Monday 25 June 2012

The Chair in the Corridors of Power (Uncertainty surely? Ed.)

Gentlemen, For those of you who wondered why I wasn't present at yesterday's match vs Matfield (well done lads - a highly honourable draw), please observe the pictures below. I was in fact having a private meeting at No.10 for the purposes of ensuring Ant Lund's place on the New Year's Honours List as well as Tarquin Deserter's incarceration in the Tower. Bless The Chairman

Sunday 24 June 2012

Rascals v's Matfield

A draw, but the honours were ours (we feel)! Still unbeaten, what a precipitous position we find ourselves in. Can we stand the pressure?

Rascals v's Matfield

Mr Clifton on his way to 37 and the team to 140 although Ed is having issues balancing the books. PK

Rascals v's Matfield

First interruption for rain. Do we need more?

Monday 18 June 2012

Rascals v's East India Club: Match Report

"Hat tricks, God-like batting and a Continuing possibility of an unbeaten season"

 

The Rascals gathered on Sunday for the first match of the season against the East India Club.  We had to deal with a number of issues in the build up to the game, including seriously inclement weather (top work chair), the defection of Tarquin Desoutter to the opposition, and Toby Clifton not being quite sure whether he could make it or not, but the most significant event came when the Chairman called time on The Bull and changed the meet venue to The Bell.  Some of us thought it might be a typo but it turned out to be a complete master stroke.  We walked into the new pub, ordered a drink, got a drink and then sat down and drunk that drink.  Simple as that.   Amazing that it is possible to organise these things so easily…….. and we had become so used to the desultory level of bar service at The Bull that I thought all pubs worked like that.  You know, 20 people waiting for a drink, one useless bar staff and then the wanker before you orders sixteen pints of Guinness.  Nothing more annoying and none of it had to be witnessed on Sunday at the shiny new Bell.  The only hiccup was in the pub afterwards where three lads who had popped in for a quick pint at lunchtime were still there at 8 pm and started hurling their full pints at a brick wall.  Classy stuff.

 

The captains (Ed Skilbeck in our case) walked out to toss sometime between 2.30 and 3.00 and we were soon in the field.  The East India Club batted competently against our bowling attack comprising WIll, Tobes, Ed, PK and Ant.  A couple of early wickets fell bringing Tarquin Detraitor to the crease to face a full scale sledging and some seriously short pitched rib ticklers.  Undaunted, Dejudas batted in his own inimitable style and his partnership was key to the East India Public Schools Only Club reaching 175 off their alloted 35 overs.  One observation I have to make from my position in the deep was that Depoppinjay is now seemingly incapable of running between the wickets, preferring to walk.  On at least seventeen occasions. he was wandering back for a sharp two and we seemingly failed to spot the man half way down the wicket (the guy with the turning coat).  Anyway, a fine innings by DeshouldgototheTower and his partner was witnessed. 

 

The real moment of the innings came when a Rascals first was achieved when Anthony Lund took a hat trick in the last over to dismiss the last 3 batsmen.  The first wicket was to remove Dequisling bravely under pressure from a high catch with a wicketkeeper hurtling towards him at pace…… Brave stuff and many congratulations to Ant for finally getting a 29 year old monkey off our backs.  All in all a very respectable fielding and bowling performance commendably controlled by the skipper for the day, Ed Skilbeck.

 

Ed had mentioned to me during the week that he has been batting like a God this season and had an average in the mid forties.  Upon further due diligence, it was revealed that the average was calculated by ignoring all his innings played on shit wickets with bowlers over the age of 18, so we were looking forward to seeing if this innings was going to count or not.  Will Drew and Ed opened and after creaming a cover drive PAST THE FIELDER for 4, Skills missed a full toss and was bowled.  Does this one count?  Not sure yet……………  Ross joined Will and we took the score to 80 odd with a mixture of running and then some more running, both batsmen incapable of finding the boundary nearly enough.  Exhausted, Ross picked the wrong ball to try and fail to find the boundary and was bowled attempting to execute a ghastly smear towards cow corner.  PK and Will Drew then put together an excellent partnership which took us almost over the line.  The sort of line that has a horrible habit of getting further away the closer you get to it.  A final wobble as Will was stumped by the keeper and then Tobes was out LBW first ball.  Interestingly, Tobes and I had spent most of the afternoon discussing the LBW rule and I really felt we had it thoroughly nailed…….. and then this happened.  I dunno.  The other Will faced the hat trick ball, scored runs from it and then finished the game off in fine style in the next over.  I forgot to mention that the bowler who almost performed the second hattrick of the day was one Tarquin Dabsconder himself. 

 

A thoroughly professional runchase from start to finish and many plaudits must go to Will Drew for his 78 and PK for his noble support.   A win and the tantalysing possibility of an unbeaten season remains.  Matfield here we come.

 

P.Ross

Sunday 17 June 2012

Rascal's v's East India Club

The sweet smell of napalm in the air over Stonegate! Long may it last. Hussar!

Rascal's V's East India Club

E.I. Club 175 after 35 overs, but most importantly Ant Lund gets the first ever hat trick along with a Michelle. He is truly all Rascal

More updates at close of play. How jolly tantalising....