Some new views of The Park.

sibton.cc is open for business
The new Web 2.0, interactive Sibton website is now open for business. If you are not redirected automatically in the next 10 seconds, click here.

Groundwork Day
Still plenty left to do so if you missed this Saturday, you needn't fret. We can still find you something to do.

Kit and caboodle

Thatch in the outfield. Only 20% of it comes from grass cuttings, apparently.

Test strips. Getting the height of the machine

The grassheap full of thatch. There was another heap under the tree of a similar size

Ken Matcham
On behalf of everyone who has looked in at the site this season, I would like to thank Ken Matcham for his constant supply of superb pictures. He certainly knows how to catch the moment. Do check in at his site. His pictures are appearing everywhere these days.

Three inches - Sibton sink Canterbury
Very tight these new 10 team divisions. If the ball that Bear hit in the last over against Bexley had gone three inches further away from the fielder, we'd be in the Premiership, and probably just as surprised to find ourselves there as Sandwich, from whom we took 20 points last week.

Canterbury were convinced they were favourites for promotion and they were in pole position on Saturday morning. But they seemed to forget there was more to it than just winning the toss and going for a maximum. After losing it, and being somewhat amazed that we would dare to bat first, they seemed to think that was the end of their hopes. After 50 overs, with Sibton on 187-8, they still looked good as third-placed Bexley were also screwing things up at Orpington.
  Two boundaries off Rowey's first two balls looked like good news to Canterbury but no one from Sibton was at all surprised when Jenko was on his way back to the pavilion after Rowey's third. They seemed to allow themselves to be distracted by incoming news and ended up failing to collect even the five points, that would have ensured a higher finish than Sandwich, who started the day fourth. All out for 109. See you next year.
   Bexley needed 6 points to clear Sandwich but couldn't manage that either. So if Sandwich do get their new square installed this winter, it may be a while before we get to try it ou.
  At the Park, both sides had serial underperformers, The Mote and Hartley between them and the last relegation place but their recent form suggested the side taking fewer points from the match might be in trouble. On an easy batting wicket, Canterbury set 208 with Dave Stewart continually puncturing partnerships and ending with 5-61 and Tidy as mean as ever.
  Martin Wren (91), Will (59) and Tom Payne (27) got the Park within sight at 191-2 before nerves took over and we wobbled over the line at 209-5. And sure enough, The Mote won their last game, and, just to underline my initial point, in the tightest finish of the year, Hartley tied with Tunbridge Wells, relegating Canterbury to Division 2.