TIGERS WHO HAVE SEEN ACTION THIS WEEK

A couple of the Tigers have reported they've seen action in the field this week for other sides.

The notable performance of the week was from Cam Newton-Grain who took to the field on Saturday for Magdelen College School against The Oratory School (near Reading). In a devastating spell, Cam distinguished himself with 5-0-17-5.

 Cam Newton-Grain 5-0-17-3 for Magdelen College School

Well done Cam. Great bowling mate.

Baz Floyd also saw action on Tuesday 29 May in a evening T20 for our mates, The Richard Denner XI against Chris Tarratt's Heinemann.  

After putting in a decent shift in the field, Floyd fell victim to Oxfordshire Ladies' CC Beth Lewis. Bowled for just six runs. Chasing a very decent Heinemann score of 142, the Denner XI ran out of overs mustering 97-6 off their allotted 20.

 Baz Floyd - just six runs for Richard Denner XI v Heinemann CC

A great game played in good spirit and it was fantastic to see mates from the Richard Denner XI and Heinemann CC.

That's it for the moment but if any of you other Tigers have been in the field this week, do let me know how you got on and I'll get you up on the blog.

TIGERS WHO HAVE SEEN ACTION THIS WEEK

We love playing for SpecialEffect Tigers, right?

Well some of our players take to the cricket field for other teams as well. Honestly, they do.

So in this weekly feature throughout the summer, I'm going to be collecting information on Tigers who have played for their club sides and other friendly teams and let you know how they did.

If you want to feature, don't be shy. Just email me who you were playing for, who you were playing against, your personal performance stats, the result etc. Or, if you lost, you can leave out the result.

In action this week have been two of our young Tigers: Robbie Nicholson and Cameron Newton-Grain.

Robbie Nicholson

Robbie took to the field for his club side, Combe 1sts, last Saturday against Chipping Norton.

Top-scoring with 31, our Tiger also put in a respectable bowling performance with 9-0-39-0.

Robbie Nicholson - 31 with the bat, 9-0-39-0 for Combe 1sts

Cameron Newton-Grain

Cam turned out for Charlbury CC under 15's against an incredibly strong Great Tew side.

In a midweek evening game, Cam chipped in with 7 not out with the bat and turned in 3-1-16-0 with the ball.

Cam Newton-Grain - 7 not out and 3-1-16-0 for Charlbury CC under 15's

Good effort lads. Let us know how you get on next week.

SPECIALEFFECT WEEKLY UPDATE

Every weekend our mate Mark Saville sends me a weekly update on what's been going on in the world of SpecialEffect. For some reason, best put down to old age and failing eyesight, I completely missed his email last Friday. Sorry Mark!

So instead of ending your week on a high lets just make sure this one gets off to a fantastic start. 

In this week's update you can read about a fantastic little lad called JJ who Dr Mick has been helping as part of Stargaze +, the latest defeat of the SpecialEffect Tigers and a sponsored Aunt Sally league ... yep, it could only happen at SpecialEffect. 

Click below or cut and paste the link into your browser to read all about it ...

SpecialEffect Update

http://www.specialeffect.org.uk/pages/news104.htm

Oh, and you can see that picture of John and Chris Grain doing their Jack Wills models 'thing' again. 

 

MEET OUR NEW TREASURER

I'm delighted (and relieved) to unveil our new SpecialEffect Tigers Treasurer, James Floyd.

James isn't a keen cricketer but wanted to do a bit of voluntary work for us. So, being a bean-counter by profession, he's agreed to take over recording the Tigers income and expenditure as well as chasing outstanding match fees.

James will send out treasury reports and make sure penny is accounted for. You will also see him at Tigers matches from now on ... he'll have his little book and will approach you for money. Don't worry, he's not aggressive ... well not very aggressive anyway.

Seriously, he's quite a nice chap and Chris Grain and I really appreciate being relieved of dealing with the dosh.

Amongst his interests, James lists Arsenal FC, bodybuilding/taking steroids (that he claims are protein shakes) and general cynicism.   

James will post his first Treasury Report as soon as we receive the invoice for hiring the Monoghan Way pitch for the Witney RFC game.  

WITNEY RFC AMBUSH THE AMBUSH

The Ambush line up against Witney RFC

(Standing l-r: Stuart Duff, Mick Donegan, Chris Grain, Geoff Hoare, Cam Newton-Grain, John Grain, Baz Floyd, Rob Webb, Ed Juszczak. Kneeling l-r: James Harrison, Robbie Nicholson)

A new season, new opponents but same old result for the SpecialEffect Tigers as the Ambush picked up where it left off from the 2011 season. 

After a wet week and doubts as to whether the game would go ahead, the Tigers and Witney RFC finally gathered on a bright and breezy Sunday afternoon at Monoghan Way (home of Kilkenny CC), Carterton.

Witney RFC

Witney RFC won the toss and elected to bat on a soft wicket.

Charlie Bennett and James Elwood got the Witney RFC innings off to an excellent start. Bennett bludgeoned his way to 23 before Tigers' John Grain, bowling slow, straight and flighty, finally sent the big man on the long walk. Bowled for 23.

While Elwood took runs at his leisure, the Tigers started to experience some success at the other end. Young Cameron Newton-Grain taking his first official wicket for the Tigers to despatch Will Hook while dad, John Grain, sent Todd and Monks following close behind.

The dismissal of Monks brought Witney RFC giant Simon Copperwheat to the crease. Just as the Tigers thought they'd managed to stem the rugby lads' run rate, Copperwheat reminded them that they were bowling against strong lads with excellent hand-eye co-ordination. In no time at all, big Simon had helped himself to 22 runs and the Tigers found themselves struggling again.

Lets just stop there though. While Simon was pretty pleased about his rapid fire 22, the Tiger who bowled him celebrated his first wicket. Ed Juszczak, buoyed by his initial success joined John Grain to mop up most of the Witney RFC tail end. Robbie Mills avoided having a Tigers name against his wicket by running himself out leaving the rock-like Elwood and tail ender Henry Lamb to see out the 20 overs.

 Ed Juszczak 

3-0-17-3

The star men of the Tigers bowling attack were John Grain (4-0-28-4) and Ed Juszczak (3-0-17-3) while Bennett (23), Elwood (57no) and Copperwheat (22) piled on the majority of Witney RFC's runs. 

 Simon Copperwheat, James Elwood and Charlie Bennett

22, 57 not out and 23 respectively

Witney RFC finished on 134-9 leaving the Tigers needing 6.7 an over. Very respectable but with a strong batting line-up, the Tigers felt quietly confident of knocking up the runs. 

How wrong can eleven Tigers be?

After a cracking runs and wickets tally for his village side Combe, Tigers debutant Robbie Nicholson never really got going. Frustrated, he charged Todd only to look back to see keeper Andi Merriman taking off his bails. The Tigers new young star dismissed for a duck. 

Nicholson's opening partner, the reliable James Harrison, was Todd's next victim. Bowled for three. The ambush were being pinned down and picked off by the Witney RFC bowling assault.

As the overs ticked by, Tigers skipper stood firm but just couldn't find runs as easily as he usually does while his partners disappeared in an effort to thrash up the run rate. Hoare stumped by Merriman off Robbie Mills for five, Floyd caught by Owen Fowler off Hook for a duck and John Grain bowled by Robbie Mills for three. The Tigers batting had stalled and was now collapsing.

Mick Donegan, Stuart Duff and Cameron Newton-Grain followed quickly. All bowled by Hook for ducks. 

Chris Grain meanwhile had toiled his way slowly to 26 before a misunderstanding with new batsman Ed Juszczak resulted in him being run out. With Tigers numbers 10 and 11 at the crease, all but the most optimistic felt the battle was lost. And so it was.

Ed Juszczak and Rob Webb knocked up a couple of runs each before Juszczak was finally bowled by Charlie Bennett. The Ambush had failed. All out for 51 off 16.5 overs.

Yes, the result could have been better but the Tigers lost to the better side on the day. And we couldn't have lost to a better bunch of blokes. 

Well done Robbie and the lads of Witney RFC. We look forward to making this a regular fixture. Who knows, our batting might even put up some resistance next time.

Cheers guys! Fantastic day.

 Yeah! Lets all do an impression of a Tigers batting collapse

Witney RFC win by 83 runs

The Tigers would like to say thank you to David Wann and Kilkenny (Carterton) CC and Jacqui at Nexus (Carterton) Leisure Centre for helping to make sure the game went ahead.

 

A FEW WORDS FROM THE SKIPPER

Okay, so I called in on our skipper Chris Grain tonight to see if he had a few words to the 

Tigers before tomorrow's game.

What he said, sounded familiar ... couldn't quite put my finger on it though.

This is what he said ...

This day is called the feast of Abban:
He that plays well this day, and comes safe back to West Oxon
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Abban.
He that shall excel on this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil raise a pint glass,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Abban:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his name on the scorecard.
And say 'These runs I got on Abban's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names. 

Familiar in his mouth as household words
Chris the skip and Geoff, John and Cam,
Ed and Stu, Rob and James, 

Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall Baz teach his cricket-hating son;
And Abban shall ne'er go by, 

From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd; 

We few, we happy few, we ambush of Tigers;
For he to-day that cover drives with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in Charlbury now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their off-drives cheap whiles any speaks
That played with us upon Saint Abban's day.

COME ON YOU TIGERS ... 

SpecialEffect Weekly Update

Lets just get away from the serious business of tomorrow's Twenty20 cricket match against Witney RFC tomorrow for a look at what the guys and girls at SpecialEffect have been up to this week.

So sit back with your first glass of Kestrel lager or Blue Nun and whizz over to SpecialEffect now ...

http://www.specialeffect.org.uk/pages/news103.htm

SpecialEffect Tigers CC v Witney RFC

GAME ON!

We've watched the skies with trepidation all week as the heavens opened time and time again.

But, after a pitch inspection tonight by skipper Chris Grain and our man at Kilkenny (Carterton) CC, the Twenty20 game against Witney RFC tomorrow is definitely ON.

The game starts at 2.00 at Shilton Park Playing Field.

Tigers taking to the field tomorrow are: Geoff Hoare, Chris Grain, Robbie Nicholson, John Grain, Baz Floyd, James Harrison, Mick Donegan, Cam Newton-Grain, Stu Duff, Rob Webb and Ed Juszczak.

Good luck Tigers!

DETAILS OF MATCH AGAINST WITNEY RFC

Right Tigers, this is a notice to you brave XI fellas who will be part of the Ambush facing Witney RFC on Sunday ...

Opponents: Witney RFC
Format: 20Twenty

Date: Sunday 13th May

Time: Arrive at 13.15 for a 14.00 start

Venue: Kilkenny (Carterton) Cricket Club

Address: Shilton Park Playing Field, Monahan Way, Carterton, Oxon, OX18 3AN

Directions: From A40, follow signs for RAF Brize Norton. The new link road eventually becomes called Monahan Way. At the second roundabout, with Carterton signed to your right, the pavilion is immediately on your left. From Brize Village, go towards Carterton until the BP garage roundabout. Turn right and the pavilion is on your right at the first roundabout. Note that the using the postcode for Sat Nav may give an innacurate location.

A couple of important points to Tigers players for this (and every) game:
1) Match fee is £10 per player unless you're a student (£5). The match fee must be paid on the day.

Tigers' match fees pay for ground hire and tea. These things have to be paid.

2) All shirts come back to Baz at the end of the match. Please don't walk off with them. We lost half the old set that way and I have no intention of replacing the new set in any hurry.

Cheers Tigers!

Baz

SPECIALEFFECT BAGGIES CAPS

Nope, its not a really tedious link by me to get the awesome Baggies (West Brom) into the blog.

I'm talking, of course, about the famous Australian style cricket caps with the Tigers logo embroidered into them. They will be in Australian bottle-green.

I'm aiming for a set of 12 costing £131.89.

If you're interested in owning a SpecialEffect Tigers Baggies cap, let me know by email. Once I've got twelve of you requesting one, I'll put in the order. Simple. 

It'll cost you .. err ... eleven quid. That's £11. I've not put in a mark-up and I've paid the £25 for the embroidery file (.DST file) myself, so you don't even have to pay extra for that.

No obligation chaps. If I don't get any interest, I'll order my own. 

Here's the site I'm intending to get them from:

http://www.cricket-box.co.uk/acatalog/_Baggies__Baggy_Cricket_Caps__set_of_12_.html

 

Over to you ...

ROBBIE NICHOLSON'S STRAIGHT DRIVE

Okay, so the other night we featured our mate Steve 'Alan' Brackley's new job after years working in the NHS.

Tonight, I'd like to draw your attention to a brilliant sporting achievement by new Tiger, Robbie Nicholson.

As well as being an excellent goalie (you might remember his exploits from the SpecialEffect v Arsenal Veterans game), and a great cricketer the bloke is also a phenomenal golfer.

In fact, he's just qualified to represent the County at the South of England Championship in June.

Huge congratulations Robbie. We look forward to seeing some drives of a different kind on 13 May.

TIGERS LINE UP v WITNEY RFC

Here's the Tigers team for the 13th May game against Witney RFC 

• Mick Donegan
• Stuart Duff
• Baz Floyd
• Chris Grain (Capt.)
• John Grain
• James Harrison
• Geoff Hoare
• Ed Juszczak
• Cameron Newton-Grain
• Robbie Nicholson
• Rob Webb