Wooburn Narkovians Cricket Club

🍔 **Food Truck This Friday!** 🌭

We're delighted to welcome local Darren Hilson from Dazzling Events to the cricket club this Friday evening with his burger van!

Whether you're coming down for Mini cricket, catching up with friends, or just fancy a tasty treat, Darren will be serving:

✅ Burgers
✅ Hot Dogs
✅ Bacon Rolls

So skip the cooking and join us at the club for some great food and good company. We look forward to seeing you there!

Wooburn Narkovians 1s lose to Ickenham 2s by 39 runs

M. O’Reagan 49
B. Barker 49

————————————————————————

Wooburn Narkovians 2s lost to Maidenhead and Bray 3s by 201 runs.

I. Cuthbert 41
B. Fieldhouse 30

Please also enjoy the below 2, yes 2, match reports from last weeks home 1s win and today’s narrow defeat. A big thank you to both Bushy Park and Ickenham for competitive and good spirited games.

Match Report - 9th May v Bushy Park

After months of excitement, anticipation and shadow batting in the living room, the first league fixture of the season has finally arrived with Wooburn Narks 1st XI facing Bushy Park on a beautiful May afternoon.

Tom ‘Burglar’ Wright incurred the first fine of the season for his late arrival, however, it would not be the Burglar who would incur the wrath of the newly appointed fines master at the close of play.

Pitch 1, lovingly rolled and cut by groundsman Chris was ready for the off, although it is noted that as this is the closest strip to the pavilion, the boundary couldn’t be more than 35 meters in places. Nevertheless, captain Ben ‘Chopper, son of Paul’ Cooper strode out to the middle for the toss and duly lost it, putting the Narks into the field for the first innings of the season.

A big challenge would lay ahead with Bushy Parks (and possibly Div 3s?) best batter James Churchman opening up. However, a pre-season think tank had concluded that spin was the option from ball one. So, possibly for the first time in the clubs 90 year history, the opening over was thrown to an off spinner in John Henry ‘Lord Voldemort’ Kelly. After a tricky pre-season friendly, Kelly was keen to exercise the demons from his last spell that went at 10 an over. Unfortunately, a drag down spanked for four as the first ball of the season was probably not what he had in mind. Undeterred, however, Kelly ultimately bowled nicely in tandem with Ollie ‘the Growler’ Atkins for the first 18 overs with Atkins unfortunate not to take both openers and Kelly being unlucky not to take one to the sheds after a dropped slip catch. Regardless, The Narks were happy with their start to the year as Bushy Park seemed bogged down with the score at less than 70 when the first bowling change was made.

Luke Johnson, who seemed somewhat worse for wear after a trip to Alburfiera replaced Kelly while Atkins was replaced by Mark ‘Gerry’ Tennant. Much like Kelly before him, Tennant also started with a drag down. This was followed by a second that miraculously found a fielder, giving Wooburn their first Wicket of the season. Johnson would soon follow this up with a wicket of his own.

Needing a change, the ball was thrown to Simon French, a man who between cabinet meetings and new reports seemed to have spent the winter breeding bees in order to upset his neighbours. However, despite causing tensions with his army of 20,000 bees, it was his bowling that would make headlines with a spell of 4-46, including the vital wicket of Churchman for 82. This spell was supported by both Harsh Kumar, who bowled rockets from the Church End and Tom Wright who didn’t bowl rockets from the Church End.

Bushy Park would ultimately be bowled out for a respectable 240.

The equation was simple. To win their first home game since 2024, The Narks would need 241 from their 45.

Captain Cooper and former (ousted) captain Barker were the men to start the chase. Now, we don’t know if it was the 45 overs in the field, or being hit over the head repeatedly on his stag do that lead to Barkers 0 (2). What we do know is that this was the most Wooburn start to a season in many years. Gerry Tennant would join and settle with Cooper and put on 58 for the second wicket before Tennant was trapped in front sweeping for 13. Mo Toveer joined the skipper and the two batted beautifully, with Cooper passing 50 and looking in perfect form. After a monster 6, the skipper, who had been cramping for the past 97 minutes hauled out for a tasty 89 and Wooburn looking firm favourites.

Regrettably, Toveer would haul out a mere 9 balls later bringing Keeper Matt O’Reagan to the middle. O’Reagan, who had had at best a sub-optimal first innings with the gloves and looked keen to make up for the dropped catch and missed run outs. Regrettably, with his stumps being re-arranged first ball, he may have to wait for Ickenham next week to show his skills. A famed Wooburn wobble looked inevitable; indeed we have been here before on almost every occasion last season. Ollie Atkins and Luke Johnson were the men looking to steady the ship. And steady it they did, regardless of Johnson saying “nothing silly now mate” before hitting the ball out the ground and halfway to Beaconsfield.

Atkins would ultimately fall for 18 to bring Tom Wright out to the middle and the game in the balance. Nerves were settled with Johnson hitting another bomb, this time into the clubhouse window which, miraculously (and slightly disappointingly) remained intact. To add insult to injury, the head high full toss was ruled a no ball, leaving the game Wooburns to lose.

In the end, a string of boundaries from Wright got the Narks over the line for a winning start to the season. Now off to the bar for a Crabbies (other beverages available), a planning meeting for how to win Div 2 in 2027 and a fines meeting where one Matt O’Reagan has had to contact his mortgage advisor to work out how he’ll pay them off.

A home win by 4 Wickets. UP THE NARKS

Match Report - 16th May v Ickenham 2s

After a strong start to the 2026 season, Wooburn 1s travelled inside the M25 for the first time this year to take on Ickenham 2nd XI. With grey skies and rain forecast, it was certainly going to be an interesting afternoon and an even more interesting toss.

Captain Ben Cooper won the toss and after much contemplation elected to bowl first. With the tunes blaring and the lack of warm up being noted and commented on by the opposition, Cooper faced the dilemma of who to open the bowling, eventually settling on the off breaks of John Henry Kelly and the seam of newly recruited Pete Dorman.

The pair started economically with Dorman dusting of his GX roots and Kelly finding some turn and bounce for his 4 over spell. However, looking to switch it up, Luke “I only slept 3 hours skip” Johnson replaced a tiring Kelly who had tonned up at Wycombe Heights GC pre-cricket. Johnson bowled tidily and the Narks were rewarded with the opener being run out.

Simon French joined the attack and bowled well in tandem with Johnson and then Mark Tennant but the three were unfortunate to only taken 1 wicket with them.

After many overs of rage in the field, Ollie Atkins was finally tossed the cherry and his point was duly made to the skipper by taking 2 wickets. Kelly returned to the attack and bowled the number 3 before being hit for a 6 that landed closer to Wooburn than Ickenham. With Kelly bowled out, Johnson was given a second crack and picked up a handy wicket.

Tom Wright, who had been boundary riding for the preceding 43 overs finally got his chance to burgle the Ickenham tail. Again, another note for Captain Cooper about leaving people out the attack as Wright nicked off the number 9 and Matt O’Reagan took a regulation catch behind the stumps. Atkins finished off the innings, bowling to a top order batsman who was keen to make his century. However, having plodded from 40-70, it was too tall an order to make a ton and Ickenham finished their innings at 256-8.

After Tennant ran to the party bus to collect his, now semi cooked, sandwich, Wooburn enjoyed tea while keeping eyes on the skies and working out the rules around DLS.

Captain Cooper and Ben Barker strapped on the pads with Chopper to face up first. As an opener, the ball you want first up was absolutely not an 80mph swinging good length ball that nipped away off the pitch. However, with the ball of the century provided by Ickenham’s chairman’s number 1 fan, it was with a sigh of relief that the ball nestled safely in the keepers gloves having missed everything on the way through. With Barker finally opening his seasons account, the total started to be chipped into. Regrettably, Cooper would soon also chip one into the mid-off fielders hands to give Ickenham their breakthrough. Gerry Tennant came into the frame at 3 and started well too.

Wooburn 1s are a team that are renowned in the TVL for many things - bottling run chases, hitting huge 6s and having a good time. In many ways it was hard to tell what got the biggest cheer. Was it Luke Johnson correctly predicting a glorious cover drive while the bowler was running in? Perhaps it was the Ickenham captain getting a standing ovation for fielding right in front of the terrace. Or was it actually a run out chance being flipped on its head, fielders desperately diving to back up and the ball running away for overthrows. We’ll leave you to decide. At any rate, with Simon French giving second by second weather updates, DLS was of utmost importance. Regrettably, Wooburn would soon lose Tennant, caught in the covers after middling a cut shot and then lose Barker for 49 having nailed a lofted drive like a tracer round that was unlucky to be caught at long on. Tom Wright and Luke Johnson were the men. One of these men looked majestic in the middle, striping 6s like prime Rory Mcilroy on day 1 of the masters. The other batted like Rory Mcilroy trying to defend a lead at the masters. Yes folks, Tom Wright was Teeing it until being undone by a former first team captain who had bowled and over or 2 before.

Then the rain. The outfield became damp. The ball became slippery and DLS looked like the most complicated equation that even NASA would struggle to explain. Seemingly keen to avoid spending 20 minutes doing maths, the umpires kept play going.

An injured Mo Toveer made a start but was ultimately wouldn’t put too much wear on the scorers pencil, being caught for 8. LJ would fall shortly after for a rather sad 6 but not before a bankrupt Matt O’Reagan would join him. O’Reagan had a tough game last Saturday. A difficult day with the gloves, a first baller and huge social fines clearly left him with something to prove. And after a nervous start, O’Reagan threw his hands at one, picked out long on and was duly dropped over the ropes to get his account going with a somewhat fortunate but very welcome maximum. He would then set his sights on finally scoring his first senior 50, turning the strike over nicely and praying that people would bat with him. Ollie Atkins batted well for 22, including 2 enormous 6s and the spare ball sack being rushed onto the middle. His demise would see Simon French and his front foot defensive keep the Ickenham 4s entertained while O’Reagan moved in to the 30s.

Big shoutout at this point to Ickenham 4s for mopping up their oppo for just 57 and then coming to watch the most exciting team in the TVL chase down a game with impossible odds.

With fielders slipping and sliding, the game hung in the balance. If the rain came down properly, DLS would put Wooburn firmly in second place. The only option was to bat on and take the game deep.

French gave it a very good go but would eventually chip one up and bring Kelly to the crease. Kelly started nervily before throwing his hands at an off side length ball and belting it over extra cover for 6 which prompted some worried looks and an exceptionally long chat between bowler, captain and (for no obvious reason) the extra cover fielder who’d walked some 30 meters to be involved.

The pressure seemed to have flipped with singles and boundaries flowing and fielders commenting on mistakes. Unluckily, O’Reagan was caught for 49 bringing new signing, professional rabbit and all round good bloke Pete Dorman to the middle. An early scare with a call of no from the debutant who then ran half the pitch before turning round perhaps showed his hand a little early.

So, the game was in the balance, the weather had held off but seemingly Kelly decided that a chilly, windy, grey, damp day in May was a great time for a BBQ. With the grill nice and warm, Kelly would call Dorman through for a single, hoping PD would pick up his first Wooburn run. Perhaps a little surprised at the aggressive call, Dorman set off for a single.

22 yards to safety. 22 yards to glory. 22 yards to score a much coveted Wooburn run, an honour that few players will ever earn. 22 yards separating Pete Dorman from cricket heaven.

15 yards to go. Ball in fielders hand. Wooburn players rising from their seats, cheering their man to safety.

6 yards to go. 6 yards to immortality. Ball in bowlers hand. Safety in sight. Umpire looking nervous.

3 yards to go. Dorman sliding. White ruined.

HOWZAT!

Decision pending.

Finger goes up.

Bu**er.

Wooburn all out for 217. We are so back!

Wooburn Narkovians 1s beat Bushey Park 1s by 4 Wickets

B. Cooper 89
M. Toveer 44
L. Johnson 30*

S. French 4-46

————————————————————————

Wooburn Narkovians 2s lost to Amersham 3s by 70 runs.

I. Cuthbert 78*
C. Newman 53

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for MiniCricket on Friday evening! ☀️🏏

As always, it was a brilliant turnout with some decent cricket on display. It’s great to see the children growing in confidence and developing their skills week by week — all whilst enjoying the fun and social side of Friday nights at the club with the BBQ and bar open too 🍔🍻

A massive thank you also goes to all of our coaches and volunteers who give up their time each week to make these evenings possible. We really couldn’t do it without you!

And finally, a special shoutout to our tiny litter pickers who helped tidy up afterwards — thank you! ♻️

As a volunteer-run club, we kindly ask all guests to help us by putting chairs away, returning glasses and using the bins provided before heading home. Your support really does make a difference — thank you!

**📢 Our Monthly Newsletter is Back! 🏏**

We’re excited to bring back the WNCC monthly newsletter—your go-to for all the latest club news, events, fixtures and updates.

Want to stay in the loop?
📩 **Sign up to our newsletter here:** https://mailchi.mp/cac5a301f1b2/wncc-newsletter-sign-up
💬 **Join our WhatsApp group here:** https://chat.whatsapp.com/CztxoEkgRbC5sF6hQDyPGx?mode=gi_t

Don’t miss a thing this season—cricket, socials and everything in between! 🙌

Time for another match report after the Sunday teams first outing of the year. Unfortunately it was a tough day at the office but fantastic to see so many of our Colts coming through! Here’s the match report for your afternoon reading -

Wooburn’s Sunday XIs season got underway with a last minute fixture at home to Widmer End; the very same team that closed out the 2025 season last September.

With the Wooburn team assembled on a glorious April afternoon, it was with some worry that newly (and somewhat reluctantly) appointed skipper, John Henry Kelly checked his watch 10 minutes before play and declared “are we at the wrong ground, the oppo aren’t here”. One phone call later and fears were alleviated as 1st XI skipper Ben Cooper had failed to convey the 1300 start time to any of the Wooburn XI. 20 minutes later and opposition in attendance, captain Kelly won the toss and duly elected to bat.

Michael Quinn and Stuart “Fozzie” Foster strapped on the pads and strode out to the middle. Both batters started well with some nice stroke making ticking the score along nicely. Cue a bowling change and Wooburn first scare with Michael Quinn surviving a ball crashing into his middle peg by virtue of this being after the second bounce. However, it was not to last as Fozzie called an ambitious single to mid off and was run out with a direct hit for 20.

Quinn was then joined by Rhys Wheeler, a man who has wintered well, dining out on his run total from last season. With that said, after some 6 years, the lockdown timber has finally been shifted! Wheeler and Quinn continued in much the same fashion with Quinn passing 50 shortly before drinks. Wheeler was eventually undone which brought young Aidan Khana to the middle. Widmer had clearly smelt blood in the water and looked to put pressure on Aidan but to no avail. With Quinn going large it was only a matter of time before his next milestone. It must be noted that when on 99, a short ball outside leg stump is a free gift. Even more so when hitting to the shortest boundary on the ground. However, they all have to be put away…and put it away he did, bringing up 105 with a maximum. A few handshakes later and Quinn retired himself to put his feet up.

Harsh Kumar came in at 5. A new entry for the Wooburn Sunday team and hoping to get some runs under his belt for the league season ahead. However, it was not to be, only scoring 6 from his 9 balls before ultimately hearing the death rattle leaving Wooburn 204-3. Who to come in at 6? Ian “Bertie” Cuthbert who set about the task of scoring runs and setting big total. He and Khana did well before Khana was bowled for a well crafted 32. The skipper, having just finished a 25 over umpiring stint raced to the middle to take guard. After a loose start, Kelly carved a short ball through point to open his seasons account. With only a few overs to go, Cuthbert looked to turn the strike over while Kelly sought to find the fence resulting in the worst reverse sweep in cricket history being under edged through the keepers legs for 4. Ultimately, Wooburn would finish with a very respectable 261-4.

During the tea brake avid Wooburn fan, Tom Warnett (who was not originally part of the playing XI) realised that if he was watching the game, he might as well play in it too. As such, Rhys Wheeler, having had his bat, not planning on bowling and desperate not to field, volunteered to give way to make space.

Now, not to single captain Kelly out for his inexperience at the helm, however, it must be noted that after 25 minutes to plan the second innings, he strode onto the field with no match ball and not knowing who was going to open the bowling. Eventually, the ball was thrown to James Kelly who had clearly used his position as the captains nephew to get into the attack early. James Kelly, who had spent the winter bowling from 17 yards started well but was unfortunately undone with 6 front foot no balls. He was supported well by Alex Dalmahoy who bowled a lovely 5 over spell from the Church End. But, the reward of a wicket went to Kelly who managed to trap the opener in front (and indeed the opener managed to trap the ball beneath his pad), leaving Widmer 30-1.

First change saw young spinner Theo Lockett bowl his first senior Wooburn over. He bowled nicely in tandem with Tom Warnett. However, with both batsmen set, it was a tough challenge, leading to Tom Harrison and John Henry Kelly to take over and try to wrestle back some control. Unfortunately, it was not to be and Widmer needing 78 from 20 overs at drinks.

Harrison was swapped for Harsh Kumar having been hit about the park during his 3 overs. At this point, 1 Widmer batter had retired having reached 3 figures and the number 3 was rapidly approaching the same landmark; things were very much looking bad for the Narks. However, undeterred, Kumar steamed in and was rewarded for his efforts, taking another wicket to the pavilion. Similarly, Aidan Khanna earned wooburns third and final wicket of the day having bowled a tidy spell.

Ultimately, with 8 overs to go, Wooburn were defeated by 7 wickets and both teams headed for the bar. In the end, a difficult day out on a pitch that gave little to the bowlers. However, congratulations must to got Michael Quinn for his first Wooburn ton and Theo Lockett for making his Wooburn senior team debut.

Cricket is now back and so are match reports. A tough weekend to kick off the pre-season but onwards and upwards!

Saturday, 18th April
09:00 - Dear Diary, I have made it through the winter, and finally, the day has come. 6 months of shadow batting and 4 weeks of net sessions were I barely laid bat on ball have lead to today, the first cricket game of the year! Sun cream, spikes, and whites are in the bag, the latter still unwashed from last season. Suns out, and playing at the real home of cricket, Nark Park, what more could you ask for!

11:32 - Dear Diary, the club looks incredible. Our interior designer has gone to town with the new decor! I’m sure he has a favourite colour, but I can’t quite figure out what it is. The outfield looks sublime. Pitch is hard, and with short boundaries straight and to one side, it’ll be nice to bat on!

11:50 - Dear Diary, the skipper won the toss and chose to bowl first…

13:15 - Dear Diary, I had the privilege of watching Andy Gerrish bowl seeds on repeat to the Hillingdon Manor opening bats, and seeing the return of Toby Lemon. Bowling like he hasn’t had his shoulder screwed back into place, he was causing all sorts of problems for Webb and Singh. No wickets yet, but one’s surely coming soon.

14:10 - Dear Diary, 20 overs have come and gone, and still no wickets to report. Luke Johnson is looking in fine form, and his bowling wasn’t too bad either. It’s great to see the skipper giving chances to newer players as well. Scouts and clubs in the Thames Valley leagues will have an eye on our new off-spinner Paul Cooper.

15:30 - Dear Diary, 40 overs in the field, and just the 2 wickets for the Narks. Tom Wright managed to catch a ball without his hand disintegrating, while Gerrish, Lemon and Pickard were the pick of the bowlers in the back end of the innings with economical spells, managing to avoid being hit half way up the hill on repeat, unlike the rest of the bowlers.
A tough day in the field means that 274 is the target, and with the batting unit the Narks have, it will be an interesting chase. And so to tea. Watching the IPL, the Wooburn side started visualising their innings’, gaining inspiration to bat more like Jos Buttler, and less like Monty Panesar.

16:30 - Dear Diary, Paul and Ben Cooper began the chase well, hitting boundaries beautifully, and at a good rate too. However, with Paul getting over excited and chasing a wide one, it has brought L. Johnson to the crease. He’s been hitting them clean in the nets, and I’m positive he can get a good score to kick off his season tod…

16:31 - …Dear Diary, …

17:05 - Dear Diary, with the hat-trick ball behind us, Matt “Babar Azam” O’Regan and the remaining Cooper wrestled the match back into Woooburn’s favour with a partnership of 47 off 50 balls. Some glorious shots from Babar, including a the first six of the season for WNCC gave him a respectable first outing back of 29 off 25 balls.

17:30 - Dear Diary, Wooburn are back, and so is the wobble. 94-3 has now become 116-7, with a flurry of wickets being lost due to the Wooburn batsmen forgetting to do one thing: hit the cricket ball. However, during this period, skipper Ben Cooper brought up the first 50 of the season, making it looking like he was batting on a completely different track to the rest of us.

18:00 - Dear Diary, another few wickets have fallen, and Wooburn are 146-9. A. Gerrish meets T. Wright in the middle, with everyone, including the entire Hillingdon Manor team thinking about an early finish. However, the partnership continues. Wright scores runs on a Saturday for the first time in years, and Gerrish has the skipper questioning his life decisions. A 50 partnership between the pair soon came, with some actual cricket shots being played throughout, including a monster 6 from the number 11, a dubious no ball, and a back foot cover drive from Wright which his father said was “alright”. However, as quickly as the 200 came up for Wooburn, the last wicket went down, with the Narks losing their first preseason game by 73 runs. A difficult day all round, but it’s great to have summer back at Nark Park. Roll on the 2026 cricket season!

The cricket season starts back TODAY! 🏏

Hillingdon Manor CC are on heading over to Nark Park for a friendly to get us warmed up before the league starts on 9th May.
Let's start strong boys! 🔥

Meet: 11:30am
Format: 40/40

A huge thank you to everyone who came down to our work party to get the clubhouse ready for the new season 👏

We’ve had a full refresh inside with a brand new paint job, and thanks to the team pulling together today to assemble our new chairs, the clubhouse is now looking better (and comfier!) than ever.

The new honours boards are up, the bar is fully restocked, and everything is set…

We’re ready to open our doors for the first match on Saturday 18th April— we can’t wait to see you all there! 🍻🏏