Sport
REME Corps Cricket Season 2021 Scribe: Sgt Tom Smallwood
The squad sporting the new T20 strip
W
ith the long, cold lockdown winter of 2020 finally coming at an end, the REME Men’s Corps Cricket Team were itching to get back to competitive sport. After many months of waiting around to get the pads and gloves on, the Army was given the green light to allow outdoor sports matches and the go ahead was given. Despite having to play under strict social distancing guidelines, the excitement was building.
The Inter Corps T20 The first competition began in May and was a great way for the team to become reacquainted after a lengthy period apart. WO2 Pugh and SSgt Jhajj didn’t hold back in ensuring that enough cones were used in the first training session. We could have easily lined the route of the London Marathon. The theme of the week was wet and windy weather, followed by glorious sunny spells. This rang true prior to our first game against the Infantry. Heavy downpours and hail looked likely to put an end to proceedings before they had even started, however thanks to the hard work of the Tidworth groundsmen, we managed to get the game underway. New skipper LCpl Liam Fletcher lost the toss and we were put into bat. Strong batting performances from LCpl Fletcher (46) and WO1 (ASM) Dixon (21) saw REME finish on 143 – 9 from 20 overs. An impressive afternoon of fielding from the team, including tight bowling from SSgt Jhajj with figures of 2-32, ensured we kept the Infantry at bay and secured the win. The Army Air Corps fixture was reduced 10 overs per team due to poor weather conditions. All batsmen were in fine form with the team finishing on an impressive total of 117 – 2 after just the 10 overs. Notable performances from Cpl Watts (35), LCpl Fletcher (39) and Cpl England (25*). Some impressive bowling
from newcomer Cfn Kerry Powell (3-6) and Sgt Hayward (3-13), saw the Army Air Corps finish on 46 All Out. This comfortable win saw REME finish top of the group and into the Cup Semi Final, to be played against the Royal Artillery. Winning the toss and batting first, the Gunners got off to a flying start which only momentarily slowed during the middle of the innings. A tough 20 overs for fielders and bowlers ended with the Royal Artillery finishing on an impressive total of 195 – 4. Early wickets early in our innings saw us at 14 -2 after 3 overs and in trouble. Sgt Jay Boynton came to the crease. Some big hits from him and LCpl Fletcher saw the mammoth total required being quickly reeled in. The loss of LCpl Fletcher for 42 didn’t slow the chase with Sgt Boynton joined by Lt Naker to continue to push on. A tense finish saw the team keep within touching distance all the way up to the final over, unfortunately falling just short and finishing on 181, Sgt Boynton finishing with 89 Not Out from just 56 balls. This was the end of the competition for the Corps. An impressive start to the season and only narrowly losing out to the Royal Artillery who went on to lift the Inter Corps T20 Cup.
Power Cup Competition 2021 With the T20 competition done and dusted, the team switched fire to 50-over fixtures in the Power Cup League. Our first fixture was against the RLC at Larkhill. Batting first, a good performance saw REME finish on 249 all out, with contributions from Lt Naker – 69, LCpl Pirie – 46, LCpl Pallett – 32. In response the RLC began well, cruising to 119-1 but were reeled in after some quick wickets in the middle overs, and being reduced to 164 – 8, Sgt Smallwood taking 5-54 and Cfn Powell 242. Frustratingly, the RLCs ninth wicket pair stood up to the
Graft all season long battling against the rain
34 craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
