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Sheldwich Rockets v Sheldwich Calypso

The annual Interclub match was a very competitive game with a lot of personal pride at stake. Despite the threat of some bad weather, it was a lovely sunny day.

The two captains for the day Ron Brown (Rockets) and Phil Stanford (Calypsos) decided on a 42 over match and the two teams evenly split with 10 on each side. Ron won the toss and decided to bat on a fairly decent batting track. Darren Halls and Marcus Hodges, both in recent good form, opened for the Rockets and provided a good solid start against some good pace bowling from Ian Hulks & Rob Perrett. Hallsy (27) was first out at 61 when Hulksy beat him with a good straight one that bowled him. It was good reward for a steady spell from Hulksy, continuing his good early season form with the ball.

A fine 2nd wicket stand between an impressive Martin Noakes (49) & Hodges (36) took the score up to 121 before Hodges fell to John Taylor. Andy Carr soon followed after a fine boundary catch by Martin Mills again of Taylor. Simon Green & Noakesy batted well together with Noakes lifting Tim George for 2 sixes and Richard Holland for 2 more. With Noakesy demise, one short of a fine fifty, the Rockets innings faltered badly with Prior, Harwood and Boyce barely troubling the scorer and Holland (4-32) and Shane Green (2-20) doing the damage. With the score at 164-7 Brown and Green (28*) managed to ease the score up to a creditable 185 -9 off the 42 overs.

The Calypso innings followed a similar pattern with Mills(20) and Stanford(44) providing a good base by putting on 68 for the first wicket in the 19th over when Stanford was out lbw to Noakes. With Mills in his shell, it was up to Danny Ray to provide the impetus and he immediately looked by the far the best batsman on show. Shane Green (13) was a good partner for Calypso Ray and although wickets (Hammond, Perrett & Hulks) continued to fall after Green was well bowled by Hodges, Ray (80) dominated all the bowlers and it was a surprise when he was caught on the boundary just 4 runs short of the target trying to hit the winning runs. The winning runs came courtesy of a Boycey wide that eluded Harwood.

A good day was had by all and everyone contributed in a tight and entertaining game. We all look forward to next year when more reputations will be on the line.   Scorecard

Congratulations to Danny Ray on being man of the match and for his brilliant 130* the next day against Luton Village. Scorecard