Happy New Year to all UCC members and friends. 2019 was a busy year for the Club and we made significant progress both on and off the field. I would first like to thank all those members and friends who contributed to the fundraising round, as we commenced some overdue maintenance and repair work on the pavilion, which is now over 30 years old. We have taken the opportunity to swap the dressing rooms and to enlarge the ‘Home’ one. The work is not quite complete but the improvements are already manifest.​

As is sadly common with cricket clubs, we experienced a break-in and we lost our large sit-on mower. The thieves bulldozed a few sections of the fence on the village side, but we have taken the opportunity to commission repair work on the entire fence. This was undertaken before Christmas. Nick Watson continues to do a sterling job on the cricket square and outfield and we are all in his debt.
Season 2019 seems a long time ago. We consolidated our position in Division 4 of the Kent County Village League under the leadership of Kendall Jarrett.  As team secretary Sean Ashfield again worked wonders to produce XIs, which included several father/son combinations. We succeeded in reviving the Sunday cricket tradition by trialling a collaboration with Ightham CC to produce combined sides. Mark DuBock managed our participation in this format and is to be saluted as 2019 ‘Clubman of the Year’. News of the recent merger between the Otford and Shoreham clubs reminds us that we must never become complacent.

Off the field we enjoyed quiz nights in the White Rock, under the inquisitorial gaze of Chris Close. Chris also, with assistance from Jen (or Jen, with assistance from Chris) did a sterling job with our finances. Chris/Jen will be re-launching the Supporters Club, which continues to provide valuable revenue for UCC. I must also pay tribute to longstanding member Iain Taylor, who moved to Sussex, and to the retiring secretary Ian Batty, who has been succeeded by Dick Hawkes.

Finally, I should make mention here of 2 UCC members, both of whom died in the autumn. Dan Hardy, who died after a short illness, was a stalwart of the club for many years before his move to Singapore in 1990. Quite simply a legend in his own lunchtime. Mike Tong had been ill for many years but his death still comes as a shock. I am delighted to say that his son Andy has told me that a batting cage will be donated to the club in his memory.

May I wish everyone the best of luck for season 2020.

Adrian Barr-Smith
President, Underriver Cricket Club
 
 
to edit.

Well done to all those who contributed to the Saturday League side this year. We bookended the season well with multiple wins, blooding a number of new faces into the team along the way.

A special thanks to all those who shared the umpiring duties this year. Also, for third parties roped into making sandwiches and baking cakes and pouring cups of tea our club is indebted for your assistance. 

We had a number of stand out performances this year in the League side along with important contributions from all who played. Nick Watson again led the batting ranks with a season tally of 523 runs, and the Gandolf The White's younger cousin Sean Ashfield rolled back the years to be our leading wicket taker with 22 precious scalps. Nick Watson snaffled 8 catches as well to round out a 'back to his best' season. 

Our youngsters performance exceptionally well as well with Ollie Streets scoring his maiden League ton (101*), George Sorrell taking his first League wicket at age 11, The Judd Massive (James Thresher, Rohan Sharma and Jonah Radcliffe) all getting off the mark with bat and ball,  James T taking 4/13 (and 11 wickets in total), Rohan S taking 4/30, Jonah demonstrating his tail end bludgeoning capacity at West Farleigh, and Inigo Streets with his first League multi-wicket haul (2-24).

Our more seasoned professionals also had their moments as well:

Joe Wiles and Johnny Carpenter escaping Manchester to provide some quality moments with bat and ball, Chris Close continuing to open the bowling in his 123 year, Andy Pinder and Joe Williams consistently taking wickets in their first two overs, Simon Leahy continuing to be the master of banter to raise the spirits of every dressing room, Pete Thresher sending down lofty thunder bolts rarely seen in Div 4, Pete Clews bowling 4 balls with the healthy figures of 1/1, Jason Box turning his arm over to great effect at Otford (whilst Andy lost his arm at the same venue!), John Sorrell showing poise yet at the same time utter contempt for being triggered by Sean at Halstead, and Dave Close for having more strands of hair than runs made this season. There were of course numerous other performances witnessed throughout the season by a host of other players which will be mentioned (made fun of? celebrated?) at the AGM in December. 

Thank you all.

Pre-season starts NOW!

Our 2019 AGM will be held on Saturday 7th December at The White Rock, 7pm. All are invited to the AGM which will precede the Christmas dinner.

Match Report below from Hawkeye (our umpire with the mostest):



As well as the Captain played, I felt something was needed to overshadow his bragging rights of runs against Weald at the forthcoming Captain's Curry.

(CAPTAIN'S INSERT: 2-games vs. Weald 36* and 59*… oh yeah! Unfortunately doesn't really compare to Master Nick Watson's 2-game outing vs. Withyham  a few years back of 212* and 192*!!!)

Sean was so pleased with his new bat that he took it to St John's Smith Square SW1 for a blessing.

The Juddian 3 certainly boosted the side, each taking a wicket.  Jonah Radcliffe running into the wind from the Road end reminiscent of the speed of Harry Potter on his broomstick.

Spraythresh had trouble in finding the strip but was very decent in handing his trousers to the spindly legged umpire who was adjudged windswept.

Opening onslaught by Ashfield was a sweet as the Close fruitcake whilst yours truly was lucky to evade the Watto master blaster.

All adjourned to The Rock where William's who caught a good catch & took 2 wickets, sent for his Butler to return with funds for the evening.



Thank you Hawkeye. Entertaining as always!

Our keen-eyed club historian, Hawkeye, has compiled the following list of new league players UCC have fielded for 2019. Other than the year of our Lord 1665, when the UCC plague retrieval team fielded 17 new players, we believe this to be the most in one calendar year. 

Joe Williams & brother Tom
Pete Clews
Jason Box
Thresher's Pete and James
Rohan Sharma
Jonah Radcliffe
Elliot Boothright
James Elliott

A young and vibrant injection of talent into the UCC programme indeed!
​

Dear UCC Players and Supporters,

Please join us this Saturday 13th July for the 2nd Annual UCC Family BBQ. Festivities will kick off at the conclusion of this week's league game (approx. 6-6:30pm). BBQ food and a range of drinks will be available for a gold coin donation with proceeds going to charity. 

A range of family-friendly games will be staged throughout the evening including:

Thump-the-stump
Bat and Trap
Football Penalty Shootout
Nearest the Pineapple

We look forward to seeing you there!

UCC Committee

UCC has celebrated a string of victories to kick off the 2019 season. Both the Saturday league and Sunday teams remain undefeated with a number of stella performances to usher in the new season:

Jon Sorrell 134 vs Invalids
Ollie Streets 72 vs Betsham
Peter Thesher 62 vs Otford
Sean Ashfield 4 for not many vs Otford (off 8 overs!)
Andy Pinder '2 for' and '3 for' to start the league season 
Nick Watson's slip catching (4 catches in two games)

Keep up the good work and ALWAYS play to your strengths.

REMINDER: UCC playing kit can still be purchased online - https://www.surridgesport.com/underriver-cc

On behalf of all Underriver Cricket Club members we would like that thank all of you who so generously donated funds to support the pavilion upgrade.

We are nearing the final stages of the makeover and will soon be posting some fantastic photos of the upgrade.

There will be a 'soft' opening of the pavilion on Sunday 12th May at our first home fixture of the season followed by a formal opening on the 13th July at our UCC family BBQ evening (from 6pm onwards).

More information to follow.

We couldn't have done it without you all!!

After a summer outdoor season of limited success the Underriver Indoor Team went through the KCB Sev. Dist. Indoor Cricket League Cup undefeated on the weekend. The season contained an array of scintillating performances from the likes of Sean Ashfield, Andy Pinder, Mark DuBock, Michael Walsh, Paul Garner, Chris Close, Chris 'soon-to-be-wed' Mariani, Peter and James Thresher* and the Brothers Bentall#.

With the outdoor season fast approaching we are keen to maintain that winning feeling and to finally bid adieu to the disappointment of 2018!

Well done Team!

*Not bad - First two games for UCC and walking home with a trophy!
#Let me know if I have missed anyone!

Dear Underriver Resident/Club Supporter,
​
I am writing on behalf of Underriver Cricket Club to explain why the Club is seeking financial help in completing the works we need to undertake to repair our pavilion.

As many local residents will know already the Club can trace its origins back to a cricket team established in the 19h century by Underriver House. UCC was one of the first clubs to host games for disabled WW1 veterans and one of our regular fixtures is still played against a team called the Invalids. The Club can call on about 35 players (male and female) with ages presently ranging from 15 to 76. In addition, there are many social members attached to the Club. We play Saturday league games as members of the Kent County Village League and friendly fixtures against (mostly) local teams on Sundays. In winter the Club is involved in indoor matches. We run social events and an annual quiz night (sometimes twice a year!) to raise money for the club and charity.

We own our own ground and pavilion and are self-funding through subscriptions, match fees and money raising events.

Our pavilion is now some 35 years old. It was built of timber to comply with planning requirements, and needs a considerable amount of maintenance to keep it weatherproof as well as provide toilet, shower and kitchen facilities (UCC teas are often referred to as the best in the division!). A minimum standard of facilities needs to be provided to ensure that the Club can continue in the League.

However, the time has come, to quote Lewis Carroll. The showers are broken with an unreliable heating system, the toilets require replacing and the kitchen needs urgent work to ensure health and safety standards are met. In addition, cricketers these days have equipment that cannot be contained in the usual luggage of plastic carrier bags and small Gunn and Moore canvas bags (I am reminiscing now!) and the larger cricket bags with bats and helmets take up more space than can be provided by the present partitioning.

​So, we have decided to get on with the urgent repairs – the eagle-eyed will have noticed that the veranda floor has been replaced and the stanchions supporting the roof have been replaced where (very) necessary. Works will then be needed to refurbish the toilets, replace the showers and the boiler, refurbish the kitchen and also rearrange some of the internal partitions to provide more space for the changing area.

We have two estimates to date (much reduced due to the voluntary input of members) and intend to proceed with the lower estimate of £17,500. £8,500 of this will come from Club reserves built up for the purpose, and we intend to fund the remaining amount by way of fundraising events, voluntary contributions and grants from any bodies which may have funds for such a purpose. Regrettably, our application to Sport England was turned down. We are only a small club and our scheme seems to be too modest for their criteria However, I will say that already local support and generosity has been of great assistance in getting the ball rolling.

If you feel able to support the Club in our venture then please make any contribution to our Hon Treasurer and the details are below.

If you would like any further information then do not hesitate to contact me (iantbatty@aol.com).

As a Community Amateur Sports Club, UCC is able to reclaim the basic rate tax on any donation (any donor will be sent a Gift Aid declaration to be completed). Furthermore, if the donor is a higher rate taxpayer, any donation is tax deductible by the donor.

We can accept a donation in cash, by cheque or bank transfer (but not credit card).  Any cheque should be made payable to Underriver CC and mailed to Chris Close, UCC Treasurer, 15 Knole Way, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3RS.

Any bank transfer should be made as follows:
                                         Account number: 25862316
                                         Account name: Underriver Cricket Club
                                         Sort code: 60 – 19 - 02
                                         [ref: your name/”donation”]

With many thanks in anticipation!

Ian Batty Hon Sec UCC​

For those of you who have old and/or unused cricket kit lying around the house the Lord's Taverners group offer a 'sports kit recycling' programme which sends items to countries all round the world.

They are looking for donations of bats, gloves, balls and stumps, trousers and shoes (particularly Sizes 3-8) and protective gear/underwear. 

UCC will be running a 'collection drive' in the lead up to the 2019 season so if you have any of these items then let Kendall know (kendall.jarrett@outlook.com).

FYI - I have advised Simon Leahy not to donate his bat as although it is a couple of seasons old its pristine condition reflects poorly on the club. 

As we gear down for the off-season and the long winter nights ahead, many of you (our UCC faithful) may struggle to replace the highs (and lows) felt on the field during the 2018 season. However, the off-season brings with it new hope, a chance to recharge the batteries, and an opportunity to look forward to some mouth watering encounters against KCVCL Div 4 opponents! Key fixture highlights include the Morleys Roundabout Derby (UCC vs. Weald), the A225 Showdown (UCC vs. Otford), and the Betsham Hike (bring your overnight bag).

​A full fixture list for 2019 will be confirmed early December.

For those of you suffering cricket withdrawal already, UCC have a team in the Sevenoaks indoor cricket competition that plays on various Sunday afternoons throughout winter. Speak to Sean for more details - 07876567731.

Enjoy!

On Saturday 21st July this year an event took place that captured the hearts of the (UCC) nation. 

On a hot, dusty day in the hot bed of competitive oneupmanship that is our local derby (UCC vs. Weald) a wicket was taken like no other in League history.

I. Hindley,       ct D. Hawkes, b C. Close       0

Of eternal contemplation is the combined age of the Underriverarians involved - 134!

Thus, in a recent moment of weakness, Club President Adrian Barr-Smith agreed to commission a bronze statue of the moment, immortalising what will forever be known as 'The Wonder at Weald'. 

Well done chaps!

It had been a long time in the coming but Saturday's league victory helped, in some part, to banish the non-victory blues of the previous 12 weeks. Of note was Ollie Streets' standout all-round performance of 87 n.o. and 4/28. Just brilliant. But with contributions from all over the park (Ashfield 2 wickets, Leahy 27, Tong 30-odd) this was a well deserved TEAM victory. 

Astoundingly, as of this morning we are mathematically still able to avoid the drop.

​Go figure!

https://www.surridgesport.com/underriver-cc

Check out all the great UCC stuff you can now purchase!

For some, a glance at this season's results column for UCC's League side might be a painful read. But amongst the beaten brows and forlorn (yet often amusing) post-dismissal self-chastising, the team continues to play its cricket with fool-hearty endeavour and eternal optimism. Such is the UCC way.

In recent weeks we have seen standout performances from Johnny Carpenter (4-33*), Ollie Streets (the classiest reverse sweep in the league), Jon Sorrell (1 for 0 off 0.3), Simon Carey (84 n.o.) and Chris Close 4/56). Such performances have been the succulent individual roses amongst the indigestible team thorns of losing 5 for 0** and 4 for 0** in consecutive innings. Yet, at various times in our last three matches we have had in our sights the vinning post... or is the whinning post? (its been so long I can't quite remember the correct term). 

*I'm Australian. Deal with it.
**See *

The final word(s): A tremendous congratulations to Jon Sorrell who scored his maiden ton for the UCC Sunday Team against Luddesdowne. Dare I say the 'Legend of Luddesdowne' has been born... (or have I gone too far there).

​Big K

The inaugural UCC Family BBQ and Games Evening will be held on Saturday 14th July, 6pm-7:30pm following conclusion of the UCC vs. Limpsfield Chart match at the UCC ground.

All UCC players (past and present), their families, friends of UCC, and anyone interested in finding out a little more about the club and its characters are welcome to attend. A free BBQ will be put on with the usual trimmings and beer/wine will be available for a gold coin donation with part proceeds going to charity.

A range of games for adults and children (e.g. WC penalty shoot-out) and other fundraising events will be staged throughout the evening.

Further details - contact Kendall at kendall.jarrett@outlook.com or 07919869638

​On a mostly overcast but dry day, the mighty Underriver took on Horsmonden at our home ground. Note to the ignorant/bored/uninterested (or all three), Horsmonden had only won one game all season and that was against Underriver…

The scene having been set, we now proceed to this clash of cricketing titans that was a battle of wits and skill, with both sides having neither. The toss was taken, Underriver were inserted and Horsmonden took the field.

There thus followed the standard Underriver innings. Messrs Tong and Carey and opened up, and proceeded to score steadily until Carey, aiming for somewhere in the next county, played across a straight one from Horsmonden’s young tyro, Master Beaumont. Nick Watson, fresh from his masterful hundred the week before, strode to the crease and was out for a duck. Andy Tong, feeling he was missing out on the fun, promptly got himself caught in the outfield and the game was on.

Underriver, having been near a hundred for nought, were now three down. There followed a typical Underriver middle order stand, superbly marshalled by Paul Southall, whose 76 not out was a model of powerful hitting and rock solid defence. There were useful additions from David Close (22) and Simon Leahy (11) – until his pads got in the way – and some powerful late order hitting from our Australian representative Hannah Osborne (8*). The rest of the team failed to trouble the scorer – (in your humble correspondent’s case, triggered, and plumb, by the dastardly digit of Andy Tong).

And so Underriver accumulated the score of 213 for 8, which we felt confident that we could defend.

Horsmonden started their innings carefully. However, within a short time had been reduced to 13 for 6. The game was up. A decision now had to be taken. Did we continue and crush, nay humiliate, the opposition or did we try and open it out – knowing we were in full control and make more of a game of it. David Close, our skipper, took the latter view – rightly as it turned out. However, in order to play ball you need the opposition to oblige. Step to the crease young master Beaumont, all 12 or 13 years of him, who proceeded to play one of the most mature and skilful innings for one of his age the club has ever seen – or at least since I have been there (1990). David Close, skilfully rotating his 10-man attack (including a miserly spell of 4 overs for 7 runs from yours truly), managed to keep Horsmonden in the game. Why, even Andy Tong and Simon Leahy got a bowl… And yes, there were chances to win the game – Beaumont offering the simplest of chances to Teflon Leahy, who simply threw it on the ground.

At the end, Horsmonden fell well short of our total: 157-9. However, the main result other than a victory and 20 points, was the appreciation of the opposition for making more of a game of it, and the fact that young Beaumont had cost his father the price of a jug.

by Matthew Pendered

As the post-Kendall era slid inexorably towards its end, a vibrant Underriver recorded their third victory on the bounce in Kent County Village League Division Three on a scorching day at Hadlow.

It was their fifth win of the campaign - seasoned wisdom has it that six victories is enough to stay up - and such is the resurgence of this previously failing unit, there were mutterings in the camp that the aforementioned Australian might struggle to get back in the side. Such speculation was swiftly quashed by those in positions of selectorial power.

Although your correspondent was somewhat late in arriving, he understands that Underriver were foolishly inserted. This broke a long string of winning tosses by Captain Close, but saved the visitors from a prolonged sojourn in the sweltering heat. 

As your correspondent was getting changed and draining the last tepid drops from his can of lager, the two Simons, Messrs Carey and Leahy, set about the Hadlow attack in ebullient mood - not least the latter who had been spared an early return to the shed thanks to the immaculate sensory perceptions of umpire Hawkeye.

When Carey fell, perhaps disorientated by the changed schedule to his toiletry habits, that only brought the mighty Watson to the crease. Those who lay in wait began to quake, knowing the devastation that was to follow. He was soon dismissing the ball from his presence with all the divine rights of the Stuart monarchy.

It was another imperious innings from Watson. One astoundingly good on-drive reaped only a single, and as the man himself remarked, he could have been scoring a lot more if the opposition had not put all their men back after just two overs of him being at the crease. To be fair, Underriver were rattling along at nine an over at the time.

Once Watson had reached his inevitable century, his captain immediately ran him out in ruthless fashion. D Close had finally found his Saturday touch after a drought that lasted longer than the heatwave itself. So in a way it was only fair that he should seek the limelight for himself.

He duly entertained his troops with outrageous ramp shots and other previously uncategorised wafts and steers, though as a mammoth score loomed he was once more upstaged by his trusty partner Southall, who smote three quite remarkable sixes over wide long-off.

The scoreboard did not possess the capacity to register scores in excess of 300 so it was fitting that Underriver should settle on 296 for 4, with the skipper (53 not out) ensuring a red inker to improve his average a tiny bit, and Southall unbeaten on 45.

The home side faced a tall order, requiring seven and a half an over, but it was Underriver who began disastrously, losing the sevices of all-rounder Chris Marijuana after he dislocated a finger. Andy Pinder rushed to his aid, as he moves fast to do everything. As it happened, Maidstone A&E were not in quite such a hurry. 

Hadlow's opener Rogers produced quite the most brainless innings seen in many a long hot day, slogging into the air repeatedly even as his skipper at the other end told him to get his head down. Underriver were enjoying this farce so much that they kept dropping him until finally Watson held on to one.

Hadlow's headstrong leader Walsh then had the temerity to think he could somehow score all the runs on his own, refusing to run singles to the boundary even though the non-striker Baldwin would go on to score a fabulous century.

Southall found pace and movement that had been conspicuously lacking during the first innings, while C Close was his miserly old self. And the required run rate was soon up to nine and then 10. 

Then came a remarkable intervention by Ashfield (4 for 35 - really?), who grabbed quick wickets while simultaneously being unable to pitch the ball on the square. It was an interesting tactic, and one that certainly bamboozled the opposition as they collapsed in a bemused heap. 

Amid the mayhem Baldwin, formerly of Plaxtol's pastures, was a picture of calm authority and he moved to three figures with a series of thumping blows off. With the required run rate rising towards 15, D Close decided to make a game of it by bringing on the part-time bowlers and then the no-way-never bowlers (though still not your correspondent, hurrumph). 

Suddenly it seemed that Baldwin could pull it off. But the devilish skills of Pendered put paid to that hope, softening him up with a succession of massive sixes before surprising him with a straight one.

Bentall (4 not out) made sure that the joy of the Underriverians was tempered by half an hour of utter boredom. But finally Hadlow succumbed for 190 and victory was secured by the princely margin of 106 runs. 

by Andy Tong