Bears on Tour: Taunton 2023

Along with the springtime blossoms and buds, the Cricket County Championship has returned with Warwickshire's opening clash of the 2023 season being an away fixture in Somerset. Stephen and I last troubled Taunton nearly eleven years ago so we are keen to see the town afresh, and this time around Mr B Senior would also be coming along to take in the sporting spectacle...

- Checking In -

The match just so happens to coincide with the Easter holiday weekend so we venture down on Thursday 6th April, managing to avoid too much in the way of M5 motorway congestion. Our accommodation will be the Taunton North Premier Inn close to Obridge Viaduct, within reasonable walking distance of the ground even for those of us with little legs. After getting ourselves settled in, we use the evening to get our bearings around the town centre again. The hotel is handily positioned for the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal so we stroll along the towpath to Firepool Lock and reach the weir where the navigation joins the River Tone. 

- The Joel Garner Gates -

That Thursday had been when the game was due to get underway but the entire day's play is cancelled because of a wet outfield; on the one hand we're glad not to have missed any of the action, on the other we know the chances of a positive result are much reduced now. Anyway, we get initial glimpses of the ground from the riverside path where the Joel Garner Gate grabs our collective attention and acts as a tribute to a legendary West Indies fast bowler. The need for gammon has us filing into the Coal Orchard, an Art Deco-fronted establishment that used to be a Wetherspoons outlet. The resulting meal comes complete with herb-speckled chips and a pint of Exmoor Ale, once we dodged the darts and pool groupings that is. 

- The Ring of Bells -

Two other Taunton taverns will help us get reacquainted with Somerset's historic county town, and Molly Malone's on Tancred Street adds an Irish twist to proceedings - the place is packed with at least three dartboards in constant occupation and we can't fault the lively atmosphere. One hostelry I'm especially keen to sample is the Ring Of Bells, invitingly positioned next to St James's Parish Church merely a wayward bouncer away from the cricket ground itself. Table service is in operation here and the staff are very attentive, plus the beer isn't bad either with Mr B Senior on the London Pride whereas I partake of New Bristol's very hoppy Heyday IPA.

- Slip Cordon Ready To Pounce -

Good Friday 7th April heralds the belated commencement of the game, Somerset winning the toss and electing to bat. The Warwickshire bowling attack has a few new faces this year with Chris Rushworth, Hassan Ali and Ed Barnard all claiming their first Bears wickets during the course of the day. At one stage the home side are reduced to 136/7 but doughty resistance from Josh Davey (42) and captain Lewis Gregory (65*) sees them safely to the close on 269 for 8. We're not unhappy with that position and it's just great to be watching live county cricket again after what seems like a long cold winter - even Mr B Senior seems relatively contented. 

- St James' Church -

Play may have finished for the day but the glorious evening sunshine ensures St James's Parish Church looks resplendent in all its C15th glory. Friday night usually means chippy tea in the Beardsmore household although vast reserves of patience are required before we can get served at Howards (they're seemingly inundated with home delivery orders as a large queue snakes down the street). As you might expect of a Bank Holiday weekend, many of Taunton's pubs are very busy indeed so we pitch up at the Crown & Sceptre on Station Road so that Stephen can enjoy the Five Finger Death Punch tunes on the jukebox - judging by his choice of t-shirt he came especially dressed for such an eventuality!

- Priorswood Community Centre -

Easter Saturday 8th April has me indulging in some early exploration of the housing estates up near our hotel. Eastwick Road therefore brings me into the heart of Priorswood as marked by a shopping precinct (Co-op, bakery, post office, community centre) and the Waggon flat-roofed pub then Lyngford Park backs onto a children's centre and a local branch library. Two contrasting places of worship catch my eye with St Peter's C of E dating from 1956 while St Teresa's Catholic Church has a pronounced geometric spire. It doesn't matter where in the country I happen to be, I always enjoy getting to see different suburban horizons.

- View from the Somerset Stand -

Fortified by Brewers Fayre buffet breakfasts, we reclaim our seats in the Somerset Stand and witness the action unfolding. Somerset are swiftly dismissed for 284, debutant Barnard taking 3/54 and the ever-reliable OHD 3/76. Warwickshire's reply is an enterprising one built around an encouraging 118 from opener Alex Davies, the best we've seen him play in a Bears jersey. Sam Hain is more obdurate in his approach, painstakingly accumulating runs at his own pace with only the occasional flourish. Nevertheless, he's binding the innings together and remains unbeaten on 83* when the umpires call a halt to play just after half past six. Michael Burgess is 36 not out and Warwickshire have a handy lead at 307/5.

- The Rose Inn -

Saturday evening is a case of obtaining a Wetherspoons meal courtesy of the Perkin Warbeck (named after a pretender to the Tudor throne) before roaming along East Reach in search of additional refreshment. Hamilton Road has us passing a First bus depot to eventually reach the Rose Inn opposite Hamilton Gault Park - the Easter disco here is getting into full swing and a giant chocolate egg is being raffled off for charity. Armed respectively with Coke, Bath Ales's Gem or John Smiths for those of a smoothpour persuasion, we admire some ceramic bulldog figurines and join in with glam rock tunes including Suzi Quatro's 'Devil Gate Drive'. 

- Bathpool Swing Bridge -

Easter Sunday 9th April begins in very relaxed fashion with a lovely canal walk to Bathpool Swing Bridge, saying hello to morning joggers and dog-walkers en route. The Bridgwater & Taunton Canal is some 14.5 miles long in forming a rural link between the rivers Tone and Parrett, originally opening in 1827. I won't pretend that the Venture Way Industrial Estate is anywhere near as scenic but it does feature several flagship car showrooms for anyone in need of a new motor!

- The Final Score -

As for the cricket, after the loss of the entire first day it was always unlikely that either side would be able to force victory although Warwickshire give it a good go, Hain's 119 anchoring us to 392 all out. The seemingly scalped Hannon-Dalby makes early inroads into Somerset's second innings scorecard, and at both 25/3 and 92/5 there is an outside chance of seizing the spoils. Ultimately, Tom Lammonby and Craig Overton dig in for the home side who progress to 180/6 by the time handshakes all round confirms the inevitable draw. A solid first showing for 2023 in the end, and whilst I don't necessarily share Stephen's title contender aspirations, I'm hopeful that Warwickshire won't need any last day heroics to avoid relegation this year. 

- Cheers from the Black Horse -

A concluding few drinks will round off the holiday nicely so we troop into the Princess Royal just beyond the ground's Jack White Gates. Liverpool v Arsenal football coverage provides the backdrop as we reflect on a super holiday. More Perkin Warbeck meals then precede a Black Horse finale, where photographic evidence indicates that even I succumb to the 'Beardsmore Bleach' in there! All that remains is an Easter Monday breakfast and a steady trundle back to the West Midlands with the motorways again being kind to us. Come On You Bears!