Full Fixture Information

Full Match Report

Saturday 28th June saw the East Meon Cricket Club?s annual fund-raising beer and sixes extravaganza and once more it was an epic mid-summer day / night celebrated with fiercely contested cricket, copious amounts of Rum Punch, Pimms and beer and then an amazing band and just as amazing local DJ to round the evening off; all the while managing to raise a significant amount of money for the club and other good causes in the village.

It all started at 9.30am with East Meon?s own Mother Duckers (shorn of some of their more celebrated talents) taking on last year?s debutants Barford, on tour from Warwickshire and coming en-masse to the village to spend the day with us in the sunshine and who ended up entering two teams when Rogate pulled out at the 11th hour.

Last year?s winners Porchfield were back from the Isle of Wight to defend their title, and it was a welcome return to the mighty Park Farm Raiders, serial finalists and occasional winners, who along with DACD, Petersfield Hockey and the Queen?s Head made up the eight teams.

Twelve matches later and there were two semi-finals ? Petersfield Hockey v Porchfield and Park Farm Rangers v DACD.

On the way there had been some heroic deeds on the pitch, but none-better than Tim Lawrence, in front of his adoring fanclub, taking three wickets in an over as the Mother Duckers dodged the wooden spoon and upset the draw by beating Porchfield in their final group game.

The semi-finals saw Petersfield Hockey run up the highest score of the day, 102, before conceding the second highest score of the day as Porchfield ended up on 81 and Park Farm Raiders overcoming DACD on their way to the final.

The final was another high-scoring affair with Park Farm Raiders setting Petersfield Hockey a target of 77 to win, which they did with a ball to spare with James Atkinson reverse sweeping the ball away to the boundary to seal the win; although the real damage had been done in the 4th over when Park Farm Raiders conceded 24 to hand the initiative back to team Hockey.

What a day of cricket ? and what a pleasure to see the boundary ringed by players, supporters and passers-by enjoying their Pimms and Rum Punch and cheering on the cricket.

The evening party got into swing with live music from the amazing Island City from Portsmouth. Followed up by Nick Crombie?s intense DJ set which had the marquee bouncing, until, at midnight it was time to say good night and wend our way slowly homewards.

As always, the funds raised help support the cricket club as well as allowing for donations to some local causes around the village and with the East Meon Primary School again running the lunch stall, it was a good day for them with over ?750 pounds being raised for the school.

These things don?t just happen ? and so a big thank you to everyone that helped out ? to Ian Cook and Tim Lawrence for masterminding the day, for James Atkinson for all the work he put in to organise the cricket, sort out the wickets and generally keep everyone energised and on point, to Tim Clay, Dave Rees, and Nick Crombie for sorting out the music, lights and PA system and then to the rest of EMCC for pitching in where needed and putting on a great event for the village.

A big thank you to our Sponsors for their support, which is always invaluable in terms of helping to underwrite the day.

And, of course, a final big thank you to you, the village, for coming out and enjoying the evening, it?s so good to see so many lovely friendly faces at, what is, one of the highlights of the village calendar. Hurrah!