The Angels are Back!

Woohoo! Its the cricket season again, and the Angels are BACK!

We've had 3 games so far, and apart from the game against the might of Stocksfield Firsts which is too painful to mention - we aint done too bad!

Our first game was against Stocksfield 2nds at their place. Their team was made up of a sprinkling of 2nds and a big handful of 1sts, and we did really well to hold our own - Sally managed to give them a right old scare with her whopping 3 fours in a row! Go on Sal! It was lush seeing them all panicking for a while, but then sadly Sally got out to a ball that looked like it was going to sail over her head, then dropped like a stone onto the stumps. Bummer.

Never mind, the bowling was great. Sandra, Chloe, Jen have all improved MASSIVELY since last year. And young Georgia - well -  she's our secret weapon. She can run, she can bend, she can hoy, and she can BOWL! Pretty certain the county will take notice soon -  ANOTHER one of the Angels to represent Northumberland? 'twould be nice to think so.

Captain Fantastic, Sandra, has been doing a great job - making sure we're all in the right place in the field - and WHAT a catch by the brilliantly positioned and cool as a cucumber, Fiona last night against Wylam!  Fabulous....but maybe not as good as the stop on the boundary by Debbie....:-)

This was our first home game of the season. Wylam are a pretty good outfit, but y'know what, I reckon our bowling attack was better than theirs. We're not giving away as many wides, we're not bowling as many on the legs, and we're forcing them to play defensively. We can only get even better as the season goes on!

What else can I remember about last night's game?....Oh yeh - I got out LBW! I hung around for10 minutes after the umpire had signalled 'oot' though, cause I didn't realise I'd been given out!

'You're out Lisa,' said Sally, gently.

'I'm what?'

'Yer out.'

'Out?'

'Yes, out.'

'Really?'

'Yes, really.'

'Oh.'

How embarrassing!

Never mind -  Kazza Collingwood Chomse came in number three, and formed a fabulous partnership with Sally - whacking the ball around the pitch. Get in there Angels!

We gave Wylam a really good game, and Sally is starting to find some form and confidence with the bat now. A great score in the 30's and not out in this game - brilliant. Lets have a few more innings' like that this season!

Oh - and the tea - or 'feast' as the kids like to call it, was world class. Home made bite size banoffi squares, pizza, sarnies, cake and Aldi cherry bakewells....scrumptious. I love our home games.

So all in all, a good start, and lots and lots of positives to take away from the first few games. Bring on Wylam 2nds!

We Don't Like Cricket...Oh No...We LOVE IT!

I have a bruise the size of a dinner plate on my inner thigh, my achilles are both nacking, and my arms are aching like hell....wonder what state Andrea's bum is in?!

Alas, it was the last competitive game of the season for the Angels against Tynemouth. Yeh, we lost again....but I think we all emerged as winners.

This has been a fantastic debut season, and we've really surprised a few teams out there with just how well we've done. There have been moments of brilliance from every individual that has taken part, and also some classic moments of comedy which will certainly keep me laughing throughout the cold winter months!

Our captain, Sandra, and vice captain, Sally, have worked extremely hard over the season behind the scenes and on the pitch - organising the games, processing the scores and trying to ensure that everyone got a game - (not easy when there are so many of us so keen to play!) No wonder Sandra shouted 'Come on Greenside!' in the middle of our last game - she obviously needs some time off with nervous exhaustion over the winter! (Either that or she's about to defect and hasn't told us!)

Our patient coach, Dave, has been a star. Not only has he successfully headed up the junior section of the club, but he's had us lot to contend with too! When that very first email came round saying 'anyone want to do a bit of cricket coaching at Wentworth?' I remember thinking 'Aye, I'll give it a go.'
Now I am completely obsessed - checking the stats on the play cricket website, frantically writing to Santa Claus listing all the gear that I need, replaying every moment of every match in my head 'til the early hours of the morning, boring my entire family with tales of amazing catches and 9 year old spinners...its great!

There are lots of others that have found themselves wearing little wings on their backs this season.
Aaron has made a decent career for himself out of scoring, and has done a great job. Steve and Eddie have helped out with umpiring and coaching. (Got to say mind - I prefer it when Eddie's yelling on the boundary as I don't have to see him glaring at me when I swish the bat around as the ball fizzes past) Lots of the other hubbies and dads have been great on the sidelines - patiently hoying balls down to us in the nets, enjoying the games with us, and occasionally remembering to keep an eye on the hoard of kids and dogs marauding around the pitch trying to put the opposition off...

And then there's the teas. The chocolate moose square things. The individual banoffi pie canopes, the melt in the mouth onion tarts and vol-au-vents, the seafood platter, the birthday cake....I love the teas - and so have the 5,000 kids, dads, grannies, husbands, hens....

I DON'T WANT THE SUMMER TO END! Its been wonderful! Thank you EVERYone for making this a summer to remember, and we'll hopefully get together as a team to celebrate soon....and to discuss coaching in the winter!

Corbridge Angels v South North

A BIG well done to all that played this evening. It was an almighty, fantastic TEAM performance!

Quick rundown of stats -

Bowling -

Cheryl - 21 runs off 5 overs - AND the FIRST EVER (I think) maiden over  - that means the opposition didn't score a single run off one of her overs!
Lisa - 30 runs off 5 overs and 1 wicket
Jen - 36 runs off 5 overs and 2 wickets! (WHAT a catch, Karen Chomse! - the ball went so high up it had ice on it when it came down - straight into Chomse's safe hands! Brilliant)
Karen Ch - 38 runs off 5 overs and not one single wide, yes that's what I said - NOT ONE SINGLE WIDE! Fantastic.

Just hit it!...

...Yes! Go on Cheryl and Karen!

20 runs later...knackered!

They scored 129 for 3 (only 14 extras)

Fielding -

Tremendous effort in the field, especially from the rookies Andrea and Gillian - some great stops to save the 4's. And Sarah, some excellent anticipationary (new word) fielding. (What I mean is - you were anticipating where the ball was going before it was played, rather than reacting after it had been played. Fantastic.
Splendid, solid wicky-ing from Karin - not many got past you!
Sharron - an excellent debut for your 8 overs in the field. Looking forward to seeing you for the whole game next week.

2 little Angels

Death Row I mean 'Waiting to Bat'

Batting -

Lisa - Oot for 3 runs. Bowled by the 9 year old lass with the evil googlie.
Jen - Oot for a duck - also against the 9 year old with an evil legbreak.

Oh my Gaad, we're all going to get skittled out for 10 runs at this rate...but hang on....

Cheryl - 22 runs (bowled)
Karen Ch - 20 runs (caught)

What a partnership! Fantastic display.
But surely now we'll be skittled...but hang on....

Sarah - 9 (not out)
Andrea 'Dancer down the wicket' - 4 (run out)
Gillian - only 1 shot, and not out.

TOTAL - 58 + 6 extras = 64 for 5

The Tea

South North said that we officially had the best tea in the league, and they would all be putting their names down on the team sheet for next season's game against us. I particularly loved Gillian's dainty little chocolate moose square things with the little things on the top. Delicious.

Overall

I think everyone can feel proud of their own performances. All that hard work and hours in the nets really seemed to pay off. But most of all - the team performance for me was outstanding - lots of encouragement, everyone on their toes in the field, backing up etc etc, and then stepping up to the mark when really needed with the bat and with the bowling. Brilliant - well done everyone!

Many thanks to Dave for setting up and umpiring,  to Charlie for scoring, and to my darling husband for shouting at me when I was bowled out.

22 runs later - well done Cheryl

Next week's game is v Ashington at home. They might be short of players so I have said that we may be able to lend them some rather than cancelling the game - so PLEASE let me know if you are available. Wednesday 11th 6pm start.