Two weeks ago I started with the U11 Girls, who played their inaugural game, and I make no apology about starting with them again, as in only their second game they registered their first victory! Up against the more established club Bushy Park Girls – who were really sporting opponents – we registered victory, largely on the back of a brilliant catching display and some positive running. Well done the U11 Girls!

On Saturday, the 1s dug themselves out of a hole for a terrific and much-needed win. At 50-odd for 5, against a strong Tower Hamlets, we were staring down the barrel. Up stepped Seb Eyre with 65, and Jordan Cahir with 42, to lift us to the undreamt of heights of 201 in our 55. The game was very much in the balance at drinks, 108-3, but a quick collapse brought on by Matt Tomes-Smith (4-33) saw us to the win.

The 2s lost. We made 193 (Anurag Zende 46) but it wasn’t quite enough as Bessborough chased it with time to spare for 6, Rob Fernandes taking 4. The 3s faced a powerful top-of-the-table Brentham who piled up 284. But we hung on for the draw at 164-7.

The 4s also played Brentham, who scored 240 in their 50. We got close-ish, making 208-5 (Sam Sud 57) for a losing draw. The 5s lost convincingly but Dan Hayward top-scored with a good 43.

The details of the Sunday games that have reached me are sketchy. The MDL side lost narrowly, but that’s all I know. The away side beat Woodlawn, with Dino Antoniades making 66.

The penultimate week for the main junior season saw the U19s lose, but with a lot of fight, on Friday. On Sunday morning the U13s put up a valiant performance against a strong South Hampstead, posting 147-3 in 20 – 77* to Haris Naser, but we just bowled too many wides. There were also defeats against decent oppos for U10, U11 and U15 – but great to get an U15 out this week.

We are currently hampered in getting between HQ and Chiswick House, and getting people to Chiswick House generally for games, by the traffic restrictions along Staveley Road that were introduced earlier in the year. There is currently a consultation taking place and we would be grateful if you were able to add your voices to the club’s case that this measure is unnecessary, in that it solves a problem that doesn’t exist, while making traffic between Chiswick Bridge and Hogarth Roundabout really miserable. At the very least, it would help us if the measures only applied in the week – they currently apply Monday-Saturday, so impact our Saturday games. The consultation is at https://haveyoursay.hounslow.gov.uk/traffic-and-transport/staveley-road-and-burlington-lane-trial-access-r/. Thanks in advance.

And last – another notable legend of the club was down on Saturday. It was great to see Norman Dugdale, stalwart of more than 50 years with the club, down to watch the excitement at HQ. Great to see you Norman!

Next week marks the halfway point in the league season – let’s get ourselves there in style. Get your availabilities in before Tuesday, please.

Bernard