Author: Pod

Fringford (H) – OCA Div 3

Our first home game in what seems like years, was met with the usual early Saturday rain. Much running around, including the application of covers ensued. When I say covers, obviously I mean three little bits of plastic held down with sand bags and bricks. The important thing is that they did the job, and with the square a little damp in places, we got underway on time. With Ian dropping himself for only averaging 107 with the bat and 5.25 with the ball, it was left to Baz to captain the day.…continue reading →

Witney Swifts (H) – OCA Div 3

The first home league game of the season, a time of great excitement, the weather looked fair, the ground looked excellent and we had 11 players fit and ready. Time for the hard work to start. Before I talk about the game, I want to mention the ground and the hard work that has been put in to get it looking so good this early in the season. The square is looking as good as ever and the same can be said about the outfield. Thanks to Nordic for cutting and rolling the…continue reading →

Radley (A) – OCA Div 3

With the surprise news over the winter that we had been promoted to division 3, our first league game of the new season took us to Radley College to face, you guessed it, Radley. After a quick diversion to the second team pitch we found our way to the pitch we were meant to be on, not a problem we’ve faced often, but when a club has 6 pitches to choose from like Radley do I suppose it can come up. Our new skipper, IC, got off to the perfect start by winning…continue reading →

Letter from the OCA

This morning I received an email from David Burns who umpired for us against Charlbury yesterday, he is also the OCA vice chairman. Hello Colin, Thought I would drop you a note to say how much I enjoyed Wantage's approach to your match at Charlbury yesterday. Whilst you obviously wanted to win the game your teams attitude, sense of humour, spirit and respect to your opponents was absolutely first class. If this is typical of your approach then you clearly know how to win with good grace. Very entertaining all round and deserving…continue reading →

Chesterton – Home – OCA League

For our last home game of the year, we faced Chesterton, who we had beaten in the cup, but been smashed beyond sight in the league. However, the difference this time was in knowing that a win would put us beyond Chesterton in second place and secure promotion with two games left to play. After last season’s final day heroics that would seem a bit of an anti-climax but nonetheless we were all keen and ready despite the early morning deluge which looked like it might prevent us playing. As it happened we…continue reading →

Challow – Away – Friendly

Once again positions were in great demand to play at the batsman’s paradise of Challow CC. JP as usual had provided us with an absolute belter of a batting track and a very short leg side boundary thanks to an earlier under 13’s match, would prove very interesting circumstances to score runs on the formidable lightning outfield! Grant ‘6 pack’ Summersbee and Ren r rrr Ren were given the arduous task of opening the bowling on the exceedingly flat wicket, proving that quick bowling wasn’t going to be the flavour of Wantages day.…continue reading →

Uffington – Away – OCA League

As England were racking up the runs against India and we started to wonder whether our Day 5 Test Match tickets were going to prove worthwhile, we all found our way to Uffington, surprised to find that the heavy rain which had hit Wantage in the morning had not found its way there. It didn’t look like a cricket match was about to be played however, as all 11 Wantage players stood around ready and waiting but opposition players, umpires, stumps and a boundary rope were all conspicuous by their absence. Eventually the…continue reading →

Brill – Away – OCA League

An early meeting up the club saw a few hungover faces, but everyone was in good spirits for the game against Brill, which was begun at 12:30 to allow us to get back for PicNic’s wedding in the evening. We arrived after driving to the wrong side of the ground, and were surprised to see a damp pitch which wouldn’t have looked out of place at the Glastonbury festival. There was a radio recording going on next door to our changing room, and the next-door-toilet was a brutal assault on the nose even…continue reading →

Crowmarsh – Home – Derek Shorter Cup

It was time for another year where Wantage cricket club and Crowmarsh lock horns in battle for the Derek Shorter cup. Crowmarsh players were early, chilling on the grass soaking up the atmosphere. However, they were a little short on players so two of our players; Simon Martin (who they wrote in the score book as S.Simon), and the legendry marvel known as Picnic, stepped in to make it 11 a side. Cheers guys, just shows what kind of club we are and growing into. Mr Etham won the toss for Crowmarsh and…continue reading →