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NEWS
Article by Andrew Radd
Saturday September 22 2007
Northamptonshire Evening
Telegraph & Northampton Chronicle
Wollaston climb
to the top of the tree – at last
Times have
definitely changed when it comes to communicating tidings of great joy.
In ancient
Greece they would have despatched a hapless runner to cover the 20-odd miles,
pass on the message and promptly expire from exhaustion.
Many centuries
later; news of great English victories was spread by means of a chain of
bonfires. Not hugely effective in poor weather and very bad for the ozone
layer.
During the
Second World War the BBC would place John Snagge, Stuart Hibberd or Alvar Lidell
in front of a splendid ‘Type A’ microphone to announce that Hitler was dead,
Berlin had fallen or the cheese ration was being increased.
And so to
September 2007 when Matt Jones used his mobile to ring through the details of
Wollaston’s title-clinching win over Geddington last weekend – while
enthusiastic team-mates attempted to pull his trousers down.
That success at
London Road was enough to earn the club a fifth Division One (or equivalent)
title. But as the first four came in the days before automatic promotion they
will be enjoying their debut season in Northamptonshire’s top flight next year.
“It’s very
special,” admits David Ward, who made his Wollaston debut back in 1962 and could
justifiably claim – if he wasn’t such a modest chap – to be the ‘soul’ of the
club, having bagged more than 1,500 league wickets on its behalf.
“My father
played in 1959, 1960 and 1961 when they won the old County League Division Two
but didn’t go up.
“And I played in
the 1973 side, along with (NCL chairman) John Hodges, when dad was president of
the club. So yes, it means a lot.
“We’ve put no
plans in place really. It has just happened and it’s all very exciting. We’re
just savouring the moment!”
Ward wasn’t
present when history was made – but his excuse is fair enough.
He was busy
playing for the second team – who also won, to kill off the threat of relegation
from Division Three – just up the road at Rushden.
“We kept getting
updates on what was happening at our ground,” adds Ward.
“The first thing
was that Harmit (Bahra) had to win the toss this time, and fortunately he did.
“It’s rather
ironic because when our firsts were relegated for the only time in 1990 it was
Horton seconds who beat us on the last Saturday of the season to send us down.
“Now, of course,
their first team is coming down and we’re changing places with them!”
Founded in 1870,
Wollaston joined the Northants County League from the Kettering and District in
1957 and a couple of years later won the first of three successive titles under
the captaincy of Peter Wyant.
The Class of ’73
put the club’s name on the same piece of silverware again, winning nine out of
18 games and edging out Great Oakley by a single point.
But joining the
‘big boys’ involved more than simply winning the division below. At that time
you had to APPLY for promotion (in writing to the Hon. Secretary by September 7)
and the existing top division clubs would decide if they wanted you or not.
“It was a bit of
a closed shop. When we won the second division we did apply. But we all knew
there was no chance of us going up.
“If the
opportunity had presented itself, we would have taken it. But to be honest we
just played in those days and winning the league was a bonus.”
Wollaston have
needed to be patient in recent years, too.
Since the NCL
came into being in 2003 they have finished no lower than fourth in Division One
and were runners-up in both 2005 and 2006 – missing out to Irthlingborough and
Burton Latimer by just 14 and four points respectively.
“We didn’t
always feel we had the rub of the green with the toss in some of those seasons –
although I know anybody can say that.
“It just seemed
as though a good team would come down, or another team would get a useful
overseas player and suddenly perk up, and they’d take it beyond us.”
There wasn’t, of
course, a Northamptonshire League in the 1920s and 30s. But it’s fair to say
that Wollaston could have been a powerful force in that particular era.
Between 1913 and
1948 a quartet of men from the village – Ben Bellamy, Vernon Murdin, Reg
Partridge and Cyril Perkins – played more than 850 first-class matches for
Northamptonshire between them.
Which made it
hugely appropriate that Bellamy’s great-grandson, left-arm spinner Chris Perry,
should play a key role in last Saturday’s victory by capturing five Geddington
wickets.
And the
aforementioned Matt Jones – who top-scored with 52 – is the son of Paul, who
notched 353 runs at 32.09 in the successful 1973 side.
Chris Perry
 Matt
Jones
“I know people
think we’re a village club and a bit insular. But sometimes it does work in our
favour when the generations come through.
“That was a nice
touch with Chris and Matt. It just rounded the whole thing off.”
As with Burton
Latimer a year ago, the existing Premier Division skippers will be quizzing
all-and-sundry in the coming months to find out “what’s Wollaston like” before
the 2008 campaign gets underway next April.
They could do
worse than check out the club’s excellent website which contains, amongst other
delights, a full list of first-teamers' for the last 50 years, from Arthur Ward
to David Clarkson.
Proud of what’s
gone before and hopeful for the future, even Wollaston’s opponents (and Isham’s
record against them has been pretty dire in recent years) will concede they
deserve a chance to enjoy the view from the top of the tree.
REPRODUCED BY KIND
PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR, ANDREW RADD, THE EVENING TELEGRAPH AND THE
NORTHAMPTON CHRONICLE & ECHO
2005
THE ERNIE BRYAN MEMORIAL TROPHY FOR BEST JUNIOR
PLAYER
David Clarkson became the first recipient of this Trophy when
it was presented by
President Colin Barber at the Club Dinner at the end of
the season.
David, who lives in Northampton, had an outstanding seasonat
Under Thirteen level and is a worthy winner. He
is presently representing Northamptonshire in his age group
and we are hoping he will progress to representing Wollaston
at senior level in the future.
2004
Following
on with our SHOWBIZ-
Split Loyalty interviews, this time, we put Brett Hanson, legend of stage, pitch and
dressing room under the spotlight. As most of us know, Brett’s has played
cricket for Wollaston for many years and has scored over 3,000 league runs, but
not everyone in the cricket world knows that he has appeared in over sixty shows
and his stage credits include Captain Von Trapp (Sound of Music) and Queen Tulip
(Puss in Boots). His baritone singing voice has also been heard in places as far
apart as Luton and Uppingham.
Between
rehearsals and net practice our SHOWBIZ editor
tracked down this modest, un-assuming thespian and number three batsman
to find out what makes him tick, and at the same time find out just where his
loyalties lie.
Brett Hanson
- Actor
or Cricketer?
Q: When and how did you get
interested in dramatics?
BH: It was 1982 and I turned the pages for my mum, playing piano at
rehearsals and caught the bug!
Q
: When and how cricket?
BH: About the same time.
Watching Dave Ward bowling at the slip catching net one summer’s evening.
Q
: What was your first
dramatic role?
BH: A tree in the
Christmas play. Miss Blores class, aged six!.
Q
: What was your first
singing role?
BH: Charlie
Cricket, Pinocchio. Wollaston Theatricals 1985.
Q: When did you find out you had a half decent singing voice?
BH: The Gondoliers 1990.
Uncle Bob said I had the best voice in the show.
Q: Would you now consider singing without acting?
BH: Yes
Q: Were you in
the School choir?
BH: Yes! I wore a
music tie and had the p*** taken terribly!
Q: Did you have a
hero in the entertainment field?
BH: My Uncle Bob
Q: What attracted
you to both disciplines?
BH: I have always
been attracted to discipline!!
Q: Would you like
to pursue a profession in either?
BH Yes, both!
Q: Would you turn
professional today in entertainment if asked?
BH: Yes!
Q:
Would you turn professional in cricket if asked?
BH: Yes!
Q:
What would be the ultimate role and venue in entertainment?
BH: Playing the part of Chris in “Miss Saigon” in the West End
Q:
Who do you admire?
BH: No one person in particular
Q:
Do you prefer pop, classical or musicals?
BH: As long as it has a tune and the performers can sing, I like all three.
Q:
Is cricket practice more interesting than rehearsals?
BH: It depends what I’m rehearsing and who is bowling at me.
Q:
If you were selected for Lord’s and the Palladium on the same day – which would it
be?
BH: Lord’s! Every time! No contest!
Q:
If you could meet one person from either cricket or entertainment,
who would it be?
BH: Kylie
Q:
Are you more nervous batting or acting?
BH: Batting.
Q:
Do you ever feel like bursting into song when you are fielding?
BH: All the time! I always have a tune in my head and if you watch me
closely you will often see me singing away to myself. I
often change
the words though. To something like:-
“Pitch the f******
thing up Jonah!
Q:
Which do you think will go on the longest – your
acting/singing or cricket?
BH: I’ll keep going at both until the stitching can no longer be repaired!
Q:
Would your dream role be acting the part of a cricketing icon
in a cricket themed musical?
BH: I would love to play the lead in a cricket musical – as long as I got
some runs! I would like to play Ian Botham – plenty to get your
teeth into.
Q:
Who is the more demanding: the director or captain?
BH: I usually find Carole more demanding than most skippers!.
Q:
A standing ovation or being clapped in with a Century?
BH:
I’ve never had a standing ovation but I think that would feel better.
Q: Do you have
any admissions or funny stories?
BH: Both in one really. We
were playing Finedon in a Sunday game
and
before we went out to bat I noticed that their umpire was an
old
chap called Frank, and some weeks before I had fitted a new
immersion
heater in his council house in Wellingborough. “Hello
Frank”
I said “I’m Brett, how is your new immersion heater that I
fitted
for you?”. “Fantastic” said Frank. “That was the first time
I
have had hot water in weeks”. Anyway, we went out to bat and
were
soon in trouble. Their opening bowlers’
were bowling quick
and
aggressively on a lifting pitch and the ball was flying
everywhere
– including around our heads! We were about 20
for
three when I eventually gloved a catch to the keeper and he
snapped
it up with audible glee. The bowler was even noisier. He
came
right down the pitch whooping like an apache at Little Big
Horn
and waving his arms in all directions. I knew Frank had got
his
finger up but I kept looking down at the ground and because
I
thought their whooping and remonstrating did not constitute
a
proper appeal,
I stayed my ground.
“You’re out!” said the
bowler.
“Am I?” I said. “Am I out Frank?” I said
looking up.
Frank
stared down the wicket, by now his finger was back
in
his smock, “NOT OUT” he shouted in
a firm determined voice.
From
this point the game changed dramatically. The bowlers
went
ragged and got took off and we scored over
200 and
won
the game! Which just proves, that all the gamesmanship
in
the world doesn’t come close to a tank of
hot water
where
umpires are concerned.
Q: OK, Brett, the
crunch question: Which do you enjoy more: cricket
Or
singing/acting – and remember – your director, captain and
the Selection committee are listening!
BH: Both equally!
Well, that’s the
evidence – are we any nearer? Perhaps we should
leave it to one of
our vice presidents, Phil Jones, to sum it up. After
watching Brett
perform at the Parochial room he happened to meet
him going out.
“Well, you sing better than you bat, boy!” said our
venerable V.P.
Case closed.
Next time: We
interview Neal Perry -
Cricketer or Elvis
impersonator?
An Interview with…………Darren Laughton
Darren Laughton took over the
unenviable and difficult task of captaining the Second Eleven after four years
of triumph – finishing Champions each time. Two promotions pushed the team to
within one division of our First Eleven and with the exception of Old
Northamptonians (who were subsequently promoted), we were the only second string
side in Division Two - the highest level that Wollaston Seconds has ever played.
2004 was a different story! With only
two wins all season we finished bottom and were relegated back to Division 3. It
was hard going for the new captain and perhaps not what he had in mind when he
took over. Has it put him off? Does he regret doing the job? After several moths
reflecting, what does he think now? Will he do it again?
Was
this your first experience as captain? The first time at senior level
although I captained several youth sides at Irchester and Wellingborough Town.
Did you
think we would struggle? I knew it would be hard but never thought we
would come bottom.
Did
you enjoy the season? The
majority of it. Obviously there were high and low points over the season.
Was
there any time when you wanted to pack it in? No, obviously a lot of thoughts went through my mind from time to time
but I never once considered it. As we really didn’t play to our potential I
was always hopeful that the next win was only a week away.
What
were the “highs” and “lows”? The
highs included the two wins (O.Gs and Saints) and the team spirit and support
within the team. The lowest point was at teatime at Towcester following the
pathetic and lack lustre performance in the field. Everyone seemed to have lost
interest and then we were facing 234 to win! It was our body language that sent
out the wrong message.
Which
element of the captaincy is the most enjoyable? The all-round responsibility all day on Saturdays’.
And the
least enjoyable? Ringing players up to tell them they
are dropped.
Why
do you think we struggled and subsequently relegated?: I think is was a combination of things. Our
pre-season games were cancelled, nets were poorly attended and we got walloped
in our first game. We didn’t recover from the bad start. We also came very
close to several wins in the latter part of the season but things didn’t just
go our way.
What
do we need to do then? Pre-season
practice is very important but we need to take early wickets and get at their
middle order. When batting first we need to post bigger totals so we can put the
game virtually beyond reach of the opposition, which puts more pressure on their
batters. We need to control the game more.
Can
the Club do anything different off the pitch to make your job easier?
I think we need to agree our selection policy and make it clear at the AGM, also
we could possibly increase the number of selectors from three, to bring in an
extra voice or two. Other than that
I think the Club runs very well.
Where
do you think we will finish next season? Given the run of the ball, in the top five.
Would
you do it again? Yes!
2002
CHRIS
PERRY, FOLLOWING IN GRANDDAD'S FOOTSTEPS
When
Chris Perry reached the age of sixteen last September it was approximately 90
years since his great grandfather, Ben Bellamy, joined the professional staff at
the County Ground. In the same year Mr Bellamy also played for Wollaston in the
Kettering & District League cup final against Great Oakley. When he made his
Northamptonshire debut in 1920 in a truly remarkable match against Surrey, he
was able to view - at very close quarters - history in the making, as Percy
Fender flayed a century in 35 minutes.
By
this time Ben had already claimed the first of his 645 Northamptonshire victims,
holding a catch to dismiss the immortal Jack Hobbs off the bowling of another
Wollaston product, Vernon Murdin.
He also went on to notch more than 9,000 runs before his retirement in
1937.
Thus,
Chris, who bowls slow left-arm, ensures that the family cricketing links with
the village and the county are perpetuated. He captained the County’s under
15s during 2002 and also played for the Under 16s including the Jersey Festival.
Although
Chris finished the season with 23 Premier wickets under his belt he admits it
wasn’t all plain sailing. “I found it difficult at the start of the year,
and all credit to Andy Luck our skipper – he didn’t over bowl me and risk me
getting hit around and possibly having my confidence ruined. But as the season
went on, he gave me more overs”.
So
Chris, who was at the County Ground in 1999 when David Ripley went past Ben’s
total of dismissals for Northamptonshire, can be proud of his heritage and of
the handsome tribute in Wisden paid by Ben’s old captain, ‘Beau Brown:
“ A dedicated professional cricketer, his impeccable conduct on and off
the field earned him the respect of all who knew him”.
1999:
Centenary of a Six
When
Darren King struck his straight six during his record breaking second wicket
stand at Overstone, little did he know the significance of the date – July 31st
1999.
Yes,
you’ve guessed it, one hundred years to the day since Albert Trott hit perhaps
the most famous six of all time!
Batting
at the nursery end at Lord’s July 31st 1899, Albert Edwin Trott hit
a ball over the pavilion at Lord’s. Nobody else has ever done this and the
ball eventually came to rest in a garden behind the pavilion after striking a
chimney on the back downward slope of the roof. Trott had just lobbed a sighter
into the seats on the top deck, and in the past once smashed a ball from Fred
Tate into the cast-iron emblem on the left tower. Had there been no tower, the
missile must surely have carried to Grove End Road which runs beyond the houses
and gardens at the rear of the Pavilion.
From
the Nursery End stumps to the Pavilion boundary is 90 metres and the roof
is 15.3 mts from the turf. The tower adds another 4 metres on top and when you
stand on the ground and imagine the ball sailing over the great Victorian
building the enormity of the hit is mind boggling.
Apparently
Albert, an Australian, was in the Dennis Lillee and Merv Hughes mould of
boisterous larger than life characters but at the same time a handy bloke to
have in the team. In his maiden Test match, against
England
at the Adelaide Oval, batting at No 10, he whacked 110 without being
dismissed and took eight for 43 in the second innings. Later in his career he
qualified for Middlesex and in 1899 became the first to do the double of 1000
runs and 200 wickets, repeating it the following season. Later on however, life
turned sour for Albert. He had an unsuccessful benefit in match in 1907, gambled
and drank most of his money and
retired from playing
to take up umpiring. He spent his last few years in poor health lodging
in Willesden, where gradually he suffered from depression. Then, fifteen years
all but a day since
his mighty hit, he pointed a Browning revolver to his head and squeezed
the trigger. He was just 41.
The
periodical, Cricket Lore is offering
£ 10,000 to any batsman who emulates Trott, so all we
need , Brett, is a fixture at the Headquarters of cricket.
Farooki ,Darren and co will do the rest!
1998
1998
PARTRIDGE TROPHY Young
Player of the Year: Simon
Driver
A
top score of 37 not out against an in-law inspired Isham and an excellent 32 in
difficult conditions at Rothwell helped Simon to a total of 210
First
Xl runs at an average of 16.15.
15
wickets complemented a similar average in the Millman at 23.6 each and hopefully
his aggressive bowling will reap the same rewards in the County League before
long.
Again
it is pleasing to see another erstwhile member of our youth squad make an impact
at senior level.
_________________________________________________________________________
1998
Under 11’s At The Double !
The
Under 11’s had another great season, following on from last year’s shared
Higham League title and County Runners Up spot.
The
1998 season started with rain and our first game against Finedon ‘A’ being
cancelled with no prospect of it being re-arranged, I wonder why?
The
rest of the league games were all played and won, so we reached our last game
against Oundle knowing that the winner of the match would win the league.
The team played very well and we won the game comfortably by 50 runs and
without losing a wicket.
We
used ten boys throughout the season and they all made vital contributions to the
league title win.
The
team reached the KO Cup finals day which was held at Finedon and were drawn
against Isham in the second semi final, with the victors playing the winners of
the other semi between Finedon ‘A’ and ‘B’
In
a close semi final it was our bowling and fielding that saw us through as we
took ten Isham wickets to restrict them to 204. We made a tentative reply with some tight bowling from Isham,
however despite our last pair losing a wicket in the 15th over we
were still able to win by 8 runs.
With
only a twenty minute break the final against Finedon ‘B’ started and after
losing the toss we were asked to bat. We
batted very positively and lost three wickets in reaching 250.
When
Finedon began their reply it was our superior bowling and fielding that put us
in charge and by the end of the 12th over the game was effectively
won as we took eleven wickets in those dozen overs, which gave their last pair
an impossible task. However this
did not prevent every run this pair scored being loudly cheered, which made the
Wollaston boys nervous and a number of over throws were given away which made
the crowd cheer even louder. The
skipper than got the fielding back on track and having a comfortable cushion of
runs, moved the field back to give the batsmen a single and ensured a
comfortable return throw to the bowler or wicket keeper.
The game finished with a comfortable win by 40 runs for Wollaston and the
double achieved.
After
the game the team were presented with the league Shield and KO Cup by Mr.
Carvell and Mr. Coleman on behalf of the Higham League.
Neal Perry – Under 11 Manager
1965
The
Local Derby
Back
in 1965, when our President was but a slim callow youth, bowling fast off a long
run and skippering the Stiffs in his own inimitable way, he had the bright idea
of fixing us up with a “friendly” match to fill a blank Saturday.
“Who
is available to play in a friendly next week?” said Colin, and we all put our
hands up. “Right, it’s Bozeat
away, leave the Nag at 2 o’clock and we are gonna beat the B…….s!”
(Bozeat people!)
Bozeat,
away – friendly? There is no such thing. The three words were incompatible.
Anyone who had ever played football over there would tell you it was similar to
England playing at Ibrox, or in cricketing parlance, fielding in front of the
old Hill at the S.C.G !
Because
Wollaston had opted out of the Kettering and District League some years earlier,
the two clubs had not crossed swords for a long time so we really did not know
what to expect. All we had to go on was our recollection of the school team and
reports from our “spy” Maurice Stanford who had played for both teams, and
lived in Bozeat.
“They
are one hell of a side” said Maurice, “and they have got some good
youngsters, - you’ll do well to win”.
We
all met outside the Nag’s Head the following Saturday after enduring a week of
tales of strapping fast bowlers, hard hitting batsmen and a baying mob looking
for blood.
The
skipper led the motley procession in his Austin A35, along the A509 to the
village that took no prisoners –it was like Richard the Lionheart going on a
crusade. But not to the Holy land!
We
learnt that skippering the home side would be one Alan Brealey, a few years
later to become a Wollaston player ;
a name that I had heard of vaguely, but of whom I had not had the pleasure of
playing with or against.
We
had taken a youthful side including young lions, such as John Hodges, Max Bayes
and Ted Patrick (who played occasionally for the County Colts), and experienced
campaigners in the form of Maurice the spy, who would feed us with useful
information as and when the game developed. We parked the few
cars we had on Easton Lane
and made our way down by the side of the cemetery, across the field and over the
wooden bridge into the small cricket field, picking up some mild taunts on the
way from school acquaintances, and others who thought the Wollaston
“pansies” would wilt in the May sun.
But
they under estimated the resolve of Barber’s Army and their call to arms which
you will have heard sung many a time when England have been playing!
It goes …”Barber’s Army…. Barber’s Army…. Barber’s Army - we are the Army, the Barbers Army. Barber’s Army….
Barber’s Army etc etc)
Anyway,
Colin had decided that, should we win the toss we would bat first, “grind
‘em in” and then “bowl them out for near to nothing”.
Our
“spy” Maurice, had done his homework but still insisted that he mingle with
the home supporters to try to gauge the sort of total we should be looking at
“to give ourselves a chance.”
Although
at that time limited over games were not the fashion, teams were expected to
declare at teatime or, if tea was to be taken between innings, around five
o’clock. This was to allow the side batting second nearly an equal share of
the playing time. Colin had said that if we hadn’t got enough at the half
waypoint we would bat on. “We are doing them no favours!” he barked.
At
2.45p.m, after a final pep talk from the skipper, our openers Steve
Hillier and Ted Patrick bravely strode out to the wicket to face the onslaught,
led by the highly charged A.B. The plan was to not take any early risks, keep
Alan out and then build a decent total of around 120, which Colin thought would
be enough on a far from lightening outfield.
Things
went to plan. In spite of the home skipper charging in off a long run from
one end and Rich Green’s accurate medium pace from the other, our openers put
on 32 for the first wicket before Ted was eventually caught off Alan for 13.
This brought the normally hard-hitting Max Bayes to the crease who years later
went on to win a Division Two (now the Premier) League winners’ medal
with Wollaston and then Overstone.
Max
reached 34 (including a six) before falling victim to Roger Barker’s right arm
over, which made way for Pete Luck (uncle to Andy) to join the resolute Steve
Hillier who was playing to type and sealing up one end. Unfortunately Uncle Pete
only lasted three balls and our skipper who could only manage one, quickly
followed him.
On
his return to the pavilion Colin said that he thought we had got enough. We were
standing at 112 for 5 – not quite the total we had agreed we needed, but Colin
was obviously keen to get at them and bowl them out. “Their heads have gone”
he said, ”They have had it”. “No!” said Spy, “they have got a lot of
batting, we need to carry on- we haven’t got enough yet”. What Maurice
really meant was –“don’t declare yet, I haven’t had a bat and it could
be my fifteen minutes of fame!”
But
the “inside” information” was took on board and we did carry on. Past
five o’clock and right through to five to six! For the last 55 minutes of our
innings the home side fielders kept looking towards the pavilion, looking for a
sign from our skipper which would end their misery. But the more they chuntered
the more our man enjoyed it. Our
number 6, Glenn Frost added 20, Maurice a careful six, and number eight David.
Ward, 13 not out. John Hodges was LBW Brealey
for 2 and John Partridge a duck.
So
at 5.55 pm we declared with 154 for 9 off 46 overs with only Ken Bailey not
visiting the crease. Alan finished with 4 for 32 off his 14 overs and no one
could have tried harder. “ They don’t like it “ said Colin munching his egg and cress at tea
“and I think I will open the bowling”. We all knew he was going to anyway.
He was itching to get at them
So
at sometime after six o’clock Colin came charging in off his run that would
make Michael Holding look like Wayne Sleep. Whispering Death he was not!
Dave
Old took a single off our skipper’s fifth ball and a bye doubled the score.
John
Hodges paced out his considerable run up at the other end
and
opened the bowling fast down the
slight slope. His last ball of the over was to Rich Green, possibly Bozeat’s
best bat and former Wollaston player, it hit him on the pad resulting in an
appeal from John and a massive shout/growl from mid-off where our skipper was
patrolling like a caged lion.
A
Bozeat resident, who was deemed to be the most impartial of the visiting group,
was the official at the bowlers end, and after a furtive glance over towards the
pavilion to try to gauge what the reaction might be, he raised his finger. We
had made the break through.
Colin
then bowled a maiden and took three quick wickets, John added three more scalps,
including Alan’s for just four singles, and just half an hour and nine overs
after they started their innings the hosts’ were 9 for seven and
looking decidedly groggy. One hundred and fifty five must have looked a long way
off! . Our skipper then decided to ring the changes, purely to keep the game
going and see Bozeat struggle
for a little longer.
He
took himself and John off, and brought Max Bayes and David Ward on, but the
wickets still fell and although another ten were added, the hosts innings
lasted just 11.3 overs! 19 all out!
Just forty minutes!
Most
of the home supporters had filed through the cemetery and were on their way home
by this time, but we didn’t care, we had one of those days when everything had
gone to plan and we were making the most of it ( although we refrained from
visiting The Red Lion and really rubbing it in - we weren’t that brave!)
At
last, Bozeat held no fears for us and we talked of a return match, but
unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately!) it never materialised. They took defeat
well. Alan was magnanimous as always. Maurice thought we had the best of the
wicket (!) but Colin was in no doubt we were a in a different class and “we
showed them what County League cricket is all about.”
Unfortunately
as Bozeat Cricket Club is no more, an overdue return match is not possible. We
will just have to rest on our laurels!
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