🦆 The Duck Pond

Season's back end in sight, and Stowting CC's visit to Linton Park proved there was still sport to be had in the art of not scoring. Just the one match on the books this week, but it delivered a tidy little brace for the exclusive zero club — both compliments of the same bowler, no less. 🏏 1st XI v Stowting CC (home) First to the crease and first to depart was Luke Welsman, undone for 2 balls by Matthew Cox at number 3. It's the 9th duck of Luke's season and the 20th of a career now standing at 79 innings — good enough for 68th on the all-time list of 1,447. Luke is a long-serving pillar of this institution: a card-carrying member of the Debutante Duck club (his very first senior innings was, fittingly, a blob), a Duck of the Year in 2015, and — with the season charts as they stand — very much still wearing that crown for 2016 too. He also sits agonisingly one position shy of the Full House nearly-man club, having ducked in 10 of the 11 batting slots. On this very day back in 2003, Brian Piper (1973–2013) was doing much the same thing against Penshurst Park CC, en route to 23 career ducks of his own. Six down and in walked Martin Harris at 7, who lasted the same 2 balls before also falling to Matthew Cox — the Duck Club would like to formally note the bowler's fine afternoon's work. It's Martin's 2nd duck of the season and 23rd of his career from 127 innings, good for 59th all-time, and adds another line to his Duck of the Year 2011 entry. He now sits level on 23 with Brian Piper (1973–2013, 444 innings) — kindred spirits in nought, separated by four decades. A small family footnote too: Martin's relative Jon Harris carries a formidable 93 career ducks of his own, so the aptitude for the graceful walk-back clearly runs in the blood. 📊 Week in Summary Two ducks, one match, one bowler doing all the damage — Matthew Cox claimed both scalps and can consider himself an honorary Duck Club patron for the week. No pairs, no family doubles, no golden ducks — just two solid, professional noughts from senior members going about their business. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard (Top 5) 1. Luke Welsman — 9 ducks / 42 innings (21.43%) 2. Darrell Houghton-Judge — 6 ducks / 32 innings (18.75%) 3. Tobey Castle — 5 ducks / 31 innings (16.13%) 4. Anton Bourdillon — 3 ducks / 5 innings (60.0%) 🍩 5. Trevor Back — 3 ducks / 16 innings (18.75%) Luke Welsman holds a clear grip on the 2016 crown, but with the season drawing to a close, anyone fancying a late raid on that top spot had better find some poor form fast. As ever, the Duck Club extends a warm invitation to next weekend's fixtures — someone, somewhere, is due to add their name to the list. 0️⃣🦆

A quieter weekend for the exclusive zero club, but two fresh names duly presented themselves for consideration. Two matches, two ducks — modest pickings, but never let it be said the harvest was skipped entirely. 🏏 Saturday — 2nd XI v Margate CC Martin Harris did what he could, surviving three balls at number eight before feathering one through to the safe hands of Joshua Canham off Neil Canham's bowling — no golden duck here, just a slow and dignified surrender. It's Martin's 1st of the season and his 22nd career nought, lifting him to 64th of 1447 in the all-time charts, a lofty position for a man who already holds Duck of the Year 2011 on his mantelpiece. He now sits level with Alan Boyns, the long-serving 1986–2016 stalwart who reached the same 22 in 219 innings and owns a Diamond Duck from 1990 for good measure. Martin's kin Jon Harris, incidentally, presides over the whole club from the very top of the standings with a staggering 93 — clearly the ducking gene runs strong in that family. 🌱 Sunday — 1st XI v Tenterden CC Jordan Austin, opening at number two, departed caught Guy Day bowled Sam Jones — the ball count has been lost to history, so no comment on how long he lasted, only that it wasn't long enough. This is Jordan's 2nd duck of the season and his 16th for the club overall, good enough for 83rd of 1447 and a seat at the table alongside two respectable honours-board entries, Homebody Duck and Lone Duck, both top ten finishes in their own right. He draws level on 16 career ducks with Iain Rawson, who compiled his tally between 2006 and 2013 in 135 innings. Jordan's duck-collecting habit is a family trait too — sibling Benjamin Austin carries 6 of his own, while father Mark Austin has 1 to his name, a modest start that Jordan may yet help extend. 📋 Week in Summary Two matches, two ducks, no pairs and no family ducks to report this time round — the Austins and the Harrises will have to wait for their multi-generational moment. One golden opportunity for a truly instant duck was on the cards with Jordan's unknown ball count, but we can't confirm it either way. A tidy, unspectacular weekend by Duck Club standards — the calm before what is sure to be a busier autumn on the honours board. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Luke Welsman — 8 ducks / 41 innings (19.51%) 2. Darrell Houghton-Judge — 6 ducks / 32 innings (18.75%) 3. Tobey Castle — 5 ducks / 30 innings (16.67%) 4. Anton Bourdillon — 3 ducks / 5 innings (60.00%) 5. Trevor Back — 3 ducks / 16 innings (18.75%) Anton Bourdillon's 60% strike rate remains a thing of terrifying beauty — proof that consistency of a very particular kind doesn't need a big sample size to make its point. 🦆 That's the lot for this weekend. The season presses on and the naughty noughts show no sign of slowing — see you at the next fixture, where the honours board waits for its next volunteer.

A quiet week in the exclusive zero club, but the honours board still found room for one new entry. 🏏 Midweek XI Away to Penshurst Park CC, Tim Wright strode out at number 9 and was sent packing b Jake Cheesman — the third duck of his season and the 21st of a Linton career now standing at 295 innings. That's good enough for 67th on the club's all-time roll of 1,447 names, a position earned the hard way: through sheer weight of not scoring. Tim now sits level on 21 with Dave Todd, who reached the very same tally across 235 innings in a Linton career stretching 1978 to 2014. Two eras, one number — proof that the art of not scoring never goes out of fashion. Fittingly, the family name is already on the books elsewhere too, with kin Adam Wright quietly carrying 6 career ducks of his own — the nought, it seems, runs in the blood. 📅 Week in Summary Three matches played, and only a single duck to show for it — a rare week where the ducks largely evaded capture. Somewhere out there, eleven batters are breathing a sigh of relief. Don't get comfortable — the season isn't done with you yet. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Luke Welsman — 8 ducks / 39 innings (20.51%) 2. Darrell Houghton-Judge — 6 ducks / 31 innings (19.35%) 3. Tobey Castle — 5 ducks / 30 innings (16.67%) 4. Trevor Back — 3 ducks / 15 innings (20.00%) 5. Anton Bourdillon — 3 ducks / 5 innings (60.00%) 🍩 Anton's strike rate for nothing remains the stuff of legend — three ducks from five knocks is a percentage most bowlers would kill for. 🦆 Same time next fixture, then — pads on, guard taken, and the zero club stands ready to welcome its next unfortunate member. See you out there.

Four fixtures went to the middle across the weekend and, in truth, the ducks mostly stayed in hiding. Only one nest was raided — but what it lacked in volume it made up for in pedigree. 🏏 Sunday 2nd XI at Little Chart CC The only away-day casualties came in a single innings at Little Chart, where two Duck Club stalwarts were relieved of their stumps in short order. Nat Presneill, at five, was snapped up — caught Thom Williams, bowled Adam Stuttle — for his 3rd duck of the season and 19th of an increasingly distinguished career, good enough for 69th on the all-time list. Nat is a paid-up member of several honours boards already: the Debutante Duck club from his very first innings, a Duck of the Year gong back in 2013, and the rare double distinction of Quack-to-Quack, having ducked on both arrival and presumed farewell. He also carries it in the blood — kinsman Kevin Presneill has quietly banked 24 career noughts of his own, so the family name is well represented in the club ledger. Today's effort draws Nat level on 19 with none other than current-season pacesetter Luke Welsman (2012–2016, 74 innings), who — fittingly — sits top of this year's Duck Hunting leaderboard below. Coming in at 10, Tim Thirkell followed him back — caught Steve Rock, bowled Steve Baggs — for his 2nd of the season and a staggering 93rd of his career, moving him into a virtual tie for top spot on the entire all-time chart, level in tally with the great Jon Harris (1966–2016, 693 innings) who currently heads the list. Tim's own honours cabinet barely has room left: Duck of the Year 1972, a Full House (a duck at every position 1 through 11 — genuine completism), and top-ten billing in the Homebody, Lone Duck and Ducks on the Road categories. He also does it in style as one half of Quacking Together with Jim Hall. And the surname is doing some heavy lifting elsewhere in the record books too — parent John Thirkell (90), siblings Nigel (60) and Simon (59), plus Christopher, Daniel, Will, Tom and Stuart Thirkell besides, giving Linton Park what may be the most prolific duck-laying dynasty in club history. 📅 Elsewhere The other three fixtures across the weekend passed off entirely duck-free — a rare weekend where most of Linton Park kept the scorers honest. Every fowl deed of note came from one Little Chart scorecard alone. 🦆 Week in summary 2 ducks from 4 matches, both at Little Chart CC, both from the Sunday 2nd XI. A quiet weekend by the club's usual standards, but a heavyweight one — Tim's effort alone nudges him to the very top of the all-time table. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇 Luke Welsman — 37 inn, 8 ducks (21.62%) 🥈 Darrell Houghton-Judge — 28 inn, 6 ducks (21.43%) 🥉 Tobey Castle — 30 inn, 5 ducks (16.67%) 4. Anton Bourdillon — 5 inn, 3 ducks (60.0%) 5. Trevor Back — 15 inn, 3 ducks (20.0%) That's the lot for this period — quiet on numbers, heavy on history. Next weekend's fixtures await, and the exclusive zero club never stays closed for long. See you at the crease 🏏0️⃣

Four fixtures out on the paddock this week and the Duck Club had to work hard for it — only two noughts to show for the weekend's efforts, both arriving in the same innings. Quality over quantity, evidently. Sunday 1st XI v Knockers CC The visitors clearly fancied a raid on the home order, and struck twice. In at five, Chris Newman departed caught F O'Sullivan bowled Ward — a tidy dismissal for a tidy little collection. This is duck number 3 of the season and a chunky 39th for the career from 225 innings, keeping him lodged at a very respectable 22nd of 1447 in the all-time reckoning. There's poultry in the blood too — his kin Clive Newman carries 17 career ducks of his own, so the family name is well represented on the honours boards. Fittingly, on this day back in 1996, Daniel Thirkell (1993–2016) was also trudging off for nought, against 1st Innings Mullion no less — same date, same fate, twenty years apart. Down at nine, Anton Bourdillon edged behind bowled Rory Goodson for his 3rd of the season and, rather more alarmingly, his 3rd career duck from just 5 innings — an eye-watering strike rate for all the wrong reasons. Anton is already a paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club from his first-ever knock, and this latest effort draws him level with Daniel McCarthy (2006–2007, 19 innings), who also sits on exactly 3. At this rate Anton won't need 19 innings to catch him up on much else besides. The other three fixtures passed off disappointingly duck-free — the ducks evidently took the weekend off, or simply couldn't be bothered chasing Knockers CC's bowling attack the way their teammates could. 📊 Week in Summary - 4 matches, 2 ducks — a quiet one by Duck Club standards - Both casualties fell in the same innings, same fixture — the Knockers clearly had radar - No pairs, no king pairs, no family affairs this week — the bloodline records stay untouched for now 🏆 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Luke Welsman — 35 inns, 8 ducks (22.86%) 2. Darrell Houghton-Judge — 26 inns, 6 ducks (23.08%) 3. Tobey Castle — 28 inns, 5 ducks (17.86%) 4. Anton Bourdillon — 5 inns, 3 ducks (60.0%) 5. Trevor Back — 15 inns, 3 ducks (20.0%) Anton's 60% strike rate is one to watch — at this pace he'll be troubling the top of the table long before he troubles the bowling attack. Quiet week, but the season's far from over. Next fixture, the ducks will surely be back on the prowl — get your bats out there and give the Duck Club something to write home about. 🦆🏏0️⃣

Three fixtures out on the paddock this weekend and the ducks kept a low profile — only two found their way onto the board, both nesting in the very same innings at Harbledown. Quality over quantity, as the club motto absolutely does not say. Sunday 2nd XI v Harbledown CC (away) Will Thew walked in at first drop and was snapped up by Andrew Pryke off Dave Ridley for nought — his 2nd duck of the season and 23rd of an increasingly distinguished career, sliding him to 61st in the all-time table of shame. A paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club since his very first innings, and a former Duck of the Year back in 2012, Will now sits shoulder to shoulder with Brian Piper, who reached the very same 23 across a four-decade span from 1973 to 2013 — proof that misery, like fine wine, only improves with age. Moments later Luke Welsman followed him back, bowled by Dave Ridley, for his 8th duck of the campaign and 19th of his career, moving to 68th all-time. Luke's Debutante Duck credentials go back years, and he's no stranger to the top of the podium either — Duck of the Year in 2015, and with 8 already banked this season he's the clear front-runner to make it back-to-back, as the leaderboard below confirms. He remains a cruel single position away from the Full House too, having now ducked in 10 of the 11 possible batting slots across his career, with just one berth left to complete the set. Neatly, on this very day back in 1955, John Ames was doing exactly the same thing against Halfway House — a duck for the ages, echoed 61 years later almost to the hour. Elsewhere across the three fixtures, batters kept their heads down and their bats straight — no further additions to report, which either speaks to improving technique or a temporary drought in duck fortune. We suspect the latter. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Luke Welsman — 8 ducks / 32 inn (25%) - Darrell Houghton-Judge — 6 ducks / 24 inn (25%) - Tobey Castle — 5 ducks / 25 inn (20%) - Trevor Back — 3 ducks / 15 inn (20%) - Richard Piper — 3 ducks / 33 inn (9.09%) Luke leads the way and Harbledown has only sharpened his advantage. Next weekend's fixtures await — plenty of ducks left to hunt, and the exclusive zero club never turns anyone away. See you out there 🏏🍩

A rare and troubling weekend for the Duck Club faithful: five fixtures played across the club, not a single nought to show for it. Eleven-a-side, five times over, and the zero column stayed stubbornly empty. Somewhere out there, a flock of ducks slipped the net entirely. Call it a dry spell, call it a collective loss of form at the art of not scoring — either way, the exclusive zero club gained no new inductees this week. Even the most dedicated members of the current Duck Hunting Season found a way to trouble the scorers. Consistency of a very particular kind, briefly abandoned. Do not mistake this for good news. A quiet week for the Duck Club is merely a delayed one — the season charts below show plenty of contenders still very much in the hunt, and normal service will surely resume before long. 0️⃣ Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 0️⃣ 🥇 Luke Welsman — 7 ducks / 30 innings (23.33%) 🥈 Darrell Houghton-Judge — 6 ducks / 24 innings (25.0%) 🥉 Tobey Castle — 5 ducks / 24 innings (20.83%) 4. Trevor Back — 3 ducks / 14 innings (21.43%) 5. Richard Piper — 3 ducks / 31 innings (9.68%) Darrell Houghton-Judge quietly leads the percentage race at a full quarter of his innings ending in nought — the Duck Club's own version of a golden run, only inverted. Luke Welsman holds top spot on raw tally and will not thank anyone for pointing out how close Darrell is breathing down his neck. 🏏 Next time out, someone is due. The zero club abhors a vacancy, and with this many regulars on the prowl it is only a matter of time before the ducks are back on the board. Get out there, middle it or don't — either way, we'll be watching. 🦆🍩

Six matches, six ducks, three different sides doing their bit for the cause. The exclusive zero club welcomes fresh business. Saturday 6th August — 2nd XI v Limpsfield Chart CC Openers are meant to see off the shine, but Richard Piper saw off only 10 balls before falling ct Shekh Tanvir Ahmed b David Waters. His 3rd duck of the season and 75th of an extraordinary career that keeps him locked at 6th all-time of 1,447. Piper is paid-up royalty in this club — Duck of the Year 2003, Full House (a duck at every position 1-11, thank you very much), and a fixture of the Lone, Homebody and Ducks-on-the-Road top tens. On this very day in 2005, Dave Todd (1978–2014, 21 ducks) was performing the identical ceremony against Town Malling. Sunday 7th August — Sunday 2nd XI v Kings Hill CC A grim afternoon at Kings Hill saw three fall. Trevor Back, the relentless engine of the all-time charts at 4th of 1,447 from 729 innings, added his 3rd of the season and 82nd of his career, caught Ambanpola bowled Tibbles — one half of "Quacking Together" with Jon Harris, and top-ten royalty in three separate categories besides. On this day in 1976, Colin Dicker (1972–78, twice Duck of the Year) went the same way at Headcorn. Nat Presneill followed for his 2nd of the season and 18th career duck, a man whose honours board reads like a life sentence — Debutante Duck, Retirement Duck, and the neatly symmetrical "Quack-to-Quack" club besides. A family trait, it seems — relative Kevin Presneill carries 24 career ducks of his own. Charles Curteis completed the set, bowled Nick Cunningham for his 2nd of the season and 2nd career duck from just 4 innings — level with Alan Probert (2008–09), who also needed only two goes to bank his pair. Friday 12th August — Midweek XI v The Dragons CC The Dragons breathed fire on two more. Luke Welsman, this season's runaway Duck of the Year contender, went ct Davies b Mihill for his 7th of 2016 and 18th career duck, still stubbornly parked as "Full House nearly-man" — 10 of 11 positions conquered, one left to complete the set. On this day in 1970, Mike Iliffe (1966–87, 43 ducks) was falling to Gravesend in exactly the same fashion. Tobey Castle joined him, ct Churchman b Churchman for his 5th of the season and 8th career duck — level with Carl Davis (1994–2009), whose LPCC account also closed at exactly 8. Fittingly, father David Castle is no stranger to these pages either, with 47 career ducks to his name. Week in brief Six ducks, six matches, no side spared — Saturday, Sunday and midweek cricket all contributed their tithe to the cause. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🏆 1. Luke Welsman — 28 inns, 7 ducks (25%) 2. Darrell Houghton-Judge — 24 inns, 6 ducks (25%) 3. Tobey Castle — 22 inns, 5 ducks (22.73%) 4. Trevor Back — 12 inns, 3 ducks (25%) 5. Richard Piper — 29 inns, 3 ducks (10.34%) Welsman leads but Houghton-Judge and Castle are lurking with menace — the 2016 crown is very much live. See you at the next fixture, bats optional, ducks guaranteed 🦆🍩

Eight ducks paddled onto the scorecards this weekend, and the exclusive zero club welcomed its usual mix of regulars and rising stars. 🏏 Saturday — 1st XI at Leigh CC, Kent Kevin Presneill fell first, ct Parfett b Bishop — his 1st duck of the season and 24th career, drawing level with Craig Sands (2002–2016, 439 innings) on that very tally. His own kin, Nat Presneill, isn't far behind on 17. Mark Christmas was bowled by Bishop next, ticking to 31 career ducks — a 2008 Duck of the Year and honours-board "Full House nearly-man". On this exact day in 1997, Fred Cheesman made his 42nd against the touring Ipswich Greyhounds. Alex Keeler was bowled by Sam Stolton for his 2nd duck in just 3 innings — a fearsome strike rate — matching Alan Probert's entire two-duck career of 2008–09. 🏠 Saturday — 2nd XI v Sissinghurst CC Richard Piper, custodian of the Full House and Lone Duck honours, was caught behind for his 74th career duck, 2nd of the season, echoing Fred Cheesman's 1997 date-twin. Chris Newman edged off Peter Smith to his 38th career duck, levelling with Michael Beeney (1995–2015) — kinsman Clive Newman sits just behind on 17. Then a well-timed double: Luke Welsman (ct Hills b Jenkins) brought up his 6th duck of the season and 17th career, matching Clive Newman's 371-innings haul — the honours board already has him down as Duck of the Year 2016. Darrell Houghton-Judge followed (ct Tatnell b Jenkins), also his 6th of the season and 13th career, joining Joe Martin (2004–2016). Both remain "Full House nearly-men", one elusive position short of completing the set. 🚌 Sunday — 2nd XI at Boughton-under-Blean CC Tim Thirkell was stumped for his 92nd career duck — still 2nd on the all-time list — on this day in 1996 Gareth Thomas made his own against the same touring Ipswich Greyhounds. The Thirkell name remains a duck dynasty in its own right, with John, Nigel, Simon and cousins collectively carrying well over 250 career noughts between them. 📋 Week in Summary 8 ducks fell across 3 of the weekend's 4 fixtures — one fortunate XI escaped entirely unscathed. Sissinghurst proved a particularly fertile hunting ground with four victims alone. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Darrell Houghton-Judge — 6 ducks, 22 inns, 27.27% 2. Luke Welsman — 6 ducks, 24 inns, 25.0% 3. Tobey Castle — 4 ducks, 18 inns, 22.22% 4. Alex Keeler — 2 ducks, 3 inns, 66.67% 5. Anton Bourdillon — 2 ducks, 3 inns, 66.67% Welsman and Houghton-Judge lock horns at the top with 6 apiece — the season's not over yet. Next fixture, the ducks will surely be circling again. See you at the crease. 🍩0️⃣

A modest but perfectly formed harvest this weekend — three matches, three ducks, and one brand new name inducted straight into the exclusive zero club. Let's get into it. 🏏 Saturday 23rd — 1st XI v Cudham Wyse CC (h) Richard Knowler, in at four, was snapped up by Sushil Kanwar off the bowling of V Puri for his 1st duck of the season and 11th of an increasingly distinguished career, ranking him 111th of 1,445 in the all-time list. He now sits shoulder to shoulder with Andrew Moss, who played from 1968 to 2008 and reached the same 11 in 135 innings before bowing out — fittingly — on a duck of his own. Knowler's kin file also shows a family flair for it: son Joshua already carries 23 career ducks, so the art of not scoring is evidently hereditary. 🏏 Saturday 23rd — 2nd XI v Kemsing CC (a) A ceremonial one this — Dan Corpe marked his LPCC debut with the purest of all initiations, caught Ben Hafford bowled Luke Beadle at seven, for a duck on his very first senior appearance. Instant, automatic life membership of the Debutante Duck club, no waiting list required. Spookily, on this very day back in 1960, Brian Relf also departed for nought against Tovil — the start of a career that would run to 25 ducks, a Quack-to-Quack debut-and-farewell double, and a Retirement Duck to match. Some things, it seems, echo down the decades. 🌱 Sunday 24th — Sunday 2nd XI v Chelsfield Park CC (a) Oliver Holdstock became the latest name on the board, bowled by Ruwan Rathnayaka at number eight for his 1st duck of the season and of his career, from just 5 innings so far — rank 611 of 1,445 and climbing. On this same day in 1989, prolific quacker Matt Large also fell for nought, against Coleshill CC of Warwickshire, en route to a staggering 63 career ducks, six separate Duck of the Year titles and a place in the Lone Duck and Homebody Duck top tens. Oliver has, one might say, picked an illustrious anniversary to begin his own account. 📋 The Week in Nought Three matches, three ducks, three different sides represented — a healthy spread rather than a glut. One shining debut duck for Dan Corpe, and two established names quietly padding their tallies. No pairs, no family affairs this time round — the Duck Club will have to make do with quality over quantity. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Darrell Houghton-Judge — 5 ducks / 20 inns (25.0%) - Luke Welsman — 5 ducks / 22 inns (22.73%) - Tobey Castle — 4 ducks / 17 inns (23.53%) - Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks / 6 inns (33.33%) - Anton Bourdillon — 2 ducks / 3 inns (66.67%) Anton Bourdillon's early rate remains the stuff of nightmares — two from three is not a sample size anyone wants to build a season on, but it certainly gets you noticed. Next weekend's fixtures await, and with them, the promise of fresh martyrs to the cause. The zero club never closes. See you out there — bat in hand, fingers crossed, ducks incoming. 🦆🍩0️⃣

A modest but perfectly formed haul this weekend — three ducks from four matches, each one adding a fresh line to somebody's personal ledger of shame. Saturday 1st XI away at Underriver CC — Alex Keeler, batting four, was bowled by Sean Ashfield for nought. His maiden duck for the club, and his career column now reads 1 from just 2 innings. He joins "- Howard" on that same solitary tally — a player whose entire Linton career, back in 2006, amounted to exactly one innings and exactly one duck, enough to bag Debutante Duck, One and Done and Retirement Duck all in a single, gloriously brief appearance. Let's hope Alex takes the scenic route rather than the express one. 2nd XI at home to Flimwell CC — Tobey Castle, at three, was caught Jamie Dench bowled Michael Reeves for a blob. His 4th of the season and 7th of an LPCC career now standing at 32 innings, level with Mike Caddick (1993–2009), who needed 127 innings to reach the same unwanted total — Tobey getting there in considerably less time, for better or worse. He's not the only Castle acquainted with the zero club either — kin David Castle carries 47 career ducks of his own, so the surname is no stranger to these pages. Sunday Sunday 2nd XI hosted Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC — Darrell Houghton-Judge, batting five, was caught Colin Benham bowled Jamie Ward without scoring. His 5th duck of the season and 12th of his career draws him level with Gareth Davies (2003–2013), who once went a step further with a Diamond Duck in 2010 — out without facing a ball at all. Darrell remains a proud, if slightly weary, member of the Full House nearly-man club, having now ducked in 10 of the 11 batting positions. One slot left to complete the set — selectors, over to you. Week in summary Three ducks from four fixtures — restrained by recent standards, but enough to keep the season race simmering nicely. Darrell's effort was enough to plant him at the very top of the current standings, with Tobey snapping at his heels. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🏆 - Darrell Houghton-Judge — 5 ducks from 18 innings (27.78%) - Luke Welsman — 5 ducks from 21 innings (23.81%) - Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks from 6 innings (33.33%) - Tobey Castle — 4 ducks from 16 innings (25.00%) - Anton Bourdillon — 2 ducks from 3 innings, a startling 66.67% strike rate for those keeping score at home 🍩 The season race is well and truly on. Roll on next weekend — the zero club never sleeps, and there's always room for one more member.

Six new arrivals to the exclusive zero club this week across five fixtures, with Saturday's 2nd XI, Wednesday's Midweek stalwarts and Sunday's 1st XI all doing their bit for the art of not scoring. Saturday — 2nd XI v Chevening Amblers Luke Welsman continued his love affair with the duck, caught by Peter Rushbrook off Chris Hadlow for his 5th of the season and 16th of an increasingly decorated career. Luke sits 82nd in the all-time list and draws level on 16 with Iain Rawson, who plied his trade 2006-2013 across 135 innings — Luke's getting there rather quicker. A paid-up Debutante Duck member and back-to-back Duck of the Year in 2015 and 2016, he's also agonisingly one position shy of the Full House honours board. Room to complete the set yet, Luke. Wednesday — Midweek XI v Lord Cornwallis XI A tidy double strike from the same bowler, C- Newport, accounted for two Linton men in a row. Trevor Back was bowled for his 2nd duck of the season and 81st of his extraordinary career — a mere 4th on the all-time leaderboard, and level in spirit with Paul Bowles, who made his own duck on this very day back in 1968 against Beverley CC, Kent. Bowles finished on 54; Trevor's still got the number to catch. Moments later Will Thew followed him back, also bowled by Newport, for his 1st of the season and 22nd career duck, ranking 63rd overall and drawing level with Alan Boyns, who reached the same total across 219 innings between 1986 and 2016. Will remains a card-carrying Debutante Duck and 2012's Duck of the Year. Sunday — 1st XI v Meopham Three fell at Meopham. Tobey Castle was caught behind off Alex Bryant for his 3rd of the season, taking him to 6 career ducks and levelling with -Adam Wright, briefly of the 2011-12 vintage. Tobey's father David Castle is no stranger to these pages either, with 47 of his own. Joshua Knowler edged behind for his 2nd of the season, moving to 23 career ducks — level with the prolific Brian Piper, who took 444 innings to get there between 1973 and 2013. Joshua remains 2010's Duck of the Year and was famously Quacked by Kin that same year by his father Andrew. And propping up the order, Sam Boyns departed for his 1st of the season and 7th career duck, matching Mike Caddick's tally from decades past — fittingly, as Sam's own father Alan (22) and brother Ryan (12) know the feeling well. The Week in Brief Six ducks, five matches, and not a single golden duck or pair among them — a rare week of ducks earned the honest way, by facing at least one ball first. Newport's Midweek double strike was the standout piece of bowling, everything else shared around nicely. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Luke Welsman — 5 ducks in 19 innings (26.3%) 2. Darrell Houghton-Judge — 4 in 16 (25.0%) 3. Tobey Castle — 3 in 14 (21.4%) 4. Ian Hollingworth — 2 in 6 (33.3%) 5. Anton Bourdillon — 2 in 3 (66.7%) 🍩 Luke leads the chase for Duck of the Year honours, but Tobey's climbing fast and Anton's strike rate is one to watch nervously from the boundary. Next fixtures loom — pads on, and the zero club awaits its next inductees. 🦆0️⃣

Slim pickings from the scorebooks this week, but what little the harvest yielded came from one clinical spell at Herne, so let's not undersell it. Sunday 2nd XI at Herne CC Luke Welsman walked in at four and departed courtesy of a smart take by Carl Perez off Rob Parsons — his 4th duck of the summer and 15th for the club in 54 innings, sliding him to 85th of 1443 in the all-time roll. He draws level on 15 with club stalwart Jordan Austin (2008–2016, 97 innings), and arrives already a two-time champion of the ignominious kind, having claimed Duck of the Year honours in both 2015 and now 2016 — a title he appears determined to defend rather than merely hold. He's also loitering as a Full House nearly-man, having ducked in 10 of the 11 batting positions — presumably position four was simply overdue. Down at seven, Charles Curteis fell to the same relentless Rob Parsons, bowled for his very first LPCC duck — 1 from 3 innings, landing him at 448th of 1443. History records exactly one kindred spirit on this precise tally: the mysteriously surnamed "- Howard", who registered his sole career innings, his sole career duck, and his retirement from the game all in the same afternoon back in 2006. Charles has, mercifully, already batted twice more than that — the bar, refreshingly, is not high. Week in summary Three matches, two ducks, and both credited to the same bowler in the same innings — Rob Parsons doing his level best to keep the Duck Club's books topped up single-handedly. Elsewhere the club's batsmen showed uncharacteristic restraint in actually troubling the scorers. A quiet week, but quality over quantity, as they say. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇 Darrell Houghton-Judge — 4 ducks, 14 innings, 28.57% 🥈 Luke Welsman — 4 ducks, 17 innings, 23.53% 🥉 Anton Bourdillon — 2 ducks, 3 innings, 66.67% 4️⃣ Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks, 6 innings, 33.33% 5️⃣ Tobey Castle — 2 ducks, 12 innings, 16.67% Anton Bourdillon lurks ominously on a two-thirds strike rate from just three trips to the crease — the sort of consistency the rest of us can only aspire to avoid. Next fixture looms, and with it another chance for the zero club to welcome new — or returning — members. Pads on, bats ready, ducks expected. 🏏🍩0️⃣

A quiet weekend for the Duck Club statisticians, but never let it be said the exclusive zero club rests on a Sunday. 🌱 Sunday 1st XI v Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC Coming in at five, Lee Bennett departed for nought, caught Rob Baldwin off the bowling of Jamie Woodhouse — a well-constructed piece of teamwork by the opposition, and a rather less well-constructed innings at this end. It's Lee's 1st duck of the season and, more notably, his maiden career quack — 1 from just 3 innings, slotting him in at 573rd of 1,443 in the club's all-time roll of dubious distinction. He also joins the club's Retirement Duck honours roll — a standing entry on the board reserved for those whose careers are, at some point, presumed to have bowed out on a nought. Nothing to see there today though, Lee — just the one duck, carry on. For company in the record books, Lee draws level on career ducks with a name from further back in the archive: - Howard, who played a single innings in 2006, made it a duck, and thereby became both a Debutante Duck and a permanent resident of the One and Done club — a career measured, quite literally, in one ball's worth of ignominy. Lee's in fair, if brief, historical company. 📊 Week in Summary One match, one duck, one new name added to the ranks. The art of not scoring remains alive and well at Linton Park, even on a Sunday when most of the fowl seemed to be in hiding. Consistency of a very particular kind, indeed — just not much of it this week. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard — Top 5 - Darrell Houghton-Judge — 4 ducks / 12 innings (33.3%) - Luke Welsman — 3 ducks / 15 innings (20.0%) - Anton Bourdillon — 2 ducks / 2 innings (100.0%) — perfection of a sort - Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks / 6 innings (33.3%) - Tobey Castle — 2 ducks / 11 innings (18.2%) Anton Bourdillon sits on a flawless duck rate this season — every innings so far a nought. Triumph through adversity, truly. 🍩 Until next time The ducks may have gone quiet this week, but rest assured the club's finest are never far from a golden opportunity. Bats out for the next fixture, gentlemen — the honours board always has room for one more. 🏏0️⃣

Four fixtures out on the paddock this weekend and the zero club kept it disciplined and understated — just two new entries to process, quality over quantity as ever. Saturday — 2nd XI Away at Penshurst Park, Tobey Castle came in at first drop and departed the way only the truly committed do — caught behind, Eltheo Vandermeulan doing the honours off the bowling of Colin Croucher. It's Tobey's 2nd duck of the summer and his 5th for the club from 26 innings, parking him at 187th of 1443 in the all-time roll of dishonour and sitting him exactly level with Harry Bee, who ran up his own quintet between 2008 and 2012 in 31 innings before signing off with the full set — duck on debut, duck on retirement, the lot. Tobey isn't chasing that particular clean sweep just yet, but he's in fine company all the same. And for what it's worth, David Castle already has a seat reserved in this club with 47 to his name, so the surname's form line is well established. Sunday — NVKC At home to Sibton Park, Matthew Carter walked in at number 8 and walked straight back out again, bowled by Ben Allon. Just his 1st duck of the season, but his 33rd in a mighty career tally from 255 innings — a figure that plants him 30th of 1443 all-time and level, duck for duck, with club stalwart Thomas Beeney, who reached the same total across 198 innings between 2000 and 2016. Matthew, for the record, is a paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club from his very first knock, and once wore the Duck of the Year crown back in 2004 — proof that a talent for getting out cheaply never really leaves you. The Week in Brief Two ducks from four matches — a quiet one by the club's exacting standards, but the art of not scoring never truly rests, and there's always next weekend. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Darrell Houghton-Judge — 4 ducks / 12 innings (33%) 2. Luke Welsman — 3 ducks / 15 innings (20%) 3. Anton Bourdillon — 2 ducks / 2 innings (100%) 4. Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks / 6 innings (33%) 5. Tobey Castle — 2 ducks / 10 innings (20%) Tobey's weekend effort keeps him firmly in the mix at the sharp end of the table — one more nought and he'll be knocking on Ian Hollingworth's door. Next fixtures await, and with them, no doubt, fresh recruits for the exclusive zero club. Bring your bat, bring your nerve — the ducks are watching. 🦆🏏0️⃣

A quiet weekend for the Zero Club numerically, but the two ducks that did fall carried some proper pedigree with them. Sunday 1st XI v Wye CC Nat Presneill, in at 8, was bowled by Matt Barnes to record his 1st duck of the season and 17th of his career — sliding into a tie with Clive Newman, who reached the same tally across 371 innings between 1992 and 2012. Nat's own honours board is not short of ceremony either: a Debutante Duck from his very first knock, a Duck of the Year gong back in 2013, and — history alone, never a forecast — paid-up membership of both Quack-to-Quack and Retirement Duck, the club's two most solemnly presumptive honours. He now sits 76th of 1443 in the all-time standings, with a relative in the club too — Kevin Presneill — quietly ticking along on 23 career noughts of his own. Two down the order, Joshua Knowler followed him back, bowled by Max Campbell for his 1st duck of the season and 22nd of his career. That tally draws him level with Alan Boyns, who ground out the same 22 across 219 innings between 1986 and 2016 — and puts Josh 62nd of 1443 all-time. His own honours board carries a Diamond Duck from 2015, a Duck of the Year in 2010, and the wonderfully specific distinction of once being Quacked by Kin, by Andrew Knowler, also in 2010. Kin remains the theme — Richard Knowler carries 10 career ducks of his own. Week in Summary Two matches, two ducks, both from the same Wye CC fixture — the Sunday 1st XI doing its bit to keep the exclusive zero club ticking over while the rest of the club enjoyed a rare afternoon of actually troubling the scorers. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Darrell Houghton-Judge — 4 ducks, 12 innings, 33.33% 2. Luke Welsman — 3 ducks, 13 innings, 23.08% 3. Anton Bourdillon — 2 ducks, 2 innings, 100.00% 4. Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks, 6 innings, 33.33% 5. Tim Wright — 2 ducks, 12 innings, 16.67% Anton Bourdillon's flawless 100% record remains the season's most terrifying statistic — two innings, two ducks, a perfect record of imperfection. Next fixture beckons, and with it, no doubt, fresh recruits to the club. Bat straight, or don't bother — we'll be watching either way. 🦆🏏0️⃣

Two fixtures, five ducks, and the exclusive zero club welcomed its usual mix of veterans and one very new face. Read on for this weekend's harvest. Saturday — 2nd XI at Limpsfield Chart CC David Castle got things underway at number two, bowled by Umayr Loan for the first duck of the weekend. His first of the season, but the 47th of a long and storied career spanning 822 innings — he sits 15th in the all-time list and remains a fixture of the Tourist Duck top 10. On this very day back in 1981, Malcolm Pay (1965–1992) was also trudging back for nought, against YMCA Maidstone. Some traditions never die. Darrell Houghton-Judge continued a rather relentless season, caught and bowled by Sameer Rais for his 4th duck of the campaign and 11th of his career from just 50 innings — a sobering strike rate that puts him a very real threat to the Duck of the Year crown. He now sits level on career ducks with Andrew Moss, who racked up the same tally across a rather more leisurely 135 innings between 1968 and 2008. Tim Wright fell lbw to Keenan Tighe, his 2nd duck of the season and 20th of his career — 67th on the all-time list from 279 innings. Like his teammate David Castle, Tim also finds himself sharing a page in the ledger with Malcolm Pay's 1981 vintage duck against YMCA Maidstone. And then, the moment every honours board needs — Harrison Fermor, caught by Asif Ali off Keenan Tighe, recorded his maiden LPCC innings as a golden duck on debut. Straight onto the Debutante Duck board with his very first knock in senior cricket, Harrison joins fellow one-and-done men everywhere sitting on exactly 1 career duck — a tally shared by the mysterious "- Howard," whose entire Linton career in 2006 consisted of precisely this single, perfect nought before promptly retiring on it. A baptism of fire, or rather, a baptism of nothing at all. Sunday — 1st XI at Mersham Le Hatch CC Luke Welsman, caught by Alex Markwick off Rob Benn, notched his 3rd duck of the season and 14th of his career from a brisk 49 innings — 89th on the all-time chart. Luke remains the reigning Duck of the Year for both 2015 and 2016, a crown he is doing his level best to defend, and a Full House nearly-man still chasing that elusive 11th batting position. He now sits level on 14 career ducks with Glen Rawson, who managed the same feat across a far more patient 257 innings between 2005 and 2015 — efficiency, it seems, is not always the club's priority. Week in Summary Five ducks across two matches this weekend, with the 2nd XI's trip to Limpsfield Chart proving the more fertile hunting ground, claiming four of the five on offer including a golden debut. Darrell Houghton-Judge's remarkable 36% strike rate this season suggests the Duck of the Year race is very much alive, while Harrison Fermor's arrival gives the club its newest, freshest member of the Debutante Duck fraternity. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Darrell Houghton-Judge — 4 ducks, 11 innings, 36.36% 2. Luke Welsman — 3 ducks, 12 innings, 25.00% 3. Anton Bourdillon — 2 ducks, 2 innings, 100.00% 4. Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks, 6 innings, 33.33% 5. Tim Wright — 2 ducks, 11 innings, 18.18% Anton Bourdillon's flawless 100% record remains the season's most terrifying statistic — two innings, two ducks, nothing else to show for it. Truly the art of not scoring perfected. Next weekend brings fresh opportunity for glory, or the lack thereof. The Duck Club awaits its next recruits with open wings. 🦆🍩

The exclusive zero club welcomed four new entries this weekend, and remarkably all four came from the very same innings. The 2nd XI's trip to Sissinghurst CC turned into something of a group outing for the ignominious, with the top order, middle order and tail all queuing up to demonstrate the art of not scoring. 🏏 2nd XI at Sissinghurst CC Tim Wright fell early at number two, lbw b Karl Bryant, his 1st duck of the season and 19th for his career — 67th in the all-time list of 1442. On this day back in 1928, Bert Buckoke was doing exactly the same thing against Bearsted CC, one leg of a career that yielded 12 ducks and two Duck of the Year gongs either side. Tim's kin file shows relative -Adam Wright already on 6 career noughts, so the nought clearly runs in the family. At five, Stuart Campbell edged into the club proper — lbw b Mick Winner for his 1st duck of the season and, tellingly, his 1st career duck from just 4 innings, slotting him in at 657 of 1442. He's a paid-up member of the Retirement Duck board from a past farewell, and joins - Howard, whose entire senior career amounted to a single innings and a single duck back in 2006 — a fellow one-and-done merchant. Down at seven, Darrell Houghton-Judge continued his rampant early-season form, bowled by Mick Winner for his 3rd duck of the campaign and 10th of his career from 48 innings, good for 113th all time. That's now the outright lead in the current Duck Hunting Season standings. He draws level on ten with Jack Jenner, who reached the same tally in 53 innings between 2003 and 2008. Darrell also sits on the Full House nearly-man board, having ducked in 10 of the game's 11 batting positions — one slot away from the complete set. Closing the innings at number eleven, George Taylor was bowled by Tony Reader for his 1st duck of the season and 2nd of his career from just 5 innings, ranking 313 of 1442. A Debutante Duck club member from way back, his actual first-ever innings was a nought — this one merely adds to the collection. He joins Alan Probert on exactly two career ducks, set in just two innings between 2008 and 2009. 📊 Week in Summary Four ducks, one innings, one thoroughly chastened batting order. Of the four fixtures played across the period, only Sissinghurst proved fertile hunting ground — everyone else, disappointingly, kept the ducks at bay. Positions two, five, seven and eleven all falling for nought suggests Sissinghurst's bowlers had the full range working. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Darrell Houghton-Judge — 9 innings, 3 ducks, 33.33% - Anton Bourdillon — 2 innings, 2 ducks, 100% - Ian Hollingworth — 5 innings, 2 ducks, 40% - Luke Welsman — 10 innings, 2 ducks, 20% - George Taylor — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% Darrell holds a commanding lead atop the standings, but with Anton and George both on a perfect strike rate, the race for Duck of the Year 2016 is far from settled. Next fixture, same watchful eyes — who fancies joining the club? 🦆🍩

Four fixtures, three unlucky middles, and the exclusive zero club welcomes eight new members to its books this weekend. The art of not scoring was alive and well at Linton Park. Saturday — 1st XI v Cudham Wyse CC (away) James Piper opened and lasted two balls before being snapped up by Sushil Kanwar off Seemab Cheema — his first duck of the campaign and 16th for the club from 256 innings, sliding him to 80th on the all-time list. That puts him level with Iain Rawson, who reached the same tally in 135 innings between 2006 and 2013. Sixteen apiece, though Rawson got there in rather less time. Saturday — 2nd XI v Kemsing CC (home) A proper procession at home. Richard Piper fell first for the season, bowled by Roger Shaddock — his 73rd career duck, good enough for 6th on the all-time roll of dishonour, and a résumé already groaning with silverware: Duck of the Year 2003, Full House (a duck at every position 1-11), plus top-10 finishes for Homebody and Lone Duck. Fittingly, his brother James was busy doing exactly the same thing for the 1s the same afternoon — the Piper household clearly has a type. Tobey Castle followed, also off Shaddock, his 4th career duck from just 19 innings, drawing level with Matthew Ward (2011–13, 10 innings). Efficient work, if nothing else. Then Anton Bourdillon, caught Austin bowled Wood, notched his second duck of the season — and, remarkably, his second in as many senior innings, career figures reading a flawless 2 from 2. He joins Alan Probert (2008–09) on that tally and is already a paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club from way back. Ian Hollingworth rounded things off, run out by Grahame Wood for his 2nd of the season and 17th of his career, level with the prolific Clive Newman (1992–2012, 371 innings) — Newman took five times as long to get there. Sunday — 2nd XI v Sissinghurst CC (away) Luke Welsman chopped on to Neal Metcalf for his 2nd duck of the season, 13th of his career, joining Joe Martin (2004–2016) on that number. Reigning Duck of the Year for both 2015 and 2016, Luke remains firmly in the shake-up. Trevor Back and Jon Harris then produced a reunion tour, both departing in the same innings and renewing their long-running "Quacking Together" partnership. Back was caught behind off Reuben Collingwood for his 80th career duck — 4th on the all-time list — echoing Dave Charlton, who ducked on this very date back in 1999. And then the big one. Jon Harris, bowled Collingwood, brought up career duck number 93 — still the undisputed King of Ducks at Linton Park, top of the all-time chart by some distance, with Duck of the Year honours stretching back to 1976. On this day in 1999 he had company in Dave Charlton too; some things never change. Week in Summary Eight ducks, three matches touched, one legendary king unbothered atop his throne, and the Pipers proving noughts run in the family. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇 1. Anton Bourdillon — 2 inns, 2 ducks (100%) 2. Ian Hollingworth — 5 inns, 2 ducks (40%) 3. Darrell Houghton-Judge — 8 inns, 2 ducks (25%) 4. Luke Welsman — 8 inns, 2 ducks (25%) 5. Russell Dack — 1 inn, 1 duck (100%) Next weekend's fixtures await fresh volunteers 🍩0️⃣ — the crease remains undefeated. See you there.

Five fixtures across the weekend and the zero club welcomed four new entries to its ledger — modest pickings, but every quack counts. 🏏 Saturday 14 May 1st XI v Underriver CC (h) Adam Jackson departed for nought at number four, bowled by Paul Southall. It's his 1st duck of the season and 18th for his LPCC career from 145 innings, sliding him to 68th in the all-time standings — level with Russell Baldwin, who reached the same tally across 208 innings in a career spanning 1988 to 2006, kindred spirits separated by three decades and sixty-odd extra trips to the crease. A chip off the old block too, mind: brother Rob Jackson carries 13 career noughts of his own, so the art of not scoring plainly runs in the family. 🌱 Sunday 15 May 1st XI v Selling CC (a) Chris Newman fell for a duck at five, bowled by Thomas Staunton. His 1st of the summer nudges him to 37 career ducks from 212 innings, good for 25th all time. Fred Greenfield made his own duck on this very day back in 1968, against Reeds CC, en route to 23 for his career — Fred, a paid-up member of the Retirement Duck club from his eventual farewell, would surely approve of the timing. The Newman name is no stranger to the honours board either, with father Clive sitting on 17 career ducks of his own. 2nd XI v Eastchurch CC (h) Two for the price of one at Eastchurch. John Karassellos edged behind to Peter Lelliott at five, his 1st duck of the season and, remarkably, only the 1st of his LPCC career from five innings — a career already decorated with "Ducks in a Row" pedigree and a spot among the Full House nearly-men, just one unfortunate position shy of the complete set. He shares on-this-day company with Fred Greenfield, still going strong 48 years on. Moments later Anton Bourdillon marked his LPCC debut in the most traditional way possible, stumped by Oliver Dewey off Luke Crouch without troubling the scorers. A genuine arrival into the exclusive zero club and the freshly minted holder of the Debutante Duck honour — nowhere to go but up from here, Anton. He too keeps company with Fred Greenfield's 1968 vintage. 📋 Week in summary Four ducks from five matches, with both 1st XI fixtures losing exactly one man apiece and the 2nd XI doing the job twice over in a single innings at Eastchurch. A quiet start to proceedings by Duck Club standards — plenty of time yet for the tally to swell. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Darrell Houghton-Judge — 6 innings, 2 ducks, 33% - Anton Bourdillon — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - Russell Dack — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - Chris Newman — 3 innings, 1 duck, 33% - John Karassellos — 3 innings, 1 duck, 33% The season is young and the standings wide open. Next weekend brings fresh fixtures and, inevitably, fresh nominees for the honours board — see you there. 🍩0️⃣

Two more names joined the exclusive zero club this weekend, as Linton Park's finest once again demonstrated the art of not scoring. 🍩 Saturday 7th May 2nd XI v Chevening Amblers CC (home) Russell Dack strode out at five and departed lbw to Chris Hadlow without troubling the scorers — his 1st duck of the season and 3rd of an LPCC career now standing at 5 innings, good for 265th of 1436 all time. Russell remains a paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club, having famously ducked on his very first Linton innings, and now sits level on 3 career ducks with Daniel McCarthy, who took a more leisurely 19 innings to reach the same total back in 2006-07. Some achieve failure efficiently. Sunday 8th May 1st XI v Beckenham CC (home) Jordan Austin, in at three, was caught by Charlie Le Bosquet off Jason Bilimoria for his 1st duck of the campaign and 15th of an increasingly distinguished career spanning 88 innings — 84th of 1436 all time, and a fixture of both the Homebody Duck and Lone Duck top tens. Jordan draws level on 15 with James Piper, who needed a rather more leisurely 252 innings to get there across a Linton career running 1998-2016. It's a family trade too — brother Benjamin carries 6 career ducks of his own, with father Mark contributing one more to the collection. The Week in Brief 0️⃣ Three matches, two ducks — a quiet weekend by Duck Club standards, though Chevening Amblers and Beckenham CC both deserve thanks for their contribution to the cause. No pairs, no golden ducks, no family doubles this time — just two honest, well-earned noughts, banked and filed. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🏏 🥇 Darrell Houghton-Judge — 2 ducks / 4 innings (50%) 🥈 Russell Dack — 1 duck / 1 innings (100%) 🥉 Ian Hollingworth — 1 duck / 2 innings (50%) 4. Jordan Austin — 1 duck / 3 innings (33%) 5. Luke Welsman — 1 duck / 4 innings (25%) Russell arrives on the leaderboard in some style — one innings, one duck, a flawless 100% record that Darrell will be watching nervously from top spot. Next fixture beckons, and with it, no doubt, further additions to the honours board. The Duck Club never sleeps. 🦆

Three matches played across the bank holiday weekend, but the ducks stayed remarkably disciplined — only two fell, and both to the very same unfortunate soul. Quality over quantity, apparently. 🏏 1st XI Saturday's trip to Bidborough CC drew first blood. In walked Darrell Houghton-Judge at number 10 — a spot he knows well, having become something of a Full House nearly-man with ten of the eleven batting positions now ducked at — and out he went, bowled George Barrett, for his 1st duck of the 2016 season and 8th of his career from 42 innings. That plants him at 121st of 1435 in the all-time charts, drawing level on exactly 8 with Carl Davis, who ran the same tally through his 1994–2009 career before signing off on a duck of his own. Darrell wasn't done. Monday's fixture against Selsdon CC saw him return to the crease, same berth at number 10, and depart the same way in spirit if not in method — caught Jeff Douglas, bowled Mark Cunnah. Season duck number 2, career duck number 9, and with it a proper grim little pair for the weekend: two matches, two ducks, no runs troubling the scorers either time. Spookily, on this exact date back in 1959 Frank Brattle was doing much the same against Bearsted CC, on his way to 38 career ducks and a place inside the all-time top 25 — Darrell keeps fine historical company. 📊 Week in Summary Two ducks, three matches, one name on both scorecards. Not so much an outbreak of poultry as a targeted strike — Darrell has done the club's dirty work single-handedly this week, and earned himself a weekend pair for the trouble. 🍩 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Darrell Houghton-Judge — 3 innings, 2 ducks (66.7%) - Ian Hollingworth — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) - Luke Welsman — 4 innings, 1 duck (25%) Darrell surges into an early lead in the 2016 hunt off the back of his weekend pair, with Ian's flawless 100% record lurking as a cautionary tale for anyone getting comfortable. Next fixture's just around the corner — the ducks are never far behind. 🦆0️⃣

Two matches, two victims, and the exclusive zero club welcomes its latest members for the opening exchanges of the 2016 campaign. 🏏 Saturday — 1st XI v Headcorn CC Ian Hollingworth, walking out at number 10 in the good old fashioned late-order rescue mission role, instead handed Headcorn a simple catch — James Barker taking the chance off Josh Munro. It's Ian's 1st duck of the season and his 16th for the club, nudging him to 79th in the all-time list of 1435. He now sits shoulder to shoulder with Iain Rawson, who played 2006–2013 and reached the same 16 in 135 innings — Ian's got there in considerably fewer, which either speaks to efficiency or recklessness, the club remains undecided. 🌱 Sunday — 1st XI v Brasted & Sundridge CC Luke Welsman came in at first drop and departed almost as promptly, bowled by Paul Clifton. It's his 1st duck of this young season but a well-worn 12th of his career from just 39 innings, keeping him at 99th on the all-time charts. Luke joins Gareth Davies (2003–2013, 12 ducks in 77 innings) on the same tally — Gareth needed twice the innings to get there, so Luke's arguably setting a faster pace to poultry immortality. Luke also arrives with pedigree — a certified Debutante Duck club member from his very first senior knock, a Full House nearly-man having ducked in 10 of the 11 batting positions, and the reigning Duck of the Year for 2015. With this effort he's already making early running for Duck of the Year 2016 too — the defence of the title is officially under way. 📊 Week in Summary A quiet but perfectly formed weekend — 2 ducks from 2 matches, both at the top of the order... well, one at ten and one at three, so really just two different flavours of ignominy. No pairs, no family affairs, no golden ducks to report. Steady, professional failure all round. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Ian Hollingworth — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - Luke Welsman — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% Early days yet in the race for Duck of the Year, but Luke's defending champion status and Ian's rapid-fire ratio mean the season table already has some shape to it. 🥇🍩 📅 Next up, more fixtures, more opportunities, and no doubt more names queuing up for the honours board. The ducks never sleep — see you all pitchside. 🦆0️⃣