Friday 2 September 2016 The u11s have had a glorious finish to their season by winning the South Norfolk Community League Carnival Cup. Earlier in the week, Garboldisham u15s had won in their age group and today it was the turn of the u11s to bring the silverware home! They beat Mattishall in their semi-final and then faced Topcroft in the final. Garby batted first and scored 103. Topcroft fought back hard to chase down Garby’s total but in the end, the high standard of Garboldisham’s bowling, fielding and wicket-keeping proved too much and Topcroft were bowled out for 82 and finished 22 runs short. There’s a full match report to come. Well done to all the youngsters and to coach and manager, James Worby.

Aussie Dan Constable scored his first century for Garboldisham in a friendly on Wednesday 31 August against Cudham Wyse CC – a touring side from Kent. The visitors batted first and scored 249 which Garby then chased down in 40 overs with Dan picking up 120*, Toby Culling and Louis Hart adding in 61 and 30 and Henry Phoenix 30*. If you missed our interview with Dan, you can read it here.

*Gay, but heartfelt post alert* With league fixtures being done and dusted for a season I thought I’d take a bit of time to say a few words. Firstly, what a season it has been for our 1st team. We were written off by some and underestimated by a few at the start of the season. Many outsiders predicted a tough and ultimately disappointing season, which many thought would end in relegation back into Division One at the club’s first attempt in The Premier Division. How wrong they were! Throughout the year we have proven what a talented bunch of players we have in our club. Everyone who has had the opportunity to play has done their bit at one point during the season and with the added ‘bit of bastard’ in us we showed great character to get over the line in some games, notably in both games vs Downham. To finish second is a fantastic achievement and just goes to show that ‘the villagers’ can mix it with the best. The challenge for next …

26th-28th August Beer Festival weekend. We have 7 beers (Adnams Ghost ship, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Woodfordes Wherry, Woodfordes Once Bittern, Robinsons Dizzy Blonde and 2 of Peters Barnes’ choice) 26th August Final junior nets of the season and junior presentation. Nets finish at 7pm and are immediately followed by the junior awards evening. Awards will be given for each of the playing age groups up to U15. £4 per child which includes BBQ and a drink. 27th August Saturday’s fixtures 1s away at Diss, 2s at home to Hetherset and Tas Valley, 3s at home to East Harling, 4s away at Diss 28th August Six-a-side tournament. All teams are taken, however should anyone want a game we can find them a team 30th August U15 South Norfolk Community League Final’s Day at the Langley. Semis in morning, final in afternoon 2nd September Golf Day Contact Danny Cash or Sandy Dye Culling for more info. 3rd September End of Season Do at Lyng Farm. Fancy dress theme of ‘The world of Music’ £10 a ticket, for more info contact Peter Barnes 10th …

Thursday 25 August 2016 Garboldisham CC u15s beat Horsford CC in the final of the Andy Seeley Trophy by 10 runs and made club history by becoming the first Garby youth team to win a Norfolk Alliance competition. In 2011 and 2013 GCC u17s had won the Junior Carter Cup but GCC youth had never got their hands on a Norfolk Alliance League trophy – until today! Well done to captain Toby Culling and all the u15 lads who played in all the matches. This win is the culmination of a fantastic summer for the u15s which started back on the 2 May with their first league game. There are four u15 leagues in the Norfolk Alliance that brings together 27 teams from across the county and Garboldisham went on to top their league, Group 1, by the end of June and thus qualify as one of eight teams that go forward to play in the knockout stages. After 1/4 final and semi-final wins against Bungay and Dersingham, Garby were up against Horsford in the final. …

Dan Constable has been feeling right at home. It’s the hottest day of the summer and the weather reminds him of being back in Australia. But it wasn’t always like this – when Dan arrived at GCC back in the spring it was just 4° – what had he let himself in for?! Dan left his home town of Wollangong, which is about an hour’s drive south of Sydney, in April to join GCC as our overseas player and junior coach. Last year he’d been studying Business Studies at University but he hadn’t enjoyed it and so had decided to defer it for a year and do some travelling. Time out playing as an overseas player in an English cricket league seemed like the perfect opportunity and he took up Garby’s offer of a position. Dan first started playing cricket 10 years ago as a 9-year old, and his hero and inspiration growing up had been the former Aussie captain Michael Clarke. As Dan’s cricketing skills improved, he was picked up by Campbelltown Ghosts – one of Sydney’s leading club teams (Monty Panesar has …

Yesterday evening (Tuesday 23 August), with the light fading, the U15s beat Old Buckenham U15s in the South Norfolk Community League by 61 runs. Garby batted first and scored a heady 142-4 off their 16 overs (George Southgate 35, Arthur Johnson 38). In reply Old Buck’ were 82-6. This latest win for the U15s sees them go through to the SNCL Final’s Day which will be held at Garboldisham on Tuesday next week (30 August). Don’t forget that you can catch the U15s in action against Horsford in the final of the Norfolk Alliance Andy Seeley Trophy at 10.30 on Thursday at Great Melton. ‘Coach’ Jack Stevenson photobombs the U15’s picture