Mon 20th July
Westcott limited 11 Player Tour all traveled down idenpendently to North Devon for the First Westcott CC cricket tour, the majority all left early morning with all members being their by the afternoon, the players firstly checked into their shallet rooms which they found to be very nice. Then all Players went to the bar to get something to eat and relax with a few drinks into the early evening. Whilst getting ready to go out for the first night in Barnstaple and just for pure tradition, most of the players all got involed in a nice relaxing game of coutyard cricket outside our rooms which was found to be very entertaining. Once the party were ready all members except the Vanstadens who prefered a night in the bar headed in to town to catch up with the locals, the party started with a few drinks in weatherspoons , planning for the big games ahead in Devon before headding to Givanis for a lovely italian meal in a very friendly atmosphere. After this the Team Headed back to the Hotel to relax in the bar with some bar snacks and yet few more drinks, Most of the party headed back to the Shrives room for a very challenging game of Monopoly, between the team mates, after many hours and few mischievious moves and banter, Ellen and James were Joint winners and we all went to sleep in the early hours ready for our first game of tour.
Tues 21st July
First match ahead of us and the majority of the team woke up for a fabulous display for breakfast, fully cooked meal, fruit yougurts it had all the works which looked give us the energy for the big game but looking outside the weather was doubtfull, after breakfast the team when back to the room with many in the party going to enjoy the lovely Barnstaple market and soon after they got back are assumptions were correct and the first match of tour was rained off . but was not all bad news that day as President Alan Reif joined the team on tour for a few days. It was now a descion for what to do for the rest of the day and the team decided for a good team bonding exercise that we would all go Go Karting which looked be a exciting adventure ahead, when eventually finding the place 10 of the 12 members participated with the fasted 2 getting to go again in the four laps on their outdoor circuit which looked to be very interesting with the amount of rain that has fallen over the morning. So we had the breifing put on our safety outfits and away we went with colisions every now and then everyone looking to see who could be the fastest, at the end of the four lap race is was Hughes and Musgrave who were to battle it out for 1st place , after another four laps Hughes secured victory in the Go Karting challenge. After this eventfull start to the day we all headed back to the bar early afternoon for some well deserved lunch and nice relaxing drink, we all stayed there for a few hours before leaving the hotel . We decdided to go to the Boat house pub in Islingtow which looked to be a lovely area situated right near the North Devon cricket pitch which was stunning, everyone had a nice meal in the boathouse with a few drinks before the majority went outside for a thoughouly entertaining game of beach cricket this went on for hours everyone batting bowling have a great evening of cricket due to lack of it in the day, In The Boat house opposite was also a live singer Henry Dingle who many sat and enjoyed throughout the evening with a few beverages. At about 11 the majority of the team headed back to the bar for more food and drinks to finish off what had been a great day, But the night had not finished then we ordered some pizzas and headed off to the Shaws room for another entertaining game of Monoply, after a long game , lots of banter and was getting late we decided to end it their and look forward to the 20-20 tommorrow so all headed off to sleep.
Wed 22nd July
We all woke up early and all except Mike Shaw " Mutley" again headed off to breakfast before decding the plans for the day, after Breakfast we headed to a lovely pub Called the Thatch had a few morning drinks and went off for a game of crazy golf, this was highly amusing and entertaing after an hour or so amusment we all decided to head off to the beach for some relaxation and surfing except Phil and Alan who went to get ready for the Big BBQ that he had been planning Hughes, and Most Valuable Staden were all set to go surfing walked all the way to the water and unfortunately was red flagged and was not safe enough to do so , we all then met up with Alan and Phil and had a lovely half cooked South African BBQ. It was then time to get ready for the Big Game so the team headed back to the hotel to get ready for match and went off to Braunton Cricket club.
Touring XI vs Braunton CC Braunton 128/9, Touring XI 129/3
The fixture at the stunning Braunton cricket club was a 20/20 match starting at 6pm. The Westcott touring side arrived relaxed, following a day at the beach, P Downman still in his wetsuit and lime green footwear. Captain Tom Shrives won the toss and chose to field first. The two Pauls, Hughes and Shaw, opened the bowling. They kept things tight early on, restricting the Braunton CC openers to 20/0 after 6 overs. Ex-Somerset Ian Bond then hit three sixes in J Shrives first over accelerating the scoring rate. Musgrave got the first breakthrough with the score on 42. J Shrives came back well in his next over removing Bond to a good catch by Reif and then Fleesham next ball. Wickets tumbled to leave Braunton 57/5 after 11 overs. Saunders and Burbage re-built things for the home side before Matt Van Staden got a breakthrough with the score on 96. He took three wickets late on as Braunton limped to 128/9 in 20 overs. Braunton's bowlers begun well. Burbage claimed the wickets of Musgrave (1), Downman (6) and G Van Staden (0) in his first spell to leave Westcott 21/3. Tom Shrives joined Mike Shaw at the crease. The pair batted sensibly as they worked their way towards their target. Shaw scored an excellent unbeaten 41-ball 77. Shrives, a 38-ball 40 (an innings of good fortune it must be said). The pair added 108 for the 4th wicket securing the win, 129/3.
After the game had concluded the two teams went to the clubhouse for a nice meal , a few drinks and watching the county game in the clubhouse, it was a thoughly entertaining game and a very friendly atmosphere, we then went back to Ceaders Inn relaxed in the bar before taking an early night before the main game on tour.
Thurs 23rd July
The Team woke up early doors again for breakfast suprisingly to see young Mutley there and President Alan Reif having departed earlier than morning, getting all our energy for the big game which looked to be on with the weather looking to be scorcing Hot, after Breakfast we all got ready for the match and headed into a place nearby the ground for some lovely cream teas, except paul Downman who went off to visit Diddywell, after wondering round this pleasent little village went off to try find the ground. we eventually arrived and Morebath CC.
Touring XI Vs Morebath CC Morebath 221, Touring XI 222/8
After the match finished teams headed off to the teams local pub for some drinks for their last night, Loud Mouth Musgrave attempted a Yard of Ale and failed miserably and youngster M Shaw finished it convincinly, after this the team headed back to the hotel get ready for a proper night out, we all got ready and headed into town to visit one of devons nighclubs Toko, which unsuprisingly we did not stay their for long and all headed back to the hotel and went to sleep before out journey home the following day.
Fri 25th July
The Party all woke up and headed off to breakfast for the final time, after breakfast all got packed and ready to go home, the party all left at different times, and were back in Surrey in the evening ready for their big game Claygate away the following day. It was a successful week for the first tour lacking a few players but everyone that went thorughly enjoyed themselves and played very well.