Mid-Kent League Match - 46 overs per side

New Ash Green (1 pt) 87 all out (39.4 overs)
Upchurch (20 pts) 91-1
Upchurch won by 9 wickets.

This was the day when it all went wrong for New Ash Green, a day when they looked more like relegation favourites than title contenders. Things went well until the game started - Andy Stuart won the toss and in what should have been good batting conditions New Ash Green chose to bat. After that it was downhill all the way. Most of the batsmen managed one good shot, flattering to deceive, as almost all of them gave their wickets away carelessly the moment they looked as if they might score some runs. No batsman got past 10, though extras managed 23 with leg byes the highest individual scorer on 11 - no one else merits a mention. The Upchurch bowling was not spectacular, but gave little away and it was the slow and nagging swing of David Lloyd Senior that most troubled New Ash Green - he took 5-11 in 9.4 overs, all his wickets being bowled or LBW.

Upchurch were much more solid when it came to their turn to bat. Phil Dorsett (56*) and Steve Parker (23) put on 74 for the first wicket, and although they were both occasionally beaten and some of their shots were a bit uppish they put away anything loose with power, and there were far too many loose balls for a side defending 87. Just when it looked as if New Ash Green were heading for their first ever 'nil points' in best Norwegian Eurovision style (and the Norwegian Eurovision entry can probably bat better as well) Ian Shambrook managed to take Parker's edge and Andy Payne took another fine slip catch to ensure that someone from New Ash Green got their name in the report! It was far too little too late though, and although New Ash Green kept on pressing for more bonus points Upchurch cruised home with more than 30 overs in hand.

New Ash Green will have to up their level of play quite a bit over the next few weeks with three more tough matches (Herne Bay twice and Upchurch again) in the next five weeks. Two wins in those three matches will still see them well in contention, but that prospect looked a long way away at the end of this match.

Hunton II v New Ash Green III
Saturday 29th June 2002

Central League Match - 40 overs per side

New Ash Green 193-6 (40 overs)
Hunton 194-8 (39.5 overs)
Hunton won by 2 wickets.

Fielding a somewhat stronger team than had been possible prior to this match New Ash Green batted first and were quickly reduced to 15 for 2, this brought skipper Graham Hampsheir to the crease to join Chris Hoddinott who put on a stand of 132 for the third wicket, powerful hitting by Hampsheir (74) and able support from Hoddinott (63) took the initiative away from Hunton, with 23 coming from one over a total in excess of 220 looked possible until Hampsheir was impossibly caught by the stomach of the cover fielder. Hoddinott picked up the pace and was eventually out allowing a cameo 18* from Geoff Shannon. New Ash Green scoring 193 from their 40 overs.

Tight bowling from Robin Wills (8-1-33-3) and Matthew Pennell (8-0-33-1) meant the game could go either way. Peter Burke playing as ringer kept Hunton's run rate down and a couple of wickets meant a close finish was inevitable. Requiring 5 from the last over, tight bowling and a wicket from Geoff Shannon took the game to the penultimate ball when Hunton managed a boundary despite Robin Wills's heroic efforts. Yet another loss for the third team and yet another close finish, I'm sure everyone involved would agree these games are good fun and have a future within the club.

Hawkinge v New Ash Green
Sunday 30th June

Kent Village League Match - 40 overs per side - max. 9 overs per bowler

Hawkinge (5 pts) 252-9
New Ash Green (0 pts) 148-6
Hawkinge won by 104 runs.

After winning the toss and putting Hawkinge into bat on a flat but rock hard pitch Darren Phillips' decision was questioned by some, but they soon changed their mind when saw the pace which the only new ball was flying through at. First ball of the game Andy Mayers hit the opener on the elbow before he even had a chance to react causing a long enough delay for a helmet to be brought out for the following overs by Andy Stuart. Andy Stuart picked up his only wicket caught at short leg by Chris Hoddinott a few overs later. Some big hitting by Hawkinge's middle order got them on their way to a big score. A brilliant second spell from Andy Mayers gave him figures of 5-64 from 9 overs, 28 of the runs coming in his first spell of 3 overs. Chris Hoddinott bowled well, 5 overs, 1-16 while his brother, the Kent League superstar refused to bowl at the end of the innings claiming a shoulder injury!

Chasing a big score New Ash Green had plenty of batting with the top nine all having club fifties to their name. But the out of form Andy Payne fell early for only 4 though he did double his Sunday League runs for the season! John Harding (48) & Andy Stuart (40) took New Ash Green toward the 100 mark by the middle of the innings before they both fell. Duncan Shannon was run out for 0 in a mix up with Keiron Hoddinott. Andy Mayers fell cheaply trying to hit out, which left about 145 required off ten overs. Despite a last ditch attempt by skipper Phillips hitting 29 not out from not many balls, and knocking the wicketkeeper out cold by top edging a full toss into his face, New Ash Green fell just short of the batting point.

A good all round performance against a side that would give New Ash Green 1st XI a tough game, Hawkinge should win this league without a problem.