Navy News
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Culdrose cricket team keep flying high in Navy Cup
3 August 2016
On a glorious summer day at HMS Temeraire Burnaby Road Cricket ground in Portsmouth with the thermometer topping a barmy 25 degrees, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose’s, HMS Seahawk Cricketers took the Navy Cricket Cup for the second year in succession.
Facing Stiff opposition from their Fleet Air Arm rivals the airmen from Cornwall were surprised when RNAS Yeovilton’s, HMS Heron side elected to field after winning the toss.
On what looked like a bat first pitch, especially in the heat of the afternoon, Seahawk's openers did a sterling job.
Both Petty Officer Andy Bonnett (52) and AB Rob Milligan (82) put Heron to the sword and scored freely in an opening partnership of 149 in 23 overs, only broken when M Douglas had Milligan caught in his second spell of bowling.
This victory has been a crowning glory to my Royal Navy career.
S/Lt Leo Buscombe (61) came to the crease and was impressive taking the attack to the bowlers; he scored his runs in only 35 balls before also being caught out.
Chief Petty Officer Andy Wilkinson (28) added insult to injury late in the innings with a couple of maximums in his 17 ball stay at the crease and Seahawk completed their 35 overs scoring a remarkable 262-4.
The reply from Heron was tempered as they lost wickets regularly mostly due to excellent bowling and fielding from the Cup holders, only allowing one of the Heron batsmen into double figures (M Douglas 17).
Seahawk's captain PO Martin Greenwood was wicket less but impressive with only 6 runs coming off his 5 overs. Sub Lieutenant Leo Buscombe (3 for 22), PO Dean Thomas (3 for 10) and PO Aircrewman Ed Butcher (3 for 7) all bowled excellent spells ensuring that the Navy Cup was heading back to the trophy cabinet in Cornwall, as Heron were bowled out for 59 in 26 overs completing a resounding 203 run victory.
The officials on the day adjudged Logs Rob Milligan as the Man of the Match for his innings and also taking the other wicket.
Player / Manager CPOACMN JJ Walker described the win as, “This victory has been a crowning glory to my Royal Navy career.
My self and three other from the team are due to leave the Navy in the next few months and playing cricket on a winning side has been absolutely perfect.”