CRICKET
Sat 1st XI, Windsor, away, 2pm start
Sat 2nd XI, Winsdor II, home, 2pm start
Sun 2nd XI, Uxbridge Casuals, home, 1.30pm start

HOCKEY RESULT
The Vintagers lost 5-6 to St Albans on Saturday. The goals were scored by Jim Paul (2), Mark McCree, Nick Dutton and Steve Richman. Thank you to Paul Haythornthwaite and David Emery for umpiring.

CRICKET RESULT
The Saturday 1st XI got off to a good start with a 1 run victory in a 45 over match at home to Ashford I. Batting first, we made 173 all out, with Raf Mughal top scoring with 51. In reply, Ashford fell just one run short, with new seam bowler, Salman Khan taking 3 for 17.

The Saturday 2nd XI started their season off under the sun at Ashford and ended up losing an exciting game off the last ball of the match. Choosing to bat first, Chalfont's score of 157 for 7 was built around a solid knock of 52 by opener Matt Stevenson. The team's innings was steady throughout as most players got the chance to spend a bit of time in the middle and get rid of a few cobwebs. Martin Cartledge with 21 was the next highest scorer. In reply, Ashford rode their luck as three early chances went down in the field with Cartledge (0-15) being the unlucky bowler on each occasion. The breakthrough finally came and the first two wickets to fall were run outs as the result of good fielding by firstly Sohail Ijaz and then his brother Faheem. Faheem ended up being the most successful bowler taking 2 for 31 including Ashford's skipper in the penultimate over. The home side ended up needing runs off the last ball to win and when a high hit into the outfield could not be held onto the batsmen scrambled the required runs to win by 5 wickets.

The softball league season for the Chalfont Park Phoenix gets under way tomorrow (Thursday) with a home game against the Ascot Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are new team to the league like the Phoenix so this should indicate how well the pre-season training has gone.

The team would love there to be as much support at the game as there was for their only pre-season game a few weeks ago. The game is at the club and will start around 6.45pm.

Here are the best performances of the season so far:

BATTING
Neal Collins, 78, Sun 2XI -v- Dunstable II (25/4)
Matt Stevenson, 52, Sat 2XI -v- Ashford II (24/4)
Raf Mughal, 51, Sat 1XI -v- Ashford (24/4)

BERKHAMSTED MIXED TOURNAMENT
There is a mixed tournament at Berkhamsted HC on the 8th of May and Geoff Brown is trying to get a team together, if you would be interested in playing then please get in touch with him to put your name down. There are currently about 6 teams taking part and he will add more details nearer to the time. Geobrown@ge.cokecce.com or 07732 428111

INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY
There is the opportunity to watch top class hockey in our county on Thursday, the 3rd of June at the Slough HC as there is a men's match between GB and Australia starting at 7pm. You can book tickets beforehand (01908 544664) or on the night. Directions at www.sloughhc.org.uk

The Sunday 2XI achieved a moral victory, a technical draw and an actual loss against Dunstable 2XI in the opening game of the season. Expecting to play the 3XI, Chalfont lost the toss and were subjected to league batsmen of a high standard who retired at 50 so that 'others could have some practice before the league starts'! Jon Lindsay took the first wicket of the year, bowling the middle stump of the captain clean out of the ground. With two batsmen retiring at 50, and extras in high double figures, skipper Dan Webb was suprisingly the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 10 from two overs before the declaration for 203-4. Obviously they couldn't handle the demon pace of the Steve Harmison look-alike! Seven bowlers were used, with Rob Freeman only conceeding 15 runs in his 4 overs, Chris Yoxall Jnr 16 in 5 and Dave Nolder 22 in 5.

On to the batting. At 16-5 it looked all over for Chalfont on the day that Zimbabwe were all out for a record low of 35, a low Chalfont were keen to avoid. Once again Neal Collins came to the rescue, smashing 79, including tattooing two players with the ball in the deep. Jon Lindsay waded in with 14, and Nick 'The Wall' Davenport stayed in for 45 minutes for his 1 not out to leave Chalfont on 106-9 at the close.

Having seen the quality of the opposition, we claimed that they were twice as good as us, so we get double the runs, so morally we won. Because we only had ten players (Grrrr), we only had 9 out, so a technical draw. Realistically, a loss because, according to some purists, they scored more runs than us and we ran out of batsmen!

A good run out for the team, with some promising performances! All hail the mighty 2XI!

MESSAGE FROM THE HOCKEY CHAIRMAN
I would like to pass on our thanks to Zoë Scott in doing such a superb job in organising the very enjoyable Club Supper, to Sara Daughtrey and Fay Rider in organising the Easter Tour and to Sandra and Peter for being so supportive and helpful regarding the catering etc. over the season.

The Club has really appreciated the work that the captains, umpires, committee members, coaches and all others who have helped the club over the last 12 months - there are too many to mention but you know who you are - thanks.

Finally, thanks to our President, Sam Machin who has helped financially again during the year and who was good enough to hand out some of the awards in my absence.

The (well deserved) awards for the season 2003/04 are:

Ladies Team Player of the Season
1sts: Annie Brothwell
2nds: Catherine Watson
3rds: Gillian Brewer
4ths: Helen Kitto
5ths: Felicity Duke

Ladies Most Improved Player: Erin Ruxton
[awarded as at only 13 years old, she has become a full first team player and played consistently well]

Ladies Player of the Season: Laura Patterson
[awarded as she has shown outstanding commitment to the club by travelling back every weekend to play, taken part in extra coaching and came very highly ranked in both Team Player of the Year (1sts) and Most Improved categories]

Mens Team Player of the Season
1sts: Darryl Chiles
2nds: Russell Rhys-Davies
3rds: Tony Hewston
4ths: Sam Quin
5ths: Nigel Shaw
Vints: Tony Fermor

Mens Most Improved Player: Jonathon Brand
[awarded as he has progressed from the 5th's to the 3rds over the season - has done well in all matches and has a positive and friendly mindset]

Mens Player of the Season: Darryl Chiles
[awarded as he has been superb as sweeper in the 1sts (both in defence and when attacking) and has shown great commitment and attitude]

Team of the Year: Mens 4ths (captain: Tim Brooker)
[awarded after the team achieved promotion for the 3rd year in a row (first year with Tim as captain) and for progressing many youngsters both in terms of experience/teamwork and then upwards into the 3rds]

Clubman of the Year: Warren Scott
[awarded unanimously for his unfailing optimism and hard work in co-ordinating the men's section through a difficult year when availability was a big issue causing many teams to field changed squads on a too frequent basis]