Ramsey 3’s recorded their 4th win of the season to remain top of the league......(Read more for full report)

This weekend Ramsey 2nd XI took on Barnack away and came back with the spoils following a low scoring affair.

Despite the sun shining the track was soft and wet from the weeks rainfall and it looked like winning the toss would be crucial, however captain Slack continued his run of being a useless tosser and lost once again!

The upside being the late arrival of so many Barnack players forcing their skippers hand to have a bat. It wasn't long before his decision backfired and the influential Nick Page struck, a good opening spell saw him return 4 for 30 from his 12 overs. Some tight bowling the other end from Ashley Wells, seemingly re-invigorated from his Chinese the night before.. and the Rams were on top. Once again the newly formed spin partnership of Woodward and Cafferkey (J) came on to a spinners paradise to bowl a joint spell totalling 16 overs, yeilding 5 wickets for the cost of just 21 runs! Barnack were therefore skittled for exactly 100 in 34 overs.

It is worth mentioning some sharp catches, some excellent all round fielding and a far better spirit than the previous week demonstrated the benefits of 8 2nd XI players training this week!!

With a small target in mind the Rams decided to try and put the match to bed early but were thwarted by some excellent bowling from a Barnack team seemingly suited to the conditions, they utilised a spin attack and bowlers with low slingy actions that seemed to cause havoc with the Rams chase. Once again some interesting shot selection saw the demise of Smith, Manchett and Slack in quick succession, however promoted to an opening birth Tom Burns batted patiently to stabilise the innings before getting tied down and losing his wicket trying to pick up the pace. With around 40 runs still to get and 5 down Rams could have panicked however Ashley Wells once again stepped up to the plate with a lovely timed innings despatching the bad balls and seeing off the good to see the Rams home in a draining 42 overs with a well timed 28 not out.

This weekend the Rams are at home to Burleigh Park who are famed for there summer charge up the table when their university contingent return home, lets hope that the Rams successive victories will now give them the confidence to push onwards further up the table.


Report by Vinny Woodward

Senior Training is cancelled this evening due to the classic English Summer Weather we are having!

At last we had some sun on Saturday afternoon at Cricketfield lane and in front of a big crowd, there not only for the cricket and sun but also to support David Jones in is '100 lap' challenge in aid of the Polio support Network. Before we get onto the cricket I wish to offer my own congratulations to him for completing this challenge and it was amazing to see the whole ground including players and umpires stop and applaud him as he completed his last lap!

On to the cricket Ramsey lost the toss and were put into bat on what looked to be a difficult wicket but actually played reasonably well. A fast start by the Rams openers Michael and Simon Cafferkey saw them get to mid twenties by the end of the 4th over this was mainly due to some wayward bowling by Chris Pepper. The scoring slowed once Pepper had found hid right length and with wickets falling at regular intervals a large total never seemed on the cards but the Rams reached a respectable 174 all out off exactly 48 overs, the runs were shared around with 4 players, Micahel Cafferkey, Simon Cafferkey, Luke Stewart and Rob Menary all reaching twenty before losing their wicket. Foxton's bowling was dominated by Pepper coming back from his wayward start to record figures of 12 ov 4 for 51.

In reply Foxton were always in the game, despite tight opening spells from Sam Rippington (10ov-1-35) and David Carlaw (14ov-1-14) and half way through their innings with Henry Hunter going very well they looked likely to be the winners, but two quick wickets by Michael Cafferkey changed the game and with Foxton's tail being quite long they decided to shut up shop for a draw despite being only 6 wickets down. This in hindsight may have been the wrong decision as they came close to Ramsey's total finishing on 7 runs shy on 167 for 6.



Ian Rippington - 28/05/2013

Just to inform you all that tonight's junior training has been cancelled due to the heavy rain we are having today. Apologies for any inconvenience this may call.

Training will resume as normal next week.

This weekend saw the first victory of the season for The Rams 2nd XI after a run fest at Cricket Field Lane versus Nassington 2nds.

Captain Slack won his first toss of the season and decided to bat first on a good looking deck, he was rewarded with a patient opening stand from Wells Snr and Elliot Smith followed with some good acceleration from Smith and Manchett before a comedy run out ended Smiths innings prematurely in the 40's. Manchett followed soon afterwards with an ugly hoick across the line seeing him cleaned up putting some pressure on Captain Slack and young gun Jordan Cafferkey to deliver a big partnership and that they did just that!!

Slack soon accelerated through the gears with the Rams massive outfield not stopping some lusty blows landing outside the rope however as he tired one last hit fell just short and into the hands of a great full Nassington fielder with Slack out in the 70's. However the Nassington pain was not over as young Cafferkey hit the gas in the closing overs with his unselfish batting partners of Burns and Wells Jnr doing their part to get him back on strike, unfortunately overs just beat Cafferkey to what would have been a maiden men's cricket century as he finished 95not out in a tremendous knock posting a serious score of 276 for The Rams.

Halfway through perhaps The Rams thought the job was done or perhaps the lack of confidence of the earlier weeks defeats was playing heavily on the players minds as Nassington galloped off to a flying start despite an early wicket for the returning Nick "silver fox" Page, with panic seeming to set in and some ridiculous fielding efforts allowing comedy extra's, spilled catches and simply unacceptable errors it looked like Nassington were in the game.

However a mid run chase bowling spell by Woodward (12overs 2 for 36) and Cafferkey (7 overs 1 for 28, sealing his MoM status) saved any blushes and left a late Nassington charge with too much to do despite some more poor bowling and fielding meaning it all got too close in the end (Nassington finishing on 248-8)

The Rams celebrate their first win, focus on some excellent batting and now target the area's to improve on to move their season forward in the coming weeks to move further up the table!

On a cold grey day Ramsey 1st XI were away at Nassington. The wicket look 'sporty' and having won the toss Taylor West had no hesitation in putting Nassington into bat. 

Starting slowly having only 1 on the board after 4 overs things then simply got worse for Nassington. Losing wickets to some excellent bowling, from both Michael Kay and David Carlaw, Nassington were soon 3 for 5 and despite some resistance from Harry Chappell 15 and James Trafford 13* the innings never got going and eventually closed on 59ao. David Carlaw ended with figures of 7 for 20 including the last 3 wickets as a hat-trick. 

The target of 60 was never going to trouble the Ramsey batting and despite the early loss of Rob Menarry for a duck, Michael Cafferkey (19), James Markland (21*) and Elliot Cafferkey (10*) saw Ramsey home to a comfortable 7 wicket win. 

by John Wells

Skipper Matthew Slack [Slicker] tried his best to get us a bat but the Little Paxton boys wanted to use the Wkt first.  They wished they hadn’t as Tim; ‘Red firestorm’ Willis and Ash streak-o-Diego-lighting tore into them with 3 wickets apiece.

2 serious flaws in catching let the LP boys off the hook. Tim and Godsy the offenders. (More later by me)

Giving the LP boys a chance, Slick sent in PJ Malem and Gogszilla [Craig] to trundle a few overs. Both bowled tidily.  PJ unlucky with no wkts after a sky-er went uncaught.

Slick got one to rip and turn-a welcome wicket. But before then ‘the accumulator’ was called back after a run-out was not decided upon from the square leg umpire. Jelly fish in a bucket! Springs to mind.  But our Slicker doing the ‘honest thing’ called him back. Boy were we to pay.

‘The slayer’ went on to get 86 after another two chances hit the floor; JC2 in slip and Wellsy at full length both let the ball hit the floor. The slayer was then cleaned up by Ash’ the next ball cart-wheeling his off peg.

The lbw by Slick and the Official [Neil] giving a LBW, also caused ‘heat’  This was furiuosly disputed by their skipper. Not an easy day for all – least especially Neil.

The tail was wrapped up by Elliot Smith – with 3 wickets in 5 balls [and a hat trick chance]. A very timely spell, finishing off  the innings. Ell’ is now known as ‘Wolverine’ ‘cos of his hair wave from Ollie Wilson the WK with ‘the mostest’ of all skillz. Ollie, as WK, took a great and quick catch off Ash-nice one Ollie.

Well fielded and stuck at it by PJ – 6 overs and TJ Harding with good ground work and good throwing arm. The fielding was ok, catching needs work.

At tea LP – 178 all out. Wickts for Matthew Slack – 2, Elliot-3, Ashley 3. Tim-2.

On we went and Slicker brought himself on, with a tweaker or 2 from the Football Club/Avenue end.  The ‘slayer’ biffs him all round the park, and every other bowler for that matter.  Before Slick gets one to turn plenty and hit the  top of middle. Decent spin that mate. A great delivery. Here I forget a few wkts so apologies. Not before Cherry#4 hits the deck behind 3rd slip as Wells Snr fails to get to a short looper from an edge off the LH bat at No8.  Not a great catching display all innings but some decent bowling in places and a top effort by PJ (#LATE CALL) Malem and TJ my knees just popped out-Harding who did try their best in the field on a very long afternoon.

But I do remember’ that Elliot [new nickname]-Wolverine (cos of his curly wave), named so from WK Ollie, comes on to wrap up and clean up the tail.  Ell’ completes a stunning over of 0.5 balls 2 no balls, 3 wickets for not many in a devastating spell to wrap up the innings. He was son a hat-trick at one point. Decent little spell that fella.

TEA – Little Paxton; 178-all out. LP Wkts

3-For Wolverine; Elliot Smith, 3 – Diego; Ashley Wells. 2-Willo; Tim Willis. 2 Matthew Slack [Capt].

Ramsey openers; JC2 and Wellsy make a solid start 2 overs worth before disaster! JC2 (Jordan Cafferkey) is bowled off his back leg pad attempting a whipped shot off his legs Ramsey 2-for-1.  Brings in Smiffy and his 2nd ball is snicked ever so finely to the WK and off he walks without a glance up to Neil Manchett the 90 overs-Official for the day. Bring in the skipper at 4-for-2, and after a few crisp shots and a nice little partnership starting to form, a sky-er to mid-on by Matty is thankfully dropped by a LP inexperienced lad, thankfully at that point from the non-strikers end I saw it spill four feet from my stance. Phew-relief.  I’m on nine and after a nice off drive I play a loose shot, the bat coming down from 2 slip bringing the bat down on the wrong line and get cleaned up as the ball keeps shin high and  the death rattle follows and I’m off and Rams are seriously in the clag now at 24-4.  this brings in Godsy, who doesn’t last long either-wrapped on the pads, the games up for Gogszilla.

Our blonde shock wave; Tom Gaskell is now in and seriously out of practice had done well in the field but short of middle time is also another low-score failure, joining quite a gaggle of us. Cripes we’re in trouble now; 40 [ish]-5.

Ashley and Slicker settle in now mind and gradually there’s a steady clip as the scoreboard smoothly flows over and the numbers edge higher. A 50 PARTNERSHIP is greated with a silence. But Slickers 50 is met with a sound applause and we are feeling more confident.

Ash clipped a six off the park and off his leg side – Mum (Sue) proud to signal the six-from under the conker trees.  Slicker biffs one likewise through the conker trees into Bills’ garden and the Rams are seriously in this game now. Whilst back in the pavo Tim, Ollie TJ are padded up but the quietest I’ve ever heard them.

Little were we to know that a 140 partnership was to follows from 20-4, and Matty and Ash can be proud of their efforts. Slick is getting tired after a 2’s game the day before is taking it’s toll on the big-fella.  Tired of running threes, he’s out caught for 84.  This brings in Ollie who parries teh strike superbly with Ash and they both see us home 179-7 and 3 very relieved lads on the patio as well as a very fraught supporting crew. Well done a great team effort, rescued massively by Matthew and Ash-we are edebted.

3 wins from 3 games sees the 3’s in ‘nose bleed’  league position territory.

March win local derby in tight match.

On what was a cold and showery day at Cricketfield Lane. March won the toss and elected to bowl, probably a decision partly based on the uncertain weather.

Despite a quick fire start mainly due to some erratic early bowling from Steve Seymour March gained control by taking regular wickets Seymour in particular coming back from that erratic start to pick up 4 important wickets accounting for numbers 2-5. Abley assisted by accurate bowling from Chris Ringam, March restricted Ramsey to 91 all out.

In reply March also got off to a flyer putting on 54 for the first wicket with D Hodson in particularly aggresive form. The introduction of Sam Rippington after 7 overs however, changed the game and in a spell of 7 overs 4 for 16 he gave Ramsey a chance of pulling one out of the hat with David Carlaw bowling his usual tight stuff at the other end also picking up 2 wickets, there was a moment when a win was on the cards but Harradine and Oliver saw March home to a 4 wicket win.

Despite not fielding one player who is 13, Ramsey Under 13s battled hard with only 9 players to take it to the last over. 

Having lost the toss , a steady opening partnership between Toby Harding and Toby Whittome helped give the young Rams a good start. Mark Saunders batted well and did the captains job making 48 Not out , having been supported well by Hana Howsam , Oli Pestell and Henry Mair.

The Rams took to the field needing to keep it tight and got off to a good start conceding only 13 runs in the first 6 overs , tight bowling from Ben Saunders and Mark Saunders made it difficult for Yaxley to get boundaries. Middle order for Yaxley started to find the gaps but good bowling from Oli Pestell , Thomas Brown and Toby Harding made sure it went right down to the wire. 

Well Done everyone who played.