STRANGE season this for Tynewydd Inn Cricket Club. John Gee has mustered a strong squad but the weather, notably the diluvian deluges, has put paid to much of the action.

Obviously the packed fixture list was a harbinger of Jupiter Pluvius’ bountiful blessing, notably a major temper fit and torrents of rain. Of 13 matches scheduled, the Inn has played four and a half; the half, you guessed it, fell foul of the weather.

The Inn opened its season, eventually, with a cup tie at Sully Hospital versus Barry Wanderers.

Alas the team was unable to repeat its heroics of last season, when it reached the final, and Wanderers won by 10 runs. Chasing 163 for six, in which Tom Ridgewell hit 37 before retiring and Lloyd Bruce took one for 12, the Inn were bowled out for 150 in gathering gloom.

Rhett Jones savaged the Wanderers' attack, with Sawyer bearing the brunt of his ferocious assault which brought 39 runs from 19 balls, an innings which included five sixes.

John Knight (28) and Shae Ellis (27) gave the Inn hope but the Wanderers killed the game off in the gathering gloom. Ridgewell completed a good evening’s work by taking two for 10. Good luck wishes are duly sent to the Wanderers for the rest of the competition.

Jones’ prodigious batting ability was carried into the Inn’s next outing against their old friends from Barry West End. Determined to break his own six-hitting record, Jones posted another four maxima including one almost onto the roof of the snooker centre and a second right through the tea room of the pavilion.

Apparently he’d been aiming to achieve that feat for years and has now duly succeeded. And his mum and girlfriend who arrived at the ground late missed it!

Jonesy’s score of 81 was the highlight of a total of 162 for six. Jones added 99 for the first wicket with Dan Mote - Motey contributing a princely nine of those at a run a ball. James Thomas finished with three for 32.

West End were bowled out for 116, Ian Gadd top scoring with 29 in a game which saw the return of the Cadoxton Express. Now based in the Wild North, Gareth “G-Fid” Fiddler completed a successful return to the ranks, compiling figures of two for 21. Tyro quick Huw Williams returned two for eight and skipper Gee two for 21.

Probably the most disappointing evening of the season came with the non-appearance of Creigiau due to player shortages. Still it did bring two points to the Inn, but on one of the few nights fit for play, this was annoying.

A trip to the picturesque St Mellons home of Lisvane followed. With drivers heading for Newport and one rapidly approaching the seventh hole of the adjacent golf course, the Inn duly lost the toss and were given a bit of a pasting in the field.

This was an odd game. Though the Inn lost by 76 runs, the performance was far better than the losing margin suggested. A few spilled catches, some excellent batting and a few expensive overs just took the target beyond achievable means.

Huw Williams enjoyed a battle royale with Jersey international Correy Bisson who scored 60 and rated Mr Williams as the fastest bowler he’d faced on the mainland to date. Pick of the bowlers, one costly over notwithstanding, was Christian Bruce who bowled an excellent line all evening.

The Inn’s reply started slowly but, as Scott Malpas (27) and Rhett Jones (24) began picking up the pace, the latter injured a groin and the run rate dropped. Suffice to say there weren’t any volunteers prepared to treat Jones’ injury (the location not for the faint-hearted) though the sight of Ross Taylor doing the running for Jones brought some amusement to all.

The tail folded, Callum Twomey made his debut and Abdul Rehman mopped up the tail to take three for five in less than two overs.

Another rain break followed and the team was grateful for a hastily arranged friendly with West End. Played in cup format, Ross Taylor enjoyed a good game, having his longest innings for some time, a season’s best score and later collecting a wicket.

On a slow wicket and with a damp outfield, another Tynewydd debutant, Ashley Baker, top scored with 30 and added 25 for the last wicket with John Gee (22) to give the Inn a decent score of 120 all out. Rhys Howell nabbed two wickets for nine runs, while Nathan Vann returned an excellent three for seven from his brief spell with the ball.

West End’s batsmen struggled against a varied attack. Van top scored with 17 as the West End innings petered out at 75 for six, but for both sides the result was largely irrelevant as just playing was more important.

Unless you’re named Fuzzy Webb, of course. The Inn’s medium pacer, probably its oldest player and no mean footballer either, used his footy skills to complete a fine run out to astonish himself and his teammates, not to mention victim Rhys Howells.

Fielding at mid off, the Fuzz-Meister deftly chipped the ball into his hands from his boot and, in one movement, threw down Howells’ stumps with a laser guided return. All of which brought some atonement for his double golden ducks this season and probably the fielding moment of the season. Andrew Buckland and Shaun Davies also collected their first wickets for the Inn.

All of which brings us to last Wednesday’s abandoned half match at Windmill Lane against defending champions Llantwit Cavaliers. This also had the makings of a good contest before the heavens opened with the Cavs on 118 for four and an over to go.

Williams wrecked the openers starting with his first ball which saw opener Vincent superbly stumped by Nathan Baker (another debutant who gave a superlative display of glove work) from a wide. A yorker accounted for the new batsman and Williams went perilously close to achieving the hat-trick with the first three balls of the innings.

With the quick withdrawn from the attack, Shane Callard scored a composed 41 and James Snelson a muscular 64 not out before Williams returned to collect a further brace, giving him the excellent figures of four for 14. A rematch, weather permitting, is hopefully going to be played in August between two teams who get on well.

So that’s it so far, the inclement weather definitely providing the season’s lowlight.

Lots of cricket will hopefully remain to be played including a fundraiser against Barry Town AFC at the Island on Friday, July 13 (£2 entry, the bar will be open and all money raised as last year going to the Town’s coffers); so, if you’re bored or have nothing better to do, why not pop along.

Before that Inn play Llantwit Colts (last night) and next week travel to Dinas Powys and Penarth on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.