The first game of any U9 season is always a great thing. Some players may have played the year before, but many will be making their entrance into competitive cricket for the very first time. As I say, a great thing.....

Bowl straight, take your catches
This year the Twickenham U9s are headed up by Nick McCollin and Cam Allen. With McCollin out on a scouting mission elsewhere, it was left to Allen to herd the cats, sorry, prepare TCC's youngest side for their encounter with near-neighbours Moormead.

Moormead won the toss and decided to have a bat (see here for the full scorecard). Openers James Ramsay and Max Malcolm got the showing on the road nicely, whilst Joshua Simons and Frederick Harries also wielded the blade with some aplomb.

The hosts, however, did keep losing wickets along the way. Gus Joyce (2-7 off 2) led from the front, whilst Sam Allen also struck twice (2-5 from 2). Annie May took a stonking caught and bowled, whilst Arthur Jeeps and Noah de Vos also chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Steady batting with a bit of boshing
Moormead subsequently set Twickenham 241 to win; a reasonable total, but one that was also well within the visitors' sights.

Ahana Singh and Annie May were solid up top, as were the second pair, Jack Baran and Seb McCollin. Baran and McCollin may only have scored four and five each, but, crucially, neither was out. Throw in a steady flow of extras and the Twickenham score was creeping up nicely.

Noah de Vos (6) and Arthur Jeeps (2) followed that same logic; steady scoring, no dismissals. The Ts were looking good.

Sammy Allen tends to have a rather different view on cricketing life; he decided that attack was the best form of defence and started whacking the ball about nicely. Sure, he was out a couple of times, but the 15 he put on the board was crucial in getting the Ts up and beyond the Moormead total. Gus Joyce was rather more sanguine in his approach, but, much as was the case with the middle order players, he wasn't out. The Ts had won by 28 runs.

All in all, it was fantastic morning all round. The first of many, hopefully. Next up for the Ts are Sheen Park. That'll be Sunday 11 May, 10am start on the Green.