Sunday 26 July 2015

Rascals v's the CAC. Match date 25.7.15

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

Monday 20 July 2015

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)

Sunday 19 July 2015

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:






Sunday 12 July 2015

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.