Given the rain all the week
before, most players expected the game to be cancelled -
however, with the rain stopping at 6pm on the Saturday a near
miracle occurred and the Old Boys lined up (beers in hand) for
the fourth annual match against the Goodwill. With Watford Town
booked (and waterlogged in any event) the Old Boys game
transferred to Woodside. Winning the toss, Old Boys Captain
Clifton elected to bat and regular openers Mark Smith and Seamus
Rickard took the crease. As normal, the Old Boys held the
edge in batting while the current team had the better
bowling. The Old Boys were kept penned for the first three
overs before bowler Chris Cashman had Smith caught at the
wicket for the second year running. This brought out
the Old Boys most successful batsman against the Young Fags,
Kevin Gregory. As the Youngsters continued to exert pressure
through astute and effective bowling changes the Old Boys
scoring rate dropped to near vanishing point. After 30 overs (of
an expected 40 or so) the Old Boys were 66 for 1. A quiet
reminder was given to Gregory and S Rickard that this wasn't a
four day game and some scoring shots were finally essayed.
The partnership had reached exactly 100 when S Rickard was out
for 36 after having occupied the crease for over two hours. Some
flashing blades in the final five overs brought up a barely
respectable 139 for the Old Boys. Tea, excellently
prepared by Anne and Sue, was taken at the Watford Town CC.
The
Goodwill reply suffered an early setback when Colin Correa was
run out from a superb throw from Pat O'Connor to wicketkeeper
Mike Allaway. Things looked to have settled down for the
Youngsters before Pat O'Connor made a double breakthrough,
trapping opener Andy Callanan LBW and then getting Darren
Westwood to pop his first delivery up to Neil Clifton to take
comfortably. Once more, the current team looked to get
back on an even keel. Once more a double strike broke the
resistance, this time an all Rickard affair with son Kevin
catching off old man Tony (first parent/offspring wicket) before
Tony took a solid C&B. New Boys Oliver Sayers and
Chris Westwood then put on a solid defence, almost doubling the
score before Mat Wallace took a catch off twin brother
Mike. Then Gareth Hughes put on a virtuoso display of
spin, totally bamboozling Derek Desmond for two
consecutive deliveries, the first just missing the off stump
from pitching on leg, the second rearing up to hit the top of
the off stump. Chris Cashman and Michael Westwood steered the
Goodwill home with a combination of good defending and strong
shooting to break the encircling ring.
A draw,
but another successful Old Boys game. Thanks are due to
all the players, Anne and Sue for the tea, Watford Town CC for
the use of facilities and all those who made the effort to come
along.
