Gunnersbury
Match Reports 2006
2006 sees a different look at Gunnersbury. An
unprecedented number of availability and membership forms returned
before the start of the season; an encouraging crop of really talented
youngsters, ready to do battle with the more established players, for
places in our two teams; a welcome return to two key players from last
season, from overseas; and last but not least, new faces in charge – Beth
Morgan will captain the First Team, whilst
Prianka Sedov and Bill Bennett
will share the responsibility of captaining the Second Team.
Congratulations and good luck to you all!!
Sunday 30th
April Bath
WCC Friendly
The last Sunday of the month saw us potter along the
M4 all the way to historic Bath, for a good tough season opener. So
keen is the competition for places this season, that 12 people made the
journey. The sun was shining as we took to the field, in confident
mood, after a comprehensive warm up.
Sarah Bartlet (Barts)
was given the new ball, and Laura Gardiner was asked to partner
her. The first game of the season always takes some adjusting -
months of bowling indoors on hard, fast surfaces, don’t really prepare
you for grass. Unfortunately for us, Bath opener Steph Davies (and a
large number of the side) had just come back form a tour of S. Africa,
and proceeded to play like she’d been on grass all winter. Both Barts
and Laura bowled decent balls, but looked a little rusty after the
winter. Anything not on the spot was punished – the outfield at Bath,
as well as being massive, runs like lightning, and so the score began
to wrack up. Deciding when to bring yourself on, is one of the most
difficult decisions for a Captain, but Beth Morgan
showed that she’s not going to hide behind making tough choices. She
came on and showed just why she’s forced her way into the England set
up, bowling with both pace and power and extreme control, frustrating
both batsmen.
A bowling change proved to de inspirational, as Bill
Bennett
struck in consecutive overs to first dismiss Hanah Lloyd and then
Steph, both clean bowled. The first Gunns victims of 2006. She put the
breaks on Bath, allowing Hanah ‘Ray’ Rea
to be thrown the ball. Some good in swing bowling, and an enthusiasm in
the field showed that she should be pushing some of the more
experienced bowlers for a place in the first team this season. Keely
Juster picked up her first (of many hopefully) wicket of the
season, having the Bath Kiwi caught behind and stumped, just to be on
the safe side, by Helena ‘H’ Stolle. H was making her
Gunnersbury debut and showed a safe pair of hands behind the sticks. Danni
Warren
was soon into the swing of things, showing a new string to her bow,
with a change of pace, which should fool a lot of batsmen this season.
Sara ‘Sara B’ Begg, bowled well – claiming the first and only
Gunnersbury maiden of the match, and Prianka Sedov
got an impressive amount of lift so early in the season. Despite the
good work, Bath still managed to reach 257 from their 45 overs.
The chase could not have got off to a worse start – Sue Donaldson claiming the unwanted title of The First Lady Duck 2006 – a third baler – big in-swinging LBW decision. H walked out to join our own Kiwi, who returned this season to finish the work she started last season, Janice Fraser, and the pair of them looked impressive. H in particular showing how much she’ll bring to the Club this season – some of her drives were pure text book. Just as they looked like they were set to start pushing the score along, disaster struck. H fell to a very sharp stumping, and Janice quickly followed, caught at fine leg. From 48 for 1, we very quickly succumbed to 57 for 8 – you’d struggle to see more ducks on a pond. Danni provided a little bit of steel, third top score with 11, but it was all for a very lost cause. What’s that song about things only getting better..?