This weekend was a very frustrating one for us at Kimberley
Institute. After a brilliant win the week before against Cuckney at the 2bm
Private Ground, we really wanted to use that as a springboard to kick on and
pick up some momentum. Unfortunately, despite a promising start on Saturday,
and then an intriguingly balanced match on Monday, Mother Nature intervened to
cut short our ambitions of two positive results.
This really has been a very wet start to the season weather-wise.
Even though this time of year can be notorious for showery conditions, it has
been remarkable the number of times that this has hit the weekends. Four of our
six league matches so far this season have been affected by poor weather in
some way.
Looking at the table, the result of this has been to keep
everything very close in the standings. The good news, in theory, for us is
that we have played all four of the teams that lie above us in the table. So
this will now be a crucial five weeks for us as we head to the half way stage.
It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to the brilliant
contribution that Jon Shaw has made during his six week ‘playing holiday’. His
on the pitch contributions have been well documented, and it was a pleasure to
see him in action after hearing many stories of his performances over the
years. However, it was actually his input on the training ground that proved to
be invaluable, not only to me personally as he took on a key role in the
coaching department while being here, but more so to our young lads who absorbed
his input like sponges. The main thing that I hope most of our team have taken
from Jon is his insatiable appetite to compete, which has not dwindled one bit.
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| Jon Shaw in action during his 7 wicket haul against Clifton |
Jon spent a lot of time working with our young seam bowling
group, and I really hope that as the season wears on, we start to really see
the fruits of his labour. Jon delighted in not only working with our first
eleven players, but also some of those lads coming through the 2nd
XI, and it was this care and diligence for the club he loves that demonstrates
why we are very lucky to have him. It also highlights the special place that
Kimberley Institute is, and that for Jon and many other people, it really is a
key part of their heritage and life. As we look to the future and continue with
the ambitious plans to develop the club, we must retain that fabric which makes
Kimberley a special, community, family club.
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