Another huge weekend awaits!

After a couple of consecutive weeks of playing against the side in second place in the EAPL, at the start of play, this week we break the sequence by playing the side who are top! Swardeston are seven times winners of the competition and after an indifferent year last year are now back in familiar territory.

The Norfolk side despite their fantastic season to the half-way point will probably still be ruing that they somehow lost, or Alex Evans won, the first encounter of the season. The side from The Common are a well-balanced unit that have been refreshed with the introduction of some young talent, with Alfie Cooper leading the way with the bat, they also possess runs right down the order. Their overseas Saranga Rajaguru, after finishing as top bowler in 2022, is once again among the leading wicket takers this year. He is backed up by Callum Taylor and resurgent Adam Todd.

Sawston make only one change, with Ben Clilverd missing out through school duties. It is likely that Charlie Lewis will come back into the side. The Rams who moved to second will be looking to build on last week’s amazing victory as their run of challenging fixtures continue. They will also look back to last year when Noah Thain’s last over heroics earned the Rams a last gasp victory.

Elsewhere Mildenhall in third will look to convert home advantage, and close on the top two, when they play Saffron Walden. Copdock in fourth face the improving Great Witchingham. Bury in fifth trek down to Finton. Witham and Wisbech will seek to keep Horsford and Sudbury respectively below them in the table.

Talking of sequences, the Rams second string will be looking for their eighth consecutive victory, this time at home to St. Ives and Warboys. The top side will be expecting a more difficult game against the side currently in fourth than in their very comfortable victory at Warboys. First team availabilities means that the Rams will once gain have Matthew Hague and Kieren MacKenzie available. They will be further strengthened by the return of Christy O’Brien and a Benji Benson seasonal debut.

The third team have a tough double header this weekend when they face league leaders Lt. Shelford before taking on Senior Division Ramsey II’s in the Walker Cup on Sunday. They are helped by the excellent availability of the sides above and add second team squad players Matt Worsdale, and Ollie Humphreys to their squad on Saturday. On Sunday they will have an eclectic mix from within the Club, with a couple of second teamers (Hague and O’Brien), a cup specialist (Tom Champness) and a couple of brothers from the fourths (the Leonards). Sunday’s contest is a T20 starting at two. The opposition will also have the opportunity to use a couple of first teamers and already contain a couple of familiar names and faces in West and Carlaw!

The fourth’s have already recorded a victory as Linton III’s have cried off. With availability again excellent this again highlights the strength of our Club. However, it could be that Linton were worried about us picking Becca and Caitlin for the return fixture!