Happy New Year from Bowden CC
Dear Bowden CC player / member / supporter
Happy New Year. Midwinter has just passed, the days are (slowly) lengthening and England are collapsing as usual. Hence it is time for thoughts to turn to cricket...
As you may well know, 2019 was a superb season for the club. After more than ten seasons of trying, the first team finally achieved promotion from Northamptonshire League Division Four. This was secured with three weeks of the season remaining with victory at Raunds, then a thumping win against nearest rivals Overstone Park II guaranteed the title the following week. Highlights of the campaign include the consistent run-plundering of next year’s captain Fran Finnemore, the parsimonious bowling of club stalwarts Sam Freer and Steve Bellamy, and all-rounder Josh Bott’s hard-hitting and quick bowling.
Fergus Kenny’s second team were genuinely unfortunate to miss out on their second consecutive promotion. They finished third in Northamptonshire League Division Seven but won convincingly against both promoted sides and would most likely have gone up had not the weather intervened, causing the cancellation of matches against weaker sides when their nearest rivals played and picked up points. The captain himself was steady with the bat, but Rob Gomez was player of the season, impressing with both bat and ball. Promising juniors also featured prominently, boding well for the future.
Once again the women’s side, the Bowden Pinks, swept all before them winning the Northamptonshire Last Woman Stands competition for the second season in a row. To the forefront were Collette Wale and Flora England with both bat and ball, who also represented the league sides with success.
Elsewhere the highlights have included the opening of new nets at the railway line end of the ground, providing a much truer surface and a better sight picture for practice. The junior sections of the club have gone from strength to strength, including a well-attended programme of All Stars Cricket in high summer. And the season culminated in an expertly organised annual dinner at the Three Swans.
Pre-season nets for 2020 have already been booked so players, please put the following dates in your diary (and note the different venues). Seniors: Tuesday evenings 2000-2145 at Welland Park Academy, 03 to 31 March inclusive. Juniors: Friday evenings 1800-2000 at Robert Smyth Academy, 13 March to 03 April inclusive.
We look forward to seeing you in the new season.
Bowden CC.