🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 17 Sep 1944 🧢 1st XIv GX George Fenner XI · HomeformWWWWD

A fine, close-fought affair against George Fenner's eleven on the seventeenth of September, and one that did the club credit from first ball to last. Winning the toss, I sent the visitors in, and for a while it seemed we had erred, for Waller and his partner put on 56 for the first wicket with scarcely a false stroke between them. Waller went on to make 29, Lewer 25 and Patey 22, but the middle order could not build upon so promising a foundation, and the innings, 132 for five one over and 135 for eight the next, fell away in the manner batsmen dread and bowlers relish. Wilson, Faulkner and Curtis departed without troubling the scorers, and I was fortunate enough to find my length early, finishing with four for 28 and two maidens, well supported by G Wratten's sharp one for one and John Anscomb's one for 18. The visitors were dismissed for 135 in 34.2 overs.

Our reply asked patience of us. An early wicket with the total at a modest 8 gave the afternoon a nervy cast, but Stan Wratten and John Anscomb restored order handsomely, adding 88 for the second wicket, Wratten making a splendid 46 and Anscomb a most useful 38. Extras chipped in a generous 26, though poor Maurice Fenner had a trying time behind the stumps, nine byes slipping past him on what was evidently no easy surface for wicketkeeping. We reached 142 for five from 31 overs, home by four wickets.

A capital result, and one that leaves Stan Wratten still atop our season's run-getters with 336, and I myself, not without pride, leading the wicket charts with 18 for the year. A thoroughly sporting contest, and George Fenner's XI left us, I think, with much the same regard for the game as brought us all to the ground.

Sat 16 Sep 1944 🧢 1st XIv CD Civil Defence · HomeformDWWWW

Saturday last, the sixteenth of September, saw Civil Defence come to us at Linton Park for what proved a thoroughly good day's cricket. Winning the toss, I did not hesitate for a moment in asking my men to bat, the wicket looking a true one and worth trusting.

Trust it we did. Stan Wratten and John Anscomb set about their work in the best traditions of the club, the pair adding a priceless ninety for the second wicket before the innings closed at 162 for 2 from forty-five overs, Wratten unbeaten on a splendid 64 and Anscomb following handsomely with 56.

Called upon to defend that total, our attack gave nothing away lightly. Gordon Fenner bowled with real fire for 3 for 44, two of his overs going for nothing at all, while Stan Wratten turned his hand to the ball with 2 for 3 and D Cloke chipped in with 1 for 14. X Lever and C Makudo departed without troubling the scorers, though R Goodwin played the innings of the day with 46, well supported by T Waller's 26 and X Rice's unbeaten 23, Civil Defence closing on 138 for 6 from forty-two overs.

A pleasing note besides: Wratten's 64 carried him past the Reverend F A Leveson-Gower into eighth place among the club's all-time run-scorers, and he stands proudly atop both our run and wicket charts this season. Honours were shared in the end, a draw that flattered neither side unduly and left both, I think, well satisfied.

Sun 10 Sep 1944 🧢 1st XIv GX George Fenner XI · HomeformLDWWW

Sunday the tenth of September brought George Fenner's eleven to us as visitors, and winning the toss I elected to send them in, fancying our bowlers might find something in the morning air. It proved a shrewd notion. The visitors made a solid enough start, but once the breach was opened the innings fell away with startling speed, fifty-eight for six becoming sixty-seven for nine almost before one had settled in the field, and they were all out for sixty-seven in eight and twenty overs and four balls. Webber and Jerman departed without troubling the scorers, and it was Stan Wratten who did the damage, four for eleven and pick of the bowlers by some distance. I was glad to chip in with three for twenty-two myself, Herbert Wratten took one for eleven, and Gordon Fenner bowled with admirable discipline for three maidens.

Our reply was a chastening affair by comparison. Stan Wratten again led the way with a fine thirty, but we too suffered our collapse, sixty-one for six crumbling to seventy-one for nine in short order, A S Day and Gordon Fenner both departing for golden ducks. Yet seventy-one proved enough, and we got over the line for a narrow but thoroughly satisfying victory.

Stan Wratten continues to lead our run charts for the season with two hundred and twenty-six, and I am pleased to find myself topping the wicket-takers with fourteen. A hard-fought contest, and a good day for the club.

Sat 09 Sep 1944 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformLLDWW

Against Harrietsham on Saturday last, upon our own turf, I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first strike — the wicket looked a kindly one, and so it proved. John Larking played the anchor's part to perfection, carrying his score handsomely past his fifty to finish with 69, and found a willing partner in Stan Wratten, whose 25 were no less valuable for coming lower in the order. Between them, and with useful oddments from the rest, we closed our innings at 163 for 9 from forty-three overs, a total that felt, even as we walked in for tea, quite sufficient for the day's work.

So it proved. Harrietsham never truly settled against us, and their innings folded for 102 in thirty overs, the middle order crumbling from 85 for 5 to 90 for 8 in the space of a few overs that will live long in the memory of those present. Gordon Fenner was quite unplayable, taking five for 30 in a spell as fine as any seen at the ground this season, while I was glad to lend a hand with three for 29, two of them maidens, and Herbert Wratten chipped in with two for 18. Poor Maurice Fenner had a trying afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes telling their own tale, but no matter — we ran out winners by 61 runs, two points thoroughly earned, and Stan Wratten's runs saw him climb past C Murdoch on the club's all-time list, a fitting footnote to a thoroughly satisfying day's cricket.

Sun 03 Sep 1944 🧢 1st XIv HB Home Guard - Royal West Kent 11th Battalion · HomeformWLLDW

Sunday last, the third of September, saw us play host to the Home Guard - Royal West Kent 11th Battalion, and a right good afternoon's cricket it proved to be. I won the toss and had no hesitation in sending them in, a decision that looked handsome enough once our bowling took hold. Gordon Fenner was quite unplayable, spinning through their order to return 5 for 38, four of his overs maidens besides, and found willing support from Stan Wratten and Dick Langridge, each claiming a wicket. Elwell, Holman and Pilbeam departed without troubling the scorers, though L Wynn batted soundly for 36, with Miroy and Weston chipping in 30 and 25, to see the visitors to 141 for 9 from their 37.2 overs.

Our reply began steadily, and it was Stan Wratten who set the tone, striking a fine fifty that carried him past Percy Brattle into tenth place on the club's all-time run-scorers list. I was glad to lend him company in a fourth-wicket stand of 82 that put the result beyond much doubt, and finished with 44 myself. Yet cricket delights in testing a captain's nerve, and wickets tumbled from 127 for 4 to 141 for 7 in a rush that had the pavilion holding its breath, Jameson and Bunting both departing for ducks. But the target was reached with two wickets to spare, and we came off warm in victory, the Home Guard men having given us a thoroughly sporting game and full value for their afternoon in the field.

Sun 20 Aug 1944 🧢 1st XIv KM KCC Maidstone · HomeformWWLLD

Herbert Rayner writes:

We entertained Kcc Maidstone at Linton Park on Sunday last, the twentieth of August, in fine spirit, and I confess I was glad enough to win the toss and put us in, a decision that answered handsomely before the day was out. Our innings ran to 146 for 9 in 34.4 overs, built chiefly upon a bright knock of 35 from Gordon Fenner, well supported by John Anscomb's 33 and Stan Wratten's useful 21, the two former putting on 55 for the second wicket in a stand that gave the innings its backbone. Poor W Bunting will not thank me for recording that he departed for a duck, but such is the game, and the rest of the order did enough to leave us a total worth defending.

In the field we found ourselves the happier side. Maidstone lost an early wicket with the score at a mere 6, and though Griggs played the innings of the day with 23, the middle order could find no lasting comfort, subsiding from 48 for 4 to 59 for 7 as the pressure told. Wood, Mott and Benger were all sent back without troubling the scorers, and the innings closed at 59 for 8 in 16.4 overs. J Warburton bowled beautifully for figures of 4 for 10, with five maidens besides, a spell that did as much as anything to settle the afternoon's business, while Stan Wratten chipped in with 3 for 12 and I was fortunate enough to take a wicket myself for 32 runs.

A fine win in the end, by 87 runs, and a thoroughly sporting contest throughout. Kcc Maidstone gave us a good game and shook hands as warmly in defeat as we should have done ourselves, which is, after all, the best tradition of the club.

Sat 19 Aug 1944 🧢 1st XIv RW R.A. Training Wing Wrotham · HomeformWWWLL

Here is my report:

We won the toss on Saturday and I had no hesitation in taking first knock, a decision that repaid us handsomely against the visiting R.A. Training Wing Wrotham. Stan Wratten and his opening partner set about the bowling with real purpose, carrying the score to 100 before the first wicket fell, and Wratten went on to a well-made 69. John Anscomb followed with an unbeaten 55, a fine half-century played with the straightest of bats, while Joe Fenner chipped in a useful 43 to see us to a commanding 200 for 3 from our forty overs. I fear my own contribution was rather less ornamental, a golden nothing that I shall not dwell upon, though a captain is entitled to lead from the field if not always from the crease.

In the field the eleven defended the total with good heart. Stan Wratten, having done his work with the willow, did further damage with the ball, taking 2 for 17, and he was well supported by Herbert Wratten with 1 for 20 and Gardener with 1 for 22. Dillon batted soundly for the visitors and made a well-made 50 of his own, steering their innings to 108 for 5 from twenty-five overs. Poor Maurice Fenner had a trying afternoon behind the stumps, conceding fourteen byes, though such things happen to the best of keepers on an unforgiving pitch.

A word for the record books: Stan Wratten's innings carried him past J N Tonge into eleventh place among the club's all-time run-scorers, a landmark he thoroughly deserved. The match itself ended honours shared, neither side able to force home its advantage, and a draw of that sporting character is no bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Sun 13 Aug 1944 🧢 1st XIv NC National Fire Service Overseas Contingent · HomeformLWWWL

Herbert Rayner writes: On the Sunday, the thirteenth of August, we welcomed the National Fire Service Overseas Contingent to the ground and, winning little save the toss of a coin, took to the field first. They batted with real purpose, MacIldowie in particular finding his form for a fine 75, with Buxton and Holmes lending sound support for 31 and 20. The openers gave them a platform of 79 for the first wicket before we could make any impression at all, and it seemed for a while a long afternoon lay ahead of us. But the eleven kept at their task, and once the breakthrough came the innings folded quickly, seven wickets tumbling for a mere handful of runs. Wratten bowled tidily for two, Gardener toiled hard for three, and I was fortunate enough to find my length, taking three for 27 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure. They finished all out for 186.

Our reply, alas, never settled. From a respectable 53 for 5 the innings slipped away to 72 for 8 in what felt like the twinkling of an eye, and both Sells and Gardener departed without troubling the scorers. Twenty byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Fenner. We were all out for 76 and beaten by 110 runs, a margin that flattered nobody on our side.

Yet the day was not without its cheer. Stan Wratten's useful 16 lifted him past E. Humphreys into twelfth place among the club's all-time run-getters, a landmark worth raising a glass to in the pavilion. A chastening defeat, honestly earned by a determined visiting side, and one from which the lads will return to the nets the wiser.

Wed 02 Aug 1944 🧢 1st XIv NC National Fire Service Overseas Contingent · HomeformLLWWW

Herbert Rayner's honorary match report, no tools needed here.

Wednesday last saw the National Fire Service Overseas Contingent come to us as visitors, and a keen contest was promised from the moment I lost the toss and led the eleven into the field. They batted with no little application, running their score along to 181 for 9 in their 44 overs. Holden was the chief architect of it all with a fine 45, well supported by S. Hill's 36 and F. Smith's 27, the pair adding 65 for the third wicket in a stand that gave their innings its backbone. Robertson and Alberts fell cheaply at our hands, and it was Stan Wratten who did us proudest with the ball, taking 4 for 26 in an admirably tidy spell. I managed 3 for 64 myself, with four maidens to show for the effort, and young Gardener chipped in with 2 for 29.

Our reply never quite found its feet. A wicket down with none on the board set a nervous tone, and though D. Sells batted soundly for 24 and Maurice Fenner made a useful 20, too many of the middle order departed without troubling the scorers, and we were all out for 104 in 22.2 overs. Poor Tom Osborn had an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps, 24 byes going begging. I contributed 17 with the bat, which I was pleased to find carried me past F. S. W. Cornwallis into fourth place among the club's run-getters, and my three wickets with the ball took me beyond the century for my career, a small landmark I shall treasure.

We were beaten by 77 runs in the end, fairly and thoroughly, but there was plenty in the day's cricket to encourage us, and we shall look to put it right next week.