IN a unique role, this day was dedicated to St Clare Hospice with all profits being set aside in their favour including monies raised at two previous social events around the beginning of the season reports Alan Howick.

The match itself serves several benefits to our club. The selection procedure is competitive between the two team leaders, but the game is always played in the right spirit, win at all costs!!!

My rational in team selection is based on inviting active and non-active past players, guest’s players and the infill being promising youngsters from our club.

This years team almost fitted that criteria until third party interference rendered two of my ‘big-guns’ NA but I had a backbone within the team being the Butler/Jessey combo.

I knew well, their presence in the field was good enough to rattle the oppo with their unique knowledge of sledging and frantic fielding. Well, that was the principle in mind, not so sure it happened.

My team was expertly led by our good friend Joe Holland. Well supported by new boy Peter Day (son of past Captain Ray) making a tidy half ton, great performances by our young blood in Alfie, Ben, Ronnie and Billy and co.

Mark Sullivan (Sully) came all the way from Oxford, leaving some poor sole on the operating table Sunday morning to arrive in time for tea and bowl. This suited Matt Hurley thinking all he must provide is a strong opening batting stint then be a sub to allow The Professor to spin his way through the oppo after tea. Wrong, your fielding mate, numbers wrong!

For ‘all-round’ performance must go to our 1st XI Captain Tom. Both in physical appearance and performance. Not his fielding, not his batting and bowling. But it was those secret activities he will be best remembered, puffing on his vaper in the out-field, relieving himself by the Ash Tree alongside the old pavilion, receiving a liquid refreshment looking very much like a beer and a fine for imitating an opening bowler.

It was good to see ‘old faces back’, Welcome Rehman, out to a very dodgy C&B, from Master Yeats, but a good day, the result, of no importance being together with old friends, mixing with our splendid crop of youngster’s made the day perfect.