Warwickshire Bears V South Wales Dragons

Warwickshire Bears V South Wales Dragons BCEW League, Redditch

BCEW LEAGUE RECORDS FIRST WIN IN REDDITCH

Sunday July 2nd 2006

Report by Alan Humphries, WCCVI Vice-Captain

Another hot day in the Midlands saw the opening of the Bear’s League campaign against Dragons following the Welsh victory in the Cup 24 hours earlier. A change of venue saw this match take place in Redditch with all to play for in the League.

Dragons lost the toss again and were again asked to bat and they got off to a quicker start than they had the previous day with some aggressive batting from Toby Warren (26) and Keryn Seal (16). This was followed by another fine innings from Corrigan bludgeoning 65 before he was brilliantly caught on the boundary by Paul Powers. Where the Bear still suffering from the day before following some indifferent bowling and sloppy fielding or could they pull it around? A mid innings rollicking from Captain Griffiths saw a much improved bowling and fielding performance with Dragons being bowled out for 177 in exactly 30 overs with Lee taking 3 for 11 and Sugg 4 for 35 backed up by four stunning catches by that catching machine Foy!

A quick turn around saw the Bears chasing 178 to win the match and take full points, more runs than needed the day before but in exactly the same amount of overs. Could lightning strike twice in one weekend as in Swansea a couple of years ago? The Dragons must have thought it a possibility when Andy Powers perished for a golden duck to Corrigan but, this time, it wasn’t to be. A majestic 86 not our from that man Foy with shots all round the wicket, 44 from Paul Powers and 12 not out from Gav Griffiths saw the hosts home with just under 16 overs to spare and full points taken from our first League game.

So, the first win in the BCEW League goes to WCCVI by 8 wickets with your correspondent overhearing a most interesting conversation between some Dragons players in the drinks break commenting that, of course, this wasn’t really a defeat! Let me just say this – as everyone knows their hasn’t all ways been a great history between our two clubs (and, on the whole, this weekend was played in a great spirit which kept Pete Sugg’s blood pressure down!) but, if you don’t win, draw or tie a game of cricket, then you’ve lost it! Dragons deserved their victory in the semi-final for playing better and not giving up. Likewise, in the League, we deserved ours. Let’s not hide behind the fact that when the Dragons lost the Cup Final last year, the League became their primary focus, as it is now with us – it’s funny how a year can seem a long time in Blind Cricket! Good luck at Lords guys!

	Bears V Dragons Scorecard
	Warwickshire Bears V South Wales Dragons BCEW League, Redditch BCEW LEAGUE RECORDS FIRST WIN IN REDDITCH Sunday July 2nd 2006 Report by Alan Humphries, WCCVI Vice-Captain Another hot day in the Midlands saw the opening of the Bear’s League campaign against Dragons following the Welsh victory in the Cup 24 hours earlier. A change of venue saw this match take place in Redditch with all to play for in the League. Dragons lost the toss again and were again asked to bat and they got off to a quicker start than they had the previous day with some aggressive batting from Toby Warren (26) and Keryn Seal (16). This was followed by another fine innings from Corrigan bludgeoning 65 before he was brilliantly caught on the boundary by Paul Powers. Where the Bear still suffering from the day before following some indifferent bowling and sloppy fielding or could they pull it around? A mid innings rollicking from Captain Griffiths saw a much improved bowling and fielding performance with Dragons being bowled out for 177 in exactly 30 overs with Lee taking 3 for 11 and Sugg 4 for 35 backed up by four stunning catches by that catching machine Foy! A quick turn around saw the Bears chasing 178 to win the match and take full points, more runs than needed the day before but in exactly the same amount of overs. Could lightning strike twice in one weekend as in Swansea a couple of years ago? The Dragons must have thought it a possibility when Andy Powers perished for a golden duck to Corrigan but, this time, it wasn’t to be. A majestic 86 not our from that man Foy with shots all round the wicket, 44 from Paul Powers and 12 not out from Gav Griffiths saw the hosts home with just under 16 overs to spare and full points taken from our first League game. So, the first win in the BCEW League goes to WCCVI by 8 wickets with your correspondent overhearing a most interesting conversation between some Dragons players in the drinks break commenting that, of course, this wasn’t really a defeat! Let me just say this – as everyone knows their hasn’t all ways been a great history between our two clubs (and, on the whole, this weekend was played in a great spirit which kept Pete Sugg’s blood pressure down!) but, if you don’t win, draw or tie a game of cricket, then you’ve lost it! Dragons deserved their victory in the semi-final for playing better and not giving up. Likewise, in the League, we deserved ours. Let’s not hide behind the fact that when the Dragons lost the Cup Final last year, the League became their primary focus, as it is now with us – it’s funny how a year can seem a long time in Blind Cricket! Good luck at Lords guys!