Sunday 18 September 2011
Rascals v's Northiam
Sunday 11 September 2011
Rascals v's The Moose
Saturday 3 September 2011
Rascals v's Chelsea Arts Club
Saturday 30 July 2011
Sunday 24 July 2011
Saturday 2 July 2011
Rascals v's East India Club
Finally! A victory to savour. Hussar
The Rascals vs The East India Club. 2 July 2011
by Mark Beattie
With the temporary loss of The Walland Wandreers fixture, Tarquin suggested we try a game against his St. James’ haunt. The jury was out as to what to expect, especially considering a rather unsavoury memory of the Club from the 1980s by the Chairman (permeated by poppinjays and slyboots, I recall). Without a full side at the start of the preceeding week, and with a couple of drop outs to boot, the fixtures secretary, having shaken off his scatalogical baubles (see Grannies report), ventured into pastures new. We ended up with three 18 year olds (two ex – Ampleforth, one Tonbridge) who, thank the Oval, could play a bit. However, perhaps the most significant addition to the side was the Skipper’s son Ned (Grigson E. in the scorebook) making his debut. Sadly there wasn’t time for the bat handle applicator induction ceremony, due to the length of time it took to get a ƒ§¢#€ª• pint of Guiness from the dozy tight-clad doxy behind the bar. ROLL ON THE BELL ¡!!!!! The poor old East India Club lads, who turned up in good time and looking forward to some good Sussex pub fare were told there was at least a 45 minute wait for a sandwich. They decided to wait for tea. I am now sorely tempted to launch a vitriolic salvolic tirade against this travesty of an hostelliery but fear for my own blood presssure levels. Such is the distain in which I hold the dump (maybe Rossco will mention the cloudy Harveys prior to the Impediments game, if he ever puts finger to keyboard! Eddie also owes us a report on the Matfield game once he has extracted himself from Derek Underwood’s arse and had a shower. DU turned up to the pub after the game….). Back to the game:
With them 10 and us 11, and the sun shining we agreed on a 35 over game. There was some deliberation with the Skipper as to who had won the toss, with the dressing room confused as to who better to ask. Despite this mystery we took the field with Tarquin and young Will Dunn opening the bowling. New bug Felix Cannety-Clarke had the gloves, and a fine job he made of it too – big enough to ask for a long stop for the medium paced twizzlers of Alex Collier (you might remember him as our nemisis from years back when he was playing for the Tonbridge 1st XI at the age of six – one of us wore a bike helmet into bat). We had a few early breakthroughs which meant the EIC struggled to make a big total subsequently, on what was another decent strip for the bat. Three of the six bowlers (The Skipper and the Skipperlet didn’t even get a chance) took pretty equal honours, though special mention should be made of Tarq’s superb 22 for 2 off 7, which truly deserved more, and PK’s marvellous slower ball which had the desired effect (unlike his ‘wider’ ball). Moment of the innings was indesputably when one T. Barratt lofted a ball from Alex Collier toward deepish midwicket, manned by young Ned. With ten hearts a pounding (especially that of the Skipper) we watched him take a corker. The blushing lad was swamped by grateful Rascals - glorious scenes. So, we had them all out (including the tail end Charlie who batted twice) for 138 in 30 overs.
After a splendid tea provided by Mrs. Skipper, and some deliberation as to who was to open the batting (our regulars playing at Downside) we took to the field for what should have been a fairly straight forward chase – and, do you know what, for once it actually was! The Skipper and PK put on 70 for the first wicket and might have gone the whole way was it not for confusion between the wickets. Neilo was seeing it ‘comme un ballon de pied’ and was well caught for 43. Poor Ted Wright at number three was flumoxed by a ball that bounced twice before reaching him, but the death blow was administered, unsurprisingly, by Alex Collier who hit three sixes and five fours amid his 45 not out. 142 for 3 in 30 overs. Hussah for The Rascals.
Fantastic to have some youth around; wonderful to be playing with the Skipper’s first born (bring on Kit and Jake); great performance in the field, including a high echelon of quality banter………….a lovely day.
NB. It was lovely to see Jamie Owen, on a rare trip over from Spain. His appearance was much enhanced by the utilisation of a pair of shoes. Oh, the perks of age and experience. He was residing for the night with Lu and Tobes, whose youngest Jude proudly announced in the Bull (ƒ†¨^¨¨¢ ∞¶∂ƒª˙∂˙¨¥) that ‘they had a tramp staying the night’……luv The Chairman
Sunday 19 June 2011
Matfield v's Rascals - final score
Matfield v's Rascals - T time score
Saturday 18 June 2011
PWAGS update
Sunday 5 June 2011
Rascals v's The Donkey's Impediment
Saturday 14 May 2011
Rascals v Grannies
The Rascals vs The Grannies – 15 May 2011
by Mark Beattie
As I write, 4 July, I find myself taxed to recall the minutae of this, our first encounter of the season. What I can say is that, as groundsman, it was the first time that I had been totally unconcerned about the potential ‘puddingness’ of the May-time square. Having, at that stage, not had any rain for nine weeks, the ground was concrete hard and already turning brown.
The scorebook may relate that the weather was fine but it makes no mention of who won the toss in this limited 35 over bout. Any road, The Grannies opened the batting, with the opening pair, Finn and Newcomb, putting on a very tidy 79 before Finn Fell LBW to our own Warney, Robin Todd, - bless his flaxen locks. Without a dedicated wickie, there was a certain amount of swaping of the gloves with both PK and Eddie having a bash. However, The Grannies conitued to score at a solid rate and at the end of their tenure of the strip (and what a strip it was!) had amassed a very respectable 256 for the loss of five wickets
Things couldn’t really have got off to a worse start when it came to our chase, with Eddie caught (behind? – someone [probably the man himself] enlighten me) on a diamond duck (watch this start a heated nomanclatural debate). The quest stuttered further when brave Sir Lund, #3, was caught and bowled Yeates in the second over. The Skipper followed suit in the fourth with our score then on 16 for 3. The fantastic news was that now we only had eleven to get in order beat our worst ever total. At this stage PK took to the fray and, together with Rossco, stabilised the ship, despite some good bowling by Grannies openers Sibree (particularly inexpensive) and Yeates. After Rossco was caught behind on 33, in came ex-Vinehall Head Boy Toby Clifton who, having specified a light bat, unleashed his fury – or is that furry? At this stage tiny glimmers of hope were kindled in those who looked on but after the fall of PK for 25, and Tobes for a cracking 78, the tail, commencing with the groundsman, stubbornly refused to wag (whose idea to play the groundsman!?). I suppose that the start of the tail must be just above the arsehole – just a thought. Anyway, despite a brief cameo (or is that camel toe?) from The Flaxen One, we were all out in the 31st over for 189.
Still, with nigh on 450 runs scored in 66 overs, at least the groundsman, covered in dags (winnets or dingleberries – depending on one’s venacular) was a happy bunny.
Saturday 16 April 2011
Warming up for the season
The day draws nearer and you will all be glad to hear that team is beginning to form nicely. You will see below a picture of the nets sessions and, though the kit is rather outdated, I'm sure you will agree with me when I say that this is probably the best team ever formed ..... in the history of cricket!!
Can any of you name the line up? Answers on a postcard to:
We're going to smash them!
BBC TV Centre
London W12 8QT.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)