Sunday 3rd May 2026
With rain once again calling games off across South Wales the previous day, Wick woke up to glorious sunshine over the village green as the boys looked to get back to winning ways after the defeat to Llantwit Major the previous weekend.
With Captain Russ away on an under 11s rugby tour (as a parent, not playing…I’m told), it was over to stand in captain Steve to take over the unenviable task of pulling together 11 players. After a morning of hokey-cokey with players in-out-in-out and with thanks to young Sam, Owen and the sheriff of the Vale, Ben Wade for stepping in last minute, Wick had 11 and it was game on.
Wick were batting first but as the match reporter was sitting on a train somewhere around Bristol at the time we don’t know who won the toss, but since it wasn’t Russell we can assume Steve won and Wick were batting.
Wick CC - 164 for 9 (40.0): Jason Fenn 67*, Tom Fenn 37
Barry West End - 55 All out(27.0): D.Frost 16, Tom Fenn 3-6, Amal Chandrasena 2-4
SCORECARD
I’m told that Ben and Steve opened and both fell on 8 runs a piece bringing Tom and his father and Wick debutant, Jason to the crease. We can assume that both played some good cricket (you can fill in the gaps in your own minds) as by the time the match reporter arrived, the Wick ship had been steadied, and the home side were 76/3 at the break.
Owen, having sauntered to the green fresh from a train from London and his sister’s hen do, started to make himself comfortable in his camping chair before being told he was in to bat next. With Tom out shortly after drinks and Owen still padding up, Amal was in alongside Jason who was ticking along nicely. A couple of shots later and Owen came to the crease with Amal caught for 4.
Owen, no doubt suffering from not being able to do his extensive warm up and visualisation routines, struggled to get the ball of the square and when he eventually did, he chipped it up and was caught for 3.
The rest of the Wick innings saw a big swinging Saurabh, a Boycott-esque Sam and a ‘he’s quite nippy isn’t he’ John come and go before Jason and incredibly unwell Gutsy brought the Wick innings to a close at 67 and 2 not out respectively. Wick posted an about par 164 from their 40 overs, enough to make a game of it but would be it enough to overcome the always competitive West End side?
With Gutsy’s health rapidly declining during tea he was sent home and newly installed Vale 4s Captain Jeff was subbed on. With no Gutsy to open the bowling Captain Steve elected to open with Tom and Gutsy’s greatest nemesis, Amal. Steve also opted to have Owen keep wicket, a bold choice considering Jason keeps wicket for the Wales over 55s first team – we can’t work that one out either.
Wick couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the innings as Tom and Amal ripped through the West End top order. Amal opened the innings with a maiden over only to be outdone by Tom who bowled a Wicket maiden in his. Amal didn’t have to wait long for his Wicket as in the next over as the remaining West End opener nicked one behind that was caught one handed by a diving Owen in a catch that could only be described as ‘a screamer’ (his words and not the words of the rest of the team). And as the old adage goes ‘one brings two’, Amal took his second wicket to leave the West End top order reeling.
There was no let up from the Wick attack as a wicket for Saurabh, his second in two games and another two from Tom left West end 5 down for 20 runs after 8 overs. Tenko and Steve managed to steady the ship for West End, batting out the overs and taking them to drinks at 39/7. But West End were all out for 55 in the 26th over, the rest of the Wickets were shared out with every other bowler taking a wicket each, from youngsters Ben, John and Sam to the evergreen Steve it was a fantastic bowling performance from the team to bring home an unexpected but comprehensive victory for Wick.
Takeaways from the game were:
- Two Fenn’s really are better than one
- Wick really need to work on their fielding and catching
- Why did Gutsy think coming to play when he was clearly on deaths door was a good idea!?
- Will the new club kit shop ever be ready!?
Whilst we may not know the answers to all of these questions, plenty of discussions were had over some roast potatoes and a few pints post-game at the Star, thank you as always.
Next up for Wick is a visit from relatively new friends Blaengarw and Coedely CC, the new club of wick stalwart Chris. Who will he play for? We won’t need to wait long to find out.
– Owen Thomas
