🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 30 Sep 1956 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformLDDDL

Sunday 30th September, and by rights we should still be out there padded up somewhere, given how little cricket we actually witnessed. We hosted Linton Park CC, I won the toss, and — in a decision I shall be defending at the bar for some weeks yet — elected to bat first.

It did not go well. Forty-two all out in 34.1 overs is the sort of total that makes the tea urn seem the highlight of the afternoon. Basil Sears, Peter Weedon and Monty Deakes all contrived to depart without troubling the scorer, a hat-trick of ducks that had the wives in the pavilion reaching for their knitting rather than their scorecards. Quite how three good men can queue up to be bowled for nought in the same innings I shall leave to greater cricketing minds than mine.

And yet — cricket, glorious and infuriating, found a way to spare our blushes. Neither side could force home the advantage, and honours were shared in a draw that flattered us rather more than our batting deserved.

Elsewhere, the season's ledger continues to make cheerful reading regardless of Sunday's efforts: John Thirkell sits proudly atop the 1st XI run charts with 683 runs, John Taylor leads the Married men with 7, and Clive Smith heads the Singles with 33.

Verdict: a match we were fortunate to escape with a draw, and one best filed under "character-building."

Sat 29 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWWWL

Alan Wilkes's 6-10 wrecked us — 28 down, but what a spell to be on the wrong end of.

Saturday's opponents caught us on a strange sort of afternoon at home, one where the ball did rather more talking than the bat. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in putting us in — a decision that looked shrewd for about as long as it takes to say "well bowled" a dozen times, as we limped to 79/5 from our 26 overs. Frank Brattle and Tony Tipples both endured that lonely walk back for nought, and I confess my own 15 felt more like damage limitation than a captain's innings.

Still, cricket is a game of two innings, and ours arrived with the ball in hand. What followed was a proper old-fashioned skittling: the visitors were bowled out for 51 in just 23.3 overs, with S Capon, J Nicholson and J Knowles all failing to trouble the scorers. At the heart of it stood Alan Wilkes, spinning a web nobody could escape — 6 for 10, with five miserly maidens thrown in for good measure. John --'s Taylor lent superb support with 4 for 23, and between the two of them there was barely a run to be had.

For all that, 79 simply wasn't enough, and we fell 28 runs short in the end. Wilkes continues to terrorise league batsmen weekly — second in the 1956 wicket charts with 56 — while John Thirkell keeps racking up the runs, 657 and counting. Not our day, but heads up, lads — back to the nets, and no lasting harm done to the tea urn.

Sun 23 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDWWW

Sunday 23rd September saw us at home, and having called correctly for once — a rare enough event to note in the log — I had no hesitation in batting first. It proved a sound decision. Ray Howard set the tone with a splendid 61, and William Buck, unbeaten on 51, played the innings of a man entirely unbothered by the occasion. Between them we posted 158 for 5 from our 47.4 overs, a total that felt, even as we walked off, like it might just be enough.

And so it proved. In reply the visitors never quite got going, A Walker's 27 and E Webb's 21 the only real resistance, while D Edwards, B Edwards and J Shaylor all trooped back without so much as a run to their names — three ducks in an afternoon is not a thing you see often. John Ames was magnificent, five for 21 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, bowling with the sort of miserly control that leaves batsmen muttering to themselves. I chipped in with 5 for 32 myself, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for weeks to come. All out for 78 in 30.4 overs — a fine afternoon's work.

Stan Wratten continues to sit proudly third in the season's run charts, and John Ames now leads the wickets with 68 — form he showed no sign of relinquishing today. A thoroughly satisfying win, and one to bottle for the wetter Sundays ahead.

Sat 22 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLDDWW

Wratten's 29 propping up a total everyone else seemed determined to give away, five wickets from Ray Howard turning defence into ambush, and thirteen byes that had poor Bob Arnold's afternoon written all over it — a proper vintage Linton Park scorecard.

Skipper's Log, Saturday 22nd September 1956. Bearsted CC, at home, and for once the coin behaved itself — I called it right and, with barely a flicker of doubt, sent us in. Whether that flicker should have lasted rather longer is a question I've been turning over ever since, because ninety-seven all out from 38.1 overs is not the sort of total you build a Saturday around. Stan Wratten did what he could with a defiant 29, but around him the innings rather fell away, Bob Arnold and C Sandford both departing for ducks and leaving the rest of us to make up the numbers as best we might.

Ninety-seven felt, frankly, like a target invented purely to be exceeded, and I confess I walked out to field with the resigned air of a man expecting the worst. Instead Ray Howard decided the afternoon belonged to him, tearing through Bearsted for 5-15 with six miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, well supported by John Ames's 4-21 and a single strike from Tony Snell. F Bayley and Peter Longley both fell for ducks of their own, and Bearsted were bowled out for 56 in 32.1 overs. Thirteen byes did rather undermine Bob Arnold's afternoon behind the stumps, though nobody was counting too closely by the close.

We got over the line by 41 runs — a scoreline that flattered the batting and did full justice to the bowling. A fine, if faintly undeserved, day for the club.

Sun 16 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv TC Tunbridge Wells CC · HomeformWLDDW

Tuesday, and I'll admit I slept rather well after Sunday's exertions. Winning the toss and choosing to bat felt like the obvious call, though I confess I say that every week whether we bat first or not — this time, mercifully, the pitch and Tom Osborn agreed with me. What followed was as fine an opening stand as this club has produced in some while: 176 for the first wicket, an innings of such serenity that several of us on the boundary had time to finish our tea before a wicket fell. Then, as cricket so loves to remind us, the game turned briefly comic — 176 for one became 187 for four in what felt like the time it takes to pour another cup, poor Ray Howard departing without troubling the scorers. Osborn, though, was unmoved by the chaos around him, sailing serenely to 103 not out, well supported by Stan Wratten's 69. We closed on 195 for 4.

If our batting had its wobble, our bowling had none. Tunbridge Wells were bowled out for a meagre 76, undone almost entirely by John Ames, who span a web few of them escaped — 9 for 33, six of those overs maidens, figures that verge on the unsporting. Tony Snell chipped in for good measure, and three of their number trooped back without scoring a run between them.

A word for the history books: Osborn's century lifts him to 11th on the club's all-time run list, past Maurice Fenner, while Wratten and Ames continue to lead our season charts with real distinction.

A fine win by 119 runs, then, and thoroughly deserved. Onwards.

Sat 15 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv OR Old Roffensians · HomeformLWLDD

Saturday 15 September 1956, home to Dummy Site, and I lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season — so out we went to field, resigned to our fate.

They battled to 143 all out in 46.2 overs, R. Howard playing the anchor role with a well-earned 64 and Bradley chipping in with 31, but our bowlers kept the leash tight throughout. Michael Morton was magnificent, 4-47 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — not a man in a generous mood — while Horton (3-23) and Donovan (3-40) mopped up nicely either side of him. Burren, Sheppard and Westcombe departed without so much as a nibble, and the little duck emoji beside their names told its own story. A word too for poor Haylor behind the stumps, who endured 13 byes worth of a genuinely testing day.

Chasing 143, we cantered home at 147/3 from 30 overs, and I'll confess to more than a little pride in leading from the front with 82 of my own, John Thirkell playing the senior partner beautifully with a chanceless 82 himself, Frank Brattle lending sturdy support with 38. Seven wickets in hand at the finish — comfortable, in the end, though it never quite felt that way in the field.

A tidy afternoon all round: Morton's four wickets nudge him past Jack Fryer to ninth on the club's all-time list, and Thirkell continues to lead the season's run charts in some style. A good day for the club, and one we'll happily bank.

Sat 08 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDLWLD

Saturday saw us make the short trip away, and honesty compels me to report a match that summed up village cricket rather nicely: honest toil, a nervy wobble, and honours shared at the close.

Winning first use of the ball, the lads restricted the hosts to 132 for 8 from their 51.2 overs, though it never felt entirely comfortable while D. Neale was in residence, compiling a watchful 30 with G. Morrison chipping in 22 — the pair's 51-run stand for the eighth wicket the innings' spine. It took Bob Brigden, bowling like a man possessed, to prise things open: 6 for 47 with seven maidens besides, figures that will take some beating in the clubhouse this year. John Thirkell and J. Donovan chipped in with a wicket apiece to round things off tidily.

Our reply began in the worst possible fashion — three on the board and already a wicket down, the sort of start that has the tea urn muttering ominously. But John Basten, unbeaten on 46, marshalled the innings with real composure, well supported by J. Donovan's 22, and we crept to 114 for 6 from our 40 overs. Fifteen byes, it must be said, made for an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps for poor Bob Arnold, who will not thank me for mentioning it twice.

With John Thirkell still leading our 1956 run charts and Donovan lurking fourth among the wicket-takers, the individual form lines remain healthy even if the collective nerve wasn't always steady. A draw, then — honours even, and probably a fair reflection of an afternoon where neither side quite had the stomach to finish the job.

Sun 02 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDLWL

Sunday, 2 September 1956. Won the toss, chose to bat without a second thought — one glance at the sky told you all you needed to know, and no captain worth his salt sends the openers out to field on a morning like that.

It has to be said the batting had its wobbles. Tom Osborn carried his bat for a splendid 40 not out, and Len Conway chipped in gamely with 22, but the middle order rather fell over its own bootlaces — Stan Wratten and Gordon Fenner both departed for ducks, and we limped to 93 for 7 off our 39 overs. Not a total to frighten anyone, and we knew it walking off.

Which made what followed all the sweeter. John Ames turned in a spell to make the whole club purr — 5 for 33, four of his overs maidens, spinning it past bat after bat as though the pitch owed him money. Len Conway backed him up with 3 for 26, and Stan Wratten, denied with the bat, made amends with a wicket for just 3 runs. Even the skipper managed to get in on the act with 5 of his own. Robin Bush's 22 was the only real resistance, and Roger Mills went the way of our earlier batsmen — a golden duck to match. They finished 80 for 9 off 37, three short of us with the overs run out.

A draw, then — honours shared, and not an unjust one. We were outbatted and out-bowled them in equal measure, which is about as fair a way as cricket has of calling it even.

Sun 26 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWDLW

Called it right at the toss, and there was never any real doubt in my mind — on a morning like that, you bat.

The lads did us proud with the willow, posting a handsome 162/6 from our 48 overs. John Larking was in fine touch, easing past his fifty to finish on 52, with Clive Smith chipping in a solid 38 and Tony Levick a brisk 26. A total we felt we could defend, though as ever in this game, felt is the operative word until the runs are actually defended.

And defend it we did — emphatically. The visitors' innings was less a collapse than a full implosion, bowled out for 43 in just 17.5 overs. Fleetwood, Reader and Haylor all trooped back without so much as a run to their names, which is the sort of afternoon that makes a captain look far cleverer than he is. Alan Wilkes was superb, snaring 4-19, John Ames chipped in with 3-21 (three of them maidens — miserly stuff), and Ray Howard picked up 1-3. I even found a spot of rhythm myself with three wickets.

The real story, though, belongs to John Ames, who sailed past 200 career wickets and, with it, George Champion, to sit fourth on the club's all-time list — no mean feat, and thoroughly deserved.

Final margin: 119 runs. A proper thumping, and one to enjoy on the drive home.

Sat 25 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformDDWDL

A sultry Saturday, 25th August, saw us motor over to face Charles Arkcoll, and having called correctly at the toss I did what any self-respecting skipper does on a firm-looking morning — I stuck us in to bat, largely on the grounds that it seemed the confident thing to do. It did not entirely reward that confidence. We were bowled out for 123 in 39.1 overs, John "-'s" Taylor the mainstay with a fine 46, John Thirkell chipping in with 27, while John Basten, Ernie Chiesman and R Vincent all returned that most humiliating of cricketing garnishes, the golden duck. A modest total, and one that left us needing something rather special with the ball.

We got it. Charles Arkcoll folded for a startling 55 in 26.2 overs, Randolph Thompson's 25 the only real resistance, while Humphrey Morris, John Perkins and John Mighall departed without so much as troubling the scorers. The afternoon belonged to John "-'s" Taylor, whose 7 for 32 was as complete a piece of bowling as you'll see on a village green, well supported by Michael Morton's tidy 3 for 22 from four maidens — not a run given away lightly. I managed 27 myself, more by accident than design.

For the record books, Thirkell now leads our 1956 run charts with 547, and Taylor sits third in the wicket standings with 34 scalps — and after today, one imagines still climbing.

A total that flattered to deceive proved more than enough. Victory by 68 runs, and a very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 19 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformDDDWD

Sunday 19 August 1956, and Linton Park played host to Dummy Site under skies that promised more than they delivered. The coin, as is so often its custom when I'm calling it, betrayed me entirely, and our visitors elected to bat.

They compiled 107 all out from their 48 overs, J. Reader top-scoring with 28 in what was otherwise a rather patchy effort against tidy bowling. R. Packham departed for a duck without so much as scratching the paintwork of the scoreboard. The real story was John Taylor, whose 4-44 did the bulk of the damage, well supported by Bob Brigden (2-23, and mean enough with six maidens to make the batsmen weep) and John Ames (2-33). A thoroughly professional shift in the field, even if I say so myself.

Alas, the bat let us down where the ball had not. We slid to 79 all out in 35.2 overs, only Tony Levick showing any real stomach for the fight with a battling 31. Cruel irony had John Taylor, hero of the morning, return for a duck of his own in the afternoon — cricket does love its little jokes at a man's expense.

Up in the season's charts, John Thirkell continues to lead the run-scoring with 520, and John Ames tops the wicket column with 42 — both reminders of the quality lurking in this side, if only we could all turn up on the same day.

Down by 28 runs, then. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — Linton Park lives to fight again.

Sat 18 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformLDDDW

Saturday 18 August 1956, away at Bowaters, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and for once I shall allow myself the satisfaction of saying so. John Basten batted beautifully for his unbeaten 64, well supported by William Buck's 44, and we closed on a healthy 138/5 from our 39 overs. Poor John Thirkell, meanwhile, made the long walk back for nought — the Duck Club welcomes another member.

Defending it, we bowled with real discipline. J Donovan was superb, 4-26 and relentless, while Tony Snell chipped in with 3-65 and three maidens that must have felt like being trapped in a cupboard to their batsmen. Michael Morton took one for his troubles. Roy Ecclestone's unbeaten 36 and Roy Cole's 31 kept Bowaters interested, but Trevor Clinch and Edward Chick both departed without scoring, and they finished on 128/8 from their 34 — just short.

As for your correspondent, I too contributed a duck, and the less said about that the better.

Milestones abounded: Donovan reached fifty career wickets, and Snell's haul lifted him past Stan Wratten to 11th on the club's all-time list. Basil Sears sits second in this season's run charts, Donovan fourth among the wicket-takers.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody beaten, and frankly, with my own effort at the crease, I'll happily settle for that.

Sun 12 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformDLDDD

Sunday last saw Harrietsham arrive at Linton Park under skies that, for once, matched my mood — hopeful. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation electing to bat, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than reckless. William Buck played the innings of the day, a handsome 57, while John Ames (27) and Ray Howard (21) chipped in to see us to 137/8 off our 35 overs. Not everyone's afternoon sparkled, mind — John Larking and Clive Smith both trudged back for ducks, their names now etched, quacking, into the club ledger.

If the bat had been modest, the ball was magnificent. Clive Smith, perhaps keen to make amends for his own golden duck, ran through Harrietsham like a fox in the hen house, taking 6-34, while John Ames backed him up beautifully with 3-14 from six miserly maiden overs, and Ray Howard picked up 1-7. The visitors were bowled out for 81 in 42.2 overs, never remotely at the races. I even allowed myself a small personal indulgence — 27 with the bat and 3 wickets with the ball, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for the rest of the season.

With Stan Wratten sitting third in the 1956 run charts and John Ames now leading the wicket-takers with 40 to his name, this club is in fine fettle. We ran out winners by 56 runs — a thoroughly good day's work, and one to be enjoyed over a pint or three in the pavilion.

Sat 11 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDDLDD

Wisden may not come calling this week, but Saturday's affair against Headcorn had all the ingredients of a proper club cricket afternoon.

Winning the toss, I saw no reason to overthink things and sent us in to bat. It was a mixed bag with the willow — John Basten led the way with a fine 43, and John Thirkell chipped in nicely with 25, but the card was blotted rather badly by three ducks apiece for Fiennes Cornwallis, R Vincent and Frank Wright. All out for 164 from 39.2 overs, it felt a touch light, though not disastrous.

In the field we made a proper fist of it. Gordon Fenner was quite magnificent, snaring 4-20 with six maidens to his name — the sort of miserly spell that makes batsmen question their life choices — while Michael Morton and Basil Sears each took a wicket for 12 apiece. J- Farrance departed for a duck at our hands, and L- Murrell's gutsy 49 was the main obstacle between us and victory. William Blight had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes going begging, and I contributed a workmanlike 25 with the bat earlier in the day. Headcorn closed on 114/7 from their 47 overs, unable to chase down the target but equally unwilling to be bowled out.

A draw it was, then — honours shared, and honestly a fair reflection of an afternoon where neither side quite had the stomach to force the issue. John Thirkell continues to lead our 1956 run charts with 519, and long may it continue.

Mon 06 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv HC Hon F Cornwallis · HomeformDDDLD

Skipper's Log — Monday, 6th August 1956. Home to Dummy Site, and I lost the toss again, which by now is less bad luck than a personal curse. They elected to bat, and elected, over 59.2 patient overs, to put on 199 for 6 — J. Smith the chief architect with a handsome 84, well supported by T. Checksfield's 56 and M. Zeilka's unbeaten 27. It could have been worse; it should have been worse. Alan Wilkes turned his arm over like a man possessed, spinning his way to 5-76, with John Ames chipping in a wicket and Gordon Fenner bowling four maidens so mean the batsmen must have thought the boundary rope had been moved back.

Our reply was, in a word, brief. Twenty-five for three in 13.3 overs is not the stuff of legend, and only Frank Brattle, unbeaten on 22, showed any inclination to trouble the scorers. Tony Levick and John Ames both walked back for ducks, joining that most exclusive and unwanted of clubs, and the rest of us can only be grateful the rain — or something — intervened before further embarrassment.

So honours shared, and a draw it was, neither side quite able to force the issue. William Buck continues his quiet march up the season's charts, now fourth with 204 runs, while Alan Wilkes sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 40. As for the rest of us — we escaped with pride bruised but intact, which on this showing counts as a result.

Sat 04 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformLDDDL

Saturday 4 August 1956, and the road took us out to Aylesford Paper Mills, where I called correctly and, with the sort of boldness that either marks you out as a shrewd tactician or a fool, stuck us in.

We needn't have worried. John Basten and John Thirkell both finished unbeaten on 43, batting with the calm assurance of men who knew a cup of tea and a sit-down awaited them, while Basil Sears chipped in a handsome 38 of his own — quietly moving past George Champion into 4th on the club's all-time run-scorers list in the process, which is rather the sort of thing you only notice when someone points it out to you afterwards. John "-'s" Taylor, it must be said, contributed a golden duck, though he more than made amends later. We closed on 158/5 from our 46.

In the field, Aylesford dug in gamely, with Bobby Brigden unbeaten on 46 and R Fowler's 35 keeping them in the hunt. But John "-'s" Taylor bowled beautifully — 4-46 with ten miserly maidens — well supported by Thirkell and Ames among the wickets, and I managed to grab 43 of my own to keep things tight. They finished on 129/9.

A draw, then, honours shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. On this evidence, a fair result — though with Thirkell in this sort of form for the season and Sears now etched into the record books, I fancy we'll have the beating of most sides before long.

Sun 29 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformLLDDD

Beaten but never bowed, that's the tale of Sunday 29th July at Folkestone. I won the toss, elected to bat — still convinced it was the right call, whatever the scorebook says — and watched us stumble to 84 all out in 34.5 overs. Len Conway and Tony Snell both departed for golden ducks, which is the sort of thing a captain notices rather more than he'd like.

With such modest fuel in the tank, it was always going to be a scrap with the ball, and the lads gave a good account of themselves. Frank Brooks-Hill's unbeaten 41 and D More's 26 nudged Folkestone home to 86 for 3 in 22.5 overs, but not without a fight — John Ames bowled beautifully for 2-19, with Len Conway chipping in at 1-44 for good measure.

Amid the gloom, a flicker of history: Richard Harris's 6 runs eased him past Arthur Cornwallis into 12th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — the sort of quiet milestone that reminds you the club is bigger than any one afternoon. John Thirkell continues to lead our 1956 run charts with 451, and John Ames tops the wickets with 35 — a fine season taking shape even as this match slipped away.

Five wickets the margin, and a fair result on the day's evidence. We were undercooked with the bat and overworked with the ball. No disgrace in that — just work to do before next Sunday.

Sat 28 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformLLLDD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 28th July 1956

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to think the coin has it in for me — and duly found ourselves leathering the thing about for the best part of forty-one overs while Dummy Site helped themselves to 162 for 6. N. Hawkes and R. Moore both made themselves thoroughly at home with 47 apiece, and there were moments in the field when the boundary rope seemed to be shrinking. Salvation, such as it was, came from Tony Snell, whose 3 for 34 off seven miserly maidens did more than anyone to keep the total within reach; P. Jacobs and R. Vincent chipped in with a wicket each to round out a tidy, if not quite triumphant, effort with the ball.

Our reply had a rather more settled air about it. Basil Sears played the innings of the day, 68 of good, correct strokes, and found willing company in John "'s" Taylor, unbeaten on 26, and John Basten with 21. Between them they steered us to 141 for 4 from our 43, never quite catching the visitors but never in danger of being run down either. William Blight had a wretched time of it behind the stumps — eight byes is not a figure one puts on the tea-hut scorecard with any pride — though I shall claim, as captains do, that the pitch was doing more than usual.

So — a draw, honours shared, and nobody especially aggrieved. With John Thirkell still ploughing on at the top of our run charts and young Taylor now bowling his way into the wickets table as well as batting us out of trouble, I'd call this an afternoon of quiet, unspectacular contentment. Not a classic, but not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

Sun 22 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv JL John Larkings · HomeformWLLLD

From the captain's chair, Sunday 22 July 1956: home to Dummy Site, and we lost the toss with no choice but to bowl first — which, thankfully, gave the lads a job to be getting on with. Dummy Site posted 165 all out from their 52 overs, Popplewell top-scoring with a fluent 37, well supported by T. Saville's 24 and J. Larking's unbeaten 23. J. Clark departed for a golden duck, sent back before he'd troubled the scorers. The bowling was a treat: John Ames toiled beautifully for 5-44, a five-for thoroughly deserved, while Alan Wilkes chipped away for 3-64 — six of his overs maidens, not a run given away lightly — and Len Conway picked up 1-17.

Our reply of 164 all out in 55 overs kept it interesting to the last ball. John Waters led the way with 35, Len Conway unbeaten on 33, and William Buck a handy 28, though poor John Abnett collected a duck of his own. Sixteen byes tell their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Tony Levick. I managed 24 with the bat, and rounded off a thoroughly satisfying afternoon with 5 wickets of my own.

With honours shared and neither side able to force it, a draw was a fair reflection of an even contest. On this season's evidence — John Ames fourth in the run charts, Alan Wilkes leading the wickets — there is plenty still to play for, and plenty for this old skipper to be quietly pleased about.

Sat 21 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformDWLLL

Wakeman won the toss, but not the argument that mattered — asked to bat first ourselves, we were instead sent out to field, and duly settled in for the long haul at home to Shipbourne.

They ground their way to 141 all out from their 47 overs, John Wakeman leading the resistance with 26, well supported by P. Hills (24) and N. Elliott (21). But the bowling had its say too: R. Vincent was the pick with 2-6, John Thirkell chipped in 2-14, R. Waters 2-19, and John "the Taylor" Taylor bowled with the sort of patient miserliness that only five maidens can express — the sort of spell that has opposing batsmen quietly cursing the tea urn for taking so long to boil.

Chasing 142, we never quite got there, closing on 135-8 from our 33 — honours even, in the end. John Thirkell was the story of our innings, a fine 64 that carried the side and, I don't mind saying, was rather satisfying to watch unfold from the middle. John Basten (23) and Taylor again (20 with the bat this time) gave it proper support, though R. Waters, William Blight and C. Sandford each departed for a golden duck, and ten byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Blight.

Still, on the season charts Thirkell now leads our 1956 run-scoring with 432, and Taylor sits third in the wickets with 18 — men in form, even when the scoreboard doesn't quite reward them. A draw, then: honours shared, pride largely intact, and the tea urn, eventually, victorious.

Sun 15 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsted CC · AwayformDDWLL

Sunday 15 July 1956, and we made the journey down to Selsted CC with high hopes and, I confess, rather too much confidence in my own toss-calling instincts. Won it I did, and elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might suggest.

We were bowled out for 104 in 44.2 overs, which is the sort of total that makes for a long walk back to the pavilion and a longer one to the tea urn. Stan Wratten's 29 was the innings of substance, John Ames chipped in with 23 and William Buck with 20, while poor John Waters departed for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it on the chin.

With ball in hand we fought harder than the total deserved. John Ames, clearly not content with his runs, tore in for 3-38, and Bob Brigden bowled with the miserliness of a man guarding his own allotment — five maidens and figures of 1-22. D. Batcheler fell for nought to our efforts, small mercies. But S. Smith's fifty — 72 in the end — and J. Dearman's unbeaten 23 saw Selsted home at 105/4 in 26.4 overs.

Six wickets down, then, and not our day. Elsewhere in the ledger there's cheer: John Thirkell still leads our 1956 run charts with 368, and John Ames now sits second in the wicket-taking with 28. Heads up, chins forward, back to the nets.

Sat 14 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformDDDWL

We were put in, and Dummy Site took full advantage, rattling along to 196/8 with C- Rye playing the innings of the day, 68 well made, and a- Trembeth (41) and K- McDowall (26 not out) making sure the tail had a sting. M- Beacon at least gave us one cheap wicket, sent back without so much as a single to his name. Michael Morton was the pick of the attack, 3-29 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — miserly is putting it kindly, the man barely let the ball off the square — while A Hughes (2-3) and Basil Sears (2-13) mopped up nicely in support.

Chasing 197, we never quite got going. Basil Sears top-scored with a battling 36, well supported by William Blight's 20, but wickets tumbled around them and we folded for 101 in 36.4 overs — A Hughes and Bob Arnold both departing for ducks, which rather summed up our afternoon. William Blight's day behind the stumps wasn't much easier, with 12 byes going begging.

Not all bad news, mind: Richard Harris's 14 runs saw him leapfrog Herbert Rayner into 13th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Basil Sears's two wickets moved him past Herbert Sunley into 24th among the wicket-takers — while with the bat he now sits 2nd in this season's run charts on 231. Small mercies on a day we were beaten by 95 runs. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 08 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDDDW

Sunday, and the fixtures gods delivered fine weather and a strong away side. Winning the toss, I had little hesitation in electing to bat, and while I say it myself, it looked the right call from the moment we settled in. John Ames led the way with a fine 44, well supported by Tony Tipples (42) and Stan Wratten (39), the middle order stitching together a proper total. Not everything gleamed, mind — poor R. Waters and Bob Arnold both trudged back without troubling the scorers, ducks apiece — but 190/8 from our 52 overs felt like a total with some substance to it.

Defending it, we made the visitors work hard. X Leschalles played the innings that mattered, 45 well-crafted runs, with D Rankin (36) and X Ronson (25) offering support, while X Hare joined our own duck club without scoring. John Ames, having done the business with the bat, turned his arm over beautifully for 4-39 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, Alan Wilkes chipped in with 4-41, and Tony Tipples took 2-20. Poor Tony Levick had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes down as testament to some lively bowling, and I added a modest 20 with the bat. All told, they were bowled out for 151 in 38.5 overs — agonisingly, 38 runs short of what they needed, yet somehow it wasn't quite enough for us either.

There was a happy footnote amid the disappointment: John Thirkell brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth raising a glass to, and he continues to lead our 1956 run charts with 353, with Alan Wilkes topping the wickets column on 31. Not our day in the end — beaten by 38 runs — but heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 07 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformLLDDD

Charles Arkcoll at home, Saturday last, and I confess I fancied our chances the moment the coin fell my way. In went the elbow grease: 187 all out in 31.1 overs, the innings carried on the shoulders of John Thirkell, whose glorious 106 was the sort of hundred you dine out on until Christmas. Gilmour chipped in a tidy 27, J Donovan added 20, and if Spence and Michael Morton's ducks were the low notes, well, someone has to hold the innings together while others hold the bat rather more decoratively.

Defending 187 always feels generous until the first ball goes down, but the lads were magnificent. The opposition folded for 74 in 31.3 overs, Gordon Fenner's 42 the only real resistance, and Jack Knowler back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Michael Morton was the story of the day — 5 for 37, a thoroughly deserved five-for that also eased him past Stan Wratten into 10th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, a nice bit of history for a Saturday afternoon. Tony Snell was hardly a passenger either, 4 for 35 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, mean as you like.

Thirkell now leads our 1956 run charts with 333, Snell sits fifth in the wicket column with 13, and I'll admit leading from the front with 106 myself did no harm to the captain's ego. Won by 113 runs, two points banked, and a very satisfactory afternoon's work.

Sun 01 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsted CC · HomeformWLLDD

Splendid Sunday for it, D— Batcheler and S—v— Smith giving Selsted's innings some genuine backbone with 35 and 29 respectively, before our bowling attack got stuck into the middle order like a terrier down a rabbit hole. R— Waters was the pick of us by some distance — 3 for 33, with four maidens thrown in for good measure, proof that not every over need end in a scamper to the boundary. John Ames chipped in with 3 for 56 and Alan Wilkes 2 for 20, and there was even a little moment of personal satisfaction for the skipper, who managed three wickets himself, largely by standing in roughly the right place at roughly the right time. M— Smith's golden duck was the cherry on top — sympathies to him, but we'll take it. Selsted closed on 141 for 8.

Set 142 to win, we never quite got out of second gear, though nobody disgraced themselves either. Tony Tipples top-scored with a tidy 39, well supported by William Buck's 25, and we ambled home to 120 for 4 off our 26 — content, if not exactly conquering. Poor Tony Levick had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 9 byes testifying to a pitch with ideas of its own.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, tea presumably excellent. With Buck now 4th in the season's run charts and Wilkes leading the wickets, the engine room of this side is clearly firing even if the scoreboard refused to pick a winner. A fair result, and frankly, on a day like this, a fair result will do nicely.

Sat 30 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformDWLLD

Skipper's Log, Saturday 30th June 1956 — Linton Park v Dummy Site, at home.

Lost the toss, lost the argument, and found ourselves stuck in the field on what turned into a proper marathon. Dummy Site made steady if unspectacular progress to 168/5 off their 48, R- Aiston and E- Lawrence putting on 44 and 43 respectively before W- Hunt saw them home unbeaten on 31. Credit where it's due, though: J Donovan bowled beautifully for 3-34, three maidens and all, tying up an end while John --'s Taylor chipped in with a hard-earned 2-57 at the other.

Chasing 169 with the shadows already lengthening, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite getting there. John Thirkell top-scored with a lovely 49, Donovan followed his bowling with 45 not out, and John --'s Taylor weighed in with 31 — I managed 49 myself, for what little that's worth on a card that also recorded a golden duck for R- Robinson and a generous 20 byes, poor Bob Arnold clearly having one of those afternoons behind the stumps. We closed on 166/8, three runs and two wickets short of the mark, and honours were shared.

A word of cheer amid the near-miss: Donovan's three wickets nudge him up to 22nd on the club's all-time list, past H Freed, and keep him third in this year's bowling table with 16 to his name, while Thirkell continues to lead the run charts on 227. A draw, then, and a fair one — nobody won, nobody quite deserved to lose, and the tea was, as ever, the best part of the day.

Sun 24 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDWLL

Sunday last brought the visitors to Linton Park, and with the sky doing that particularly English thing of threatening everything and delivering nothing, I won the toss and sent them in. They batted with the patience of men who had nowhere better to be, compiling 210 for 6 from their 52 overs. R Pavitt led the charge with a well-crafted 52, R Richardson chipped in with 36 and R Day finished unbeaten on the same, while T O'Sullivan trudged back without so much as troubling the scorers. Len Conway was the pick of our attack — 3 for 41, three maidens included, bowling with the sort of miserly discipline that makes batsmen question their life choices — with John Ames offering fine support at 3 for 53.

In reply we made a fair fist of it, 179 for 7 from our 40, anchored by a handsome 64 from Stan Wratten and useful runs from Clive Smith (48) and Len Conway, who clearly couldn't resist getting involved twice (32). William Buck and John Thirkell both fell for ducks, and I regret to report I joined them on nought — the least said about that innings, the better. Poor Tony Levick had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 13 byes finding their way past him.

Stan Wratten now sits third in our season's run charts with 178, and John Ames second among the wicket-takers with 18 — both quietly building fine campaigns. As for Sunday, honours were shared: a draw, and in truth, a fair reflection of two sides who simply couldn't finish the job.

Sat 23 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformDLDWL

Ninety-two plays seventy-five. Not our finest afternoon, but writing this now.

We lost the toss on Saturday and were sent into the field, which at least meant the lads could get an early look at the strip before Aylesford Paper Mills settled in. And settle in they did — Cliff Anscombe farmed the strike for a chanceless 65 not out, the sort of unbeaten fifty that leaves a captain quietly cursing his luck at the coin. Small mercies came in the shape of three ducks at our hands, and the day belonged, without question, to R. Robinson, whose 6-32 (four maidens included, not a run given away lightly) was a spell richly deserved and the one bright thread running through the innings. John Taylor chipped in with a workmanlike 3-54 for good support. All out for 92 in 28.5 overs — a total that felt gettable, if not comfortable.

It was not gettable. Our reply limped to 75 all out in 39.5 overs, Frank Brattle and Frank Wright both contributing golden ducks to a batting card that had no business being so thin against a total under a hundred. Seventeen runs short, and no amount of tea-hut philosophy will dress that up as anything but a loss.

One note of cheer amid the gloom: Richard Harris's two runs eased him past H G Smith into 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — proof that even a grim scorecard can carry a little history in its margins.

Verdict: heads up, back to the nets — this one's on the batting, not the bowling.

Sun 17 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLDLDW

Sunday 17 June 1956 saw us set off for the away fixture in high spirits, and having called correctly at the toss, I fancied our chances with the bat on what looked a fair surface. I fancied wrong. We stumbled to 71/9 from our 32 and a bit overs, with only William Buck showing any real appetite for runs, top-scoring with a battling 26. The less said about Michael Morton and John Abnett's twin ducks the better, though I daresay the tea urn heard some choice words from both of them on the walk back.

Seventy-one was never going to trouble anyone, but we set about defending it with the sort of dogged spirit that keeps this club going. Alan Wilkes was magnificent, snaring 4-41 with three tidy maidens thrown in for good measure — figures that, we're reliably informed, edge him past Herbert Rayner and up to sixth on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and keep him out in front of the 1956 wicket charts with 25 for the season. Stan Wratten, meanwhile, continues his quiet season with the bat, sitting third in the run charts on 114. Sadly Alan's heroics weren't quite enough, as the opposition eased home to 75/4 inside 20 overs, Denis Fowle unbeaten on 21.

Six wickets the wrong way, then, and a long drive home to reflect on it. Not our day at all — but milestones were reached amid the rubble, and it's back to the nets we go.

Sat 09 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformWLDLD

Bowaters CC arrived at Linton Park on a Saturday that, in hindsight, went rather better than it had any right to. Winning the toss, I opted to bat first — a decision I shall claim full credit for regardless of how the rest unfolded — and found runs harder to come by than the sunshine suggested they ought to be, the innings folding for 96 in 37.2 overs. Basil Sears played the anchor role nicely for 30, with C. Buller chipping in a handy 26, but beyond that the scorebook made for fairly thin reading.

Ninety-six looked a modest total to defend, and I confess I said as much in the huddle without much conviction. The lads, however, had other ideas. Colin Cole, William Preston and Edward Chick were all sent back without so much as a run against their names — three golden ducks in a single innings is not something you see every week at this level — and from there Bowaters never recovered, bundled out for 49 in 29.4 overs. John Thirkell was the story of the day, a magnificent 8-23 that any bowler would frame for the mantelpiece, while John Taylor bowled with real discipline, 2-22 including seven maidens, tying up an end while wickets tumbled elsewhere. I even managed 8 for myself, which on another day might have been the headline.

A 47-run win, and a thoroughly deserved one. Onwards indeed.

Sun 03 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLWLDL

Sunday 3 June, and Folkestone rolled up to Linton Park with the sun out and their bowling boots on. I lost the toss — again — and we were straight into the field, which at least saves the embarrassment of a first-baller in front of the tea urn.

Folkestone made a watchful 141 all out from their 38 overs, Andrew Miles leading the way with 40, well supported by Jack Bowler's 24 and Frank Brooks-Hill's 22. John Ames was in irrepressible form, tearing through the order with 6 for 49, and John Thirkell (2-23) and Tony Snell (2-61) mopped up what was left. A fine shift in the field all round — 141 felt like a total we could chase down over a leisurely afternoon.

It didn't quite work out that way. Frank Rumbold and John Godden departed without scoring, and it was left to John Thirkell — unbeaten on 40, and in doing so bringing up 4,000 career runs for the club, no less — and Stan Wratten, 31 not out, to anchor us to 107 for 6 from our 37. Frank Brattle and Tony Tipples both walked back for ducks, and I chipped in with 40 of my own, more through stubbornness than style.

So honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody. With Thirkell now topping our 1956 run charts on 175 and Ames sitting second among the wickets on 15, the season's shaping up rather nicely — even if my own top score suggests I ought to stick to captaincy and leave the strokeplay to the specialists.

Sat 02 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · HomeformLLWLD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 02 June 1956, and Old Williamsonians CC were the visitors.

We lost the toss, were sent out to field, and I confess I rather fancied our chances with the new ball. Old Williamsonians made 140 all out in 43.4 overs, Ward top-scoring with 36 and Cox chipping in a handy 27, though there was some comfort in seeing a- Robinson trudge off for a duck. The bowling honours were shared around handsomely: John Taylor was pick of the attack with 3-41, R Vincent snapped up 2-2, and Eddie Lawrence took 2-26, while John Thirkell tightened the screws with three miserly maidens. All told, a fair morning's work in the field.

Sadly, what the ball gave, the bat took away. We subsided to 80 all out in a mere 22.4 overs, a collapse three ducks in the making from J Donovan, Richard Harris and D- Young. Only Basil Sears, with a battling 25, looked to be playing a different game to the rest of us. There was a silver lining amid the wreckage — J Donovan's two wickets saw him leapfrog Herbert Sunley into 23rd on the club's all-time wicket list, and he now sits second in this season's bowling table with 13 scalps, while Sears continues to lead our run-scoring with 142.

Beaten by 60 runs, then, and no dressing it up. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — there's work to be done before we're troubling the top of the table again.

Sun 27 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLLWL

Sunday, 27 May 1956, and we welcomed the visitors to Linton Park with the covers rolled away and, for once, a sky that behaved itself.

Put into the field first, we watched the opposition graft their way to 190 for 8 from 56 overs, with L Murrell the chief architect of our discomfort — a well-made 89 — ably assisted by N Tiley (27) and E Lawrence (22). It could have been considerably worse but for Len Conway, who bowled with real purpose to finish with 3 for 33, while John Taylor and Gordon Fenner chipped in a wicket apiece for 22 and 29 respectively. Fenner in particular bowled as if the very idea of a boundary offended him personally — four maidens is not a spell you argue with.

In reply we posted 154 for 7 from our 42, John Thirkell the mainstay with a fine 45, well supported by Len Conway (25) and John Ames (20) — and, for what it's worth, I managed 45 of my own down the order. Extras chipped in a handy 28, which tells you all you need to know about the state of B Pay's gloves, eight byes the price of an afternoon's honest toil behind the stumps. Spare a thought, too, for poor C Haylor, whose duck earns him this month's entry in the Duck Club ledger.

Up top of the season's run charts John Thirkell now leads with 134, while Alan Wilkes heads the wickets with 21 — men in form, and no mistake.

A draw, then, honours shared, and on this evidence a fair reflection of two sides giving as good as they got.

Sat 26 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformWDLLW

Saturday 26th of May, and Gore Court came to Linton Park with the sun out and, for once, the outfield fast. I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my coin-calling has been shocking all season — and we were put into the field.

They battled to 210/8 from their 47 overs, a total that owed most to Laurence Rostron's unbeaten 77, with John Bishop (41) and Brian Reynolds (39) chipping in nicely and a sixth-wicket stand of 65 doing the real damage. Their last pair then added an unwelcome 45 just as we thought we had them buttoned up — the sort of thing that makes a captain stare wistfully at the tea urn. Bob Brigden was excellent with 4-48, well backed by R Vincent and J Donovan with two apiece, and we did at least have the small pleasure of seeing Ted High depart for nought.

Our reply never got going. Two down with the score on 2 was hardly the platform we wanted, and a horror collapse from 2-1 to 9-4 buried us before most had found their guard. William Buck, John Thirkell and Michael Morton all fell for ducks, and I regret to say I joined them — a captain's innings best left undiscussed. All out for 71 in 29.4 overs, beaten by 139 runs.

One bright note: J Donovan's brace nudged him past Basil Sears to 24th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. A chastening afternoon otherwise — we'll regroup and come back stronger next week.

Mon 21 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWWDLL

We finally had a fine spring evening for it and I could not have asked for a better toss to win, calling correctly and electing to bat without a flicker of doubt — a decision that, by close of play, I was rather pleased with myself for.

Batting first, we crawled and cantered our way to 148 all out from 52 overs, a total that owed everything to William Buck's watchful 39 and handsome support from John Ames (28) and John Thirkell (23). Elsewhere in the ledger, John "'s Taylor" endured the walk of shame for a duck — the sort of innings one tries not to catch the batsman's eye about in the tea interval.

Defending 148 against Marden always felt a stretch, but cricket delights in making fools of captains with spreadsheets. J. Clark's 49 threatened to bat Marden to victory, well backed by J. Hall's 26, but John Ames simply refused to allow it, tearing through their order with a magnificent 6 for 41 — nine of his overs maidens, no less — ably assisted by J. Donovan's 2 for 23 and a redemptive 1 for 47 from John "'s Taylor", who can now hold his head up again. Marden subsided to 127 all out, Tipples and Gurr both ducking out at our hands, though our keeper McCarthy will want a quiet word with himself after 13 byes went astray. I contributed a workmanlike 23 with the bat.

A red-letter day off the field too: Ames's six-for lifts him past Herbert Rayner into fifth on the club's all-time wicket list. We won by 21 runs — a proper afternoon's cricket, and a very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 20 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformDWWDL

We travelled to Dummy Site on Sunday 20 May 1956 with the toss going against us, and no sooner had it landed than we were resigned to an afternoon in the field. They chose to bat, and bat they did — closing on a healthy 174/8 from 58.5 overs, D- Parker cracking a well-made 77 and J- Worley chipping in with 30. Credit where it's due: Alan Wilkes bowled beautifully for 3-57, seven of his overs maidens, proof that not every over need leak runs, while Eddie Lawrence (2-15) and Clive Smith (2-46) tidied up nicely, and D- Wright departed for a duck at our hands.

With 175 to chase, we made a game of it without ever truly threatening — 109 all out from 51 overs told its own story. Clive Smith top-scored with a spirited 36, R- Waters lending sound support with 27, though Bob Arnold and Alan Wilkes both returned golden ducks, a reminder that cricket has a cruel sense of humour. Twelve byes slipped past the gloves too, which the wicketkeeper will not thank me for mentioning.

Small mercies remain — Stan Wratten sits second in our 1956 run charts with 82, and Alan Wilkes tops the wicket-takers with 20, so the season's furniture isn't entirely rearranged. But down by 65 runs, there's no dressing this one up. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets — we'll have better Sundays than this.

Sat 19 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformDDWWD

Saturday 19 May 1956 saw us make the trip to Gore Court CC, and the toss went against us before a ball was bowled — a chase it would be, and out into the field we went with rather more hope than plan.

Gore Court settled in nicely, working their way to 145/8 from 51.2 overs behind a solid top order — Richard Ogle top-scoring with 31, Alec E Allsworth close behind on 30, and Maurice Ingleton chiming in with 26. Credit where due, though: J Donovan bowled beautifully for 4-23, five of his overs going entirely unrewarded for the batsmen, while Michael Morton (3-39) and R Vincent (1-13) tidied up the rest. Not a total we couldn't chase, on paper.

Paper, alas, is not turf. Our reply folded to 74 all out in 49 overs, the middle order collapsing from 16-1 to 27-4 in the sort of spell that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. Bob Brigden's 24 and Basil Sears' 21 were the only real resistance; poor Michael Morton, so industrious with the ball, bagged a duck with the bat for his trouble. Bob Arnold, meanwhile, had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes escaping his gloves like they had a train to catch.

Beaten by 71 runs, then, and no dressing it up. Basil Sears remains our leading run-scorer this season with 109, and J Donovan sits second in the wicket charts with 7 — small consolations. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 13 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWDDWW

Sunday, 13 May 1956, and Dummy Site welcomed the visitors on a day when I lost the toss and duly lost the argument — they saw the pitch and fancied first knock. Fair enough; the ball was ours to start with, and start well we did.

Alan Wilkes was the story of the morning, a magnificent 7-30 that had the middle order in all sorts of bother, while Gordon Fenner chipped away tidily at the other end for 3-57, three maidens included, never giving so much as an inch. Trevor Fermor (45) and R. Oldfield (44 not out) did their best to repair matters, but 140 all out from 39.2 overs was, on that bowling, no more than they deserved. Poor E. Maitland and D. Maitland both departed for ducks, which is never a pleasant walk back to the pavilion.

Our reply had its moments and its mishaps in equal measure. R. Waters batted sensibly for an unbeaten 37, well supported by B. Pay's 32, and I managed a modest 16 of my own. Ray Howard, alas, bagged a golden duck, and B. Pay's day behind the stumps told its own story too — fifteen byes is not a figure one puts in the scorebook with any pride. We closed on 128/6 from our 43, honours even, neither side quite able to force the door.

A draw, then — and on reflection, a fair one. Wilkes bowled like a man possessed, Waters and Pay batted us to safety, and the rest of us mucked in as best we could. Tea was, I'm reliably informed, excellent.

Sat 12 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWDDW

Saturday 12 May 1956 saw us on the road to Bearsted, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't dawdle over the decision — a firm bat first, and thankfully the lads didn't make a liar of me. We laboured a little to 150/8 from our 36 overs, but Basil Sears batted beautifully for a well-earned fifty, 51 in all, with John Thirkell (24) and Bob Arnold, unbeaten on 24, lending sturdy support. Less gloriously, R. Piercy and Richard Harris both took that familiar long walk back for nought — the Duck Club ledger duly updated, and I'm sure the tea-time ribbing was merciless.

Defending 150 always asks questions of the bowlers, and ours answered in style. Bearsted were shot out for 97 in 30.3 overs, Gordon Hawkins' 28 the only real resistance. Tony Snell was quite magnificent — 5-43 with four miserly maidens, a five-for thoroughly deserved — with John Taylor chipping in admirably at 4-50. F. Bayley and Norman Tiley both departed for ducks of their own, which felt only fair after our top order's generosity. I even found 24 runs myself, more by accident than design.

A day for the record books besides: Tony passed a hundred career wickets, and Bob's runs eased him past Gordon Fenner into 17th on the all-time list. Basil leads our 1956 run charts, Tony sits second among the wicket-takers — and we head home with two points and a 53-run win, thoroughly, gratefully earned.

Sun 06 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · HomeformDWWDD

Sunday 6 May 1956, and we welcomed Hunton Wanderers CC to Linton Park under skies that, like my captaincy record, promised more than they delivered. I lost the toss — a coin that has developed a distinct dislike for me — and we were sent into the field. Hunton compiled 153/9 from their 48 overs, X Rogerson the chief architect with a fluent 45, R Murray chipping in with 24. But the day belonged to young J- Coomber, whose 5-45 (four maidens besides) was the kind of spell that has old boys nodding into their teacups, with Alan Wilkes lending willing support at 4-54.

A target of 154 is never quite the formality the scorebook suggests, and so it proved. John Larking led our reply with a composed 41, Ray Howard and L Smith weighing in with 28 and 27 respectively, while poor C- Haylor departed for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and indeed to the rest of us too. Behind the stumps, Tony Levick endured a torrid afternoon, 20 byes escaping his gloves like schoolboys at the final bell.

We stumbled, staggered and finally scrambled home by two wickets, hearts firmly in mouths throughout. Larking's knock sees him third in the season's run charts, and Wilkes now heads the wicket-takers with ten. A scrappy, nerve-jangling, thoroughly satisfying win — the sort club cricket was invented for.

Sat 05 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformDDWWD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 5th May, 1956. Marden CC came to Linton Park, we lost the toss, and were duly invited to spend the afternoon in the field, which as any club cricketer knows is the toss-losing captain's polite way of saying "you first, chum."

Marden set about their 40 overs with quiet purpose, reaching 167/7 on the back of P Sunnucks's well-crafted 54, with D Gladdish (47) and Peter Tipples (24) filling in the gaps rather too comfortably for our liking. Only G Tompkinson's early departure, back to the pavilion without so much as a run to his name, offered us any real cheer. With ball in hand, R Vincent was the pick of the attack, his 3-31 doing the heavy lifting, while Bob Arnold (2-29) and the admirably tight Michael Morton (1-23, three maidens) kept things respectable.

Our reply never quite got out of second gear. Frank Brattle batted beautifully for his 54 — a genuine highlight of the innings — and found a willing ally in R Piercy, unbeaten on 21. Richard Harris, alas, departed for nought, and I can offer no better example myself, contributing what the scorebook charitably calls a golden blob. Leading from the front is all very well until the front collapses. William Blight, meanwhile, endured a torrid time behind the stumps, twelve byes testament to a tricky old surface.

We finished 127/9 from 46 overs, and honours were shared. A draw, then — fair reflection of an afternoon where neither side could quite land the decisive blow, and where your captain, for one, was rather grateful the game ended before his batting could do any further damage.

Sun 29 Apr 1956 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDDWW

Sunday last, we won the toss and, with the sun making a rare and welcome appearance over Linton Park, invited the visitors to bat first — a decision that looked shrewd for about three overs and merely adequate thereafter.

The opposition ground their way to 171 for 9 off their 47, with Tony Snook (49) the chief architect and Ron Aiston (33) and R Howard (22) chipping in dutifully. But the day belonged, unarguably, to Alan Wilkes, who bowled with the quiet menace of a man who knew exactly what he was about, returning 6 for 38 — eight maidens among them — and strangling the innings at both ends. John Ames (2-47) and Gordon Fenner (1-38) tidied up the rest, and honestly, by the close of their innings I felt rather sorry for the scorer's pencil.

Our reply was built on the sturdy foundations of Stan Wratten, whose well-crafted 63 anchored things beautifully, with Tony Levick (23) and John Ames, unbeaten on 21, offering fine support. I contributed a modest 21 myself, more through good fortune than good technique, and we closed on 140 for 3 from 38 overs, unable — or perhaps unwilling, given the teapot beckoning in the pavilion — to chase the game down.

So, honours shared. A draw it was, and on this evidence, a fair one: Wilkes's spell will live long in the memory, Wratten's fifty a touch longer in the run charts, and the rest of us can console ourselves that nobody actually lost.

Sat 28 Apr 1956 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWDDDW

Saturday, 28th April 1956, and the road took us to West Farleigh — a fixture that always promises more sunburn than swing bowling, and delivered rather less of both than advertised.

I lost the toss, they chose to bat, and so it was pads off, boots on for the lads. West Farleigh crept to 109/5 from their 41 overs, propped up almost single-handedly by R Muir, who dug in for an unbeaten 48 and gave nothing away. Credit where it's due to our attack, though — Tony Snell was the pick of them with 2-20, well supported by J Donovan's 2-27 and Bob Brigden's tidy 1-9, while Michael Morton bowled with the meanness of a man who'd left his wallet at home, sending down three maidens for good measure.

Chasing 110, we replied with 112/7 from our 30, Basil Sears leading the way with 35 and Bob Brigden unbeaten on 23 to see us home. R Vincent and J Donovan both contributed the traditional golden duck to proceedings — a fine club tradition, if not one either man will be framing for the mantelpiece. I added a workmanlike 19 myself, more grit than grace.

Two points, thoroughly earned, won by three wickets — and Basil now tops our 1956 run charts, with Donovan leading the wickets despite his brief and blameless stay at the crease. A scrappy, honest win, and precisely the sort club cricket was invented for.