Could you become a cricket umpire?
Bognor ended the year on a happy note with an excellent all-round performance against a typically combative Havant side who are several places higher in the league.
Inanail-bitingfinish,itwas left to Bradley Caparo to keep his nerve and kick the winning penalty that his side’s set-piece domination and strong finish deserved.
As well as gaining revenge for the defeat at Havant in September, the victory meant that Bognorconsolidatedtheirmidtable position.
Bognorwerequickoutofthe blocksandtheirlivelystartwas rewarded by three penalties against Havant for offside, followed by an elusive run down theright-handtouchlinebytyrone Makasi for Bognor’s first try after just eight minutes.
Three minutes later Jeremy Newton-young went over to give Bognor a ten-point lead.
Bognor’slineoutwasbackto itsbestand,afteragreattakeby man-of-the-matchnoahflinn, the home pack drove on for 20 metresbeforethemaulwasdeliberately collapsed just short of the line.
The referee penalised
Havant with a yellow card but Bognor were unable to capitalise.
Josh Burgess was the next toreceiveayellowcardforside entryatamaulandhavantcelebratedhisabsencebyscoring their first try.
Minuteslater,withthevisitorsnowclearlyintheascendancy,theycrashedoverfroma driving lineout.
An excellent conversion from the touchline meant that, despite being behind for most of the half, the visitors turned round with a fourpoint lead.
Now facing into a strong wind and having lost several matches in which they had been leading, there were huge questionmarksastowhether Bognor could regain the momentum.
The doubts, however, were dispelled as the home side put together a period of intense pressure which ended with Makasi scoring his second try. Caparo converted fromthetouchlinetodrawthe scores level.
Burgess grabbed a bonuspoint try and Caparo added the extras to give Bognor a seven-point lead.
Once again the momentum swung back to Havant and they scored another convertedtrytobringthescoreto 24-24.
This time, however, instead of folding under the pressure, Bognor increased the intensity and looked the fitter side going into the final minutes.
With five minutes left, Caparo to stepped up to score a penalty and earn his side a much-needed bonus-point win.
Havingbeenpromotedlast seasonthiswasalwaysgoingto be a steep learning curve for such a young side and a midtablepositionisasensibleand achievable target this season.
– LEIGHTON THOMAS
Sessions are being held at two Sussex locations in the new year for people keen on becoming cricket umpires or increasing their knowledge of the laws of the game if they are already officiating.
If you have an interest in the game of cricket and are already officiating m atches, or thinking of doing so, the West Sussex Association of Cricket Officials (WSACO) are here to help.
The WSACO offers a wide range of training, development and support for both umpires and scorers who officiate in men, women, and junior matches.
This includes those who officiate for their club, either for the entire match and/or as a player, coach, parent taking a turn to help, as well as anyone not as yet connected to a club but wishing to become involvedincricketofficiating.
In respect of training WSACO are holding ‘Introduction to Umpiring’ days designed to provide attendees with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to apply the key laws, as well as tips about on-field techniques and general game management.
There are two such all-day training events scheduled as follows:
Arundel Castle Cricket Club: Part 1. Sunday, January 28; Part 2. Sunday, February 11.
Thakeham Cricket Club: Part 1. Saturday, March 16; Part 2. Sunday, March 24.
For more details about these courses and all other support offered by WSACO, please contact John Betts by email on wsaco.members@ gmail.com or telephone 01243 781786.
Get more local sport at sussexworld.co.uk/sport