Tough weekend ahead for Rams...

The Club has a tough weekend ahead of it this week. It’s the first full week of Dynamos and All-stars and we are expecting around one hundred and seventy kids at the ground over the three sessions. This requires a monumental effort from the coaches, BBQers, the bar staff and our admin support. On top of this it is also the Sawston Fun Run on Sunday with our Director of Cricket David Ellis, who is also a leading light in the Rotary Club that organise the event and manage and distribute the funds that are raised, gently coercing the Club’s volunteers to assist in the preparation. On top of this we have a few away on Benji Benson’s stag weekend and a few of the juniors with other pressing commitments. To cap this it is also a Saturday where we have, hopefully, all four sides in action. After last week’s embarrassment of riches we are having to leave no stone unturned to find players.

Hopefully it will not be unlucky thirteen for the first team who will once again be without their school teachers and university attendees. In their quest to make it thirteen wins on the trot and nineteen unbeaten they face the 2024 EAPL runners up, Copdock, who pushed the Rams so closely last term. Looking at the team sheets for the first three weeks there are some familiar names with the prolific Sam Athurton still at the top of the batting order, supported by Alex Oxley, skipper Jacob Marston and Chris Swallow. The bowling will again be led by Rajan Singh and last year’s recruit Andy Hanby. They will no doubt miss Nico Boje who formed a formidable opening partnership with Arthurton and last year’s impressive overseas Michael Rae. They appear to have recruited an Aussie overseas in Cameron Strudwick, and spinner Kaif Iqbal from our local rivals Foxton Granta. Last year the away game at Copdock was bizarrely rained off on the hottest day of the season at the time. The Rams came out on top in the red ball game at Spicers and the twenty-point differential was decisive in the title race. This term the Suffolk outfit have faltered after a first day victory at Swardeston they have lost heavily in their next two home games. They will be looking to kick-start their season and gain some much-needed confidence following last week’s chastening nine-wicket defeat at home to Suffolk rivals Sudbury.

The Rams will want to keep their 2025 unbeaten run going and may need to shuffle the pack with a few absentees and a couple of late fitness tests before naming their final eleven.

Elsewhere one of the three remaining unbeaten records must go, unless there is a tie, as impressive newbies Downham Stow entertain Sudbury. The bottom two, and I still cannot believe I’m saying this, Swardeston and Mildenhall face tricky away ties at Frinton and Witham respectively. There is a Norfolk derby as AB Wanderers entertain Witchingham and Bury will want to get back to winning ways when they meet Horsford in a battle between two top five sides last year.

As mentioned, the second team have a number of absentees but that gives opportunities for a few new players to make an impression. However, they face another daunting trip, after last week’s one to Ramsey, when they face Eaton Socon.  It’s been a tough few weeks for the newly moulded squad and new skipper Dan Heath but they just need to hang in there as re-inforcements are only a couple of weeks away.

It goes without saying that if the top two sides are struggling for numbers this has a knock-on effect to the thirds and fourths. The thirds may be more resilient than in previous year’s as extensive recruitment has given them more strength in depth. They will want to build on last week’s impressive victory against the Chesterfords. They have a trip into the South Cambs hills and rarified air of Great Chishill who were promoted last season. The hosts didn’t play last week so the Rams will hope to catch them cold.

The fourths face very local rivals Stapleford. Fourth team cricket is more about getting a side out and enjoying the game. A few that were hoping for a seat by the boundary and a beer in hand may be pressed into action on Saturday. Fortunately the weather which is set fair will only be pleasantly warm as both sides make their seasonal bow.