🦆 The Duck Pond

Our correspondent is obliged to report a determined showing for the exclusive zero club this week, no fewer than seven of the eleven's men submitting themselves for enrolment in a single afternoon against Sissinghurst CC. The First Eleven, at Sissinghurst J C Crawford, opening the innings, was bowled by W Winch without troubling the scorer — his first career cipher in three innings, joining the estimable E M Owens, tenth upon the club's roll of sixty-three. A Startup followed at first wicket down, likewise done by Winch, for his third duck in a career of seven innings. A gentleman twice already decorated Duck of the Year, in 1868 and again this present season, and no stranger to a run of five such episodes in succession upon the honours board, he now stands level with T Tomson at three apiece. C Amies, at four, was smartly taken by X Goldsmith off Winch's bowling for his fourth career duck in nine innings — a return placing him first of the whole sixty-three, a distinction not lightly won. He keeps company with J Amies, second upon that same list, at four apiece. W Goad, at five, fell to W Piper for his fourth career duck in fourteen innings, third of sixty-three and close upon the summit — a family affair, as our next item will relate. H Freed, at seven, was likewise accounted for by Piper, a cipher to mark his very arrival at the wicket, and he joins Mr Owens upon a single career duck. W White, at nine, went the same way for his third career duck in four innings, sixth of sixty-three and himself a Duck of the Year for 1869 — he now stands level with Mr Startup at three. T Goad, last man in, was bowled by Winch without scoring, a cipher on only his second appearance for the eleven, joining Mr Owens on a single career duck — the second Goad to fall this same afternoon, as follows. Two of a Quack The rarest ceremony of the day fell to the Goad household, W and T both walking back without a run against Sissinghurst CC, a shared misfortune the honours board records under that particular heading. The elder's was his fourth such episode, the younger's his very first — a duck to begin a career, and a fourth to continue one. The Week in Brief Seven ciphers from a single afternoon is a determined showing indeed, with no golden ducks among them and the Goad family alone accounting for two of the seven. Sissinghurst's bowling was shared between Winch, four wickets for nought, and Piper, three for the same. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - A Startup — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% - C Amies — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% - H Freed — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% - J C Crawford — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% - T Goad — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% The eleven take the field again shortly, and our correspondent has every confidence the honours board will not want for fresh entries.