๐๏ธ 12 Jul โ 18 Jul 1947 ยท 1947 โ 1 match
๐งข 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll ยท AwayformDDWLWSunday last took us to Charles Arkcoll, and the coin fell against me, so we were in the field first while our hosts had the choosing of it.
They made the better use of their innings. Randolph Thompson batted with real quality to finish 57 not out, the innings that held their whole effort together, and found a sound partner in A Fuller, who stayed unbeaten on 33. Not every one of their number prospered, for Edgar Humphreys departed without troubling the scorers, undone by our attack. Don Hartridge bowled with real heart for three for fifty-three, well supported by G Vince, whose wicket cost a miserly seven, and J Enfield, who claimed his for twenty-two.
Our reply never quite found its rhythm, though I was glad my own innings of 21 held together longer than most and set something of an example, however modest, for those who followed. In the end Charles Arkcoll had the better of us by 21 runs, and we trooped back to the pavilion having given a fair account of ourselves without quite completing the job.
There was cheer off the field, at least, for Hartridge's three wickets carried him past H Freed into ninth place on the club's all-time list of wicket-takers, and he sits second in this season's charts with five victims, while Basil Sears leads our run-scoring for 1947 with 28. A defeat, then, but one taken in good part, with the nets and the next fixture already calling.
๐๏ธ 14 Jun โ 20 Jun 1947 ยท 1947 โ 1 match
๐งข 1st XIv EA Expense Accounts ยท HomeformLDDWLOn Sunday last, the fifteenth of June, we had Expense Accounts to visit us, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in asking my men to bat first โ the wicket looked a truthful one, and so it proved.
Gordon Larking led the way with a bright 27, and John Thirkell followed him in with a most useful 24, while C Fenner chipped in soundly with 21 of his own to see us to a respectable total. Not every man found his form, it must be said โ G Vince and Derek Pantony both walked back for ducks, and there is no dressing that up, though I daresay they will have their day again before the season is out.
Expense Accounts made a fair fist of the reply, and X Harris in particular played a fine unbeaten innings of 46 that gave their cause the only real substance it had. But the rest of their order found little joy against us, John Thirkell twice and W Bunting all departing without so much as troubling the scorers. Herbert Rayner bowled beautifully to return figures of four for none, and Stan Wratten chipped in with a wicket of his own. For my own part I found some rhythm through the air and off the seam, taking four wickets without conceding a run, a spell that I am told carries me past Jack Fryer into third place on the club's all-time list of wicket-takers, which I confess pleased me rather more than I let on at the time.
A fine win in the end, by 24 runs, and a thoroughly sporting contest throughout. Gordon Larking continues to lead our run-getters this season and Herbert Rayner our wicket-takers, and on this form long may both continue.
๐๏ธ 07 Jun โ 13 Jun 1947 ยท 1947 โ 1 match
๐งข 1st XIv 
West Farleigh CC ยท AwayformWLDDWSunday last saw the eleven abroad to West Farleigh, and a keener June afternoon for cricket one could scarcely wish for. The toss was lost, and West Farleigh, electing to bat, set about their innings with a will. H Webb played the more polished hand of the two openers, 27 well-made runs, with W Payton giving him sturdy company for 23 of his own. But it was upon the bowling that the day truly turned, for I found my length early and kept it, five wickets falling to my name before the innings was done, with Don Hartridge and X Henfield each chipping in a brace to keep the home batsmen honest throughout.
Our reply, alas, never quite gathered the momentum required, though P Clark batted with real application, his 25 the backbone of what we could muster. The rest of the order came and went without quite finding their feet, and we fell short by the narrowest of margins, two runs only separating the sides at the close, a result as cruel as any this game can deal out to a side that has done most things right.
There was, at least, one small cause for cheer amid the disappointment, Don Hartridge's two wickets carrying him past Herbert Sunley and into tenth place on the club's all-time list of wicket-takers, a quiet distinction earned in a losing cause. West Farleigh deserved their victory, snatched as it was, and we motored home reflecting that such games, won or lost by a whisker, are cricket at its most honest. Back to the nets we go, heads up, and no doubt wiser for it.