It’s a case of net gains as Beccles players enjoy excellent start to the season

Beccles Cricket Club have had a fantastic start to the season and are crediting at least part of this success to the old adage “practice makes perfect”.

The club have been practising for the first time in their new net practice facility installed recently at their Beef Meadow home. The facility was installed by the same company, Club Turf, who installed practice nets at the Kensington Oval Test ground in Barbados and at the home of cricket, Lord’s. The system installed is fully accredited to ECB standards and is to exactly the same specification as those installed at The Oval and Lord’s. It replaced a very old practice bay that had become dangerous and totally unsuitable for use.

The funds required for such an investment were significant and it was made possible by hard work from the club, the commitment of club sponsors and from a very generous donation by the Beccles Townlands Charity. The club would like to thank all who contributed but particularly Neil Hickman of the club’s main sponsors Hickman Supplies and Robert Seppings of the BTC, without whom this new and exciting facility would not have been possible.

The nets are in regular use, both by the club’s senior sides and importantly also by the junior section, who have long been the lifeblood of the club. The club have a thriving junior section but would like to encourage any youngster who would like to enjoy the delights of cricket and who would like to practice in the same quality of facility as England’s elite players do, to come down to Beef Meadow on a Monday (under 15 and under 13 6pm-7.30pm) or Wednesday night (under 11 and under 8 6pm-7.30pm) to join in the fun.

Sunday saw Ashby visit Drayton for the first time. James Campbell-Johnson and Rob Beaumont both scored 50s. Tinsdale, 26, and Herbert, 26, made useful contributions, enabling Ashby to reach 217 for six in their 40 overs. The hosts were never in the hunt and were bowled out for 147. Tryall made 42 and wicket-takers were Issey (3), Solomon (2), I Thurston, Jackman, Tinsdale, Johnson and Herbert one each.

Wednesday’s match was rained off. Next week’s fixtures: Sunday v Wizards at home 2pm and Wednesday v Wombles at home 6pm.