturday looking to build on their good start to the Four Counties Cricket League Division Two campaign which has seen two successive victories after their season opener was washed out, their guests are on a win one lose one sequence so far in their first four games and sit just a place behind their hosts in the league table.

Stuart Parker in action for Horwood

This week Sports Shots caught up with Horwood skipper Stuart Parker to find out how he feels the season has started:

So far so good really, having picked up sixty-five points from a possible seventy-five. We were frustrated in the first game at Soulbury having bowled them out for one hundred and twenty-three, we were confident of chasing that down but the weather intervened! We have followed that up with convincing wins against Cranfield by eight wickets and Eggington by nine wickets

And how his own personal season been?

Not too bad, obviously I have only had two knocks but scores of sixteen in the first and forty-nine not out last week. It was nice to spend some time in the middle with Dale (Armitage) in our partnership of one hundred & twenty-three as last season he made a habit of coming to the crease and leaving quickly!!

How has the squad shaped up for the new season?

It’s looking ok in terms of quality but the squad size is not overly big so holiday season may prove testing. We have kept the majority of last years lads and added John (O’Grady) who played in Northampton last season. For us it’s about getting on a run and keeping everybody interested so availability remains good! The bowlers have started the season really well with plenty of wickets being shared about. I’m sure Robby (Taylor) will join in soon too!

Dale Armitage

What are Horwood expecting against this week’s opponents?

Don’t know anything about them to be honest, they are sitting fourth just behind us with two wins and two losses thus far. I’m sure it will be a competitive game as North Crawley are a good club who have had a lot of success recently

Team news for this week:

Dale is missing due to holiday which is a blow as he has started the season in fine form with the bat. Glyn (Davies) is also missing, but we have become accustomed to this over the past few seasons. I’m not sure he is allowed to play 2 weeks on the trot! It does though give others an opportunity with the bat in that top order

Team:

Stuart Parker

Adam Armitage

Billy Harper

Sam Krajnk

Chris McStraw

Haydon Morrison

John O’Grady

Ollie Prendergast

Simon Ridgway

Robbie Taylor

Sam Willett

1.30pm start

The Four Counties Cricket League fixtures have been announced, and Great Horwood begin their assault on Division Two on Saturday 4^th May 2019 at Soulbury Village with a 1.30pm start.

These two sides were two divisions apart last season, Soulbury winning the Division Three championship whilst Horwood were relegated from Division One, their inaugural season in the league itself.

Soulbury have in fact been promoted every season for the past four years, having started in Division Six back in 2015 finishing third they went up to finish runners-up the following year. This was followed by finishing runners-up again the following season in Division Four before last year pipping Cranfield to that title by just two points.

Horwood begin their home campaign the following weekend with the visit of the other promoted side Cranfield University, on Saturday 11^th May again with a 1.30pm start.

The full list of teams that Great Horwood will face this season is:

Aspley Guise CC (West Hill, Aspley Guise, MK17 8DX)

Cranfield University CC (College Road, Wharley End, MK43 0AL)

Eggington Foresters CC (Mill Road, Eggington, LU7 9HX)

Harlington CC (Sundon Road, Harlington, LU5 6LS)

New City (MK) CC (Marsh Drive, Great Linford, MK14 5AP)

Newport Pagnell CC (Willen Road, Newport Pagnell, MK16 0DF)

North Crawley CC (High Street, North Crawley, MK16 9LH)

Printers CC (High Street, Great Linford, MK14 5AX)

Soulbury Village CC (Stewkley Road, Soulbury, LU7 0DF)

FCCL Website: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/web_pages/118526

New City (MK) – 117 all out off 30.1 overs (5 points)

Great Horwood – 118 for 8 off 31.2 overs (25 points)

Great Horwood won their final game of the Four Counties Cricket League Division One season on Saturday and in the process relegated their hosts New City along with themselves, and the final league table shows both sides only needed to win one more game through the season to have stayed up. In a ten team division, the bottom half of the table were separated by just thirty-three points and with twenty-five points for a win the final positions reveal just how tight this league was but ultimately Horwood will start next season in Division Two.

Dale Armitage took 4-28

The home side chose to bat first after winning the toss, and lost two early wickets when Josh Nix bowled Dharmesh Mistry for four, and Billy Harper skittled out Viral Shah without scoring to leave the hosts 6-2. Jay Singadia & Yash Tailor settled to add twenty-one to the score before Haydon Morrison caught Tailor off the bowling of stand-in skipper Dale Armitage, which triggered three wickets falling with no further runs being added.

Jacobus Barnard went for a golden duck, and Vishal Naik lasted just two balls ahead of being caught by Nix off the captain again; Singadia was then joined by Mihir Choksi and they added fourteen until the former was caught & bowled by the same bowler. Manjit Singh made 10 off eight balls before he was caught by Alex Gilder off Robby Taylor, but the home side then dug in and frustrated the Horwood bowlers.

Choksi and Jai Dave added 21 before Taylor trapped Choksi LBW on 22, Shalin Parikh came to the crease and a further 16 runs were added to the New City score until Dave was given LBW to Neil Taylor. The final wicket was the most difficult to remove, Parikh was joined by Jaco Theron and they made 28 till Theron was caught to end the innings. Armitage the best of the bowlers taking 4-28 off his nine overs.

Sam Willett & Haydon Morrison opened for Horwood and made 20 until they were both removed in successive overs by Jaco Theron & Jay Singadia respectively, bringing together Ken Cronshaw & Alex Gilder and their partnership was worth a superb 40 before the latter was bowled by Shalin Parikh, who proved to be the away sides top scorer with 26 which included five boundaries.

Alex Gilder top scored

Just 4 runs later Cronshaw was caught by Vishal Naik but Dale Armitage was now in bat and keeping calm, Josh Nix was bowled on his second ball by Manjit Singh and Horwood were now 72-5, still forty-six runs short of their target. But the captain teamed up with Simon Ridgway and they were worth 24 between them till Ridgway was caught by Theron off Viral Shah with his score on twelve.

Billy Harper came to the crease and was to remain unbeaten, Armitage finally out when he was caught & bowled by Shah for 16, but his innings lasted fifty minutes which was more valuable to the result. Chris McStraw faced just two balls until he was trapped LBW by Shah, but Robby Taylor came out to pair up with Harper and the pair saw their side home with a partnership worth 11, Viral Shah the best of the City bowlers with 3-21 off his five overs.

Match scorecard: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/results/3368486

Final League table: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/websites/view_division?id=78263

Please Note: If you use any of our material or images, please ensure you credit sportsshots.org.uk

Great Horwood end their season on Saturday with a trip to New City (Milton Keynes) and despite already being relegated themselves go into the game knowing they can still contribute towards to the other relegation place which is currently occupied by their hosts, who need to win and hope either New Bradwell or Eaton Bray lose and pick up minimal bonus points in their quest to stay in Four Counties Cricket League Division One.

Stuart Parker in action for Horwood

This week Sports Shots caught up with Horwood skipper Stuart Parker to reflect upon what has been a very difficult season in a new league, and first we asked just how disappointing an end to the season it has been?

Yes the last few weeks have been disappointing, we have struggled to get a consistent team out with numerous changes each week and that has proven costly for us

So what had the club expected from joining the FCCL?

If I’m totally honest I think the whole club has been surprised at the strength of the division, in particular the batting of sides. The reduction in overs to 40 from 45 that we had in the OCA has resulted in a more aggressive approach from sides that wasn’t often the case last year

In a very tight league where does Stuart feel Horwood haven’t competed?

I think we have showed we can compete, we have beaten some of the better sides, sometimes comfortably as well!!

Unfortunately we lost a couple of close games to sides around us at the bottom, and we’ve also struggled to get some of our better players out on the field as much as we needed to due to a number of players having young families now. But as they say, the table never lies come the end of the season and we know we haven’t been good enough

Robby Taylor

We asked the skipper if there was anything he could have done differently to change results?

Scored more runs and taken more wickets ha ha!

Going back to mid-season we were on a good run, myself & Sam Willett were both scoring runs heavily & Robby Taylor in particular was bowling as well as he ever has for the club, with Olly Prendergast taking regular wickets, but unfortunately a dip in form recently saw us on the wrong end of results

So what are the plans over the winter ahead of next season?

We will start winter nets in February next year and aim to keep the current squad together, maybe adding one or two new faces along the way

And what’s been the hardest part as captain?

Struggling to get out our best eleven regularly enough, if in fact at all!!

Although the club is in a much stronger position than it was twelve months ago which is a massive positive, with the second team not having to cancel a single game this season

Sam Willett

Tough game on Saturday in Milton Keynes, same approach as any other game?

I am missing the game due to being away, but the lads can go and play now with no pressure, and hopefully that will help

And finally, how confident are the club of bouncing straight back next season?

We had a number of young lads join us this season and probably Division One came a little too early for them, but hopefully next season with them all being a year older and having that first season under their belts, we will be able to involve them in the first team more often and see them fulfil their potential in the second division. So maybe relegation isn’t a bad thing after all!!!

Team for Saturday:

D Armitage (c)

K Cronshaw

Al Gilder

B Harper

C McStraw

H Morrison

J Nix

S Ridgway

N Taylor

R Taylor

S Willett

Sports Shots would like to thank Stuart for his time not only this week, but for every week of this season for his previews and team lists.