The first full Saturday program of the season and the return of the Prince
Saturday marks the commencement of the Club’s season in earnest; as all four adult sides are due to play on Saturday. That follows the first Junior game and the first midweek contest that were played during the week.
The first team will be looking to build on the momentum that brought them two wins last weekend. On Saturday they host Bury, one of five unbeaten sides in the AVL EAPL so far this season. The Suffolk outfit boast very comfortable wins against Frinton and Witham. A glance at their line-ups so far this year reveal a number of familiar names (Bishop, Gallian, Maynard, Cantrell, Cruickshank, Whittaker, Rash and Harris). Another familiar name Freddie Heldreich, who has played a lot of limited over games for Northants in recent years, has also featured in the first two games. Archie Jones, a Harrow schoolboy, has made a decent start including an unbeaten hundred last week at Witham. The Rams are expected to welcome back Jack Beaumont and Ralph Hayward; with Miguel Machado returning to skipper the twos along with SBCC’s ‘Australian Overseas’!
Elsewhere one of the hundred percent records must go as two unbeaten sides meet at the Common, where Swardeston host Copdock. Swardeston give a debut to their new overseas Tim Ward a capture from the Big Bash but they will, as will the surrounding houses, be wary of the Copdock hurricane Mihlali Mpongwana. Of the other unbeaten sides Mildenhall travel to the out of form Downham Stow; and Horsford visit the new boys at Ramsey. AB Wanderers host Frinton, and Sudbury are at home to Witham with all of the sides looking for their first win.
The seconds under new skipper Miguel Machado and new vice-captain Julius Jackson, both of whom were amongst the Rams top performers last year., start off with the longest trip of the season away to Wisbech. JJ will have fond memories following last season’s ‘once in a lifetime’ ten wicket win in the Fens. Following a number of personnel changes the Rams will have a few new faces with Vibhor Yadav, a recruit from Upwood; Shiv Darbar a newbie from Peterborough Town; and Dan Barnes who has just moved into the area all making debuts. The focus will again be on the senior players supporting our talented band of youngsters with the likes of Adi Datta Henry Cotton, Ethan Hayes Fernandez, Dhrona and Ayra Saeb-Parsy all expected to be given opportunities at some point in the season. The skipper is also delighted to welcome back Geo Varghese and ‘The Prince’ for their second seasons with the Club. He also gets a bonus as first teamer Dylan Hardy joins him on the bus to Wisbech! Clara Cheng will also be making her ‘official’ debut joining the Rams as second team scorer after a big money transfer from Foxton Granta! Talking of all things new it will be exciting to see how the new Pavilion at Wisbech is progressing.
The Third team will want to put last week’s defeat behind them when they host Ashdon. The thirds will again be a mix of experience and youth. They are boosted, this week, by the return of self-styled ‘Club legend’ Joe Latham. Youngsters Dan Pretorious; Ettienne Lamb, Arnav Wadekar; Zane Dennington and Gabby Harter are all expected to feature. The experience will be added by the spin trio of Gary and Jake Ellis and Sam Browne with the evergreen Wes Potschul being joined by keeper Torin Phelps. They will hope to catch their opponents cold as this is Ashdon’s first start of 2026. Skipper Jake Ellis will need to focus on the game rather than on the ‘U’s’ vital clash at Crewe.
Our fourth team commence their campaign with the shortest of trips to Ickleton for their first game in Junior 4s following their promotion last year. Rob Benson will make his seasonal debut, in what seems like his seventy-fifth consecutive season. Unlike many of his teammates he should be in good nick having, no doubt, already played a dozen fixtures for Cambridgeshire’s Over-60’s! The rest of the squad will be the usual eclectic mix of players.