Both the TVL matches on Saturday were abandoned due to rain, without a ball being bowled. The Sunday 1st XI almost started its match, but the heavens opened again before the first ball could be bowled, and that was that!

The Sunday 2nd XI match was the only one to survive the weather, here is Dan Webb's report:

On a miserable day, the Sunday 2XI were glad to get in a 40 overs-a-side game after making the trek to Prestcold, near Caversham. On a wet wicket, Chalfont won the toss and elected to put Prestcold in to bat. Martin White took a superb flying catch off Chris Yoxall at gully to dismiss the Prestcold opener who could not believe his eyes. After that, injury ravaged the fielding side with Yoxall unable to continue his spell after being struck on the forehead by a fizzing throw and Webb twisting his knee. Dean Page and Steve Baker took over the bowling attack, each taking a wicket. It was former skipper Andy Amor's day though, as he took the ball and made it swing madly to dismiss four batsmen (8-4-14-4) using the low bounce to great effect. With Chalfont looking for another breakthrough, Martin White came on for a rare cameo appearance and took the last two wickets in four balls! Some great fielding kept the Prestcold score down to 108 all out after 38 overs.

Chalfont's batting got off to a disastrous start when Dave Andersen was run out for only three after a great throw by the fielder. Baker(17) and White(10) then made a stand against some accurate bowling. White however, will not be smiling today, after he top edged a ball whilst attempting to sweep, in to his face and lost a tooth for his trouble. It was Yoxall Jnr(21) and Page(23) who set Chalfont on their way, but after they were dismissed it looked like Chalfont were going to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as Amor and Davenport fell cheaply. It was up to injured skipper Webb and ever steady Nagle to bat it out, with the latter scoring the winning run on his birthday with a wonderful lofted cover drive with just four balls left to be bowled.

A great performance all-round, with the 2XI already having equalled their win total for last year and the skippers beard looking in danger if they win just three more matches.
 

The "London Express" is a club legend! A very solid, reliable and under-rated cricketer, his bowling is improving with age, he never gives his wicket away cheaply, and he hardly ever drops a catch! And, he is a good all round sportsman, a full back and goalkeeper on the football field, a hockey goalkeeper, and a more than useful tennis player. Anyway, here are some favourite cricket stories:

• He once took the field at Old Actonians, on the hottest day of the year, wearing four pairs of pants, in the superstitious belief that he would take four wickets! He was wrong!
• Once, when batting, he swatted away a wasp with his left hand, while at the same time dabbing the ball past backward point for two, with only his right hand on the bat!
• Once, when bowling, the ball got stuck, in mid bowling action, in his long sleeved jumper!
• The S-shaped run up .
• He doesn't like flashy top order batsmen, who throw their wicket away, always imploring them to "keep it on the carpet"
• He once told his Sunday 1st XI bowling partner, Nouman Habib, that he (Burgey) "doesn't bowl uphill, or into the wind!"
• Once, at a cricket dinner, he told Mike Gatting, who faced Malcolm Marshall in his prime, that he (Burgey) was "a fast bowler" and "quite sharp"

This weekends fixtures are as follows:

Saturday 1st XI:
Falkland II, TVL2B, home, 1.30pm start

Saturday 2nd XI:
Teddington Town, TVL4B, away, 1.30pm start

Sunday 1st XI:
Slough, away, 2pm start

Sunday 2nd XI:
Dinton II, home, 2pm start

With the Sunday 2XI game being the only game of the weekend, Andy Amor's bowling figures of 4-14 wins him the performance of the week.

Beer Festival - May 24th
The club's first beer festival takes place this Saturday. The beers have been specially chosen on a European theme to coincide with the evenings Eurovision Song Contest.

All attendees will be provided with a map that will be stamped when a beer from one of the countries below is bought. Anyone who gets a stamp for all 6 countries will be entered into a £50 cash draw to be drawn at 10pm.

Belgium
Hoegaarden

France
Kronenberg 1664

Germany
Weihenstephaner

Spain
San Miguel

Netherlands
Grolsch

UK
Youngs Special

Batting:
Zamir Khan, 81, Sun 1XI v. Harrow Town (11/05)
Neal Collins, 77*, Sun 2XI v. Old Owens (11/05)

Bowling:
Asif Raza, Sat 2XI v. OMT II, 6-45 (10/05)
Andy Amor, Sun 2XI v. Prestcold, 4-14 (18/05)
Shahid Din, 4-37, Sat 1XI v. Windsor (03/05)
Dave Andersen, 4-58, Sun 2XI v. Old Owens (11/05)
 

The second CPSA darts match stepped up to the Ochy on Monday night for a re-match against the Waggon & Horses. Last time's match was a crowd pleaser at 8-8 - was this match going to live up to expectations, or would the food be the most interesting part of the night?

A small crowd gathered to watch the new CPSA club house darts set-up and team play against a much strengthened team from the Waggon (thanks to Dave Anderson for contributing the rubber matting and dart board surround and erecting it last week with Martin).

First to step up was Chris Blamey and fearless captain Watts. Last time they took a 3-0 drubbing but held their cool to win 2-1. Next up was Dave "scorer" Anderson and Ian Ringham - both new to the team and atmosphere - the opposition were superb winning 3-0 not even allowing Ian or Dave an out shot. Last in the doubles was Martin Cartledge and Charlie Wooler, facing some excellent play from the Waggon, they still managed to grab a point - losing 2-1.

The mid way point was marked with a "Captains" game - with hot from Switzerland Simon Keene taking the place of Watts and narrowly losing out (jet lag apparently).

Next up was the 601 triples games - with Dave, Chris and Ian throwing first. The finishing of Waggon Landlord Simon was just too strong for them and they lost 3-0, putting the match beyond reach. Martin, Charlie and Simon stepped up to save face for the Sports Club and responded with an exhilarating 3-0 victory, with some super darts being thrown.

The final round of the match is a "901" game for all six of the team (Ian, Chris, Martin, Andy, Charlie and Simon). This was won by the battling CPSA heroes with the match lost just 9-7 - a very creditable performance.

The CPSA team may play further friendlies in the summer and is seriously considering the winter league (though it may clash with hockey training).