ST OUEN ensured that the league would not be decided until the final week when they scored a surprising victory over the champions last Saturday.

Second placed OVs would claim the title if Romerils were to slip up against bottom placed Caesareans tomorrow and they were to beat Springfield. This is remarkably similar to the situation in 1995 when SCF needed to beat bottom placed LS Insurance to clinch the league. Read on to find out what happened.

Aztec Springfield v Rathbones OV’s (Grainville):
All OV’s can do is win this match and hope for a miracle at FB Fields. There is a precedent though that could give them some faint hope of lifting the trophy tomorrow night and that is what happened on this day 13 years ago.

The only difference is that it was SCF that needed to beat bottom placed LS Insurance to win the league. They looked set to do so after setting them 200 runs in 40 overs but the underdogs found themselves requiring 13 off the last over and when Kenny Mclean struck a six and a four of the fourth and fifth balls, the game was tied.

With the fielders all close in trying to save the single, he slashed the final ball to the boundary amid hoops of joy from the LS crowd who, in winning, had prevented relegation to Division II.

That win handed the title to OVs who were, as they are tomorrow, playing Springfield at Grainville. Ward Jenner, the captain of OVs recalled: ‘The LS boys coming over the hill at Grainville after their match, madly excited, like a scene out of Zulu. I bought loads of beers and I think the tab is still open to anyone who can prove they were part of that monumental LS effort.’

Chris Batchelor founder of LS Insurance: ‘The funniest thing I remember is relaying ball by ball commentary to Ward Jenner at Grainville, on the pay phone at FB, while I was padded up and waiting to bat. Someone got out and I had to put the phone down and go to the middle. Great memories, it’s what sport is all about. Hopefully the same fate doesn’t await Romerils on Saturday.’

Appearing on the scorecards of those matches are the names of several present day players as well as some fathers of today’s cricketers, such as Steve Gough (great picture of him facing Simon Clarke in the JEP), father of OVs’ twins Pete and Jonny, and Andy Gibbs, father of Tom, who scored 117 last weekend, and who is playing for OVs tomorrow.

The name of Rodney Boddy is also on the OVs scorecard. A duck and 1 for 26 belie his former presence in the local scene, as he was a pretty formidable character. He was a rare visitor to the clubhouse last Saturday.

The reason when asked why was: ‘I’ve been in Spain the last six years, you muppet.’ I’m not sure the present day pre match and post match warm downs would meet with his approval but he is fondly remembered by a team mate charging, like a rhinoceros, down the hill at Victoria College, where he once took 7 for 15 against old rivals Elizabeth College.

Anyway, enough of that, what about this match? Well OVs are struggling a bit, two Goughs away, no Jones, Bobby Minty or Ed Farley, but they still have a pretty decent side out. Poor Tom Minty is a bit downbeat at the moment and could really do with some wickets and perhaps a hug from his team mates.

The bad news for Thomas is that Pete Canham, who I’m sure would have obliged him, with his wicket and possibly a hug, is not playing for the Aztecs, although recently getting Pete’s wicket hasn’t been the taking candy from a baby exercise that it used to be.

He will be in Southampton with his wife Alison, preparing for the birth of their twins and I’m sure that anyone who knows them will be keeping their fingers crossed that all goes well. I don’t feel this week would be the appropriate week, Alison, to reintroduce the abuse that used to be found in this column about your husband, as you have requested, but I suppose that one little bit just to keep you happy won’t hurt.

Prediction: OV’s win to spark a reenactment of events from 13 years ago (well, hopefully the Ward Jenner buying loads of beer bit anyway).

Romerils v Caesareans (FB1):
Romerils have suffered a few collywobbles in recent weeks and the fact that they are playing a resurgent Caesareans side won’t help settle them much.

Caesareans recent form seems a result of the old and young blending, with youngsters Charlie Johnson, Ben Stevens and Chuggy Perchard providing good support for the older generation of Dave Gorman, Aaron Eagar and Pete German. Chuggy can be particularly pleased with his efforts in his first full season in the NatWest Premier league, already having taken ten wickets.

Whether there is much point in making a case for them is doubtful, especially as reports are that they are missing several players, and Romerils really should cruise past this test. They faced a much stiffer challenge last year to claim the title, when they needed to beat SCF in a winner takes all match, a test they passed and in doing so quashed any lingering belief that they lacked bottle.

The fact that they have three of the leading four wicket takers in the Island means the Caesarean batsmen are in for a tough afternoon and could find runs hard to come by. Nevertheless, I’m sure Romerils will not be leaving anything to chance and wouldn’t be surprised if they had employed a taster to test all Ryan Driver’s food before he eats it.

Prediction: Caesareans to provide some food for thought but not enough to bring Romerils down.

St Ouen v Fairbairn SCF (LQ1):
Little point in saying too much about this match as the result is unlikely to affect league positions, assuming OVs beat Springfield, other than it has the makings of a good game. Unfortunately St Ouen’s Dean Morrison is away, as is last week’s four wicket hero Brian Coughtrie, but no need to panic as Hugo Bishop and Rob Tewkesbury are back.

The fact that Richard Gomersall is also back may not cause the SCF team too much angst, but scores of 53 and 41 in recent NatWest Evening League matches and a four wicket haul are signs that the Gomersall machine is now moving into top gear.

The omens therefore appear good for him getting the 28 runs needed for him to pass the 100 run barrier in the Weekend League season this weekend.

SCF will probably be disappointed to finish third in the league but haven’t had a bad season. It could have been a bit worse though but for Steve Carlyon’s form and also that of their new acquisition from Yorkshire, Phil Ramage, who has quickly adapted to the Jersey wickets having already scored a hundred this season.

He is probably slightly unfortunate not to have recorded two actually, as a ripple of applause after scoring a couple of runs, whilst batting in the game against the MCC a couple of weeks ago, indicated he had and he acknowledged it accordingly. Unfortunately the applause was a response from the crowd to the belated news, from the scorers, that batting partner Arran Eagar had miraculously reached his fifty a few balls earlier.

Phil was out without scoring another run and was probably slightly peeved to find out he had only scored 87 when he got back to the changing room. Needless to say the renowned Yorkshire sense of humour shone through in the end.

Having missed the last couple of games I’m sure Tony Carlyon will be raring to go, and his presence will help the top of the batting order deal with the possible absence of Matty Hague.

They do have a tail that can wag though, as it did last week, with Bradley Vautier, Charlie Elanco, and James Perchard, all making valuable contributions. This should be a close game, but St Ouen have never found beating SCF easy, and I think SCF will just sneak it.

Prediction: Gomersall form unlikely to stop SCF finishing on a high.
Leading Run Scorers
Club Total Inngs Avge
Morrison D SO 401 5 80
Carlyon S SC 378 8 47
Gough P OV 331 9 37
Gough J OV 319 9 35
Driver R R 297 4 74
German P C 269 9 30
Rammage P SC 268 9 30
Kelly P S 261 9 29
Gorman D C 256 5 51
Crocker I R 254 8 32
Leading Wicket Takers
Club Wkts Runs Avge
Driver R R 27 147 5
Waite M R 16 264 17
Parker S S 16 340 21
Crocker N R 16 298 19
Carlyon S SC 14 255 18
Gough P OV 13 210 16
Blackburn P R 13 294 23
Dewhurst A OV 13 174 13
Moyse K SO 12 249 21
Evans P S 11 237 22
Kemp M M C 11 303 28
Kelly P S 11 274 25