It was an evening of mixed emotions when Timsbury Athletic held its annual Presentation night at the Cricket Clubroom. After six successful years as first team manager  Dom Eatherden is standing down and tributes were paid to him for the outstanding job he has done.

Paul Hallett is also calling it a day as manager of the A team after getting the team established and giving many youngsters their first taste of adult football. The first team finished sixth in the Somerset County League Division 1 and after a thrilling cup campaign reached the semi-final of the Somerset Senior Cup before losing out to a strong Chilcompton side.  

Striker Jem Lutwama was the big winner on the night after another outstanding season.  Two days before his wedding he received the Roy Lockyer Memorial Trophy as Supporters’ Player of the Year and the First Team Players’ Player of the Year. Jesse Bishop was the Manager’s Player of the Year.

 The Reserve team Manager Kevin Abbott’s award went to Darren Perry with Cain Murphy the players’ choice for the second year running. For the A team Joe Gordon-Hallett was the Players’ Player of the Year for the second year running with Adrian Curtis the manager’s choice. Rachel Taylor was named as the Clubperson of the Year after raising a large amount of money for the club when running in the Bath half-marathon and received the James Adams Memorial Trophy. Toby Neilson and Chris Midgeley who have both had excellent seasons for the first team shared the award for young player of the year.

Hard working Club chairman Rob Veater was made a life member on the night and flowers were presented to Tracy Curtis who is standing down after many years as Club Welfare Officer, to Rachel Cullen who ran the half-marathon alongside Rachel Taylor, to Justine Eatherden and to Rita Day. It was a big night too for Rita’s husband Nigel who received the Mark Box Trophy for top referee in the Mid-Somerset League from Bryn Hawkins and Sara Box.

Malcolm Tucker, pictures by John Newport

Timsbury failed to take advantage of a favourable batting position and were eventually beaten by five wickets at home to Brislington in the West of England Premier League (Bristol and North Somerset). After batting first and reaching 149-2 they proceeded to lose their last eight wickets for 47 runs and the final total of 196 never looked to be enough.

For the second week running openers Mark Sage and Adam Brinkworth got Timsbury off to a good start before Sage was bowled for 34 with the score on 65. A stand of 67 for the third wicket between Brinkworth and Kevin Sibley set up the home side for a total over 200 but their dismissals were followed by a disappointing collapse. Brinkworth again looked good during his innings of 62 and Sibley contributed a valuable 27. Thereafter it was all Brislington with three wickets for Josh Whitemore and a brace each for Milo Ayres and ex-Gloucestershire county cricketer Rob Cunliffe.

The visitors also progressed well early on with Will Ollis (23) and Jack Gunningham (33) putting on 57 for the first wicket. Sibley and captain Jon Strand then took two quick wickets but Ayres with a rapid 35 and Tabish Khan (47) re-established the innings. Cunliffe showed all his experience with an unbeaten 42 to see his side home.

Timsbury seconds had a frustrating Saturday off.  Their game away to Bristol Asians was called off by Downend Parish Council as Travellers had set up on both pitches.

Timsbury thirds looked well on their way to a second win of the season when making 258-3 away to Clevedon’s 4^th XI but in the end were beaten by two wickets. Three Timsbury players made exactly 54.

Teenager Will Rawlings hit a maiden half-century and was joined by Matt Ball and captain Ashley Davis while opener Lee Hulbert struck 40. The visitors couldn’t follow up their batting exploits in the field and a disappointing bowling and fielding display saw them go down with three balls left.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury’s season is up and running at last with both the first and second teams notching their first wins of the campaign. The senior side under vice-captain Adam Brinkworth pulled off an excellent 37-run win away to Bristol West Indian Phoenix in the West Of England Premier League (Bristol and North Somerset) while the seconds were three-wicket victors at home to St George Valley in the Bristol and District League Division 7.

Having been put into bat Timsbury got off to the best possible start with an opening stand of 86 between Brinkworth and Mark Sage. Brinkworth was the first to go for a fluent 36 and Sage again showed his reliability with 55 taking the side to an imposing 130-1. However, following his dismissal Timsbury imploded to 144-6 and it needed a decisive seventh wicket partnership of 54 between the in-form Neil Hucker (30) and Jesse Bishop (20) to lead a recovery and a final total of 214. Home skipper Ricardo Williams took 3-14.

In reply Bristol West Indian Phoenix lost an early wicket but then progressed to 70-1 with Cole Pierre striking the ball well for  58 before losing his wicket to Hucker. It was then Graeme Webb’s turn to prove match winner for the visitors alongside former captain Steve Clothier. Webb finished with 5-39 and Clothier 3-39 as the home side were dismissed for 177.

Overseas player Iraq Thomas threatened to take the game away from Timsbury but a well-judged catch by Ellis Hancock off Clothier’s bowling saw him back in the pavilion for 25  on  an afternoon when the visitors’ fielding was at its sharpest.

In the seconds’ victory it was the young bowlers who impressed in St George Valley’ total of 160 with Oliver Davis taking 4-17 and Zak Cox 2-13. Timsbury openers Andy Carter (52) and skipper Ben Hosford (19) then looked to be leading their side to a comfortable win. But a quick clatter of wickets handed  the ascendancy to the visitors before another young batsman, Dan Nesbitt, stole the show with an unbeaten 41 with good support from the experienced Greg Passingham (20).

An under-strength third eleven proved no match for Winterbourne 5^th XI and after making 107 were beaten by 10 wickets.

Malcolm Tucker

A table and seats in memory of club legend Colin Weaver were unveiled when Timsbury Cricket Club held its annual Vice-Presidents and Sponsors evening. Colin died just over a year ago and members of his family joined players and guests to hear tributes paid to him by club chairman Austin Sage.

Colin had been part of the club for over 40 years and in that time played a massive role in its development. As player, administrator and youth coach he devoted hours of his time looking after the interests of a club he served with such distinction. His unceasing enthusiasm and outstanding cricketing knowledge benefitted generations of emerging young players who were taught not only the skills of the game but the etiquette which he saw as an essential ingredient of cricket.

Timsbury’s early season woes continued as they search for their first victory of the 2019 campaign following promotion to the West of England Premier League (Bristol and North Somerset). Once again their batting was found wanting and despite a spirited bowling performance they were beaten by five wickets at home to Frenchay.

After electing to bat first Timsbury were soon in trouble and only Mark Sage of the early batsmen defied the Frenchay attack. He was in good form before becoming one of four lbw victims for 46. Neil Hucker coming in at number nine then showed the way to do it with a valuable knock of 25 and added 20 for the last wicket with Ellis Hancock. Ben Helps starred for the visitors with a spell of 6-31 from his 10 overs while opening bowler Ben Stoddart took 3-32.

Hucker followed up his batting with a disciplined bowling spell conceding just 20 runs from his 10 overs. With skipper Jon Strand leaking only 17 runs from his 10 overs and Steve Clothier grabbing 2-35 Frenchay never found the run chase easy. At 50-4 Timsbury sensed they were in with a real chance but a stand of 44 between Tom Bibby and Sam Pine proved crucial. Although Pine was dismissed for 21 Bibby saw his side home with an undefeated 37.

Knocks of 86 from Andy Carter and 76 from Dan Hill looked to have set up a first win of the season for Timsbury seconds away to Bishopston thirds. But in a thrilling high-scoring game they were eventually beaten by four wickets in the Bristol and District League Division 7. Other good knocks from Neil Hulford (36) and Adam Workman (21 not out) saw the visitors total an imposing 274-7. Hulford took 3-48 when Bishopston replied but an innings of 129 from Adrian Newton took  the home side to victory.

Timsbury thirds couldn’t follow up their win of the previous week losing by eight wickets at home to a strong Hambrook thirds team. Only Matt Ball with 22 and Dan Nesbitt (18) reached double figures and Timsbury were grateful for a generous donation of 34 extras. Hambrook raced to victory in just over 21 overs.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury’s disappointing start to the new season continued with an early exit from this year’s National Village Cup competition at home to Wembdon. After being put in to bat they were all out for 108 and despite a battling performance in the field were eventually beaten by four wickets.

Batting was never easy for either side but Kevin Sibley worked hard for Timsbury with a gutsy innings of 31. Mark Sage, captain Jon Strand and Graeme Webb were the only other players to reach double figures as Timsbury were all out with more than 10 overs of their innings left. Mike Watts (3-31) and Brendan Pope (2-18 in 8 overs) were the visitors’ most successful bowlers.

Webb struck early with the ball when Wembdon replied and Strand gave Timsbury hope with a spell of 3-18 in his eight overs but an undefeated  33 from Jack Lowe, well supported by Tom Lott (23) and Aaron Rees (20), saw the Bridgwater side home with just over three overs to spare.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury are still looking for their first win after promotion to the West of England Premier League (Bristol and North Somerset) following a 108-run defeat away to Congresbury. The home side’s total of 256-8 always looked a step too far for Timsbury who are still waiting for one of their batsman to go and on make a substantial contribution.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat Congresbury got off to a solid start with captain Justin Yau and Neil Frost putting on 55 for the first wicket before Neil Hucker initiated a double breakthrough dismissing Frost for 21 and Lloyd Richardson without scoring. Sam Hoddinott again bowled a miserly spell for Timsbury conceding just 19 in his 10 overs but Yau and Mike Edmunds took the score to 148 before Yau fell to Steve Clothier for 68. Useful knocks from Edmunds (48), Jack Richardson (31 not out) and Jack Kearns (26) took the home side to their challenging total with Clothier (3-63) Timsbury’s most successful bowler.

Timsbury got off to the worst possible start losing Adam Brinkworth early on and despite 29 from Mark Sage and breezy knocks from Jack Williams (35) and Jesse Bishop (25) the visitors never seriously threatened. Richardson capped a good all-round display with 3-32 with Sam Evans taking 3-26.

Timsbury’s second team are also looking for their first win after going down by just six runs at home to Taveners in the Bristol and District League Division 7. The visitors were in trouble early on but were indebted to an unbeaten century from Neil Amos which took them to 183-9. James Rawlings bowled well to take 4-32. Neil Hulford (37), Adam Workman (35), Rob Clothier (27) and Andy Carter (20) kept Timsbury in touch and Greg Passingham, who everyone at the club was pleased to see back in action, almost saw the team home with an unbeaten 26.

Star billing in the club went to the third eleven who won by 137 runs away to St Mary Redcliffe 3^rd XI. Matt Ball led the way with 124, skipper Ashley Davis made 51, Joe Kinnear hit 39 and Lee Hulbert 28. Their total of 285-9 was far too many for the home side who were all out for  148. Captain Davis was delighted to announce that all the bowlers used were under 18 with the promising Kinnear, who is also pleasingly back playing after a serious accident last season, taking 3-7 in eight overs. There were also three wickets for Josh Blanchard.

Malcolm Tucker