By Comebackgatt
April 21 2007

Comebackgatt submits an away ground report on Taunton 18/19 April. Full of insight and lighthearted comment, reading this report is more interesting than remotely following a match with "draw" written all over it. Thanks for the memories, Comebackgatt.

MTWD

AWAY MATCH REPORT AND RATINGS TEMPLATE

MATCH: Somerset v Middx LVCC Div 2

DATE: 18/19 April 2007

VENUE: County Ground Taunton

NEAREST TOWN:

An obscure fact about the venue or town:

Getting there (e.g. accessibility, price of entry, obscure rules for visitors, quality of the pitch):

I got up at 5.15am, leaving the house at 6.30 to drop my dog off at her dog sitter. Tara (the dog) looked amazed at having to get out of her basket so early!! The long drive down the M5 made bearable by my 60s CD’s. I arrived at the ground at10.15, parked up and paid my £12.00 entrance fee. Made my way to what looked a good seat on the Cover/Midwicket boundary. It looked a good flat normal Taunton wicket.

Describe the food and beverage at the ground (e.g. quality of ales, variety of foods, prices, value for money):

Not really able to comment on the food as I am a Vegan and tend to take my own food into grounds. I did have a few ciders, not too many on Day 2 as I had to drive home that night! I thought the prices were very fair.

Comment on the locals (e.g. friendliness of local supporters, size of crowd, a stewarding story, snobbery or otherwise of the members’ bar):

I found all the locals I met really friendly, I got talking to quite a few of them and although there was the usual banter it was good natured and they were great fun and of course loved their cricket. Both days seemed pretty well attended considering it was the April

What is there/was there to do during a rain break?:

Luckily it was wonderful two days weather wise, although during the lunch break on day 2 a guy named Allan showed me around the Pavilion and I looked at the plans for the redevelopment of the ground, it is going to be quite a place when finished

Eccentric supporter of the day story (this might be a local or it might be a visiting supporter):

Now this really did happen to me, not in the ground but in the Hotel bar the first evening. I was having a quiet drink and reading a paper when I became aware of a quite nice youngish woman looking at me. I didn’t take too much notice but after awhile she came up. (Can’t type a Somerset accent) She said “I saw you at the cricket” “Oh really “I replied. “ Down from London then “ “That’s right”. “ You’re all the same you Londoners coming down here getting us local girls into trouble” With that she left! Well that certainly threw me (I didn’t touch her honest) I decided a tactical retreat was required as I felt everybody was staring at me. What the hell was all that about, was it a wind up or had Lover been causing mayhem on his last visit!!!

Summarise the cricket you saw (e.g. brief summary of events, your champagne moment, your man of the day/man of the match) :

Two wonderful days of cricket full of runs, so good to see our guys bat so well even if they did struggle a bit in the field later on day 2 My champagne moment has to be Billy Godleman getting the runs to go to his hundred, a great sight to see the youngster get his reward for batting so well. Player of Day 1 has to be Owais Shah who once again showed his class with Billy winning the award for Day 2 although Knocker deserves a mention, batting superbly and full of encouragement for Billy

Summarise the overall experience in words:

I had a fantastic couple of days, the weather was wonderful, the local’s friendly, a very nice Hotel, found a great Veggie Restaurant. Didn’t really want to come home!!!

RATING FACTOR	RATING (UP TO 5 STARS EACH)
NOSH’N’QUAFF	***
LOCAL FOLK	*****
THE PLACE	****
THE CRICKET	*****
OVERALL EXPERIENCE	*****