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Timsbury continued their remarkable turnaround in form with their fifth successive victory in the Bristol and District League Division 1. A comprehensive 52-run win at home to Keynsham 2^nd XI saw them move out of the bottom two for almost the first time this campaign and with one game to go survival is now in their own hands.

     Once again the foundation of the win was a dominant opening partnership between Mark Sage and Gary Pearcy. Sage looked to be batting on a different wicket to everyone else on show and it was a surprise when he holed out on the boundary for 57 after he and Pearcy, who also played some delightful shots, had put on 86 in rapid time. Thereafter no batsman found it easy to push the score on but an undefeated 36 from Kev Sibley enabled the home side to reach a challenging 182-8. Simon Knowles (2-18 in eight overs) and Sam Parsons (1-15 in six overs) both bowled tight spells for Keynsham.

     The visitors, who have had a difficult season and are at the foot of the table, rarely looked like getting on top of the Timsbury attack. Opening bowler Freddie Hosford set the pattern conceding just a run per over in his eight overs and despite a fighting 32 from Ian Fiebelkorn  Timsbury maintained a tight grip on the match. Martin Richards (3-20) and Jon Strand (2-35) kept up the pressure and the only disappointment for the home side was that they failed to take the final wicket with Keynsham finishing on 130-9.

     It has not been the easiest of seasons for Timsbury’s second eleven who were well beaten by 10 wickets away to Stapleton’s  second eleven in their penultimate game in the Bristol and District League Division 6. Batting first the early signs were promising with George Webb making 33 and Dan Hill 29 but then the remainder of the batsmen perished at the hands of spinner Mahmood who took 6-17 in a tantalising spell. Stapleton took no time reaching the finishing line with Mohammed (51 not out) and Millard (26 not out) reaching their target in just over nine overs.

     It was an  historic day for Timsbury’s third eleven who ended their home campaign with an 130-run win against Whitchurch’s third eleven in the Bristol and District League Division Nine East. Skipper Chris Rawlings and Steve Ford forged a record breaking opening partnership of 196 in their total of 248-5 after being put into bat. Ultimately there was hint of disappointment for Ford who was out just four runs short of a maiden century while Rawlings was dismissed for 85. Not to be satisfied with that Ford then took 4-22 and with two wickets each for Matt Ball and Aaron Hancock Whitchurch were dismissed for 118.

Malcolm Tucker

An outstanding all-round performance saw Timsbury maintain their eye catching form of late with their fourth consecutive win in the  Bristol and District League Division 1. Notable contributions from most of the team saw them defeat Shirehampton away by 50 runs to set up two crucial games at the tail end of the season.

     Having been asked to bat first Timsbury failed to get off to the best of starts and wickets fell at frequent intervals until a dominant sixth-wicket partnership between Jon Strand (39) and Freddie Hosford (33) transformed the match. Captain Jesse Bishop (24) and Liam Hosford (21 not out) then completed the recovery with some aggressive cricket, running the home side ragged with some excellent running between the wickets.

     Liam Hosford, making a welcome return to the side, and Sam Hoddinott took three early wickets when the home side replied before a strong fourth wicket stand between Richard Woods (57) and Josh Gourlay (30) put Shirehampton right back in the match. Strand then struck two crucial blows dismissing both players and with Martin Richards and Greg Passington keeping up the pressure the home side finished well short on 154-8.

     Timsbury’s second eleven remain rooted to the foot of the Bristol and District League Division 6 after losing by 60 runs at home to Knowle’s third eleven. Timsbury’s young opening bowling pairing of Alfie Sage and Daniel Gifford again impressed and with good support from Henry Webb (2-18), Lee Henderson (2-28) and Mike Reynolds (2-42) the visitors were dismissed for 160. Anand (59) and Green (39) held the Knowle innings together. Jake Brooks (24) and Sam Sparks (23) led the home reply but with opening bowler Daggett taking 4-37 and Brown 3-0 Timsbury finished well short on 100.

     Timsbury’s third eleven travelled to Knowle’s fourth eleven with severely depleted troops but battled hard on a hot afternoon before losing by eight wickets in the Bristol and District League Division Nine East. After batting first Timsbury were indebted to Will Rawlings (36) and Tudor Croft (33) who featured in a promising second wicket stand while Callum Webb batted well for his unbeaten 19. Griffin (71 not out) and Collin (40) saw Knowle comfortably home.

Malcolm Tucker

On the evening of August 30^th Timsbury Cricket Club will be celebrating 150 years of sport in the village. The club’s committee have organised a top evening of entertainment to recognise the achievement with a wide range of activities. There is live music, a casino, a cricket club museum with lots of club memorabilia, an auction with numerous excellent items, raffle , licensed bar, red carpet selfies  and of course a cricket tea. Those coming along are asked to dress to impress.

     The exact date of the formation of Timsbury Cricket Club remains a mystery but an insertion in the Western Gazette on July 25^th 1873 talks of a match between Timsbury and Radstock .  It moved to its present headquarters on the Recreation Field in 1965 but prior to that had been based on the Glebe field which is now a housing estate and during its history had also played on several other fields in the village including  the school field which is still the home of the third eleven .

     Until 1965 Timsbury ran just one side but in that year a delegation from neighbouring club Farmborough asked to join Timsbury and the proposition was unanimously accepted. In the first year the newly formed team was called Timsbury Nomads and was comprised mainly of Farmborough players but within two years the Nomads label disappeared and it simply became Timsbury first and second elevens.

     There have been a number of highlights along the way no more so than 2006 when the club reached the final of the National Village Cup at Lords. Eight coaches from the village made its way to cricket’s headquarters and despite the disappointment of a four wicket defeat to Yorkshire side Houghton Main it proved to be a day never to be forgotten. Timsbury have also hosted three benefit matches for Somerset players. In 1979 almost a full county side came along for Hallam Moseley’s benefit match. Four years later Brian Rose was the beneficiary and this was a day that saw Timsbury make national  headlines being the first club to hire a helicopter to dry out the pitch after weeks of heavy rain. The third benefit match in 1987 was in aid of Colin Dredge.

     Since 1979 when Timsbury first entered a team in the Bath and District Youth League the development of young players has been an important part of the club’s ethos and continues to be so. It has been a source of pride to see young players go on to play at a higher level and to represent the county at various levels. At senior level two of the club’s finest achievements was winning the Bristol Knock-out cup in 1995 and 2006 and they were also winners of the Bristol Senior Division in both 2002 and 2011.

     The club are hoping that many of its former players will be in attendance to enjoy what should be a very special night. Tickets priced £20 are available in advance from the clubroom or from chairman Ben Hosford ( 07500905240) or Paul Cracknell (07711539809).

Malcolm Tucker

After a desperately disappointing first half of the season when they failed to win a single game in the  Bristol and District League Division 1 Timsbury have turned things around in a big way. Their convincing seven-wicket win at home to Bristol’s third eleven was their third successive victory.

     For much of the season the home side have resided at the foot of the table but their recent hot run has seen them move above Keynsham 2^nd XI. They have presented themselves with a realistic chance of avoiding relegation with three crucial games to come.

     After electing to bat first Bristol lost Adam Lee to the second ball of their innings and they never really recovered. In no time they had slumped to 22-5 and 56-8 and were eventually dismissed for a meagre 88. Timsbury’s opening attack of Kev Sibley (2-14) and Freddie Hosford (3-14) created the early mayhem and with Martin Richards later taking 3-25 there was no respite for the visitors.

     One of the key elements of Timsbury’s revival has been the potency of their openers Mark Sage and Gary Pearcy and for the third week in a row they gave their side an excellent start. Attacking from the outset they put on a rapid 72 and the only surprise was that they didn’t finish the job off. Pearcy went for a fluent 30 to be followed by Sage who again looked in top form as he reached 38, but it was left to Lew Redwood and Jon Strand to complete an 18-point victory in just over 17 overs.

     Timsbury’s second eleven batted well in their away game with Abbots Leigh in the Bristol and District League Division 6 but in the end their total of 196-8 was comfortably passed by their hosts and they were beaten by eight wickets. There were a number of notable contributions from the Timsbury side with Yosef Parvez(33), Sam Sparks (32 not out) and Josh Tucker (31) leading the way. The home side’s reply was dominated by Behroz Khan who finished unbeaten on 126 in Abbot Leigh’s total of 200-2.

Malcolm Tucker

A magnificent undefeated 98 from Mark Sage steered Timsbury to their second consecutive win against high-riding opposition with a nail biting two-wicket success away to second placed Lodway  in the Bristol and District League Division 1. Once again the batting frailties which have dogged their season threatened to throw away a dominant position but thanks to Sage and lower order support they got over the line to continue their fight to avoid relegation.

     Lodway elected to bat first and they faced a Timsbury attack entirely depending on spin. It proved a successful ploy for the visitors and it needed a late surge led by Rice (63) to enable them to reach their final total of 177-8. Freddie Hosford (2-30) and Sam Hoddinott (1-18 in eight overs) kept a tight rein early on and Greg Passingham picked up four late wickets in a tidy spell that went for 36 runs.

    For the second week in a row Sage and his fellow opener Gary Pearcy gave Timsbury a tremendous start in reply and it all looked plain sailing as they put on 90 for the first wicket before Pearcy was dismissed for an impressive 31. While Sage looked in total control the same could not be said at the other end with Timsbury contriving to lose five wickets for just 22 runs as they declined from 107-2 to 129-7. It was symptomatic of their season but thanks to Sage, an important cameo of 18 from Cory Versfeld and Sam Hoddinott who hit the winning boundary, the visitors collected 19 valuable points with Sage just two runs short of his second successful century.

     Timsbury’s second eleven were unable to follow the example of their senior side and were beaten by 184 runs at home to Lodway’s second eleven  in the Bristol and District League Division 6. Bowling first Timsbury paraded arguably their youngest ever attack with Albie Sage and Daniel Gifford opening the bowling. Sage struck in his first over and there was a wicket each for Gifford and fellow teenager Oscar Humphries, but it was hard going for the home side with Lodway striking a mammoth 293-3. Hashim Ahmed made 145 and Kivell, with an unbeaten 107, shared in a third-wicket stand of 248. Home skipper Adam Workman top scored for Timsbury with 29 but they were never in the hunt with Williamson taking 4-19 for the visitors.

     Timsbury third eleven posted 156-7 in their away fixture with Bitton second eleven in the Bristol and District League Division 9 East but it was not quite enough as they were defeated  by four wickets. Matt Ball with 50 and skipper Chris Rawlings with 39 were the main contributors for the visitors but a rapid knock of 64 from Rehman Ahmed saw Bitton home with more than 12 overs to spare. Ball followed up his batting with 2-40 and Milo Sage took 2-22.

Malcolm Tucker