Sun May 20th Match Drawn
Photo gallery
Players
Match report
On the way to the ground I liaised with Anthony Sykes to meet in a local pub. Having waited in a layby I set off behind him as he went past. 100 yards on at a roundabout I was right behind him when he went straight up the back of a Ford Focus putting a huge dent in the back. I rolled up alongside and told him I would meet him at the next layby where Tony King also appeared.
We eventually made it to the ground where Peter Pitt-Brown was cooking a BBQ next to his brand new all singing all dancing Bentley continental convertible. Mrs Fernie also weighed in with chicken salad for all and Syko, now fully recovered opened up some very good Rose. Robin Rogers, the only man who confirmed his place on the morning failed to appear and so we started at about 2.15 having put the oppo in.
The Gravediggers made 180 - 7� with Michael Fernie taking 3-33 and young Nick Pitt-Brown taking 2-20.
Rogers finally appeared muttering about forgetting his jockstrap and later, nearer the truth we suspect, admitted that Shona (who will forget her bikini-ed beauty in Paris) had requested that he return home and feed the horses. To cap it all Ron Jennings failed to show, later claiming that he had forgotten and sat at home all day.
The Grannies then batted and as our late Chairman would have commented "We look good on paper". However with Tim Hamilton 18 Tony King 18 and John Rayer 15 and Nigel Draffan making 33no we were struggling on 125-9 with 5 overs to go. However Captain Courageous and the clockwork mouse held out and achieved a memorable draw, The Grannies finishing on 130-9.
The abiding memory apart from your captain receiving an umpiring lesson on the LBW law whilst bowling round the wicket and the same player, who was incidentally the Headmaster of the school, complaining about various players test driving the Bentley round the school field was the sight of Rayer playing the entire game in his brown cowboy boots. Having size 13 shoes there was, in the absence of Jim Streeter, no available replacements above size 11.
A special mention should made of Tony King who at 66+ something years and having not played this decade timed the ball quite sweetly. Playing in a panama hat and sunglasses only added to the scene. Tony felt that he had set a new record being four times older than the youngest member of the Grannies side.
So there we have it, a very sociable game with both sides repairing to a local pub and necking a few pints of the old favourite, London Pride.
Until next year.
Match info
Lets hope we can report a win in my next missive but come what may this is a very pleasant cross between country house and village cricket and is always followed by excellent ale in one of the local taverns.
Location
Ashfold School,
Dorton House,
Dorton,
Nr Aylesbury,
HP18 9NG
How to get there
The ground is at Ashfold School situated in Dorton,about 3 miles from Princes Risborough near Thame.