Rascals vs' Moose - Captain's log 13.09.15

Match report Rascals v Moose, Sunday 13 September 2015

The eagerly anticipated final match of the season against the Moose took place on Sunday at Stonegate, and what a season finale it was.  The weather threatened to derail the whole affair (ably supported by the damage caused by Jez's wedding) but incredibly, we were playing by 2 pm under grey but clearing skies.

We lost the toss and were inserted by the Moose.  We slightly slumped to 18 for 2 against some sharp bowling from Tom Ogden but then a revival started which lasted the rest of the 30 overs we had to bat.  Good partnerships between Mackwood (33)/Ross (74 no)/Grigson (27)/ and Richardson (11 no) managed to take our score to 187 with meaningful but shorter contributions from Beattie (who Ross managed to run out) and Lund.

All in all a pretty solid batting display given the state of certain heads and a keen bowling attack.

We were treated to the return of a Beattie tea, only let down by the extreme absence of any tuna; a superb feast for a team feeling weary and in bad need of sustenance.

We took to the field a bit light on bowling but determined to try and defend a 6 an over run chase.  

Grigson and Keeling P started well and the fielding standard was set early on by a quite superb catch by Richardson in the gully, removing a very dangerous looking opener for much less than he wanted.

The Moose kept up with their required rate with a third wicket partnership of 70 odd.  However Jamie Mackwood revealed a previously unknown talent for off spin and he and Lund managed to take both batsmen in quick succession.

Dixie Dean was given an extended spell of 5 overs, grabbing two wickets; one to another exceptional catch, this time from Denning at point.  The figures are all on the website but all 5 bowlers performed in sterling fashion and were backed up by a very sharp fielding and catching display by the whole team.  Not always the case but very definitely the case yesterday.

The Moose innings then subsided quicker than a house on the beach in Norfolk and we were victorious by 40 runs.  Done and dusted by 6.30 leaving plenty of time for a lengthy post match session in the Bull where we reminded each other that we are now on a run of 5 consecutive winning matches as the winter break arrives so lots to play for in 2016.

A thoroughly enjoyable Sunday cricket match, played in excellent spirit with a resounding victory for a very classic Rascals side.

See you next year for more....................................

Paul R.

Rascals vs' Moose - Match date 13.09.15

That's another fine victory! Makes it 5 straight wins on the bounce, 2015 is a vintage year, played 6, won 5 and lost only one - quite a few matches lost to the weather and such, but WE'RE STILL HERE.  Roll on 2016.....

Rascals v's the CAC. Match date 25.7.15

Victory again?! What is happening? Looks great lads keep 'em coming

Rascal's v's the Donkey's Impediment (away) - Match Date: 19.07.15 – MATCH REPORT

The annual match versus the Impediments for the Andy Goodale Memorial Bat once again took place on Sunday under clear blue skies.  We were late again, so a 30 over match ensued on an absolute belter of a pitch; definitely not one to miss for any batsman in mid-season form, Nigel had worked hard filling in all the gaping cavities seen in previous years and the outfield was like glass and as the toss took place we were told that 200 was a par score and that it had been chased down twice this month already.  Records could tumble.

We lost that and were inserted.  Paul Keeling and Hamish Mynott proceeded to cart the bowling to all parts, putting on what I believe is a record opening stand for the Rascals of 122.  Both batted beautifully on this road of a wicket and neither missed out.  200 looked a distinct possibility until we realised that Nigel had sneakily saved the best 2 bowlers for the last 10 overs and we struggled to 180 as wickets fell regularly.  Stumps flying out of the ground, catches taken and general mayhem as batsmen tried to work out how come there was a big hole in their bat through which the ball passed to hit the stumps.  A couple of Rosses, a Grigson and several more Mynotts came and went.

Anyway, it felt like a good score and at least the required run rate didn’t take much working out.  Tea ensued.  Well half a tea from the Impediments and half a tea from us; an interesting arrangement where 3 kitchens were made a mess of instead of one.  However all came together beautifully.

The Rascals then decided to bowl and field very well indeed with notable performances from N. Grigson, PKeeling, K Ross, A Lund, Arthur Mynott and Ollie Akdeniz with a superb catch from Tim Pryke thrown in.  A succession of genuinely baffled batsmen came and went with my highlight being K Ross bowling Peter Wright behind his legs; Peter is still trying to work out what happened this morning.  Ollie's spell on debut was noteworthy and Hamish very tidy behind the stumps.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable day with a second successive victory for the team.  Well done to all and it’s so good, as always, to see more youth blooded in the fray.  On to the next one on Saturday before the much needed mid-season break kicks in.

P. Ross (Cpt)

Rascal's v's the Donkey's Impediment (away) - Match Date: 19.07.15

Victory sits upon victory, the smell is sweet perfume!  Full Match report promised from Rosco tomorrow.  In the meantime here are the score sheets and some pics to whet your appetite:

Rascals v's Canbashers match date: 12.7.15

We won!! Pretty easily and everyone was brilliant -The score book give the facts, but everyone came to the party to make for a most satisfying win - we love it when it smells of napalm in the morning...

Match Report:

Started in typical enough fashion, a few (very few) Rascals gathered in the garden at the Bell, supping pints and smoking fags in a light summer drizzle, glancing nervously at leaden skies.  It was, of course, about 2.20 and the opposition had left the pub at least 15 minutes before.  Around 2.25 our numbers had swelled to well over half a team so it was felt we could and should make a move.  As we left Neilo swung in and had to be restrained from entering the pub.

We arrived at the pitch not many minutes after the allotted start time and were welcomed by an expectant, but remarkably patient opposition.  The pavilion was, inevitably, locked up and no keys in site.  Rosco had been spotted hurtling down Ticehurst high street, but interestingly the reports had him heading away from the pitch.  Had he been affected by his 4 hour route march during the night? Could he even walk any more, such were the reports of the damage to his feet? Even with these unfavourable rumours, he did turn up and not very much later at that.  A lot of frantic running around, a toss tossed and your Rascals were heading in to start their innings at the crease not much after 3.15!! So far, so normal then!

From here on though things changed unrecognisably; Skills & Mackwood proceeded regally to put on well in excess of 120 runs for the first wicket.  From here you might well have expected a collapse, but with Eddie out for 55, Jaime went on to score 92 and the 2nd wicket only fell once were on about 180.  At this point we had 2 new bats at the wicket and their openers back on for the last 4 overs.  We did not end with a flourish of runs, but did manage a fairly respectable looking 187 for 3 off 32 overs. Would have been nice to make 200, but we all felt that it was enough to give us a fighting chance as we rested and enjoyed Kiki’s fantastic tea.

Our concerns, as we returned to the field, were that they had a fairly strong looking batting line up. Why did we fret though?  When the Rascal’s are on form they truly are on form, and a not an ineffective unit!  The fielding was sharp and the bowling was tight with everyone playing their part and taking wickets, well nearly everyone took a wicket.  The pick of the bunch though would have to be the sight of Neilo rolling back the years and thumping the ball down from the pavilion(ish) end. They were all out for 110 after 24 overs.  Lucky really, as it was 8 o’clock, still heavily overcast and getting very difficult to see.

MMMM Match Date 21.6.15 (The Longest Day)

19 matches into the series and Grigson won one back to bring the score to 11 to 8 or 10 to 9, no-one that sure, but still in favour of Skilbeck.  Great day had by all, lovely lamb from Marko, sausages from Toby, chicken from May and kebabs from Mackwood.  Full report on the match (short and sweet) to follow with more time.

Rascal's vs Mayfield (away) - match date 24.05.2012

Soundly thrashed I fear!  Started badly with PK being hit for 16 off the first over, rather setting the tone for what was to follow.  Having only managed to take 2 wickets off them (the remainder of their batting line-up opting to retire at 50!), Mayfield posted 258.  High points of the innings:

(1) Having shed the weighty mantle of the captaincy, Neilo sprung to the wicket like an adolescent gazelle and showed the oppo that we were able to put a ball or two together that at least made them think a little and momentarily staunched the geyser of runs.

(2) Rosco set us a mini challenge of keeping them under 300 (something that looked a little too likely at one point) and we won that battle.  Hussar!!

Our response got off to what can only be described as a faltering start; the first wicket fell after adding no runs on the 3^rd ball of their 1^st over.  Whoops.  It was good to see Hamish hitting the ball freely though and giving us back a little self respect.  Added to that our 2^nd mini-challenge was set that we would not beaten by over 100 runs.  Yet again we succeeded in besting this target and managed to post  171, so, heads held high, we repaired to a fully stocked bar. 

A quick chat with the opposition’s South African professional revealed that Mayfield had only set themselves one challenge for the game, to beat us. A quick tot up of the results and me thinks we won 2-1 in challenges? Double hussar!!

The score book tells the whole story: