And the wins keep coming …
Following on from a much-needed victory against Daventry Rugby Club, good to report that after a difficult start to the season the club have finally hit a rich vein of form with three more wins.
Highlight of the month was the annual Peter Mayne Memorial match against Braunston, in memory of a founder member of B&FCC who passed away in 2025 and is much missed.
Like last year’s inaugural event, this was a designated charity match to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital and the MND Association and to that end the match was an outstanding success with £734 raised (split between the two charities).
For the record, B&FCC won by 24 runs with Linda Mayne presenting the trophy bearing her husband’s name to home captain Charlie Ashmore – a great day all round.
A week later at the Open University, another win, bizarrely in a match almost a replica of last summer’s victory in Milton Keynes, chasing 210 to win by one wicket in the last over of the day. Batting honours were shared between Dick Stapley, Rohan Patel, Richard Bull and Jordan Shingler who hit the winning runs.
The week before had seen Charlie Ashmore’s side regain the Pulpit Trophy in the annual home match against the Crooked Hooker, a team of elite athletes from Northampton Saints academy. What could possibly go wrong?
The match saw a welcome return to the Long Roods ground for two former players in Dan Cairns and Ben Stanton whilst the opposition’s total of 179 (from 30 overs) was followed by a superb tea featuring several delicious cakes. In reply, B&FCC made hard work of the run chase before finally getting the job done in the final over.
Another competitive game, played in the right spirit with special mention to the young men from the Saints academy who were a credit to themselves, their coaches and club. A great set of lads.
The match also marked a fond farewell to Peter Collins who has been involved in Badby cricket for many, many years – player, captain, chairman and more recently groundsman – – but is now retiring and moving to pastures new. All the best Peter, you will be missed.
Future matches on September Sunday afternoons will be