Sleaford CC Annual Magazine 2017 Sleaford Cricket Club Annual Magazine 2017 | Page 25

STEPHEN BRADFORD MEMORIAL TROPHY
Kris Moore
This year’s competition was another keenly contested
one and provided us with a new winner after Woodhall
Spa’s wins in both 2014 and 2015. Sadly, the Great
British Summer turned out be the exact opposite,
although it did seem that all the poor weather was
exclusively reserved for Wednesday’s and the days and
dates that early games in the competition were scheduled
for. However once the sun shined on us the competition
got into full swing and early wins for Woodhall Spa and
Lindum saw a semi-final line up of Sleaford vs Lindum
and in a repeat of the previous 2 finals, Woodhall Spa vs
Bracebridge Heath.
In what were closely contested games Bracebridge Heath
managed to avenge their previous two defeats by
Woodhall Spa in this competition and book a place in a
third consecutive final, this time against a Sleaford side
who after a good team performance and a starring role
from Obus Pienaar overcame Lindum’s total to book their
place in the final.
The final itself was blessed with a fine night and another
healthy crowd and they were rewarded with another
closely fought game. Bracebridge Heath batted first and
posted a on par total. However Sleaford’s reply was
strong and with Obus Pienaar at the crease, their total
never quite looked enough on a typically batsman friendly
Sleaford wicket and Pienaar saw the hosts home with
about an over to spare.
In a year where the challenge of the weather proved a big
one to manage, it is important that thanks are offered to
all the participating teams (Spalding CC, Bracebridge
Heath CC, Grantham CC, Woodhall Spa CC, Lindum CC
and Sleaford CC) whose help and commitment to getting
games played was instrumental in getting the competition
finished in good time whilst the light was still good.
Further thanks must of course be offered to the umpires
who all gave freely of their time to officiate all the games
in the competition and to David Chambers for his tireless
work in making sure that this happened and also to the
competition sponsor Four Seasons Garden Centre and its
proprietor Michael Hix for their support of this competition
for the third consecutive year.
Finally, I would like to thank Stephen’s family for their
continued support of the competition that is very much
intended to perpetuate Stephen’s memory and remind us
all of the contribution he made to the game of cricket,
especially at Sleaford. In particular, I would like to thank
Lesley and the family for their support on the night of the
Final itself and in particular his father Bill who again was
present to award the trophy and man of the match awards
post match.