AS the cricket season beds in, Carsons & Mangotsfield carry the calm confidence of a side that’s decided winning is perfectly reasonable behaviour.
The 1st and 2nd XIs are among the front-runners of their divisions.
The 1sts did their best to provide drama at Failand & Portbury. At 19–4 it looked like the cricketing equivalent of stepping on a rake, until panic’s least-favourite man, skipper Sam Brayley (60), arrived to steady things.
His calm let Ollie Clatworthy (85) unleash batting of unapologetic violence and their 227 was plenty, once Will Thatcher (3–18) tore through the top order.
Hampset were dispatched with similar efficiency: Kieran Gallagher’s fluent 78 and George Sutton’s 47 — another week, another jug dodged — set 193, and Hampset folded for 125. The table is taking shape, with the firsts part of the furniture around the top.
The 2nd XI were in the mood to bully a few scorecards. Their standout win came against Taverners, built on captain Harry Ravenscroft’s assured 63. A brief wobble only cleared the runway for James King, whose crowd-pleasing, 59no – a maiden 50 – pushed the total to 194.
Taverners mustered 101 in reply, George Clatworthy’s 3–12 the pick of the bowling.
Stapleton were brushed aside too, James Ward’s 3–23 and Darren Shellard’s calm 40no sealing a five-wicket win.
The 3rd XI remain winless, but not without promise. Dan Cook’s unbeaten 43 and Steve Edwards’ steady 45 in defeat to Bishop Sutton suggest thing just need to click.
The 4th XI, designed for social and developmental cricket, enjoyed a handsome victory over Pucklechurch. Liam Nicholls (3–26) and Lewis Tyacke (3–16) did the damage before Phil Clatworthy (45) and Mike Norris (49no) eased to a seven-wicket win.
On Sundays, Jack O’Hara’s maiden ton (105) wasn’t quite enough against league leaders Leema 1sts, but wins over Keynsham (Ben Child 49no, George Sutton 46), and Leema 2nds kept momentum strong. George Farmer (67), Ben Johnson (62) and Matt Clatworthy (67) all filled their boots, while Ben Child’s 4–48 ensured Leema’s chase fell short.
The club also offers women’s cricket and walking cricket for the over-50s.
For more details email info.carsonsandmangotsfield@gmail.com.