One week to go...

At time of writing the Saturday team are experiencing our best run of the season having won our last 3 games and have one fixture left away at Lowestoft (Saturday 28th August). Think we must have drawn the very short straw with this away fixture which surely must be the longest trip of any club....and on a Bank Holiday weekend too. We are now fifth from top (with your pint glass half full) or fifth from bottom (pint half empy) or, more importantly for Elmham supporters......we are now above Brisley for the first time this season! Clearly we have timed our run well and go into this last game with bowlers and batters in form. Last weekend we defeated Felthorpe, one of the League's stronger teams, by an incredible 10 wickets (see picture) with our best performance of the season. Earlier this season I got some stick from my readership in the Brisley area when I stated that I thought we had one of the best bowling attacks in League 6 - whilst in some games we have let ourselves down, last weekend I think we demonstrated the potency of the team when they all turn up. Elder especially has bowled well although Roy's delivery to remove the Felthorpe skipper (who averaged 100+ last season) was surely the ball of the year.

With the bat Stephan Malherbe has hit a rich vein of form since his return from holiday with 86 and 65 not out in his last 2 innings to go with his 100 earlier in the season. The fielding has also improved immeasurably with very few dropped catches although it is sometimes difficult to be heard when you have such a noisy (new) wicket keeper in the form of Christo (at Garboldisham he was asked to not appeal until after the ball had at least pitched first!). The new players all now appear to have bedded in well including our latest addition James Dagless who gives us even more options with ball and bat. However, all of this makes the first half of the season so frustrating. At one stage we were candidates for relegation but if our form in the second half had been like the second half then we might have been up there contesting the promotion spots. At least our current form gives us reason for optimism for next season. Looking ahead we have a Presidents XI match at the playing field on Sunday 4th September and will be our last match of the season - let me know if you can play as soon as possible. Into October we have our Annual Awards Dinner at the Lodge in North Tuddenham on the 8th. If you wish to come along please let me know ASAP (home 01362 667089 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) along with your menu choice - cost is £17/head - menu available. Wifes/ girlfriends/ friends and family all very welcome. As ever we are always keen to recruit new players. Finally, details of the AGM will be circulated shortly - we have a number of posts that need filling so please come along and volunteer your services.

Regards

Iain

NECC - Saturday XI Captain