Ricky nearly pull off come from behind victory

After a false start to preseason the week before. Rickmansworth were underway in 2016 at Watford Town on Saturday. With Ricky skipper, Marty Jaynes, winning the toss and putting the opposition in to bat on a sticky wicket. It was a relatively tame start to proceedings with new Aussie porch dweller Rory Bennett and Tom "Cyprian Tan" Watson getting proceedings underway. Phil "Something in my eye" Riddleston followed shortly after and bowled tight lines despite ironically having something in his eye. However, at 54 without loss, the key moment came with the arrival of Chief Destroyer Ali into the attack. CDA proceeded to have the opposition in all sorts with his subtle variation between full toss and half tracker, filling his boots to end up with 4 for 26 off 8 overs and was the pick of the Ricky bowlers. Jez Riddleston was involved in a verbal firefight with Riddleston Senior (umpiring for the day) after being turned down for a plum lbw by the elder statesman. Young gun Owen Blackwell was mesmerising in the field providing some choice mud stains for his mum to clean. Despite being on top, with the opposition 90 for 6, Ricky let it slip in the final 10 overs and Watford Town ended the 40 overs 195 for 9.

With the batting innings underway Ricky lost the early wicket of Benn Glazier caught behind. Taz and Kas steadied the ship momentarily, before a succession of wickets saw Ricky 62 for 4 after 19 overs. Taz and Jez combined well and proceeded to resurrected the innings. Taz anchored the innings and ended up with 63 in an excellently compiled innings. He was ably assisted by Jez who played some fantastic shots in his 19. However, with the exit of those two batsmen the target was looking like an ever increasing task. Enter the skipper and the chief destroyer who put on a much needed 8th wicket partnership of 41 taking us to 166 off 36 overs. When Oz departed for 19 it left 30 runs required off 4 overs. Unfortunately, the lads fell just short finishing 191 for 9 off the allotted 40 overs. Marty ending up with 35 not out.

A great early season hit out with the lads who are eagerly anticipating Northwood Town at home next week.

(Submitted by Rory Bennett)