🦆 The Duck Pond

A single fixture took to the field this week, and for once — against all tradition, against the very spirit of the club — not a single duck was laid. Eleven batsmen went out, and eleven batsmen, infuriatingly, got off the mark. The zero club stands unrecruited. The exclusive membership rolls remain unchanged. Somewhere, a scorer is disappointed. We shan't pretend this isn't a little awkward to report. The Duck Club exists to celebrate triumph through adversity, the art of not scoring, and this week adversity simply declined to show up. Consider it a rain check on ignominy — the ducks are out there, and they will return. 🏏 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Matt Large — 27 innings, 6 ducks, 22.22%. The season's clear pace-setter, quietly assembling a collection most would rather not admit to. - Michael Beeney — 15 innings, 4 ducks, 26.67%. Efficient work — over a quarter of his innings end in the traditional fashion. - Ian Brattle — 5 innings, 3 ducks, 60.0%. A frankly staggering strike rate in the wrong direction — three ducks from five knocks is the kind of consistency the honours board was built for. - Daniel Thirkell — 14 innings, 3 ducks, 21.43%. Keeping pace nicely in the chasing pack. - Stuart Cheesman — 22 innings, 3 ducks, 13.64%. The volume player of the group — patient accumulation of noughts across a long campaign. Ian Brattle's 60% deserves a special mention — at that rate he's arguably more reliable failing than most of the club is succeeding. 📅 Looking ahead A quiet week for the collection, but the season isn't done with us yet. Bat carefully, gentlemen — or don't, and give the Duck Club correspondent something to write about. Next fixture, normal service will very likely resume. 🦆 0️⃣

A single fixture on the books this week, and I bring news that will unsettle the purists: not a single duck to report. Eleven batsmen went to the crease and eleven batsmen, by some conspiracy of application or plain good fortune, got off the mark. The zero club held no induction ceremony this week. Make no mistake — this is not good news. The art of not scoring is a proud Linton tradition, and a blank weekend is a stain on the collective average, not a badge of honour. Somewhere out there a bowler will be feeling very hard done by. Still, the season standings roll on regardless, and the race for Duck of the Year remains very much alive. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🏆 1. Matt Large — 6 ducks from 27 innings (22.22%) 2. Michael Beeney — 4 ducks from 15 innings (26.67%) 3. Ian Brattle — 3 ducks from 5 innings (60.00%) 🍩 4. Daniel Thirkell — 3 ducks from 13 innings (23.08%) 5. Stuart Cheesman — 3 ducks from 22 innings (13.64%) Special mention to Ian Brattle, whose 60% strike rate in the failure-to-score department puts the rest of the top five to shame — three ducks from just five innings is consistency of a very particular kind, and he leads the field by some distance on pure efficiency. Matt Large sits comfortably atop the pile for now, but with Michael Beeney breathing down his neck and a fixture list still to come, this one is far from settled. So — evaded this week, but not forever. The Duck Club committee watches, waits, and fully expects the next scorecard to make amends. Get out there, middle stump, and give us something to celebrate. 0️⃣🏏🦆

Four fresh entries for the exclusive zero club this weekend, spread across three fixtures as the 1995 season runs down to the wire. The art of not scoring remains alive and well at Linton Park. Saturday 9 September 1st XI away to Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC Michael Beeney went first, caught Jim Chaplin off the bowling of Michael Glazier at number nine — his 4th duck of the campaign and 4th of a growing career from 15 innings, good enough for 153rd on the all-time list. A long-serving member of the Only Two Quacks honours reel alongside Ian Brattle, and no stranger to the Retirement Duck club from a past farewell innings either. On this very day in 1977, Andrew Moss (1968–1987, 10 ducks, 73rd all-time) was doing exactly the same thing against Cornwall Crusaders. 2nd XI at home to Borden CC Ollie Priestly edged Roy King through to Martin Noakes after eight balls of defiance — his 2nd of the season and 3rd career duck from just five innings, propelling him to 201st overall. A Debutante Duck alumnus from way back. Andrew Moss, again, provides the "on this day" company from 1977. Then came the real fireworks. B Powell, on debut, was run out without troubling the scorers — a proper golden duck, gone before he'd had time to take guard mentally. First-ever senior innings, first-ever duck: an instant Debutante Duck, and with career ducks and career innings both sitting at a tidy one apiece, he walks straight into the One and Done club for 1995 too. Rank 333 of 1208 and rising fast, presumably. Andrew Moss's 1977 vintage strikes a third time as the day's constant companion. Sunday 10 September 1st XI at home to Crowborough CC Richard Ellis was bowled by A Ball for nought at number five — his 2nd duck of the season and 4th career, from 17 innings, 159th on the all-time roll. Long ago inducted into both the Debutante Duck and Quack-to-Quack honours boards from a debut-and-farewell double in a previous life at the club. On this day in 1955, John --'s Taylor (1949–1960, 15 ducks, 51st all-time) also fell for a duck, against Old Roffensians. Week in summary Four ducks from three matches, one of them the purest kind — a golden duck on debut for B Powell, who has managed the rare trick of joining three honours boards in a single innings. Beeney's fourth of the season keeps him snapping at the heels of the season leader. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Matt Large — 27 inns, 6 ducks (22.2%) 2. Michael Beeney — 15 inns, 4 ducks (26.7%) 3. Ian Brattle — 5 inns, 3 ducks (60.0%) 4. Daniel Thirkell — 12 inns, 3 ducks (25.0%) 5. Stuart Cheesman — 21 inns, 3 ducks (14.3%) Matt Large holds firm at the top, but Michael Beeney is closing. Roll on next weekend — the ducks never take a rest, and neither do we. 🦆🏏0️⃣

A quiet corner of the calendar, but two fixtures still found a way to add to the club's ledger of noughts. One at home, one on tour in Cornwall — the Duck Club never takes a fixture off. Midweek XI v The Mote CC (away), 6th September Richard Piper strode out at number seven and departed for a duck, bowled by Nigel Mullarkey. It's his 1st of the season and takes him to 9 career ducks in 24 innings — a healthy 86th of 1207 in the all-time reckoning. Richard is a paid-up member of some of the club's grander standing honours: Full House (a duck at every position 1 to 11, no stone left unturned), plus top-10 residency in both the Ducks on the Road and Homebody Duck charts — a man equally committed to failure home and away. He's also in good company down the family tree, with parent Brian Piper sitting on 20 career ducks of his own — clearly a trait, not an accident. Fittingly, on this very day back in 1967, Roger Craddock (1966–1968) also trudged off for nought against Birchington CC — same calendar date, 28 years apart, same result. Tour XI v Beacon CC, Cornwall (away), 3rd September Daniel Thirkell fell for a duck too, caught Larry Martin, bowled D Wheatley, at number seven. It's his 3rd of the season and 3rd of his career from just 15 innings — 176th of 1207 all-time, and enough to make an early case in this season's race. He carries the Tourist Duck top-10 badge, entirely appropriate given the circumstances, and arrives with serious pedigree — the Thirkell name is practically a duck dynasty at this club, with John (90), Tim (66), father Nigel (49) and Simon (33) all decorated members, plus Stuart just getting started on 1. The zero club clearly runs in the blood. On this same day in 1972, Benny Bell (1966–1975) also made a duck, against Staplehurst CC — another entry in the club's long tradition of scoring nothing on schedule. Week in summary Two matches, two ducks, one at home and one abroad — a modest harvest, but a tidy one. No pairs, no king pairs, no family affairs this week, just two solid, honest contributions to the art of not scoring. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Matt Large — 27 innings, 6 ducks, 22.22% - Ian Brattle — 5 innings, 3 ducks, 60.00% - Daniel Thirkell — 10 innings, 3 ducks, 30.00% - Michael Beeney — 13 innings, 3 ducks, 23.08% - Stuart Cheesman — 19 innings, 3 ducks, 15.79% Daniel Thirkell's Cornish contribution keeps him firmly in the season's top five — worth watching as the race for Duck of the Year enters its business end. Fixtures keep coming, and so, inevitably, will the ducks. Bats at the ready, gentlemen — the exclusive zero club is always recruiting. 🦆🏏0️⃣

A quieter week in the hunting grounds — just three across seven fixtures — but each one earns its place in the ledger, and one of our regulars manages to appear on the honours page twice in the same report without actually doing anything twice. Let's get into it. Saturday 26 August 1st XI away at Marden CC — Rob Doick departed for nought at number five, stumped by Nigel Bardsley off the bowling of T Rudd. It's his 1st duck of the season and 14th of an increasingly distinguished career, from 103 innings, sitting 56th of 1206 in the all-time list. Neat bit of calendar symmetry here too — on this very day back in 1979, club legend Tim Thirkell (1967–1995, 66 ducks, 4th all-time, Duck of the Year 1972 among a shelf of other honours) also trudged off against Old Anchorians CC. Different ground, different bowler, same date, same result. Sunday 27 August 1st XI at home to Old Anchorians CC — Richard Ellis fell for 0 at first drop, bowled by B Carter. His 1st of the season, 3rd for his career from 15 innings, ranked 203 of 1206. Richard is already a fully paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club — his very first senior innings, years back, was also a blob — and carries the Retirement Duck honour in waiting on the shelf too, though nobody's calling time on anything today. Fittingly, his on-this-day parallel is none other than Mike Elworthy, who ducked against British Rail Ashford on this date back in 1983 — and who, as it happens, adds fresh ink to this very report just three days later. Keep reading. Wednesday 30 August — Tour Match Away at Truro CC, the touring party found Mike Elworthy bowled by Les Driver for a duck. His 1st of the season and 17th of a well-travelled career from 195 innings, 47th of 1206 all-time, and a proud resident of the Tourist Duck top 10 — entirely appropriate, given where he was standing when it happened. On this day in 1965, Frank Brattle (1937–1971, 38 ducks, 14th all-time) was doing much the same thing against Bearsted CC. The art of not scoring, it seems, travels well. Week in Summary Three ducks, seven matches, no pairs and no family affairs this time round — the bloodlines behaved themselves for once. Two came at Linton, one on tour, and Old Anchorians CC turn up twice in the parallels despite not fielding a single duck of their own this week. Make of that what you will. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 🥇 Matt Large — 26 inn, 6 ducks, 23.08% 🥈 Ian Brattle — 5 inn, 3 ducks, 60.00% 🥉 Michael Beeney — 13 inn, 3 ducks, 23.08% 4. Stuart Cheesman — 18 inn, 3 ducks, 16.67% 5. Piers McDonald — 28 inn, 3 ducks, 10.71% Ian Brattle's 60% strike rate remains the number nobody wants to be chasing. Next round of fixtures awaits — the exclusive zero club never closes its books for long. 🦆🍩0️⃣

Three matches, four ducks, and one brand new member sworn into the exclusive zero club before he'd even faced a second ball. A tidy little haul to close out the season's business end. 1st XI Saturday at Harrietsham CC, and David Castle departed at first drop for nought, caught Micky Tong bowled Kevin Grebbell without so much as troubling the scoreboard operator. His 2nd duck of the season, 22nd of a long and distinguished career, and enough to hold station at 36th of 1205 in the all-time list — a proper stalwart of the Tourist Duck top 10, doing his best work strictly on the road. On this very day back in 1956, John --'s Taylor was up to the same trick, one of 15 ducks in a career that ran 1949 to 1960. David wasn't done. Sunday at Whitstable CC he opened the innings and fell again, bowled M Wells for a duck to match the first — a genuine pair across the weekend, the art of not scoring practised on consecutive days against consecutive attacks. Season tally moves to 3, career to 23, still 36th all-time. On this day in 1944, W Bunting was doing precisely the same against KCC Maidstone. Also at Whitstable, Daniel Thirkell edged Lorne Hart's bowling into safe hands for nought at number 8 — his 2nd duck of the season and 2nd of his career from just 11 innings, a healthy start to a family tradition. Daniel joins a Thirkell household already heaving with silverware of this particular kind: John (90 career ducks), Tim (66), Nigel (49), and Simon (33) all keep the family name well represented on the honours board — Daniel has some catching up to do, but he's off the mark early. Another Tourist Duck top 10 entry, and another 1944-vintage companion in W Bunting. 2nd XI And now, ceremony. At home to Harrietsham CC, Gavin Saunders walked out at number 10, was run out for nought, and thereby claimed the rarest of openings — a duck on debut. First innings, first duck, immediate and automatic induction into the Debutante Duck club, no probationary period required. Whether this marks the beginning of a long and fruitful membership or a one-and-done cameo, only time will tell. On this day in 1956, John --'s Taylor also made nought, for whatever comfort that's worth. The Week in Brief Four ducks from three matches, headlined by a debut blob and a weekend pair — consistency of a very particular kind from the top of the Castle order. No king pairs, no golden ducks, and the family-duck ledger stays quiet this week, though the Thirkells remain very much in business for another day. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Matt Large — 6 ducks, 23 innings, 26.09% 2. Ian Brattle — 3 ducks, 5 innings, 60.0% 3. Michael Beeney — 3 ducks, 12 innings, 25.0% 4. Stuart Cheesman — 3 ducks, 13 innings, 23.08% 5. Piers McDonald — 3 ducks, 27 innings, 11.11% Ian Brattle's 60% strike rate remains the standard nobody wants to chase. Next fixture, the ducks will no doubt be looking for fresh recruits — bring your bat, and try to use it. 🦆🏏0️⃣

A rare and troubling weekend at Linton Park. Three matches played, three matches came and went, and not a single soul was sent packing for nought. The Duck Club convenes this week to report, with some embarrassment, that the ducks evaded capture entirely. Whether this represents a sudden and alarming outbreak of competence up and down the order, or simply a conspiracy of batsmen conveniently finding one run when it mattered, the records will never say. What we can say is that the art of not scoring took the weekend off, and the exclusive zero club gained not a single new entry, nor a repeat visit from any of its usual subscribers. Rest assured, this drought is not expected to last. Cricket has a way of restoring order, and somewhere out there a batsman is already shouldering arms to one that goes on with the show. 0️⃣ A quiet weekend for the club's least wanted honour. Normal service should resume shortly. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 🏆🦆 1. Matt Large — 22 innings, 6 ducks (27.3%) 2. Ian Brattle — 5 innings, 3 ducks (60.0%) 3. Michael Beeney — 11 innings, 3 ducks (27.3%) 4. Stuart Cheesman — 11 innings, 3 ducks (27.3%) 5. Piers McDonald — 27 innings, 3 ducks (11.1%) Ian Brattle remains the man to watch on pure strike rate, converting well over half his innings into a duck — a truly frightening statistic for a side hoping to bat him up the order. Matt Large leads the overall count and will fancy adding to it before the season's out. Next fixtures loom, and with them the near-certainty that this section of the report will not stay empty for long. Pads on, gloves tightened, and here's hoping for a fresh crop of quacks to celebrate next week. 🏏🍩

Four fixtures out on the paddock this week and the zero club kept remarkably quiet — only one applicant presented themselves at the door of dubious distinction. Still, one is enough to keep the tradition ticking over, and Wednesday obliged. 🏏 Midweek XI v Bexley CC (9 August) Paul Leandro, batting at five, departed c Gary Joyce b John Sear to register the solitary duck of the period. It's his first of the 1995 season and the second of his senior career from ten innings — a tally that plants him 277th of 1203 in the all-time standings, some way shy of the summit but very much a paid-up member of the club nonetheless. Neat bit of calendar symmetry too: on this very day back in 1964, none other than club legend John Thirkell — the all-time #1 with a colossal 90 career ducks, a five-time Duck of the Year (1952, '54, '55, '67 and '71) and a fixture of the Homebody Duck and Lone Duck top tens — also strolled back for nought, that time against Harrietsham CC. Paul keeps rather more exalted company than he might have expected on a Wednesday afternoon at Bexley. 📋 Week in Summary One duck from four matches is a lean harvest by Linton standards — the other three fixtures apparently conspired to let everyone trouble the scorer. Consistency, it seems, took the week off. The zero club will be back on the prowl soon enough. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Matt Large — 6 ducks / 22 innings (27.27%) 2. Ian Brattle — 3 ducks / 5 innings (60.0%) 3. Michael Beeney — 3 ducks / 11 innings (27.27%) 4. Stuart Cheesman — 3 ducks / 11 innings (27.27%) 5. Piers McDonald — 3 ducks / 25 innings (12.0%) Matt Large leads on raw volume, but Ian Brattle's frankly alarming 60% strike rate suggests he's simply more efficient about the whole business. Plenty of season left for the race to tighten. 🍩 Next fixture, next contribution to the honours board. Get your applications in, gentlemen — the zero club never closes. 0️⃣

A modest harvest this week — just three ducks netted from four matches — but two of them fell in exactly the same game, to exactly the pair the honours board already had earmarked for each other. The zero club does love a bit of symmetry. 🏏 1st XI — away to Clarion CC Michael Beeney, at number 8, was snapped up by Steve Harris off P Elsden's bowling for his 3rd duck of the season and, handily, his 3rd career duck from 11 innings — placing him 195th of 1,203 in the all-time reckoning. Beeney is a paid-up member of the Retirement Duck club from a past farewell, a distinction that says nothing whatsoever about today. On this very day back in 1989, Nigel Thirkell also trudged off for nought, against The Mote CC, en route to a career haul of 49 and 8th place all-time. Two batsmen later, Ian Brattle joined him in the queue, bowled by the same P Elsden for his own 3rd duck of the season — and his 35th career duck from 103 innings, a lofty 16th of 1,203 all-time. Brattle carries serious pedigree here: a member of the "50 Before a 50" club (51 ducks, high score 33), a Debutante Duck from way back, and the proud holder of 7 Ducks in a Row. His sibling Paul isn't far behind either, sitting on 26 career ducks of his own — clearly a family gift. And here's the pleasing bit: Beeney and Brattle share the exclusive "Only Two Quacks" honour with one another — and today, for once, they actually earned it together, both back in the pavilion inside the same Clarion CC innings. A proper reunion of the club's most devoted double act. 🏏 Midweek XI — Cleethorpes CC (home) At number 3, David Castle was caught by Will Abe off J Davies for his 1st duck of the season, a rare blot on an otherwise remarkably durable record — 21 career ducks from 379 innings is the kind of restraint most of the club can only dream of. That puts him 40th of 1,203 all-time, and a fixture of the Tourist Duck top 10. On this same date in 1895, Ernest Cruttenden made his own duck against Headcorn CC, finishing his career on 10 and 76th all-time — proof the art of not scoring has been practised at Linton Park for well over a century. 📊 Week in Summary Three ducks, four matches, and a tidy little coincidence at Clarion CC to show for it. No pairs, no golden ducks, no family affairs this week — just honest toil in the nought column. The zero club remains open for business. ⭐ Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Matt Large — 21 inns, 6 ducks (28.6%) 2. Ian Brattle — 5 inns, 3 ducks (60.0%) 3. Stuart Cheesman — 9 inns, 3 ducks (33.3%) 4. Michael Beeney — 11 inns, 3 ducks (27.3%) 5. Piers McDonald — 24 inns, 3 ducks (12.5%) Ian Brattle's 60% strike rate is one to watch as the season enters its final stretch — can anyone catch him before the last ball is bowled? Roll on the next fixture, and with it, the next crop of noughts. 🦆🏏0️⃣

Five matches, five ducks, and one thumping great milestone at Linton Park this week. The exclusive zero club welcomes its latest inductees, and one very old member reaches a summit few will ever see. Read on. 1st XI Clive Newman got as far as 7 deliveries away at Tenterden CC before Bill Lacey pouched him off Graham Richards — a duck of some resistance, if such a thing exists. His first of the season, fourth of a career now 102 innings deep, and good enough for 143rd of 1,203 in the all-time reckoning. On this very day in 1960, Brian Relf also departed scoreless against Tovil — a man who managed the rare Quack-to-Quack of duck on debut and duck on farewell, with a Retirement Duck to match. Two days later at Hartley Country Club, Piers McDonald was bowled by Justin Crouch for his third of the season and 28th of a career that now sits proudly at 27th all-time — a fully paid-up member of both the Lone Duck and Tourist Duck top tens. On this same date in 1982, none other than Trevor Back made his own duck against The Mote CC. Keep that name in mind — he's not done with us yet this week. 2nd XI At home to Linden Park CC, Chris Tymms was caught behind by Mark Wilson off Mash Patel — his first duck of the summer, sixth of a career still only 26 innings young, slotting him in at 107th all-time. On this day in 1973, Cliff Anscombe — Debutante Duck and Duck of the Year 1957 — fell the same way against Sevenoaks Vine CC. Midweek XI — a Hall of Fame afternoon And so to the big one. Facing Ipswich Greyhounds CC on the Kent Tour, Matt Large was caught and bowled by K Greenway — a routine-looking dismissal that in fact delivered his 50th career duck. Full Membership of the Duck Club, secured in style, and now the club's 5th all-time practitioner of the art of not scoring. This is his sixth of the season already, leading the pack on a startling 30% duck rate from 20 innings, and it adds a fresh Duck of the Year 1995 to a mantelpiece already groaning under 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992 and 1993. On this day in 1940, J Short made his own lone duck against Boughton Monchelsea CC. Batting one place behind him, Trevor Back — yes, the very same from Piers's parallel above — edged the very next over from K Greenway, caught by I Croton. His second duck of the season and 42nd of a career spanning 343 innings, 11th on the all-time list, and a stalwart of the Lone Duck, Homebody Duck and Ducks on the Road top tens. K Greenway can rightly claim a Linton brace for the week. Week in summary Five ducks from five fixtures — a modest harvest by volume, but one that carried Linton's most decorated modern name past the half-century. Two of the five fell in the same over at the hands of the same bowler, proof that misery, like tea, is best shared. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Matt Large — 20 innings, 6 ducks, 30.0% 2. Stuart Cheesman — 9 innings, 3 ducks, 33.33% 3. Piers McDonald — 22 innings, 3 ducks, 13.64% 4. Mike Caddick — 28 innings, 3 ducks, 10.71% 5. Ian Brattle — 4 innings, 2 ducks, 50.0% Next fixture looms, and with it more opportunity to add to these hallowed numbers. The exclusive zero club never closes its books — see you at the crease. 🦆🏏0️⃣

Five matches played across the week and the Duck Club almost went hungry — but almost is the operative word. Just the one nought fell, and it fell with proper craftsmanship. Quality over quantity, as the exclusive zero club likes to say. 🏏 1st XI — away at Betteshanger Colliery Welfare CC (20 July) Coming in at five, Dave Charlton faced a respectable six balls before edging Alan Faulkner Snr's bowling through to Paul Barrow — no golden duck here, he did at least trouble the scorers' patience before troubling nobody's scorebook. It's his 2nd duck of the season and the 18th of a career now spanning 122 innings, a tally that plants him a solid 44th of 1,203 in the all-time standings. A chip off the old block too — his sibling Sean Charlton already carries 4 career ducks of his own, so the Charlton name is not unfamiliar to this particular honours board. Spookily, on this very day back in 1906, R W Mitchell — who turned out for Linton Park between 1903 and 1909 — also strolled back for nought, against Royal West Kent Regiment CC (Officers XI) no less. Ninety years apart, same date, same fate. The duck, it seems, keeps a calendar. 📊 Week in Summary One duck from five matches is a lean return by Duck Club standards — the bowlers of Kent were curiously generous this week, or perhaps everyone else simply couldn't be bothered to get out. Either way, Dave Charlton carries the flag alone this time, and carries it with the quiet dignity of a man who's done this seventeen times before. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Matt Large — 5 ducks / 18 innings (27.78%) 2. Stuart Cheesman — 3 ducks / 9 innings (33.33%) 3. Mike Caddick — 3 ducks / 24 innings (12.5%) 4. Ian Brattle — 2 ducks / 3 innings (66.67%) 🔥 5. Keith Hatcher — 2 ducks / 6 innings (33.33%) Ian Brattle's strike rate for failure is eye-watering — two ducks from three innings takes some doing, and the field will want to catch him before the percentage climbs any higher. 🦆 Onwards to the next fixture, where the Duck Club always has room for new membership. Bring your bats, gentlemen — or don't bother, judging by this lot.

Five matches, five ducks, and the exclusive zero club welcomes its subscribers in typically dignified fashion this week. Saturday 8th July — 2nd XI v Staplehurst CC (away) Stuart Cheesman departed for nought at number five, caught G Wyatt bowled C Liddicoat — his 2nd duck of the season and 13th of a distinguished career, 56th on the all-time list of 1203. A paid-up Debutante Duck, Duck of the Year 1994, and a Full House man who has now ducked at pretty much every position going. Evidently the family trade too — dad Fred Cheesman carries 29 career ducks, brother Steve 12. On this day in 1975, Jim Hall was also finding his way back to the pavilion, against West Farleigh CC. Stuart, as it turned out, wasn't done for the weekend. Daniel Thirkell joined him in the column, bowled M Apps at number nine — his very first LPCC duck, from just 7 innings, and a fitting away-day addition to his Tourist Duck credentials. No small task living up to the name — father Nigel carries 49 career ducks, while John (90, the club's all-time record holder), Tim (66) and Simon (33) Thirkell all loom over the honours board. Daniel shares his duck-date with Jim Hall's 1975 effort too. Sunday 9th July — 1st XI v Sibton Park CC (away) Stuart Cheesman again — lbw Ian Betts at number eight, his 3rd of the season and 14th of his career. Saturday and Sunday, back to back for the 2s and 1s: a proper pair, and about as efficient a way as any to double a weekend's tally. On this very day in 1994, Simon Thirkell made a duck against Horton Kirby CC — Stuart keeps fine historical company. Tuesday 11th July — 1st XI v Meopham CC (away) Matt Large fell for nought at first drop, bowled S Beard — his 5th duck of the season and 49th of his career, a lofty 7th on the all-time chart of 1203. A serial offender: Duck of the Year in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993 and now 1995 besides, with places on the Ducks on the Road, Homebody Duck and Lone Duck top tens, and a nearly-man on the Full House board. On this day in 1967, Mike Stephens made a duck against West Farleigh CC. Wednesday 12th July — Midweek XI v Gravesend CC (home) Adam Pooley edged behind at number two, caught R Lowe bowled L Hart — his first duck of the season and 3rd of his career, 167th all-time. Neat symmetry here — one of his historic "Only Two Quacks" partners is none other than Fred Cheesman, Stuart's own father. On this day in 1964, Len Conway made a duck against Claributs Circus. Week in summary Five matches, five ducks, and Stuart Cheesman doing the double for the 2s and 1s on consecutive days — consistency of a very particular kind. Matt Large, meanwhile, continues his relentless march up the all-time table, now within sight of the top six. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Matt Large — 5 ducks / 15 innings (33.3%) - Stuart Cheesman — 3 ducks / 8 innings (37.5%) - Mike Caddick — 3 ducks / 21 innings (14.3%) - Ian Brattle — 2 ducks / 3 innings (66.7%) - Keith Hatcher — 2 ducks / 6 innings (33.3%) The season presses on and the ducks show no sign of migrating. Next fixture, same excellence expected — see you at the crease. 🦆🏏0️⃣

A quiet round on the scorecards but a rich one for the Zero Club, as Meopham CC proved fertile hunting ground for both Linton sides out on the same day — one warmly at home, one making the trip away, and both coming back a batsman light. 🏏 1st XI — home to Meopham CC At number seven, Matt Large departed for nought, caught Brian Sambrook off the bowling of C Beard. Scant consolation for the scorebook, but a red-letter entry for the honours ledger — this is Matt's 4th duck of the campaign and 48th of an extraordinary career, vaulting him to a barely believable 8th of 1203 in the all-time standings. A card-carrying Debutante Duck (yes, his very first Linton innings, many summers ago now, was also a blob), Matt already sits among the Ducks on the Road and Homebody Duck top tens, and is one position shy of the fabled Full House. And with 1995 itself among his six Duck of the Year vintages — 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993 and now this season too — the current campaign looks ominously like number seven in the making. On this very day in 1962, Len Conway (1954–1965, 12 career ducks) was also trudging off for nought, against Tilling Steven — kindred spirits sixty-three years apart. 🏏 2nd XI — away at Meopham CC Opener Keith Hatcher gave his side the worst possible start, bowled by M Mayhew without scoring. His 2nd duck of the season and 5th of a 147-innings career, nudging him to 129th of 1203 — respectable company, not yet honours-board company, but the ledger is patient. Fittingly, on this same 1st of July back in 1962, Len Conway was also making his acquaintance with nought against Tilling Steven — the date, it seems, has previous. 📋 Week in Summary Two matches, two ducks, one shared victim in Meopham CC — proof, if proof were needed, that the art of not scoring travels well whether you're playing host or away day. No pairs, no family affairs this week, just two honest, unaccompanied noughts doing their quiet work for the cause. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Matt Large — 4 ducks / 12 innings (33.3%) 2. Mike Caddick — 3 ducks / 18 innings (16.7%) 3. Ian Brattle — 2 ducks / 3 innings (66.7%) 4. Keith Hatcher — 2 ducks / 5 innings (40.0%) 5. Michael Beeney — 2 ducks / 8 innings (25.0%) Matt Large sets the pace, but Ian Brattle's fearsome 66.7% strike rate suggests he could overhaul the lot of them in a single bad afternoon. The season race is very much alive. 🍩 Same time next weekend — the Club stands ready, bats poised, ducks watching. See you at the crease.

Three fixtures, three ducks — a quiet weekend by Linton's own poultry standards, but each one earns its place on the record. 🏏 Saturday, 1st XI v Norton Sports CC Stewart Morrison, in at four, departed for nought — caught J Champion, bowled E Pout. It's his 1st duck of the season and 15th of an increasingly distinguished career, moving him to 53rd in the all-time standings from 122 innings. A long-standing Debutante Duck club member and perennial name in the Lone Duck top ten, Stewart remains cruelly just one position shy of completing the Full House — every batting slot 1 to 11 visited by a Morrison duck. His sibling Phillip isn't far behind either, with 2 career noughts of his own. On this very day back in 1975, Ian Brattle was doing exactly the same thing against Leybourne CC, en route to a career 34. 🏏 Saturday, 2nd XI v West Farleigh CC Bowler Julian Nutley enjoyed a fine afternoon's poultry farming, claiming a brace at the Duck Club's expense. D Brown walked in at five and departed almost as quickly, bowled by Nutley — a debut duck, the very first entry in a fledgling Linton career. That's enough to secure a place in the exclusive One and Done club for 1995, and the standing Debutante Duck honours that come with arriving in style. Three places later, Ollie Priestly edged Nutley to Matt Smith in the slips — his 2nd career duck from just 4 innings, drawing level with A Mitchell, who plied his trade between 1964 and 1965. Ollie too is a paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club from an earlier occasion, proof that lightning can strike twice. Both Brown and Priestly share Morrison's footnote for the day — Ian Brattle, quacking against Leybourne CC on this exact date in 1975. 📊 Week in Summary Three matches, three ducks, and one very grateful West Farleigh bowler. A modest harvest by Linton's standards, but the Duck Club never turns away a fresh entry — especially a debut one. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard — Top 5 - Matt Large — 3 ducks / 11 innings (27.27%) - Mike Caddick — 3 ducks / 17 innings (17.65%) - Ian Brattle — 2 ducks / 3 innings (66.67%) - Michael Beeney — 2 ducks / 7 innings (28.57%) - Piers McDonald — 2 ducks / 15 innings (13.33%) Fittingly, Ian Brattle sits third in this season's chase while his 1975 heroics were being echoed twice over at West Farleigh. Can anyone catch Matt Large before the season's out? 🦆 Same time next round, ducks willing — the zero club always has room for one more. Pads on, gentlemen, and good luck avoiding the honours board.

Only three fixtures in the diary this week, and each one obligingly served up exactly one duck. Modest pickings for the hunting season, but the exclusive zero club never turns away new business. 🏏 Saturday 18th — 1st XI v Bexhill CC Michael Beeney, batting at six, departed courtesy of a smart catch from Brad Smith off Jason Wickenden. It's the 2nd duck of Michael's season and the 2nd of his career in just 7 innings — a start to the collection that already places him 268th of 1202 in the all-time table. Michael is a paid-up member of the "Only Two Quacks" club he shares with Ian Brattle, and carries a Retirement Duck credential from some past farewell — a solemn honour, not a comment on today. Fittingly, on this very day back in 1961, Robert Murray (1958–1965, 17 career ducks, 47th all-time) also trudged off for nought against Halfway House CC. The calendar has a long memory. 🕰️ Wednesday 21st — Midweek XI v Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC Opener Mike Caddick set the tone early, caught by P Styles off A Drury without troubling the scorers. His 3rd duck of the season and 6th of a 59-innings career, good enough for 116th all-time — and he now sits level with his own sibling Adrian, who carries an identical 6 career ducks of his own. Whatever's in the Caddick water, it's evidently shared. Down at eight, Stuart Cheesman followed him into the book, caught A Drury off S Morrison. It's only his 1st of the season but his 12th career duck from 50 innings, 66th all-time — and by pleasing coincidence he now matches his brother Steve's career tally exactly, 12 apiece, while father Fred looms rather further ahead on 29. Stuart remains a Full House graduate, having ducked at every position 1 to 11 across his career, and a Debutante Duck from his own first-ever innings years back, plus Duck of the Year honours from 1994 — all standing achievements, not tonight's business. Remarkably, both Mike and Stuart's on-this-day echoes point to the same fixture: Stewart Morrison (1987–1995, 14 ducks, 55th all-time) fell for nought against Dimanchians CC on this exact date in 1987. One night, two Linton batsmen, one shared ghost from '87. 📊 Week in Summary Three matches, three ducks, three different dismissals — all caught, none golden, the bowlers doing steady rather than spectacular work. A quiet week for the collection, but the season race remains very much alive. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Matt Large — 3 ducks in 11 innings (27.27%) 2. Mike Caddick — 3 ducks in 16 innings (18.75%) 3. Ian Brattle — 2 ducks in 3 innings (66.67%) — value for money 4. Michael Beeney — 2 ducks in 7 innings (28.57%) 5. Piers McDonald — 2 ducks in 15 innings (13.33%) Matt Large holds top spot for now, but with Mike Caddick breathing down his neck and Ian Brattle boasting a frankly alarming strike rate, nothing is settled. Next fixture, the bowlers will be looking for company. Bring your box, gentlemen — the zero club is always recruiting. 🦆🍩

The 1995 vintage claimed four more victims this week, all wearing 1st XI colours, across three fixtures on the road. The zero club never sleeps. 🏏 Saturday 10 June — away at Rumwood CC Michael Beeney, in at 9, was caught Neville Smith bowled Paul Webster and duly opens his account for both season and career — his maiden Linton duck, arriving in just his 5th innings. He sits 474th of 1202 in the all-time roll, a modest start to a distinguished-looking membership card, and he already carries the "Retirement Duck" honour from a past farewell, a badge worn rather than a story retold this week. On this very day in 1961, Robert Wood also strolled back for nought, against Tovil, en route to 21 career ducks across a 1958–1972 stint. Batting at 11, Ian Brattle joined him in ignominy, caught Darren Brame bowled Mark Styche — his 33rd career duck from 101 innings, good for 18th all time, and another rung on his "Ducks in a Row" ladder (seven consecutive and counting) and his "50 Before a 50" charge. Fittingly, this is the very match that ticks the box on his and Beeney's shared "Only Two Quacks" honour — a rare partnership neither man will be thanked for. Ian's sibling Paul Brattle carries 26 career ducks of his own, so the nought clearly runs in the family. He too finds Robert Wood's 1961 effort keeping him company down the years. 🏏 Sunday 11 June — away at St Lawrence & Highland Court CC The misery doubled up in the very same match. Piers McDonald, promoted to first drop, was bowled David Else for his second duck of the season and 27th of a long and storied career spanning 239 innings — 29th on the all-time list, and a fixture of both the Lone Duck and Tourist Duck top tens. On this day in 1978, Brian Woodcock made a near-identical journey back to the pavilion against Leigh CC, Kent, one of four ducks in a brief 1976–1978 spell. And there was Ian Brattle again, at number 8, bowled Guy Parker for his second duck in two days — a proper pair for the weekend, and his 34th career duck. He shares his Sunday parallel with McDonald almost to the letter: Brian Woodcock's 1978 effort against Leigh CC, Kent looking down on both of them. 📊 Week in Summary Four ducks, three matches, one team doing all the suffering. The 1st XI cornered the market this week while the rest of the club, mercifully or suspiciously, kept its collective bat off the honours board. Ian Brattle's weekend pair puts him top of the current Duck Hunting charts on strike rate alone — never has 66.67% looked so proud. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Matt Large — 9 innings, 3 ducks, 33.33% - Ian Brattle — 3 innings, 2 ducks, 66.67% - Piers McDonald — 13 innings, 2 ducks, 15.38% - Mike Caddick — 14 innings, 2 ducks, 14.29% - Don Dansie — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% More fixtures on the horizon, and with them, surely, more names for the roll of honour. Pad up, middle order — the zero club is always recruiting. 🍩0️⃣🏏

A lone fixture on the books this week, and — dare I say it — a genuinely rare sighting at Linton Park: not a single duck to report. 0️⃣ ducks from 0️⃣ ducks. The exclusive zero club held no admissions ceremony this week. Every single bat that walked to the crease at some point troubled the scorer, however modestly. A quiet week for the art of not scoring, and honestly, a bit of a let-down for those of us who come here for the ignominy. The ducks, it seems, evaded capture entirely — presumably off enjoying their own bank holiday somewhere. Still, the season账 stands strong on reputation alone, and with the campaign well underway, normal service will surely resume before long. Nobody at Linton Park stays off the honours board for good. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇🏏 - Matt Large — 7 innings, 3 ducks (43%) — a startling one-in-under-two-and-a-half strike rate, the early pace-setter by some distance - Mike Caddick — 11 innings, 2 ducks (18%) — steady, dependable, quietly accumulating - Don Dansie — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) — perfect record, technically undefeated in futility - Steve Masters — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) — joins Dansie at the summit of the percentage table, one telling innings apiece - Keith Hatcher — 2 innings, 1 duck (50%) — the coin-flip club, even money on a nought every time out Matt Large sits handsomely clear at the top with three to his name already, but with a whole season still to play, and Dansie and Masters both boasting flawless 100% records from their solitary outings, the race for Duck of the Year remains very much alive. All it takes is one careless waft. 🍩 Nothing to add to the honours boards this week, no new members, no near misses reported — but the club never sleeps for long. Next fixture, someone will surely oblige. Bats at the ready, ducks incoming.

Seven ducks across six matches this week, and the 1st XI did almost all the heavy lifting while the 2nd XI made a modest but honourable contribution. 🏏 Bearsted CC — Saturday 27th May, 1s Piers McDonald departed for his 1st duck of the season, bowled by Stephen Heap after a respectable 7 balls of resistance. It's his 26th career duck, keeping him at 31st in the all-time table and a fixture of both the Lone Duck and Tourist Duck top tens — a man who collects noughts at home and away with equal enthusiasm. Matt Large followed him back for his 2nd of the season, this time a two-ball stay, taking him to 46 career ducks and 9th on the all-time list. Six Duck of the Year titles and a place just one position short of the Full House honours board tell you everything about Matt's relationship with the number zero — a serial champion of the art of not scoring. 🏏 XII Men — Monday 29th May, 1s A rare double blow. Mike Caddick was bowled by Fife without scoring, his 2nd of the season and 5th career duck — a chip off the old block, with sibling Adrian sat one ahead on 6 career noughts of his own. Dave Charlton also fell without troubling the scorers, caught by Brad McNee off the same bowler, his 1st of the season and 17th career duck, good enough for 46th all-time. Sibling Sean Charlton watches on from 4 career ducks. 🏏 Offham CC — Tuesday 30th May, 1s Matt Large again. Bowled by R. Woolley without scoring, this is his 3rd duck of the season and 47th career — and with Saturday's effort against Bearsted, he completes a grim pair for the week. Two ducks, six days apart, is precisely the sort of consistency the Duck Club was built to honour. 🏏 Rumwood CC — Friday 2nd June, 1s Paul Gibson ran himself out without scoring for his 1st duck of the season and 23rd career, sitting 37th all-time. A paid-up member of the Platinum Duck club from 1991 — out first ball of the game that year — Paul continues to prove that his relationship with nought is a long and distinguished one. 🏏 Bearsted CC — Saturday 27th May, 2s The 2nd XI's lone entry came from club stalwart Trevor Back, caught by Gareth Oakland off Doug Reid after 4 balls. His 1st duck of the season takes him to 41 career ducks, 11th all-time, and adds another line to an honours board already groaning with Ducks on the Road, Homebody Duck and Quacking Together entries. Trevor doesn't just visit the exclusive zero club — he's practically on the committee. 📊 Week in Summary Seven ducks, six matches, and the 1st XI wore the trousers with six of the seven. Matt Large's weekend-to-Tuesday pair was the standout feat of failure, but honourable mention to the sheer variety of dismissal methods on show — bowled, caught, and one determined run out, proving there's more than one road to nought. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Matt Large — 6 innings, 3 ducks, 50% 2. Mike Caddick — 11 innings, 2 ducks, 18.18% 3. Don Dansie — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% 3. Steve Masters — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% 5. Keith Hatcher — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% Matt Large sets the early pace, though Don Dansie and Steve Masters lurk ominously on a perfect record. Plenty of season left for the standings to turn. 🍩 See you all next weekend — the ducks never rest, and neither should your guard. Bring your bats, bring your nerve, and may the zero club welcome only the unlucky. 0️⃣🏏

A quiet weekend for the Duck Club statisticians, but the exclusive zero club still found one new inductee to process. 🏏 2nd XI — Headcorn CC Steve Masters departed at number six, caught P Hughes bowled Mike Donnelly, for his 1st duck of the 1995 season and the 4th of a growing career — now 4 from 26 innings, good enough for 160th on the all-time list of 1202. Steve remains a paid-up member of the Retirement Duck club, a standing honour from a past farewell rather than any suggestion he's hanging up the bat today — Linton Park duckers, as ever, live to nought another day. Neatly, on this very day back in 1950, John Thirkell — LPCC's all-time leader with a staggering 90 ducks — also strolled back for nought against Charles Arkcoll. Good company to keep, even if Thirkell's five Duck of the Year titles rather put Steve's tally in the shade. 📊 Week in Summary Just the one duck to report from two matches this week — the rest of the Duck Hunting fraternity kept their heads down and their bats (mostly) straight. Two matches, one nought. The purest form of scarcity value, and a rare quiet week for the honours board. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Don Dansie — 1 duck / 1 innings (100%) 2. Jon Harris — 1 duck / 1 innings (100%) 3. Steve Masters — 1 duck / 1 innings (100%) 4. Keith Hatcher — 1 duck / 2 innings (50%) 5. Matt Large — 1 duck / 4 innings (25%) A perfect three-way tie at the summit, though with the season still young there's everything to play for yet. The ducks are surely just gathering strength before their next appearance — see you at the next fixture, bats and net-curtains at the ready. 🦆🏏0️⃣

Three fixtures out over the weekend, and the Duck Club harvest was a lean one — just a brace of noughts, both claimed in the same innings by the same bowler. Efficient work. 🌥️ Sunday NVKC — away at Leigh CC, Kent Mike Caddick fell early, caught Roger Sykes bowled Stan Topliss at first drop, and moves to a tidy 4 career ducks from 49 innings — 152nd on the all-time list of 1202. His sibling Adrian sits a little further up the ledger on 6, so the Caddick name is no stranger to the honours reel. On this very day back in 1978, Allan Cooper (1971–1989, 38 ducks, 13th all-time) was also walking back for nought against High Halstow CC — kindred spirits separated by seventeen years and a fixture list. Stan Topliss wasn't finished. Down at number 10, Jon Harris was bowled by the same man for his 71st career duck in 524 innings — a rank of 3rd of 1202, a place he has occupied with grim distinction for some time. Jon's honours board reads like a museum wing: Debutante Duck for the nought on his own first-ever innings, three Duck of the Year titles (1976, 1980, 1981), a place in the Full House club for having ducked at every position 1 through 11, and top-10 finishes in both Lone Duck and Tourist/Homebody Duck categories. He also carries "Only Two Quacks" with none other than Allan Cooper — so today's on-this-day echo of Cooper's 1978 nought against High Halstow is a rather neat coincidence for a man already bound to him on the board. His parent-child kin Richard Harris isn't far behind on 36 career ducks — clearly a family with an eye for the art of not scoring. 📊 The Week in Noughts Two ducks from three matches, both in the same game, both off the same bowler — Stan Topliss can consider Sunday's NVKC fixture a personal triumph. The other fixtures elsewhere stayed resolutely duck-free. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Don Dansie — 1 duck / 1 inns (100%) 1. Jon Harris — 1 duck / 1 inns (100%) 3. Keith Hatcher — 1 duck / 2 inns (50%) 4. Roly Edwards — 1 duck / 3 inns (33.3%) 5. Matt Large — 1 duck / 4 inns (25%) Early days yet in the 1995 hunt, with the board level on a single duck apiece — plenty of scope for movement. Next fixture, the ducks will doubtless be back. Bats up, or perhaps not. 🦆🍩

Three fixtures out on the road this weekend, and the exclusive zero club welcomed three new entries to its rolls. The art of not scoring was alive and well from Horsmonden to Chestfield. 1st XI — away to Chestfield CC (Sun 7 May) Matt Large, walking to the crease at four, departed in the most democratic way possible — run out, nobody quite sure by whom — for his 1st duck of the season and a chastening 45th of a career that now reads 207 innings deep. That's good enough for 9th on the all-time list, a position he defends like a man guarding a very small, very ugly trophy. And defend it he must — Matt is a repeat Duck of the Year champion (1987, '88, '89, '92, '93) and, fittingly, 1995 already sits among his conquests, so this early skirmish is less an isolated failure than instalment one of a title defence. He's also a fixture of the Lone Duck, Homebody Duck and Ducks on the Road top tens, and one short of the exceedingly dubious Full House across all eleven batting positions. On this very day back in 1978, Malcolm Pay (1965–1992, 26 ducks, 29th all-time) was doing exactly the same thing against Biddenden CC — some traditions simply refuse to die. 2nd XI — away to Horsmonden CC (Sat 6 May) Openers take note: Keith Hatcher fell first ball of the innings order if not the innings itself, bowled by Kevin Tester for his 1st duck of the season and 4th of a 144-innings career — a mere 3% strike rate for nought, respectably rare company at 149th all-time. Six places later, Roly Edwards followed him back, bowled by Anthony Accleton, also for his 1st of the season and, coincidentally, his 4th career duck too — though from a far more compact 49 innings, an 8% rate that suggests he's making up for lost time. He sits just above Keith at 156th on the all-time roll, the pair now practically neighbours in the record book if not yet officially housemates. Both, as it happens, share a parallel across the years: on this same day in 1979, Ross Brice — the reigning 1979 Duck of the Year, 11 ducks in a 1978–1987 career, 71st all-time — was falling for nought against Chatham Nomads CC. Some dates just attract the duck. Week in Summary Three matches, three ducks, one fixture that got away clean. A quiet weekend by Linton's standards, but the season is young and the ducks are only just waking up. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Don Dansie — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% 2. Keith Hatcher — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% 3. Matt Large — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% 4. Roly Edwards — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% Early days yet, but Don Dansie sits pretty on a flawless record nobody should envy. Plenty of season left for the chasing pack to catch him — or, more likely, to catch a bat first. Next fixture awaits, and with it, inevitably, more names for the honours board. See you there — bring your box, leave your ego. 🦆🏏0️⃣

Four matches contested across the weekend, and the Duck Club's ledger shows just the one entry — proof that either Linton's batsmen behaved themselves, or the bowlers simply weren't trying hard enough. Quality over quantity this week, then. 🏏 2nd XI Away at Yalding CC on the Saturday, Don Dansie strolled out at first wicket down and departed rather more briskly than he arrived, caught St-John off the bowling of Leek without troubling the scorers. It's Don's 1st duck of the season and his 5th for the club overall from 45 innings — good enough, or bad enough, for 123rd on the all-time list of 1202. Don is also a paid-up member of the exclusive Retirement Duck club, having bowed out on a nought at some point in his Linton career — a standing honour, not a comment on Saturday's effort, which very much continues. Neatly, on this very day back in 1962, John Ames — 49 ducks across a career running 1952 to 1978, and 6th in the all-time charts — also made a duck, against Maidstone AKCC. Some anniversaries are best not celebrated too loudly, but the Duck Club marks them all the same. 📊 Week in Summary One duck from four matches is a quiet return by Linton standards — the other three fixtures passed off entirely fowl-free, a rare weekend of restraint from bat and ball alike. Don Dansie stands alone as this week's sole contributor to the cause. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Don Dansie — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% Early days yet in the 1995 campaign, and Don sets the early pace almost by default. Plenty of cricket to come before anyone can relax into a comfortable lead — or indeed be caught by it. See you all next fixture, when the Duck Club's books will no doubt need updating again. 🦆