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Result - The Old Spots

Sat Jun 9th Grannies lose by 3 wickets

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(c) - candidate

Match report

The Year of the Pig!

Grannies 179 all out: Old Spots 182 - 7

After giving the Old Spots a roasting last year they exacted their revenge on Saturday making good use of the local conditions and cruising to a three wicket win. The warm sultry conditions meant that the resident pigs preferred inactivity in the shade of the hedgerows and the Grannies batsmen seemed to take their lead from them, venturing all too briefly to the middle for a flurry of shots before returning to the comfort of the charming pavilion. The Old Spots� opening bowlers put the ball regularly in good areas, using the early movement and bounce well. Paul Knight got a good one early on, David Grindrod flayed the new ball around for a few overs while James Rogers stuck it out trying to find his timing after not playing regular cricket for a couple of years. In the middle of the innings Frank Strachan and Simon Clarke kept the ball hunters busy, Draff and Tim Begg caressed the ball through the covers and Matt Siebert pushed the ball into gaps but no one played the anchor role for the innings, which ended two overs inside our allotted 40.

The customary excellent ham sandwiches were served at tea but a quick head count of the local pig population (2) proved that the raw materials were not home grown. Whether it was the tea, his failure with the bat, or the desire to impress his girlfriend on the boundary, something gave Knighty a boost and he lead the bowling with four wickets. Stanners performed as ever in a manner that defies his age, David Grindrod was steady and debutants Max von Etzdorf and Andy Benson provided useful support. Siebs purveyed some bad spin in one of his briefer spells but it was not enough to stop the Old Spots chasing down the Grannies� total with a couple of overs to spare.

But with this ground, oppo and tea, this fixture is always a winner! Many thanks to Stanners for standing in as skipper following my knee injury (whilst wicket keeping !!!!!) a few days before the game, and also to Simon Clarke for playing at very short notice.

Jim.

Match info

A new fixture for the Grannies in 2006 this is a beautiful, privately owned ground attached to a pig farm deep in the heart of Surrey. No coincidence then that the ham sandwiches at tea are some of the best you'll taste! The Old Spots play their cricket in the same spirit as the Grannies which makes for a competitive but friendly game. Nice place to bring the family to.

In 2006 we gave them a hiding...and in 2007 they beat us in a more balanced contest, but it is fair to say that we didn't perform to our potential.

Location
Follies Farm,
High Street Green,
Chiddingfold,
GU8 4YB

How to get there
Follies Farm is a mile out of Chiddingfold on the road to Dunsfold. Chiddingfold is on the A283 about halfway between Milford (just off the A3) and Petworth. The ground is not visible from the road but is down a track perpendicular to the road running through the farm. Mind the pig!