So, here we go again. It’s the penultimate Saturday of the 2022 season and Oakley Park is standing firm and ready to complete a season without one cancellation. Can we?
Well, the weather is set fair again this week, albeit with some relief that there will be a temperature drop of at least 10 degrees. All three teams will be looking for a bit of a boost after a deflating few weeks and a succession of heavy defeats.
First XI v Hungerford
The First XI entertain struggling Hungerford at Oakley Park and will be looking to shake off a couple of morale sapping defeats. At a scorching Romsey last week, the team looked depleted and tired in a game where fielding first in 35 degrees of heat was always going to be an ordeal.
The good news is that strike bowlers Stef Kaltner and Neil Robinson are back and so are batsman, Micky Wood and all-round specialist fielder, Steve Bown. This gives Alex a strong and balanced looking team and an opportunity to bounce back and finish the season strongly rather than with a whimper.
Two’s at St Mary Bourne
The Two’s are at full strength for the visit to high flying St Mary Bourne, who are making a late and dramatic run at promotion. Jack has a good-looking team on paper, but I have lost count of how many times we have said that and got stuffed.
If we haven’t learned that you are only as good as how you perform on the day by now, we never will. Oddly, some of our better performances this season have come against the stronger teams, perhaps due to the need to be focused.
This will certainly be a stiff test of our resolve against a team with momentum and a strong desire to chase down Old Basing. Could be a good game this one but only if The Oaks are up for the challenge and not beset with middle table apathy.
Third XI v Basingstoke
The Third XI weren’t due a game this week but such was the availability list, we went in search of a friendly. We found one versus Basingstoke and will travel to The Bounty. Of course, this won’t be a folklore epic, but it is great to get everyone a game.
We haven’t got everything right this season and we have issues to address if we are going to improve at all levels. However, what we have got right, is the ongoing ability to get three teams on the pitch every week, even deep into the holiday season with nothing but pride to play for.
That should be the foundations that we build around as we look to improve as a club next year. We can start that process by doing everything we can to finish the season on a high, both on and off the pitch. Can I ask that everyone at Oakley has a bloody good go at doing that this weekend, as finishing with a bit of momentum can only be a positive thing as we look forward.
On a final note, once again we have 5 father and sons featuring on Saturday, including, the Rabley’s, Carpenter’s, Lethaby’s, Triner’s and Beckell’s. Add Olly and Avi Thakur in tomorrow’s game against Marin CC and that makes six. What a great thing to have going on at Oakley.
Go well folks, go well!
