A personal comment from the Web Master

Friday the 13th, unlucky some may say, but that was certainly not the case at The Rose Bowl, where superstition was put aside as a sell out crowd came to the cricket and the pop concert.

The sun shone brightly, it was a very warm summer evening, and everything was right for an exciting cricket match, and that was certainly what they got, as the Hawks got their campaign off the mark (see separate match report).

A lot of preparation had gone into this major Rose Bowl event; it was a window to the world of cricket. The sceptics said it would not work; I have to admit that perhaps I was one, although I did believe it deserved a chance if just for its innovation.

There was a carnival atmosphere long before the cricket, bouncy castle, fun fair, NatWest fast bowling competition, Saints football shoot out and much much more.

The food outlets were doing a roaring trade, where the dear old traditional Rose Bowl Café (Sunshine Café) suddenly found itself surrounded by Baguettes, Fish and Chips, Sweets, Ice Cream and an abundance of other delicacies.

Many of the staff that did the whole show proudly had arrived at 8 am and many were still there gone 11pm, a devotion to a concept that had started as a pipe dream in the minds of the old Hampshire County Cricket Club, to the magnificent facilities we have today.

I was over by the entrance to the Western Berm when a family of five came in "Good grief" said the wife to her husband, "this is magnificent". Obviously a first timer and we hope a regular from now on. Later when coming into the Atrium bar, I overhead another lady exclaim "This is super, I had no idea, and I only live just down the road in Hedge End".

Seeing the crowd converge onto the outfield to watch Mis-Teeq and the other pop acts after the match, may have given head groundsman Nigel Gray a few palpitations, but it was a superb sight.

Rod Bransgrove, Nick Pike and all the staff of Rose Bowl plc and Hampshire Cricket can lift their heads up high today, and say we did it. There will be other days like this, the One Day International amongst some, but this day will go down in history in the young days of the ground, alongside that amazing win over Australia in 2000 ...

Watch this space ...