WITH last weekends matches rained off the highlight seemed to be the Beer Festival. Dennis Owen, whose picture was on the front of the Friday’s JEP is ‘of course’ an umpire, and his condoning of the event was enough to see the place heaving on Friday evening.

Needless to say Dean Morrison and Richard Gomersall were up to their usual Friday night activities, trawling drinking establishments, ensuring no St Ouenies were out on the town, even though their game had already been called off. They had even enlisted Richard Baigent and Gomy’s wife, Roz, to help. Such diligence must surely reap rewards sooner or later.

So tomorrow the rearranged semi finals take place and hopefully the improved weather forecasts prove to be correct and the games will be completed. Even if the weather turns nasty the teams will at least be made comfortable as Dean Morrison explained that they will have a bowl off something. Not sure of what though, as we got cut off before we finished the conversation, see below.

Dean “Yeah mate if the weather turns nasty we’ll have a bowl off,” Idiot on other end of phone “Soup?” Dean “No a bowl off”, Idiot …”Nice warm porridge?” Dean “No you idiot, a bowl off!” Idiot “Oh a bowl of….Bread and butter pudding and custard with nice burnt raisins? Hello, anyone there, funny must have got cut off”

The final will then take place on the 20th which could cause a problem as it is the night after the Awards Dinner. Talking of the Awards Dinner, you may or may not know that the current chairman of selectors, Geoff Miller, as well as Roger Knight and Richard Holdsworth, a couple of the big cheeses of the ICC Europe Organisation, will be speaking, so make sure you’re there. There will of course be the presentations to league winners, the Rathbones Handicap winner and of course the Player of the Year.

The squad to play in the ICC World Cup Division 4 tournament in Tanzania was recently revealed, which threw up a couple of small surprises, especially that of Ben Stevens, as it was presumed that he was not eligible.
It transpires, however, that he qualifies under the seven-year law, as he moved to the Island in 1999 and played school cricket between the years of 2002-2005, representing Jersey at the different age groups before being schooled on the mainland.

He has also returned during holidays and played club cricket in 2007 and 2008. Hopefully that clears that up.
One notable absentee from the squad is Chris Jones, who is having a shoulder operation meaning fashion critic, Bobby Minty, will have a new victim room mate.

Poor Sam Dewhurst has drawn the short straw, although his “gangster” style dress wear may make Bobby work harder than Jonesy’s slacks and sneakers.