Despite some very encouraging performances from new signings and younger less experienced Players, Bridgwater failed to make the Final of a seven team T20 Tournament at The La Manga Sports Club on Spain's Costa Calida.

In the first of two matches on Friday 22nd March, versus a strong Swansea CC side, Bridgwater got off to flyer after winning the toss, amassing 213-2 of their 20 overs. 

New signing Ryan Thorpe was outstanding, hitting a brutal 112no of only 41 balls, that included 13x6's and 5x4's.  He was ably supported by James Regan (36no) and Harminder Singh (31) as the ball flew to all parts.

I reply, Swansea reached 148-3 off 20 overs, in the face of some disciplined bowling and very good fielding with Will Rose (2-14) and Max O'farrell (1-24) the pick of the bowlers.

In their second match of the day versus the Royal Engineers, Bridgwater again decided to bat first but lost crucial early wickets.  The reorganised middle order struggled against some very disciplined bowling and it was not until Thorpe came in at no. 6 that the Bridgey innings got under way.

He again bludgeoned the ball to all parts striking 56 off 27 balls, this time supported by Hayden Standerwick and O'farrell who both scored 19.

They closed on 153-7, probably 20 runs light given the conditions.

In reply, Sutton (48) and Hawkesworth (47) saw their side home in the 20th over, aided by several dropped catches and a poor fielding display, although Regan finished with 2-19.

On the Saturday morning, Bridgwater faced last years Champions and the favourites for the Competition, Old Hill CC, the top Birmingham Premier side.  Batting first, Old Hill were kept in check by a much improved bowling and fielding performance from the Red Sox.

Ian Higgins (2-14 off his 4 overs), Regan (2-19), Charlie Fisher (2-29) and Tom Wickens (1-22) all starred with the ball as several excellent catches were taken in the field, restricting the favourites to 127-7 off their allocation.

However, Bridgwater were reduced to 38-4 with Regan and Club Captain Alex Eckland failing to trouble the scorers Only Thorpe (27) aided by Tom Fursland (26) and Cormac Cooke(13) contributed as they subsided to 95ao in the 17th over, with the pacey Sam Wright (3-10) doing the damage, to lose by 33 runs.

In their final game on the Sunday morning against La Manga CC, Bridgwater needed a big win aided by several other permutations to give them a chance of making the Final.

The first was achieved well but with other results not going for them, they were left to rue missed opportunities in their previous two games.

Batting first, the Red Sox amassed 176-4, with the in form Thorpe leading the way with 61no. together with O'farrell, with an aggressive 46, Fursland (34) and Singh (17) all scoring the bulk of the runs. 

 In reply, the home side were 148ao in 18 overs with G. Singh top scoring with 40.  Harminder Singh tore the middle out of the La Manga batting with 3 wickets for 1 run, well supported by Will rose (2-16) and O'farrell  (2-34).

In the Final, Old Hill beat the Royal Engineers by 20 runs with both sides scoring over 200!.

Ryan Thorpe's 256 runs for twice out, saw him finish as the Batsman of the Tournament, much to the delight of all his team mates and the 25 or so travelling supporters, who had given their Team great support throughout. 

With outdoor nets beginning next Wednesday 3rd April, it will lead nicely into the Senior Men's inter Club game at The Parks on Saturday 13th April, 1pm start.