The Owls Go Marching On On On!

The Wrecclesham Owls recorded a fine 100 run victory over Alfold on Saturday to secure 10 vital points and maintain momentum in their quest for the Division II title.

The Mighty Wreccers were without the services of regulars Chris 'The Rock' Windeatt and Neal 'Weirdo' Harris but they were fortunate enough to welcome back real quality in the form of Henry 'Granny Basher' Bate and James 'The Beast' Wright.

The Owls started the game in second position knowing that a win was crucial given leaders Blackheath were entertaining bottom side Thursley.

In that sense the opportunity of a maximum ten points, which was presented in the form of a lost toss, was a good one to grasp for the home team.

Openers Chris 'Herald love child' Spooner, who has been scoring well of late with an average well in excess of 42 and Matt 'MB is he on E?' kicked things off for the Owls and the latters night of excess soon caught up with him as he was dismissed for a duck in the first over to leave the hosts reeling.

Thanksfully James Wright was in confident mood as he supported Spooner well playing with good application to shore things up against some accurate bowling and finally exploding into life in the 12th over to up the run rate with a flurry of well executed boundaries.

Unfortunately it was not to last as he was caught playing one shot too many and departed for a well made 29.

In came Skipper Boniface but he wasn't up to the sizeable task of filling the Windeatt role as he departed quickly for just 2 and despite fairing slightly better, Oli 'Bondi Beach' Caston was back in the hutch for 8 shortly after to give the away side some genuine hope.

Henry Bate however was in better form as he and the watchful Spooner set about rebuilding the innings and set a defendable total.

Bate tucked in to play some tasty boundaries (yum yum) before holing out to mid off for 21 but he had at least arrested the Owl's decline and helped to put the game back in the balance at 111-5.

Dan 'Bionic Man' Vasey stepped into the breach with some clear instructions from the skipper and he certainly did not dissappoint! Vasey struck 3 vicious boundaries in his first over including a maximum and two one bounce fours to take the score from 111 to 125 in an instant.

Despite falling in the next over the damage had been done by Vasey as he took the wind out of the Alfold sails.

Where Vasey had crucially taken the wind out of the Alfold sails, Spooner, who had played a patient, mature (something he would truly find out the meaning of later that evening) and vital knock to reach his half century, sank the ship completely as he cut loose, assaulting the bowling to all parts, bringing up his second fifty in less than 10 overs an in the process recording a stunning century which underlines his undoubted ability.

Spooner departed soon after for 107 as the home side looked to push on and managed a very competitive looking total of 201 all out from 45.5 overs.

Tea was taken and the Wreccers took the field in confident mood knowing that they had yet to concede over 200 in a league game this season.

Oli Caston, the league's leading 5 wicket haul machine, immediately found a consistent line and length and the signs were pretty ominous for the visitors from the outset.

Spooner backed up his century with a fine bowling display of his own as the overhead conditions ensured he generated prolific movement and created numerous chances.

Caston soon struck, removing the dangerous Pullen with a ball of the highest quality, clipping the top of off peg after drawing him forward and moving away off the seam, unplayable at pretty much any level.

Caston followed it up to remove D Burke LBW and despite a spirited stand between A Burke and Sandford, Alfold never threatened to chase down the total and the Owls cranked up the pressure accordingly.

Newman came to the crease and battled well helping Alfold reach 50-3 at the drinks break and offer a glimmer of hope that the visitors may be able to take something from the game.

Oli Caston had other ideas, taking a memorable catch diving to his left to pluck a well struck ball from Newman off his own bowling and produce a vital breakthrough from which Alfold never really recovered.

Wickets fell steadily from then on as Spooner, not to be outdone, chipped in with a few late wickets finishing with very respectable figures of 4-56 and Oli Caston claimed yet another fine 5 wicket haul (6-42) which remarkably, is his 6th of what is turning out to be a wonderful campaign for the bronzed all rounder.

The Owls finished things off with a tremendous efficiency taking some good catches, Parkinson and Wright in particular to amass 10 wickets in just 31.3 overs as they recorded a convincing 100 run win with 12.3 overs to spare.

Next up for the Owls is a trip to in form Grayshott (please note 1pm start) where the Wreccers will hope to continue their wonderful recent form.

Afterword by Joe Boniface

An excellent victory gentlemen and one which despite the stand out performances of Caston and Spooner was a real team effort.

Dan, a great knock at a crucial time and it should not be under estimated at how far this went to our eventual total. If you are unfortunate enough not to get a bowl it is excellent to see that you can influence games in the field or like Saturday with a destructive cameo, super stuff.

Henry and Wrighty, again great support from you guys and the big scores can only be reached if the majority of people contribute and you two did so in fine style at times when we were under pressure so well done gents.

Oli, this is getting somewhat repetitive but you are a class act and I am delighted to see you prosper in the higher divisions as you have been bowling well for a long time without the rewards you deserve, if you keep going you could have a very special season.

Spoons, you produce with bat and ball week after week and your consistency and ability are remarkable mate, if we get to Div I I think it will be great to see you play in a league befitting of your quality, a pleasure to play with and watch.

It is hoped that regulars Henry 'Yum Yum Yum' Bate, Andy 'Mellow Magic' Collins and Matt 'Have you got protection?' Parkinson will have suitably recovered from their ill fated brush with the ring of fire and that Chris 'Toyboy' Spooners soreness and itching has soothed sufficently so that they are all able to play a part in the game at Grayshott on Saturday.

Bring it on

Up the Owls!