25th Anniversary match v Boosemoor CC
Posted Sunday, September 17, 2006
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Sunseekers 202-8 (Wenn 62, P Downes 41, Greasley 29, Woodward 22)
Boosemoor 120-9 (Harper 50-odd, D Evans 5-4-4-4)
Match drawn
And a good time was had by all, I think. The day was summed up by a passing child at Elvaston CC who, upon spotting these two long-standing social cricket clubs locked in combat, offered the entirely appropriate and largely accurate observation: "Oh look - old men playing cricket."
I think it should be the club slogan from here on, with apologies to Messrs Coxon, S Taylor etc, who are clearly Honorary Old Men.
"Oh look - old men playing cricket."
May I say, at this point, that when I was knocking on doors on Sunday mornings in the early 80s, trying to persuade lads who knew we were going to get thrashed to come out for a game of cricket, the idea that we might still exist as a club 25 years later would have been laughable.
That we would also be competitive against modest club opposition on a fairly regular basis really was pie in the sky.
I don't find myself wondering how far we might get into a second 25 years. I know only that we will be here next year, which is good enough for me. Each individual will keep going as long as he wants to. If some of the younger lads find themselves hooked enough to keep Sunseekers going long after the old gits have packed up, great. If not, hey, we had a great time.
Anyway, enough reflection.
Having won the toss in what was to be a timed match, we clocked up a decent score of 202-8 in 44 overs. After John Carpenter's early departure, Paul Downes and Mick Wenn put on 80-odd steadily before Stuart Greasley inserted some acceleration in a partnership of 53 in only eight overs with the LFC, who, exhausted by being made to run, departed for a solid 62.
Kevin Woodward's enterprising 22 did not deserve to be ended by being run out by your writer from the last ball of the innings... sorry again, Kev.
For a while, Adie Harper's hard-hit half-century, solidly supported by Chris Potter, looked to be giving Boosemoor a chance as they embarked on their reply.
Then, for a while, Sam Taylor's hard-hit cover drive looked to be giving me a chance of speaking in a higher voice and my team-mates a chance of getting hernias through laughing so much. You do hit the ball hard, Sam.
Anyway, the combination of Jim Downes, Mogie Walters and, especially, Dave Evans, led to a flurry of wickets to leave Boosemoor hanging on.
It was just as well they had the experience and broad stomach, sorry, bat, of Brian Bennett, in his brown hush puppies, to call upon. More realistically, it was the somewhat broader bat of Ross Coxon that did the trick, as BB padded up to Mogie to give Robin Sibson a nervous three balls as the gathering gloom gave way to bright sun right behind Mogie's arm.
Honours even, then, on an excellent day which was enhanced by the appearance of former players Matt Williamson (thanks for umpiring), Nigel Guest and Gareth Harry to join us for the food and drink.
My thanks to John Lindsay, president and groundsman at Elvaston CC, for his hospitality. It was a lovely setting for the game. Also to Carpo, Steve and Kevin for taking the pictures that will soon accompany this report on the site.
CC
Back row, left to right: Chris Potter, Nigel Guest, Sam Taylor, Dave Rodgers, Dave Evans, Stuart Greasley, Dave Hiscock, Paul Downes, Neil Moorcroft ("Pidge"), Ross Coxon, Mogie Walters, Jim Downes, Adie Harper, Steve Nicholls, John Carpenter.
Front row: Kevin Woodward, Matt Williamson, Karl Feix, John Hird, Brian Bennett, Mick Wenn (captain), Robin Sibson, Colston Crawford, Nigel & Ben Palmer, Jim Taylor.
