Cala Homes sponsored Sparsholt’s game at Langley Manor had to be abandoned shortly after tea as heavy rain flooded the pitch at Totton. At that point Sparsholt’s batsmen had reached 35 for 1 chasing a victory target of 214. Conscious of the weather forecast, the trees skipper Andy Worth asked the hosts to bat first as the match started in hot sunshine. Despite a boundary strewn (14 fours and a six) 76 by opener Steve Harris, Sparsholt’s bowlers recovered well when it looked as though Langley Manor would post a high total. Bowlers Alex Dilley (3 for 35), Dave Gough (3 for 44) and Jayden Derosa (2 for 28) struck back as the last eight wickets fell for 87, with Mike Haworth and Jon Sankey each taking a wicket too. A light shower then delayed the start of Sparsholt’s reply before Sankey and Derosa got them off to a solid start. As the heavy rain started, Derosa was bowled for 21 bringing in ‘nightwatchman’ Andy Worth. Worth faced just four balls as the players were sent scurrying to the pavilion as the heavens opened. At the half way point in the season, Sparsholt sit mid table, with 3 wins, 3 defeats and the other 3 games lost to the weather. On Saturday, Sparsholt entertain Hartley Wintney in the first of the reverse fixtures: they will be hoping to repeat the narrow win at the start of the season.

Sparsholt’s second and third team games were again both abandoned just before play was due to start as Winchester was hit by the heavy rain. Both teams remain undefeated and sit second in their respective leagues at the half way point, but both have played only three games in a rain affected season. Last season at the mid point the club could boast at three centuries, plus a whole host of other good batting performances, this year the batsmen have had to work very hard for their runs in the few games that have been played. 14 year old Nayan Pragami’s century remains the highlight, in addition a handful of fifties. Ex Chairman Tony Dunford, who has been with the club for more than thirty years said ‘It’s a great shame to lose so much cricket. I cannot remember so many games being lost to the weather in my time with the club, and that despite the met office saying I believe, that this has been the sixth hottest June on record! Many clubs are in the same situation, of course, but those clubs like ourselves with their own grounds must be really feeling the pinch as fixed expenses are the same whether there are 3 games a season or 30’. Vice chairman Richard Edwards added ‘With bar takings vastly reduced, and even nil some weeks, we are so lucky to have the sponsorship package from Cala Homes, with whom we are working very hard to go forward in a mutually beneficial way’. In addition to Cala Homes, Sparsholt have also received smaller support from builders merchants Covers (the ‘Covers covers’ have been used a lot this summer!) and a number of other local businesses including hotelier Lainston House, Challis Bright, Andrew Smith and Sons and Peter Yates. Treasurer Bob Selley said that these contributions have greatly helped in balancing the books in what would otherwise be a very challenging season financially.

Sparsholt Junior Under U15 team narrowly lost out to a strong Basingstoke team in the County Cup Final played at Hursley Park on Monday. It was always going to be a tough challenge for the young ‘trees’ after Basingstoke started with a half century opening partnership. The bowlers stuck to their task though, and restricted the opposition to 121 – a total which could perhaps have been a little lower had one or two missed catches been taken. In reply, Sparsholt’s batsmen tried hard against accurate bowling and excellent fielding, but key wickets fell just as they tried to up the momentum. Tom Foster and Nicholas White in particular struck some nice boundaries, but a hat trick later put paid to any real hope and they were dismissed for 102 just 19 runs short. Manager Di Proctor, and coaches Jon Foster and Martin White were disappointed but very proud of the team for reaching the final which is a major milestone for the club, claiming the prestigious scalps of Fair Oak and St Cross on their way.

 Sparsholt Under 15 County Cup Runners Up: Back Row Nicholas White, Will Rowe, Tobias Stonier (w/k), George Ellis, Nayan Praghami, Jesse Ribiero. Front row Stuart Veal, Nick Doubell, Tom Proctor (capt), Tom foster, Harry Talks