Timsbury ended the first half of the Bristol and District League Senior Division campaign with a 14 run home win against Congresbury that was more comfortable than the final outcome might suggest. Chasing 187 for victory the visitors required an unlikely 41 from the last 2 overs, but a final flourish led by Zimbabwean overseas player, Carl Robinson, added respectability to the total.
After more heavy overnight rain, the start was delayed for 15 minutes and was reduced to a 42 over per side match. Prior to the start, the Timsbury side stood for a minute’s silence to remember Jeff Smart, a friend of club members whose funeral had taken place that morning. They were joined by many others who were attending the funeral wake at the local British Legion Club.
Having been put into bat, Timsbury openers, Mark Sage and Adam Brinkworth, took the attack to the opponents from the outset and after 10 overs, had put 60 on the board. Sage was eventually dismissed for 45 with the partnership worth 99, but Brinkworth reached an elegant 59 before he was bowled by 12-year-old Jack Harding, who had opened the bowling for the visitors. Jon Strand added an important 27, but Timsbury failed to fully capitalise on the start they had been given and they finished at 186-8. Harding’s 15-year-old brother, Cameron recorded the best bowling figures of 3-53.
In reply, Congresbury soon lost Stuart Castle to opening bowler, Alex Young, who began his spell with four consecutive maidens as the visitors failed to achieve the momentum shown earlier by the home side. At the halfway point, they were 57-3 and with spinners Strand (3-24) and Captain Steve Clothier (2-19) both bowling well, soon slipped to 96-7. Robinson (75 not out) together with Sam Evans then mounted a recovery, but it was never enough, although Timsbury will have been disappointed with a slip in standards at the close of the Congresbury reply.
Captain Steve Clothier expressed his overall satisfaction with the efforts of the team in the first half of the season with Timsbury holding a mid-table position. They begin the second phase with a home game against Downend 2nd XI whom they beat in the opening game of the season.