Not another bloody wedding!

On Saturday the Rams travel to Frinton. Frinton were the last side outside of Swardeston and the Rams to have lifted the title. The Rams and their supporters have always enjoyed the trip to the Essex seaside; in 2020 we clinched our mini-division EAPL title there; and unforgettably we clinched the 2024 title on the last day of the season at the coast. If you haven’t been before it’s a golden opportunity to get some fresh sea air, it’s a lovely ground with fantastic refreshments and a warm welcome.

The Rams were made to work very hard for their title clinching victory last year and expect an even sterner examination this time.  This year the hosts are currently placed fifth. With a bit of luck opening bowler Charlie Bennett will be tired after a run fest at Billericay playing for Essex II’s. One of our old boys Louis Kimber made a ton in the fourth innings for Leicestershire II’s. They have recruited an Australia opening bat in Jayden Goodwin who has Sheffield Shield experience and he’s formed an excellent opening partnership with Hamad Arshad. Arshad was at Sudbury last season but seems to hail from Bedfordshire, and for the past three seasons has played more than fifty games in each season! These two are backed up by Ronnie McKenna, Kyran Young and the skipper Michael Comber. Both Luc and Jack Benkenstein are signed on but often have other commitments. With the ball Goodwin leads the way with another new guy Safi Oriakhial, a seamer who played at Chingford last season pushing him.

The Rams have a couple missing on Saturday due to ex-Ram Luke Spears marrying Emma Wilson (best of luck and congrats to them both); and a few making a mad dash after the games. However, the skipper, is delighted to welcome back Wayne White, and Ethan Rice as he plots his way back after injury. With no left arm spinning teachers available Tarun Mouli gets another chance to impress after last week’s fine display.

Incredibly, Sudbury’s, Adam Jones is within one hundred and eighteen runs of making a thousand runs and we are only just reaching half way . Ben Claydon is almost three hundred shy of Jones, and second on the ladder; and Goodwin is a further one hundred back and sixth in the standings. Neither side has a bowler in the top ten although Goodwin is tied with Mark Smith at twelfth on the ladder.

Elsewhere there are a few Norfolk v Suffolk encounters; Copdock at home to AB Wanderers; second placed Sudbury host Gt. Witchingham and Swardeston face Mildenhall at the Common. Third placed Horsford have a Norfolk derby when they visit Downham.; and finally Witham host Bury.

The second team face Foxton Granta who put behind them some topsy-turvy form in the league, like a good many in the Onyx Premier this year, to progress into the last sixteen as they eye a third Lords triumph in the National Village Cup. The Foxes are currently sixth in the title race, with Adam Webster and Johnny Atkinson continuing to churn out the runs with some important ones coming from Ash Clark . New man Max Sargentina leads the way from last year’s bowling star Sam Beer. The Rams will hope that their attack led by Darcy Murphy and Miguel Machado can continue to impress. The skipper, Dan Heath, will hope the batters can deliver more consistently. Disappointingly young Alex James who was just finding some form is unavailable this week. A couple of the Club’s more promising youngsters Ethan Hayes-Fernandez and Arnav Wadekar may get opportunities to step up.

In a very open Onyx title race the top two meet at Burwell where leaders Saffron Walden will want to put last week’s surprise defeat against the Rams behind them. The top two have a one game cushion over the chasing pack where third to sixth is separated by just twelve points.  Of the other games Ramsey at home to Wisbech, and their very exciting overseas Shalin Navishka De Mel, looks like the game of the day.

The thirds have had to scramble around not just to field one side but also to find a side for a cup match on Sunday. The draw has been unkind to the Rams as the last  two weeks with the poorest availabilities has seen them pitted against the sides third and second in the league. This week they host Buntingford, who after relegation from the Senior league last year, are unbeaten so far this term. They are probably the favourites for the title. They have been scoring runs for fun with George Coote and Syed Hassan their top scorers. Bowling wise Callum Ricketts leads the way but they seem to have an abundance of options. The skipper, Jake Ellis,  will be pleased to have retained the services of Wes Potschul and be glad to see the return of Nuwan Athukorala. With all four sides playing, and three away on first and second team duties we may need to dip into the AP market.  The skipper still tops the wicket-taking ladder in this division.

On Sunday the Rams face a tricky tie away against NCI II’s in the Walker Cup (T20). NCI are a Junior one side but from the Northern section so there is no form guide, although they are regular participants at CCA finals days. The Rams welcome two old boys Ian Smith and Tom Champness back into action and are boosted by second teamers Dan Heath and Darcy Murphy, both regulars in the Rams Midweek side.

Despite the chaos from above the fourths look like they may have a full compliment with as usual a nice mix of youth, experience and pre-war experience. The skipper, Dom Cameron, welcomes back Rob Benson, and Josh Coleman who adds to his, so far very impressive, young bowling attack. They face a short trip down the A11 to Wilbrahams for a Division Five tussle. In a very tight league the Rams are fourth just two points of the lead and Wilbrahams are fifth just three points adrift of the Rams. Looking at the results so far their batting seems to be the strongest suite.