Its Fun To Go To The YMCC

Village People
By Beefy Roberts
October 8 2010

Beefy Roberts decides to Go North West to watch the Village People in their annual final. He had a good time , had a good drink and hung out with some of the Middlesex Boys. There is a report of some MCC Village idiot rules and an illegal betting syndicate. Read on.

Its the usual Sunday trip to Lords for the Village final,being contested this year between Sessay CC from North Yorkshire and Shipton Under Wychwood from Oxfordshire.

I arrive at the North Gate entrance as usual,to find a queue to get in,was amazed its not happened at any other village final I have been to. So I get my ticket and walk to the Grace Gate,no problem there but I find out that Lords wasn't expecting a big crowd so only opened one turnstile at North Gate!

Both teams are walking around the outfield,all smart in suits and taking photos of their great day out,with Dean Headly also in attendance. Sessay win the toss,and they put Shipton into bat,a brave move by Sessay or are they showing Shipton they are ready for a good chase later during the day?

They are using the wicket only 2 in from the Tavern Stand and it has to be the greenest wicket seen all season, its a good turn out as Sessay come out to cheers from mostly Tavern and Mound stands,Shipton opening bats arrive to cheers from mostly the Edrich upper. There are few of the Middlesex faithful Turkeys there too who I joined.

Sessay opening bowler is from the Pav end,after the delivery he falls over,are you Finny in disguise?? Home team balcony is packed to watch Shipton bat,hope it holds them all for the innings,never seen so many on it.In the pavilion there are about 20-25 members watching.

After 3 overs Shipton are 12-0 a cautious start,we are sitting in the Edrich upper,stewards doing their usual job,as a young girl stands up behind her brother,a steward walks down and asks her to sit down,she is aged about 7-8 and doing no harm.

8 overs gone,its 26-0 and its a slow start,probably trying to get use to the pitch and conditions.

Off 15 overs the 50 partnership comes,and the first 6 is hit into the Tavern stand to cheers from the Shipton faithful,its 61 without loss off 17 looks like a low scoring final this year. First wicket comes,and goes again as the Sessay fielder drops a plumb easy catch in front of the Mound Stand and the ball goes over for 6 runs. Its 79-0 on 20 overs so the first drinks break comes, I decide to visit the Middx room for a pint,and find the room empty as they are only allowing Middx and MCC members in. Last finals both clubs have been allowed to use the room.

As usual,my track record continues and I miss the first Shipton wicket first batsmen is clean bowled with the score on 88,thanks to Terry for the update whilst I was walking back. 109-1 off 26 overs,Batsman Hemming reaches 50 shortly same batsman goes for 59 being caught behind with the score on 126 he played well for his score. As next batsman comes out,the PA mentions food outlets for the day,said Long Room,Bowlers Bar,Tavern Stand all open for food,didn't mention Middx Room and as we all know,unless a member,you cant use the Pavilion! Wicket falls,its 151-3, Senior is caught behind,next one in for Shipton (Hunt) is on the rather large size,we say he makes Cosgrove look slim! Other batsman is also same sort of size,but then we realise why they are both in. Hunt is facing,and their next 4 balls went like this- 6,4,6,6. Can see why they are in then! Last ball of over,Hunt takes a single to face the bowling again, Hunt has got 29 off 7 balls and Shipton reach 200-3 off 36 overs,Hunt goes by being stumped but has hit 38 off 13 balls,5x6 1x4. Another wicket goes on 224 and close of innings Shipton have posted 227 for the loss of 5 wickets,after a slow start they put on a good score off 40 overs.

After the lunch break,Sessay start their run chase and people sitting near us start an illegal betting sydicate going to see how many Sessay score £1 to predict the score. I enter using name as MTWD,and take 228 as their score. Off 3 overs Sessay have 6 runs,as Shipton its a slow,cautious start, its 22-0 off 4 overs, as suddenly Sessay wake up,the opening batsmen(Wilkie and M.Till) reach their 50 partnership off 51 balls and these two look very comfortable,good openers,10 overs gone 63 without loss and they carry on playing well and off 14 overs reach 85-0.

The volume has been turned up in the stands as both sets of supporters get louder,maybe the Lords beer is taking effect. There are comments being made from the impartial watchers that Sessay do look a bit fitter and more organised than Shipton,its not a dig at Shipton,just how Sessay are looking.

Wilkie the opener gets to his 50 off 57 balls,played well for it. It's here that the reporter admits to be favouring Sessay today. The score reaches 103-0 off 18 overs M.Till reaches his 50,off 50 balls,impressive scoring. Then,it happens again,I miss a wicket!,take a wicket break and M.Till goes for 56 off 54 balls including 12x4,its 127-1 and need a further 101 to win. Off 23 overs its 143-1 and with Sessay well above the run rate Shipton bring spin on from the nursery end.Sessay get 150 on the board req run rate is 5.1 they are on 6.0 and looking good at the moment to win,the illegal betting is looking good for me as well,as others start to drop away,I find out two of us have 228,so if I win I get half. Wicket falls,I see it! The other opener Wilkie goes for 78 off 92 balls,played very well for the runs and they are on 159,as the score builds Sessay get braver and take quick singles and twos as well,then the nerves take hold and they stop scoring for a couple of overs,after a chat in the Middle they settle down to scoring again as 4's come and go,and they reach 200 off 198 balls they have 7 overs to get 28 runs,and I'm thinking more about the betting syndicate now as well. Wicket goes its 209-3,latest batsmen(not got name) goes for 42,ans Sessay look favourites to win if they keep calm and nerves don't get hold of them.

Next batsmen in is Flintoff,not Freddie but John Flintoff who,we find out has been playing for Sessay for 38 years,a superb record for him and he finally walks out to the middle at Lords,he hits a 4 towards the pavilion and at the same time turns to the away balcony in the pavilion and punches the air,the Sessay fans start to celebrate as they realise its their title this year,and without being against Shipton,Sessay deserved to be crowned Village Final winners 2010.

Was another enjoyable day,it cost £10 to go in,and would recommend it next season to anyone.

Its Fun To Go To The YMCC

Posted by: Middlesex till we die (IP Logged)

Date: 08/10/2010 10:55

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:11:02:07:19:27 by Ged.