Heavy overnight rain saw Timsbury’s home fixture with Claverham (Yatton) in the Bristol and District League Senior Division delayed for 90 minutes but once proceedings got under way the home side soon made up for lost time eventually winning the 32-over match by seven wickets.

After electing to bat first Claverham were soon put under early pressure by the opening attack of Kev Sibley and Sam Hoddinott. But while Sibley kept it tight at one end it was Hoddinott who made the vital breakthroughs taking 3-27 in his seven overs, including the influential Dominic Hooper who he bowled with a top delivery. Teenager Joe Kinnear came on as first change bowler and in an excellent spell took 4-9 aided by an outstanding catch from Graeme Webb running back. Skipper Jon Strand cleaned up the tail taking three wickets for 11 and the visitors were dismissed for 82 in just over 29 overs.

Hooper posed a constant threat when Timsbury replied removing both Greg Passingham and Gary Pearcy but Mark Sage held the innings together in his usual positive style and finished unbeaten on 44 as Timsbury claimed a crucial victory with plenty to spare.

It was also a good day for Timsbury seconds who kept up the pressure on the leaders in the Bristol and District League Division 6 with a 91-run win away to Whitchurch seconds. Batting first Timsbury totalled 206-7 in the 30-over match with Adam Workman leading the way with 62. James Rawlings struck 29 and  skipper Ben Hosford 24 with lots of other useful contributions down the order. Timsbury’s total was never seriously threatened and Whitchurch finished on 115-6 with Martin Peters their top scorer on 33. All the visiting bowlers recorded economical figures with Neil Hucker’s 2-19 the best effort.

Malcolm Tucker

For the second time this season Timsbury came up well short against Bradley Stoke in the Bristol and District League Senior Division losing on their opponent’s ground by 109 runs. Chasing a large total of 276-8 the visitors made a good start in reply but after reaching 66-0 they then proceeded to lose six wickets for just 18 runs and altogether in the chase no fewer than  six batsmen failed to trouble the scorers.

After electing to bat first Bradley Stoke lost the influential Tom Laver early on to the bowling of Kev Sibley but despite economical bowling from Sibley and Sam Hoddinott the home side made steady progress. Knocks of 72 from Owen Onslow, 52 from Ash Baber and 42 from Anthony Beaven put them in a strong position. There were three wickets each for Greg Passingham and Graeme Webb but the visitors struggled to keep a tight hold on the innings.

A new opening partnership of Sibley and Passingham gave Timsbury the perfect base to challenge the total but after Passingham (37) and Sibley (22) departed in quick succession the innings fell apart and in no time Timsbury were 84-6. A typically breezy knock of 34 from Paul Cracknell, who was playing his first match in the senior side this season, brought some joy to the innings and it was good to see wicketkeeper Adam Brinkworth reach his top score of the campaign. After Timsbury had sunk to 121-9 Brinkworth added 46 for the last wicket with Hoddinott before he was dismissed for 34. Hoddinott finished unbeaten on 17. Daniel Qureshi did most of the damage for the home side with figures of 5-40.

There was a blow for the club’s second eleven in their quest for promotion from the Bristol and District League Division 6 when their home game with Almondsbury had to be cancelled but the third team kept up the pressure in the Bristol and District League Division 14 with a clinical 10-wicket win away to Frenchay 4^th XI. Ellie Donaldson held the home innings together with a well constructed knock of 40 but a fine spell of bowling from Neil Hulford, who took 5-13 in 7 overs, saw Frenchay dismissed for 131. There was also two wickets for Matt Ball. Will Rawlings and captain Laurie Jones then made light of the chase knocking off the runs in just over 17 overs. Rawlings finished undefeated on 65 and Jones was 53 not out.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury produced a top team performance to defeat Pak Bristolians by seven wickets at home in the Bristol and District League Senior Division. It was a game that the village side dominated from start to finish and saw them amass a healthy 20 points with the visitors claiming just one.

Timsbury’s opening bowlers Kev Sibley and Sam Hoddinott  set the bar early on and captain Jon Strand was able to give each of them their full allotment of eight overs without a break. Sibley conceded just 11 runs with one wicket while Hoddinott took 2-22. Teenager Joe Kinnear then took three crucial wickets in his best spell for the senior team to finish with 3-30 while Greg Passingham kept up the pressure at the other end conceding just 19 runs from his eight overs. The Bristol side were never able to gain control and the innings was wrapped up with one wicket for Steve Clothier and a late haul of 3-8 for Strand. Subhan Razaq (39) and Bilal Butt (30) were the only Pak Bristolian batsmen to challenge the home stranglehold.

Chasing the modest total Timsbury suffered an early blow when opener Mark Sage was bowled for four but a crucial partnership between Passingham and Gary Pearcy settled the nerves. When Passingham was dismissed Jack Williams carried on the good work alongside an increasingly confident Pearcy and when he was out for a hard hitting 25 the job was nearly done. It was appropriate that Pearcy hit the winning run and at the same time brought up an excellent half century in arguably his most responsible innings for the club.

Timsbury 2^nd XI kept up the pressure at the top of the Bristol and District League Division 6 with a comprehensive nine-wicket win away to Knowle 3^rd XI. After being invited to bat first Knowle got off to excellent start through openers Lewis (54) and Marshall (29) but once they had gone the innings subsided with three wickets each for Dave Nowell and Dan Hill and two for Zak Cox. Frustratingly Timsbury were unable to get the final wicket with Knowle ending on 126-9. Timsbury wasted no time in chasing the target with a confident opening stand between skipper Ben Hosford and Dan Hill. When Hill was out for 32 the skipper was joined by the in-form Paul Cracknell who battered the bowling with a swashbuckling undefeated 53 and with Hosford finishing 32 not  out the visitors coasted home after just 16 overs.

To complete a good day for the club the 3^rd XI won by five wickets in a low scoring game away to Clevedon 4^th XI in the Bristol and District League Division 14. The home side were dismissed for 83 with Josh Bond-Kendall leading the way with 4-20 and Liam Hosford capturing 3-15. Timsbury lost three early wickets in reply but captain Laurie Jones and Ben Smith took control and after Jones was out for 26 Smith saw his team home with an excellent knock of 45 not out.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury came up well short against runaway Bristol and District Cricket League Senior Division leaders Bedminster 2^nd XI and were beaten by six wickets at home in the last match of the first half of the season. A total of 105 was never going to be enough to test the Bristol side although Timsbury did manage to take four wickets and gain two bonus points.

Having elected to bat first Timsbury made a steady start and Mark Sage and Adam Brinkworth looked confident in an opening stand of 27. After the latter was bowled the innings fell apart with the only bright spot being another encouraging innings from Jesse Bishop. He finished 25 not out before eventually running out of partners. Harry Drissell was the main destroyer taking 5-29 in an impressive nine-over spell.

The visitors’ reply was held together by experienced opener Mark Coombes who hit an undefeated 59. Greg Passingham continued his wicket taking season with a late spell of 2-8 and was close to achieving a hat-trick with Tom Pugsley and Bailey Peacock going in successive balls.

There was much better news of the other two Timsbury league sides. The 2^nd XI were set a challenging total of 210-9 away to Bristol United Banks in the Bristol and District Cricket League Division 6 but they made light of the target and took just over 26 overs to wrap up an eight wicket win. A superb opening stand of 182 between Adam Workman (87) and Dan Hill (81) set up the victory with Gary Pearcy and Joe Kinnear finishing the job off. Earlier Hill had also been Timsbury’s most successful bowler with figures of 4-35 while there was a brace for Oli Hulbert and Steve Clothier. Vipul Sharma and Bilal Raja both scored 59 for the home side.

Timsbury 3^rd XI went up to second place in the Bristol and District Cricket League Division 14 after a convincing seven-wicket win away to Carsons and Mangotsfield 3^rd XI. Batting first the home side were dismissed for 154 with Russell King bowling an outstanding spell of 3-8 in his eight miserly overs. There were also three wickets for Seb Nix who finished with 3-16. Opener Will Rawlings then dominated the Timsbury reply with an undefeated 70 and with skipper Laurie Jones contributing 35 the visitors came home with plenty to spare.

Malcolm Tucker

Another solid all round display saw Timsbury notch up a notable 15-run win away to Clevedon 2^nd XI in the Bristol and District League Senior Division. After a slow start to the season it sees them move up to fourth place in the table.

Timsbury’s total of 200 again owed much to a crucial mid-order partnership between Graeme Webb and Kev Sibley. When Jack Williams was dismissed for a lively 23 the visitors had slipped to 66-4 but Webb and Sibley added 69 with the in-form Webb going on to make a typically hard hitting 68 with eight fours and six sixes. Useful contributions from Jesse Bishop and Neil Hucker saw Timsbury claim their fourth bonus point before they were dismissed with one ball remaining of their 45 overs. There were three wickets each for Jack Banks and Connor Crane.

When Clevedon replied Sibley made an early breakthrough but the home side then took control and at  93-1 were very much in the driving seat. Hucker broke the partnership bowling Oliver Wilson for 37 and although Crane was to make 78 Hucker and Greg Passingham kept up the pressure as Clevedon lost wickets at regular intervals. Hucker finished with 3-35 and Passingham 3-49 while Webb finished with two late wickets. There was also notable assistance from wicketkeeper Adam Brinkworth who had an excellent day behind the stumps and who claimed the important scalps of Crane and Bachelor.

Timsbury 2^nd XI came back to form with a three-wicket win at home to Patchway in the Bristol and District League Division 6 . The visitors set a challenging total of 199-6 with Matthew Williams making 84 and Dnyanesh Karmarkar 55. The home side shared the wickets but there was a notable milestone for former captain Steve Clothier who was making his first appearance of the season and who claimed his 500^th victim for the club since Play Cricket records began.

Adam Workman supplied a solid base to the reply with 44 before Paul Cracknell again provided the fireworks with seven fours and three3 sixes in his lively 54. Captain Ben Hosford almost saw his side home with an important 28 but in the end it was left to Joe Kinnear (27), Zak Cox (18 not out ) and Clothier (15 not out) to finish the job off.

Acting captain Neil Hulford led Timsbury 3^rd XI to a four-wicket win at home to Hambrook 3^rd XI in the Bristol and District League Division 14. Chasing a total of 159 Timsbury had slipped to 58-4 but Hulford’s 55 and an undefeated 31 from Matt Brown secured the victory. Earlier Connor Harris had been the home side’s most successful bowler with 3-23.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury recovered from another indifferent start to ultimately run out comfortable 29-run winners at home to Shirehampton in the Bristol and District League Senior Division. From 74-5 Timsbury did well to reach 211 and by the end the visitors were content to bat for bonus points.

After electing to bat first the home side lost three early wickets but opener Mark Sage battled through against some testing bowling and in partnership with Kev Sibley took the score to 74 before Sage was caught immediately after reaching a well deserved 50. The in-form Graeme Webb followed him straight away and Timsbury looked in trouble. Sibley was then joined by Jesse Bishop, however, and the two of them transformed the home side’s fortunes.

Timing the ball beautifully Bishop played one of his best innings for the club and with Sibley doing what he does best and adding solid support, the pair added a rapid 95 runs. Like Sage, Bishop reached an excellent 50 before departing immediately. Captain Jon Strand struck a quick 22 and Sibley was last man out for another crucial knock of 36. Danny Conway (3-26) was Shirehampton’s most successful bowler.

When the visitors replied they were soon in trouble but from 5-2 they recovered thanks to a partnership of 73 between Gareth Nicholls  and Dhanush Thiagaraj before Neil Hucker removed the latter for 37. Greg Passingham dismissed the dangerous Nicholls for 46 and bowled Rogers for 0 as Timsbury took a stranglehold on the match. Shirehampton declined to 134-7 but visiting captain Stillwell remained defiant and ushered his team to 182-7 at the close. There were two wickets each for Sibley, Hucker and Passingham.

Timsbury seconds came out on the wrong side of a high quality match away to Bristol Pakistanis seconds losing by 33 runs in the Bristol and District League Division 6. The home side rattled up an imposing  244-5 with young Oli Hulbert again bowling well to take 3-30. Timsbury made a spirited reply and when Dan Hill and Gary Pearcy were together the target looked well in sight. When the two were dismissed in quick succession, Hill for 73 and Pearcy for 30 the effort stalled and despite a rapid 41 from Rob Clothier Timsbury came up short.

Malcolm Tucker

For the second time in three days Timsbury had the better of Keynsham 2^nd XI with a 31-run home win in the Bristol and District League Senior Division. It followed a win in the Somerset Cup competition.

After a slow start to the present campaign Timsbury have now notched up two successive victories and like the previous Saturday it was largely based on a solid batting performance. Mark Sage(33) and Sol Thompson (32) gave the innings a good base and then later on Graeme Webb joined Kev Sibley to push Timsbury past the 200 mark. Webb was in particularly sparkling form hitting four sixes in his knock of 59 with Sibley contributing an invaluable 33. Ryan Evans (3-40) was Keynsham’s most successful bowler.

Neil Hucker made early inroads when the visitors batted and recorded outstanding figures of 4-11 from his nine overs. Mark Branton was the mainstay of the Keynsham innings with an undefeated 79 but a spell of three wickets in two overs from Jesse Bishop, at the point when Keynsham looked in with a real chance, tied up the game. Evans built a partnership with Branton to deny Timsbury full bowling points but the home side were well satisfied with the 31 run win.

Timsbury second XI had a comprehensive nine-wicket win away to previously unbeaten league leaders Pucklechurch in the Bristol and District League Division 6. The home side were bowled out for 93 in just over 26 overs with the damage done by the club’s promising young brigade. Ollie Hulbert again impressed with figures of 4-35, Joe Kinnear took 2-7, Seb Nix 2-12 and Zak Cox 2-21. Captain Ben Hosford and Adam Workman then came close to knocking the runs off by  themselves before Hosford was dismissed for 43. Workman finished unbeaten on 39 with Dave Nowell joining him to finish the job off.

To complete a good day for the club Timsbury 3^rd XI were six-wicket winners at home to Frenchay 4^th XI in the Bristol and District League Division 14. Frenchay were dismissed for 121 with the chairman’s son Liam Hosford leading the way with 3-20 with Neil Hulford taking 2-18. A fine innings of 54 from Will Rawlings led the successful response with good support from Matt Ball (23), Ben Smith (18 not out) and George Webb (14).

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury’s league season is up and running after a fine all-round performance saw them win by 93 runs away to Claverham (Yatton) in the Bristol and District League Senior Division. It was the only fixture in their division to survive the elements and Timsbury took full advantage to secure their first league success of the present campaign.

After being put in to bat the visitors lost an early wicket but Mark Sage and Sol Thompson then steadied the ship with a partnership of 76 before Thompson, who impressed after stepping up from the seconds, was dismissed for 16. Sage followed soon after for 53 and when Jack Williams was out for 14 the innings was in the balance at 107-4.

Former Dyrham and Hinton team mates Kev Sibley and Graeme Webb then came together to stabilise the challenge with a crucial partnership of 81 before Sibley was bowled for 30. Webb continued to reach a well deserved half-century and after he was bowled for 52 Timsbury progressed to 223-8 in the 43 over match. Richard Carpenter recorded the best bowling figures with 3-27 in his four overs.

Claverham made  a steady start in reply and had reached 53 before their second wicket fell. Sibley followed up his batting effort by conceding just 15 runs in his nine overs and when Neil Hucker took two quick wickets the rot set in. Dominic Hooper did his best to hold the innings together but when he was seventh out for 47 the end soon came. Webb cleaned up the tail to follow his 52 with figures of 4-15.

Timsbury will be hoping to capitalise on this first win on Saturday when they welcome local rivals Keynsham seconds to the Recreation Field.

Malcolm Tucker

Timsbury are still searching for their first league win of the season after being well beaten at home to Bradley Stoke in the Bristol and District League Senior Division. The visitors were dismissed for  217 in the last over of their innings but Timsbury were a sorry 88-7 when heavy rain brought a premature end to proceedings with Bradley Stoke winners on run rate.

The visitors’ innings was held together by opener Tom Laver who hit 83 before he was sixth man out with the score on 160. Joe Coles boosted the total late on with an undefeated 31 against a disappointingly lacklustre Timsbury side. Graeme Webb was the home side’s most successful bowler with 4-48 and there were two wickets each for Sam Hoddinott (2-32) , Greg Passingham (2-48) and Jon Strand who took the last Bradley Stoke wickets in their final over to claim full bowling points.

The Timsbury innings never got going. Mark Sage, Adam Brinkworth and Jack Williams were all back under the gazebo with just 10 on the board. When Webb followed soon after Timsbury were 21-4. Kev Sibley and Jesse Bishop mounted a mini recovery but their stand came to a close on 60 and when the rain came the home side were facing another heavy loss. Bishop (19) and Gary Pearcy with an undefeated 19 were top scorers. Dan Peters with 4-30 was the most successful Bradley Stoke bowler.

There was much better news of Timsbury’s second team who notched their first win of the season with an 86 run victory away to Almondsbury seconds in Division 6 of the Bristol and District League. The star of the show was Sol Thompson who struck a superb 111 in the Timsbury challenge of 244-8. His knock included 18 fours and two sixes and he was well supported by Paul Cracknell (35), Dan Hill (27) and Joe KInnear (23). The home side were never in reach of the total but they proved defiant  and after their 40 overs were a mere 158-5 with half centuries for Walker and Phillips. Opening bowlers Ollie Hulbert and Matt Brown both took two wickets and there was a miserly spell from Dave Nowell who bowled his eight overs for just 13 runs.

Malcolm Tucker

It was a disappointing start to the new league cricket season for Timsbury Cricket Club with defeats for all three teams. There was a huge gulf in the margins of defeat, however, with the first team losing by ten wickets at home to Frenchay but the third team going down by just four runs at home to Chipping Sodbury fourths.

The senior side were outplayed by a strong Frenchay outfit who had been relegated from the West of England Premier League alongside Timsbury in 2019. Having elected to bat first the home side lost Mark Sage in the first over and thereafter it was a catalogue of dismissals against a potent Bristol attack. Gary Pearcy and captain Jon Strand who both made 18 and vice-captain Adam Brinkworth (17) were the only batsmen to reach double figures as Timsbury were shot out for 78.

Eddie Williams (4-25) and Chare Smith (3-10) were the most successful of the visitors’ bowlers.  To rub salt in the wounds Reece Bevan (48 not out) and Mike Donaldson (28 not out) saw Frenchay home for a ten wicket win in less than 13 overs.

An innings of 151 not out from opener Roshan Perera was the deciding factor in the second team’s 57 run defeat away to Bristol Sri Lankans 1^st XI. He played a  fine innings but Timsbury will rue a number of fielding errors that proved costly. In an innings of 267-5 young Timsbury bowler Zak Cox can hold his head high with figures of 1-21 from his eight overs. After losing two early wickets Sol Thompson (73) and Dan Hill (65) came together to give the seconds hope but a mid-order collapse saw them eventually finish well short.

Timsbury thirds were happy to bowl out Chipping Sodbury fourths for 137 at the school ground. Chairman’s son Freddie Hosford led the way with fine figures of 2-14 from  his seven overs and  Matt Bryant took 2-21 from his allotment. Dave Nowell led the response with 28 but a spell of 5-19 from Mike Pearson proved crucial as Timsbury slipped to a four run defeat.

Malcolm Tucker