The square and outfield looked amazing. Is there a better place to be than Clumber on a sunny first day of the season? Wardy et al, you can be immensely proud! Still, it was April and there was a bit of moisture about so it looked like being an important toss. Worksop won and stuck us in to bat. Ed Foulds opened with Chris Mather, who, after his majestic 70 off about 40 balls in the last game of last season, had recently been voted Man Of The Year in 'Hot Farmers Monthly' magazine. Anyway, after a bright start he fell first with the score 16. Ed and Dave Beard battled through the new ball and started to put us in a dominant position. (Are those last two words appropriate coming so soon after mention of 'Hot Farmers Monthly'? Yes, dear readers, anything goes in a victorious match report!

Dave (28) fell after an excellent stand of 71 and we lost James Davies quite soon after. However, Simon Bingham (11) added a further 59 with Ed for the 4th wicket. By this stage Ed was playing some imperious shots and we were all desperate for him to get to the elusive three figures after 3 near misses last year. Sure enough, he made it and a measure of this outstanding young man is that I genuinely think every single one of his team mates were as chuffed at him getting there as he was himself. Well done Ed, brilliant stuff! He finally fell for a stupendous 101 with the score on 192. Tim Foulds (an excellent 29 not out) and Mark Dean (11) added 32 in the final overs as we posted a score of 234-6, which we were delighted with having been put in to bat.

Years from now if there's a quiz question that asks 'who were the opening bowling attack in Clumber's first ever Championship fixture?’ I'm not sure many will remember that it was Jasper Dennison and Mark Dean! Jasper bowled some cracking balls without luck, but Mark managed to dismiss Chris Taylor thanks to a one handed Zak Berridge catch! Worksop rebuilt dangerously though and reached 90-1 before Tim (in an excellent 10 over spell of 3-33) had Hogan caught in the deep for 59 by Jasper who took a well judged catch. Hayden Cox and Zak Berridge had both bowled nice spells but without luck, and we were shuffling the pack a little as Ben Perkins had been poorly earlier and was unable to bowl. Som up stepped Ed to churn out 10 overs taking 2-56. That boy should sleep well tonight!!! Throughout all of this, Worksop were starting to find the short boundary and were in the ascendancy through Wicks (66). With the game in the balance and the visitors on 191-7, Mark prised out Wicks to see us regain the upper hand. Zak (1-38) came back and picked up a deserved wicket with Mark finishing with 3-21 as Worksop came up short on 216.

A cracking opening game and a really good team effort. Partnerships with the bat, bowling as a unit and great spirit and effort in the field. Well done boys! Special mention for Simon Bingham who despite taking a nasty blow on the arm while batting, threw himself about in the field like a man possessed! What a brilliant example to all our young lads!
Thanks to Don for scoring and all the wonderful supporters who came down, and an extra special thanks to Chairman Mike Beard for helping out before the game and during.

So the 1sts start with a win and the day gets better when we come off the field and hear the 2nds have won in the last over to make it a 40 point day! We went for a celebratory pint in the Top House and life felt good! I'll sign off with a quote of the day from Mike Cox in this exchange in the pub where we were discussing middle-aged fitness:
Rhys: "Are you still doing the Park Run Mike?"
Mike: Park Run? Are you joking? I can barely park my car..."
Brilliant...