After the great Easter weekend weather, April showers returned last weekend to force the cancellation of Midsomer Norton CC First XI’s final pre-season friendly at Brislington.

However, the Second XI fixture at Withies Lane did go ahead, and resulted in a 33-run win for the home team. Norton batted first, with Toby Marsh top scoring with an unbeaten half-century in a score of 173-7 in forty overs. Brislington reached 140-9 in their forty overs, with Harrison Veale taking four wickets and Josh Sutton took three wickets.

This Saturday, 4th May, the First XI play their first WEPL Prem Two fixture at Taunton. The game starts at 12.30 p.m. There are home fixtures for the Second XI against Bristol West Indian Phoenix CC and the Third XI play Bitton. Both games start at 1.30 p.m.

As Midsomer Norton Cricket Club prepares for the first League fixtures of the 2019 season, newly-appointed player/coach, Jake Rowe, is looking forward to his first competitive cricket with his new club. Jake brings a wealth of experience to the club and is already enjoying his involvement with senior and junior cricketers at the club having spent the winter coaching in New Zealand.

Jake played for WEPL Champions Clevedon in 2018 and is a member of the MCC. He played at Clevedon for seven years and, while playing grade cricket in Australia, he bowled at the England touring team in the nets during the 2011 Ashes series. He has played and coached at club and district level in New Zealand for the last two winters and he has also played and coached in Australia. Jake’s brother, Caleb, another new signing for the club, has also played and coached in Australia.

Jake’s first impressions of the club have been positive. He said: “The club is not short of talented players, and that shows in us beating two WEPL Premier One sides in our pre-season fixtures. There is also a good crop of young, homegrown players coming through the ranks, which is exciting.”

The player/coach first became aware of Norton’s interest over the winter. Jake said: “Captain, Nick Pang, approached me whilst I was in New Zealand. I already knew a few of the guys from MCC fixtures, and the offer of a leadership role and managing the coaching side of things for the club – as well as more opportunities on the pitch – was too good to refuse.”

Jake is looking forward to Norton’s first WEPL Prem Two fixture at Taunton: “It’s always a lovely deck at Taunton, which means a great opportunity for our batsmen to be confident with their shots and continue the form they’ve found in pre-season fixtures.” Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Jake said: “We have to take it game by game, but having looked at previous results, and the fact that there have been five First team signings over winter, it’s all looking very positive.”

New players of all abilities are always welcome at the club. Contact Nick Potter: 07872 383499 / [email protected] or Phil Mortimer: 01761 413725 / [email protected]. Results and fixture news can be viewed at: http://midsomernorton.play-cricket.com

Charlie Matthews