🦆 The Duck Pond

A single fixture at home to Boxley Cricket Club furnished the eleven with three fresh entries upon the club's roll of dubious distinction, and a productive afternoon it was for Mr W. Coveney, who accounted for two of the three unaided. The First Eleven Opening the innings, Mr Charles Wycherley was undone lbw to Coveney without troubling the scorer, his third such misfortune of the season and, remarkably, his third in a mere six innings at the wicket — a rate of failure so consistent as to suggest design rather than misfortune. The season of 1906 finds him already inscribed upon the Duck of the Year board, and on this showing the honour may yet be his to defend before September is out. He finds companionship in adversity with one A. Kent of 1893, likewise a career total of three, and himself similarly garlanded in his day. At number four, Mr C. L. Pemberton met the same bowler and the same fate, lbw b Coveney — his very first appearance at the wicket for the club thus concluding upon a cipher, a debut conducted with scarcely any ceremony at all. He takes his place at the seventieth rung of the all-time roll, in the company of one A. Barker, whose solitary career duck, recorded between 1885 and 1904, stands at precisely the same modest total. Sent in at six, Mr Tom Peach Jnr was bowled by G. Laurence for his fourth career duck in a innings tally now standing at thirteen, no stranger to this ledger, being already a name from 1902's Duck of the Year board. He shares his present total of four with one Allan Peach, whose career runs from 1903 to the present season. The Week in Summary One match, three ducks, and a single bowler answerable for two of them — the leather plainly found the timbers to its liking this Saturday. No pair of misfortune was recorded, nor any family united in nought this week, each duck being a solitary affair, however keenly felt by the gentleman concerned. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Charles Wycherley — 4 innings, 3 ducks, 75% - H Wilson — 2 innings, 2 ducks, 100% - R W Mitchell — 5 innings, 2 ducks, 40% - C L Pemberton — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - D H Luck — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% The club awaits the next fixture with its customary mixture of hope and resignation, confident that the roll of dubious distinction shall not want for further entries before the season is out.

A quiet week, gentlemen, and a curious one to report. Of the solitary fixture played this period, not one wicket fell for a cipher — not a single member of the eleven, home or visiting, contrived to depart without troubling the scorer at all. The timbers stood unmolested by that particular indignity, and the willow, for once, behaved itself entirely. A Week Without Quarry It grieves the Secretary to record that the Club's huntsmen returned empty-handed. Whether this reflects a sudden and regrettable outbreak of competence at the crease, or merely that the bowling was not quite equal to its usual mischief, the Committee declines to speculate. Let it simply be noted, for the historical record, that the 28th of July passed without a single fresh entry to the honours boards — a state of affairs the Club trusts will prove temporary. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard Even in a barren week, the season's standings remain a source of considerable interest, and the following gentlemen continue to distinguish themselves in the art of not scoring: - H Wilson — 2 innings, 2 ducks, a perfect 100 per cent, a record of really quite uncommon thoroughness - Charles Wycherley — 3 innings, 2 ducks, 66.67 per cent, seldom troubling the scorer this season - R W Mitchell — 5 innings, 2 ducks, 40 per cent, a steadier hand but not without his lapses - D H Luck — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100 per cent, an emphatic if brief introduction to the ledger - J W Bowles — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100 per cent, likewise announcing himself without delay In Closing The Committee extends its compliments to all who batted this week and, somewhat unusually, has nothing further to report against any of them. Members are reminded that such restraint rarely persists for long, and the Secretary awaits next Saturday's fixture with his customary and entirely justified confidence that the timbers will again be rattled for nought.

A chronicle of ciphers, 14th to 20th July, 1906 Two matches were played by the eleven in the week under review, and the willow proved twice unequal to the task, both instances falling to gentlemen of the 1st XI. 1st XI - F E Wallis, sent in at number four against Leeds Castle CC on the 14th, was caught by W Betts off the bowling of W Steadman and returned to the pavilion for a duck's egg. It is his first cipher of the present season and the third of a career now numbering four-and-twenty innings, a showing that places him twenty-second of three hundred and seventy-one in the club's roll of honour. It may be recorded that upon this very date in the year 1900, one H F Morris likewise failed to trouble the scorer, against Yalding CC. - R W Mitchell, opening at number two on the 20th against the Officers of the Royal West Kent Regiment CC, was bowled by Lieutenant Battersby without scoring. This is his second duck of the season, and the second of a career of but ten innings, a rate of failure that will not have escaped the more attentive members, and stands him fifty-second of three hundred and seventy-one upon the all-time list. Curiously, upon this same date in 1869, a Mr C Amies of this parish also departed for nought, against Horsmonden CC. The Week in Summary Two matches, two ducks, both claimed by our own men and both, it may be observed, at home, where the timbers appear to offer no especial refuge. No gentleman was so unfortunate as to repeat the indignity within the week, and no family party shared in the disgrace on this occasion. A modest week, by the club's usual standards of catastrophe. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. H Wilson — 2 innings, 2 ducks, 100 per cent 2. Charles Wycherley — 3 innings, 2 ducks, 66.67 per cent 3. R W Mitchell — 5 innings, 2 ducks, 40 per cent 4. D H Luck — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100 per cent 5. J W Bowles — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100 per cent The season's honours board remains keenly contested, and members are respectfully reminded that the next fixture offers every opportunity for further additions to this distinguished company. The correspondent awaits developments with his usual quiet optimism.

A record of the match played the 7th day of July, 1906, against Sutton Valence School 1st XI Two of our men were sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorer this week, and by a pleasing economy of effort the same bowler, Mr H R Tanner of the visiting school, accounted for both. B W Haynes, promoted to first wicket down, had his stumps rearranged by Mr Tanner for a duck's egg — the first cipher of his season and the second of a career that now runs to eighteen innings, a showing that places him thirtieth of the 367 names upon the club's roll of the dismissed. It may interest the gallery that on this very day in the year 1900, one L C Brown was likewise dismissed for nought, against Town Malling CC — history, it seems, is fond of an anniversary. C H Style, coming in at number seven, fared no better and was similarly bowled by Mr Tanner. This was his first duck of the present season and but the second of a career still in its infancy, three innings all told — sufficient nonetheless to place him thirty-third of 367 in the club's dubious company. He, too, shares the distinction of the 7th of July with the aforementioned Mr Brown of 1900, who made his own duck upon this same date six seasons past. In summary A modest yield for the week — two ducks from the single fixture, both at the hand of the same visiting bowler, and both gentlemen of the middle order sent packing before troubling the scorebook. Whether Mr Tanner ought to be congratulated or merely noted with wary respect, the Gazette leaves to the reader's judgement. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. H Wilson — 2 ducks in 2 innings (100%) 2. Charles Wycherley — 2 ducks in 3 innings (66.67%) 3. Allan Peach — 1 duck in 1 innings (100%) 4. D H Luck — 1 duck in 1 innings (100%) 5. J W Bowles — 1 duck in 1 innings (100%) The club extends its compliments to Messrs Haynes and Style upon their contributions to the season's tally, and awaits with interest what fresh candidates the next fixture may deliver unto the exclusive company of the nought.

A solitary fixture against Leeds Castle CC yielded no fewer than eight ciphers for the club's ledger this week — a splendid harvest for one afternoon's play, and business enough to keep the scorers' pencils sharp. 1st XI (away, Leeds Castle CC) - Jack Fryer, second man in, was bowled by W Betts for the season's first addition to his account and his twelfth career duck in 67 innings, a tally that stands first of 367 upon the club's roll of dishonour. He remains twice a laureate, having been proclaimed Duck of the Year in both 1891 and 1900. - The Reverend J R Leigh, batting fifth, was caught De Uphaugh, bowled Croucher, for his first duck of the season and, remarkably, only his first in sixteen innings, ranking him 132nd of 367. He now stands level upon exactly one career duck with the venerable A Barker, who kept the identical company between 1885 and 1904 and was himself Duck of the Year in 1885. - Charles Wycherley, seventh man in, was bowled by Betts for his maiden duck of the season, ranking 32nd of 367 and already declared Duck of the Year for 1906, level upon one career duck with A Barker. Sent in again the same day, he was run out without addition, completing a pair and his season's second duck, his career tally now standing at two in a mere four innings — level with C French Snr, who managed the same modest feat between 1860 and 1864. - C Kneller, playing his very first innings for the club, was run out without scoring, opening his career account with a duck in his second innings played, level upon one career duck with A Barker, ranked 68th of 367. - H Wilson, likewise making his debut, was caught De Uphaugh, bowled Betts, and, sent in again, was bowled by Betts a second time without troubling the scorers — a pair upon his very first afternoon in the eleven. His two ducks in two innings, ranked 40th of 367, draw him level with C French Snr on a tally of two. - George Champion, batting fourth, was caught Tillman, bowled Steadman, for his eighth career duck in 63 innings, ranking third of 367 and a paid-up Duck of the Year from 1897. In summary Eight ducks from a single fixture is handsome work, two of them pairs — Wycherley's and young Wilson's, the latter suffered on his very first day in the eleven. Not one of our men departed first ball, each contriving to survive a delivery or more before submitting to the inevitable cipher, which the club's historians will note as consistency of a most particular and unremunerative kind. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Charles Wycherley — 2 innings, 2 ducks, 100% 2. H Wilson — 2 innings, 2 ducks, 100% 3. Allan Peach — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% 4. D H Luck — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% 5. J W Bowles — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% The eleven takes the field again next Saturday, and the Chronicle awaits, with quiet confidence, further additions to the roll.

A record of our men sent early back to the pavilion The First Eleven, at home to Maidstone CC Two of our batsmen contrived, within the same innings, to add their names to the club's roll of honour for failing to trouble the scorer. R W Mitchell, in at number four, was caught by C A W Duffield off the bowling of E Larder, and returns to the pavilion bearing his season's first cipher — the club's most exclusive distinction — and his career's first duck in seven innings, placing him 127th of 364 upon the long and undistinguished catalogue the club keeps of such things. He may take some comfort in noting that, on this very day in 1898, one C S Smith performed much the same office against Sutton Valence School, so his ignominy is at least in fine historical company. Following him to the crease, and shortly thereafter following him back, was Allan Peach at number five, caught by E Larder off G W Leng. This is Mr Peach's fourth duck in a career of but six innings, a rate of failure so consistent as to place him ninth of all 364 names ever inscribed upon the roll — a consistency of a very particular kind, and one he can scarcely be proud of, yet cannot now be parted from. He too finds himself in the company of the aforementioned Mr Smith, whose duck of 1898 fell upon this same date. In summary A modest afternoon's work by the standards of the exclusive zero club — a single fixture, two ciphers, both recorded in short order against Maidstone CC. No pairs, no family affairs, and no golden ducks to report this week, merely two gentlemen undone in turn by good bowling and indifferent fortune. Duck Hunting Season — the leaderboard - Allan Peach — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100 per cent - D H Luck — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100 per cent - J W Bowles — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100 per cent - R W Mitchell — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50 per cent The season is yet young and the honours board awaits its next volunteer. Members are cordially invited to the next fixture, where no doubt further contributions will be forthcoming.

A modest but by no means undistinguished afternoon at Town Malling, where the Eleven, sent thither to try conclusions with the home side, returned with two additions to the club's rolls of honour. The bowlers of Town Malling CC may be congratulated on their part in the proceedings. 1st XI — away to Town Malling CC D H Luck, coming in at number eight, was undone by F B Leney and departed without score — a first innings for the young gentleman, and thus his maiden appearance upon these lists, entered at 75th of 363 in the club's long history of ciphers. He joins A Barker, that veteran of 1885 to 1904 and a Duck of the Year man in his time, on a career tally of one apiece — modest company, but distinguished. J W Bowles, at number ten, was run out for a duck's egg of his own — the fielding, we are given to understand, rather than the bowling, being his undoing. This is his second innings for the club and his first duck, placing him 111th of 363 on the all-time list. He too finds himself level with Mr Barker on one, a tally shared this week, curiously enough, by his own teammate above. In summary Two ciphers from a single fixture, both away from home, both falling to different means — the timbers on one occasion, a mishap in the running on the other. No pairs, no golden ducks, and no family affairs to record this week — a quiet if not entirely blank week for the exclusive zero club. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - D H Luck — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - J W Bowles — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% Both gentlemen begin the season in what one might call perfect consistency of a very particular kind. The Eleven take the field again shortly, and the club awaits with quiet confidence that the list above will not long remain so short.