STEVE LEWIS MEMORIAL EVENT.
July the 4th saw 4 teams turn out in memory of Steve Lewis who tragically passed away on the 13th of June 2009 while playing the game he loved for Alfas against Mojacar at La Manga.
The four teams, Sporting Alfas Celebrity XI, The Southern Softies, Roy’s over 21’s and the Green Mahou’s played two games each in a 15 overs format. On the sidelines, there was face painting, a raffle and an auction and a giant paella was made by Ginny Munoz Mills for all the players and spectators.
The first game was between the Green Mahou’s and Roy’s over 21’s. In effect it was more like Roy’s over 45’s and it showed as they wilted in the field under the sun and a fine opening partnership between Graham Howe and Carlos Parkin. From ball one the result was never in doubt and the Mahou’s secured a comfortable victory.
The next game was between the Southern Softies and the Steve Lewis Celebrity XI captained by Paul Taylor. The Softies comprised of players mainly from La Manga and Albox and they put up a spirited fight before losing out to the Alfas boys, who donned the field in Steve Lewis masks.
The losers plate again saw the over 21’s suffer in the field, but with the help of young teenager Antonio Gomez Brown, who guested for the ageing cricketers they offered more of a game this time round. It took two Spanish Under 19 youngsters, Joel Brook of La Manga, and Matt Smith from Albox to prise the game from the spirited triers, and the travellers from the South run out easy winners in the end to claim third place and give Roy’s over 21’s the wooden spoon in the tournament.
The match up between the Green Mahou’s and the Steve Lewis celebrity XI looked close on paper, but it turned out to be a one sided affair with the celebrity XI running out easy winners, with possibly Mark Spencer’s innings proving to be a telling contribution.
After the game the raffle and auction raised a substantial amount of money, and all the bars proceeds from the day went to Steve Lewis’s family. Thanks to everyone who made the event such a great day, but a special mention goes to Phil Pennick for organising the day so quickly, to John Morgan for his entertainment and compereing skills and to Joe Williams and Ben Fletcher for flying in especially from France and Italy respectively to take part in the proceedings.