Nomads Boggle at Bogle
Nomads played Aston Unity again, after a 4 year gap, at their new venue at Erdington Court Bowls Club.
Unity opened the batting making a good start against Jim Cogzell and Sam O’Brien. Having at least 8 bowlers, captain John Loxley
planned on giving everyone 5 overs whilst keeping himself in reserve. The introduction of Ian Hughes after 10 overs saw the 1st wicket fall at 84 in the 12th over.
At the other end Tony Jordan was bamboozling the batters with his slowness and Sheikh was caught off him by Daz Cartwright. It may have been worth keeping Tony
on but John Loxley stuck to his guns and changed the bowlers again after tea bringing on John Hoddy and Ryan Clenton. Ryan bowled very economically but with
no reward whilst John claimed a wicket with a good catch at gully by Sam O’Brien, who also aided in a run out throwing the ball to John Hoddy who managed to let the
ball bounce off his foot onto the wicket dislodging a bail. Daz Cartwright claimed 2 wickets, one an excellent low catch in the covers by Jim Cogzell and the other
bowling the dangerous Borthwick, who earlier in the season had scored a 164.
Nomads had taken a good clutch of wickets but S Bogle batted on after his 100 to score 152 aided by Hussain scoring 44.
A score of 267 looked daunting but not ungettable.
The opening overs were a mixed bag with 10 byes off the 1st over, albeit a maiden, a 2nd over maiden bowled by the pacy Sheikh with Dave Rolfe playing and missing
every ball and then 7 off the 3rd over including the first runs off the bat. The opening batters managed to survive the opening bowlers with a reasonable run-rate mainly
thanks to extras. However 1st change Adams dismissed both openers and the required run-rate was mounting. John Loxley, Sam O’Brien and Ryan Clenton
pushed things along and John was unfortunate to fall just one short of his 50. Jim Cogzell was bowled 1 st ball and Ian Hughes scored a quick 18 including one six. The
Unity side decided to bring back the opening bowlers in the descending gloom and Daz Cartwright was bowled by one he did not see. Tom Davis and Tony Jordan then
shut up shop, although Davies had a brief flourish scoring the innings 3rd six, denying Rylea Hughes his 1st bat of the season for Nomads.
An innings of 150, by a batsman who has progressed in Unity’s history versus Nomads, dominated the match but Nomads acquited themselves well scoring over
200, greatly helped by extras- leading scorer on 58.
[Disclaimer: Any offence caused by this article is unintentional, any praise is well deserved]
Date: 27 July 2025
Start time: 1:00pm
Venue: Erdington Court Bowls Club
Competition: 40 overs friendly
Scores: Aston Unity 267 for 6 v Lichfield Nomads 203 for 9
Result: Aston Unity won by 64 runs
Toss: tbc
Scorer: Tony Jordan and Aston Unity
Umpires: Various and Aston Unity
Report: John Hoddy
Weather: Dull
4 Aug 2025