4 games in 7 days made for a busy week for the U15s with league games, friendlies and that all important revenge match against Normandy who beat us in the season opener.

First up - Guildford Titans on Sunday 16th June, the second league game of the season. A rather wet outfield but finally some sunshine and a reasonable track that had been under covers for 48hrs.

Guildford Titans won the toss and elected to Bowl. Elstead were trying out a new openign partnership in "DJ" - Daniel and Jacob. They got off to a fine start with an opening partnership of 41 before Jacob departed on 18. A great base for the team to build on. He was followed by Daniel who scored 22. A few short cameo's and then Soothill and Croft put on a partnership of 46 to give us a total of 124 and a strong target for the opposition to face. Soothill finished on 19 and Croft on 27no - another sterling effort from Marco who, at the time of writing this, was showing an average of 113 on play cricket!

A short break and the usual destruction of 300 biscuits and we were back out there enjoying the tropical conditions. a good total but still one that needed careful management in the field. With such a gifted bowling attack (pace, swing, leg and off-spin), the skipper (Daniel) had plenty of options at his disposal. I'm glad to say that everyone walked away from the party with a balloon - or a wicket. Two wickets for Kit, Henry, Daniel and one each for Finn and Jacob. However, bowling figures of the day go to Danny Jowett who stepped in at the 11th hour when we needed a player. He had figures of 2/4 off 3 balls! including a clean bowled on his first delivery. So, victory to Elstead and a much needed 4 points putting us back into a mid-table position.

Fast forward 36hrs and we were back out there, this time on the road against Normandy - a notoriously good side and a place that has more mosquitos then Thursley road on a hot summers night :(

This was the quarter-final of the cup and a team that had comfortably beaten us in the first league game of the season. Normandy won the toss and put us into bat - probably still fresh in their minds that last time around we struggled to post 60 odd runs. They hadn't realised this was the Elstead U15's 2.0 - new and improved with various bugs and teething issues ironed out.

"DJ" opened again building a solid partnership of c30 odd before Daniel retired out having faced his 20 balls (this was the Hundred format) and scoring 26 including 2x6's. Jacob followed shortly having set his team on the way. Marco kept the scoreboard ticking with his characteristic quick running between the wickets. A mini collapse somewhere in the middle and we needed someone to make an impact in the middle order - step up Kit Jowett who hit 26 (including 2x4's and 2x6's) before being controversially given out by the umpire LBW (sorry about that Kit - it had been a long day at work!). All of a sudden it felt like a 100 might be a real ask when at one point we were cruising way beyond that. That's where you really need all your batters to contribute and that is exactly what we got from Harry RS, Finn and Ollie Ryder - their valuable 23 combined runs helped set a solid total and give our bowlers a cushion - included in that was a nice edge for 4 for Harry RS and a text book pull shot from Ryder for 4 - those leg-side batting training drills are paying off!

A quick turnaround and Elstead were raring to go - this really is an accomplished bowling team with everyone capable of making an impact - We started with a deadly concotion of spin and pace that just didn't allow Normandy to get any foot hold in the game. That and a super energised, sharp field meant Normandy quickly found themselves 6/3 and then 12/4. Our bowling was characterised by wickets but also great economy that frustrated the opposition and built pressure leading to some desperate hitting out that eventually (!) found the safe haven of an Elstead fielder. Some smart captaincy, vice captaincy, vice/vice captaincy, fielding captaincy - everyone was a leader and, as Gareth Southgate would say, so much togetherness in the field!

Normandy fought back a little from what looked like a dead and buried game - at one point we had them 37/8 and they eventually posted a total of 77 - we must make sure we close games out but, don't take anything away, this was a great performance, a huge confidence builder and thoroughly deserved. Our players were also first class in how they celebrated their victory and respected the opposition. Notable mention on the bowling front to Henry Neal (3/11 off 4 overs) and Sam Shaw Allen (1/8 off 4 overs) - proving its not just wickets but killing the run rate builds pressure and wins games. A MOM performance to Kit Jowett for his 26 with the bat and bowling figures of 3/7 off 4 overs - great effort having come back from a niggling injury.

a great performance - up next Chiuddingfold (friendly) and Grayshott in the league on Sunday 23rd June - keep up the good work boys!