🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 28 Sep 1958 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformDDLDL

Sunday 28 September 1958 dawned fair, and with the coin obliging me for once, I did what every captain dreams of and rather too few can pull off with a straight face — I put us in. Bold, some might say; foolhardy, others may yet judge, once they've read on.

Clive Smith was the innings, no argument there — 76 not out, a proper well-made fifty and then some, carrying us with the sort of application the rest of the order might usefully have studied. We closed on 156 for 9 from our 47, which felt, even as the last over ticked away, like a total assembled more by graft than glory. Spare a thought for Tony Levick, whose duck joins the club ledger for posterity — the long, lonely walk back that every one of us has made at some point, usually when least expecting it. On a brighter note, Tom Osborn's five runs were quietly historic, nudging him past Don Hartridge into 11th on the all-time run-scorers list — the sort of landmark that means everything to the man himself and precisely nothing to the scoreboard.

The season's ledgers roll on regardless: Stan Wratten sits 4th in the 1958 1st XI charts on 394, Clive leads the Married averages, and Terry Whittaker tops the Singles — bragging rights, at least, secure for the tea interval.

As for the match itself, Linton Park had the better of us by 94 runs in the end, a margin that rather flatters the closeness of the contest. We'll be better for it next week — we usually are, at least in theory.

Sat 27 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDLLL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 27 September 1958

Won the toss and, in a fit of what I told myself was tactical boldness, stuck us in. Ninety-two all out from 44.3 overs is not a total you build a war memorial around, and with Terry Whittaker and Tony Snell both departing for ducks, there were long stretches where our scoring looked positively theoretical. Still, the lads dug in where they could, and we walked off feeling we'd at least given the bowlers something, however modest, to defend.

And defend it we did. Their reply folded for 67 in 24.1 overs, with only H. Clancy offering any real resistance for 27, and a. Trembeth, K. McDowall and J. Mortlock all sent back without so much as a scoreboard blush. The afternoon belonged entirely to M. Harden, whose 7-18 — five maidens of it — was bowling of the sort you talk about in the clubhouse for years rather than weeks. Ray Howard chipped in nobly with 3-29, and it's worth noting his was a day of quiet history too: those 14 runs and 3 wickets nudged him past Bob Arnold and the Rev Thomas Burra into 14th and 20th on the club's all-time lists respectively.

And yet we lost, by 25 runs — proof, if any were needed, that even a spell for the ages can't fully rescue a batting card as threadbare as ours. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 21 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWDLL

1958 was a long time ago, but a match report doesn't need current tools — I'll write it straight from the facts given.

Winning the toss on a fine Sunday, I took one look at the strip and decided we'd bat — a decision I spent much of the afternoon quietly reconsidering. Seventy-nine all out in thirty-four overs and two balls is not a total to frighten anyone, and the scorebook makes for grim reading in places: Stan Wratten, John Ames and Roy Clarke all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, ducks all round. Only Frank Brattle showed any real defiance, top-scoring with a spirited 31 while the rest of us rather let the side down.

Needing something special in the field, we got it in spades. The visitors were bowled out for a mere 59 in just twenty overs and two balls, F. Baker's 29 the only score of any substance. John Ames, so profligate with the bat, turned magician with the ball — 5 for 26 of pure spin wizardry that undid batsman after batsman. Alan Wilkes was hardly a passenger either, snaring 5 for 33 with two miserly maidens thrown in, and G. Winters, R. Bailey and T. Maskell all departed for ducks of their own.

For all that, twenty runs proved beyond us in the end, and I've no complaints — 79 was never enough, however well the ball was bowled. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts for the season with 655, and John Ames now sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 59. We were beaten, fair and square, but there's a side in there worth persisting with — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 20 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLWWDL

Fine margins in the end. We rolled up at Bearsted full of hope, lost the toss and were sent out to field – which on a Saturday afternoon always feels like the wrong end of the deal, but there we were.

The lads did us proud with the ball. Ian Lambert's 44 gave the hosts their platform, and that third-wicket stand of 50 threatened to run away from us, but credit where it's due: the middle order collapsed in a heap from 82-4 to 87-7, with poor Ray Grainger and F Bayley both back in the pavilion for ducks. Bob Brigden was the pick of the attack with 3-13 – a lovely spell that also nudged him past Ray Howard into 21st on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the sort of thing you only appreciate over a pint afterwards. G Martin and J Donovan chipped in nicely either side of him, and Tony Snell bowled four maidens with the miserly discipline of a man guarding his allotment. 96/8 from 43 overs felt gettable.

It wasn't. Our reply never found its feet, stumbling to 2-1 before we'd barely settled into our deckchairs, and 69 all out from 30.4 overs was a sorry return. Robert Murray's 21 was the lone bright spark, while Tony Snell, so miserly with the ball, gave us a duck with the bat for good measure. Small mercies: Bob Arnold's 4 runs shuffled him up to 14th on the run-scorers list, and John Thirkell continues to purr along at the top of this year's charts with 651.

Beaten by 27 runs. Character-building stuff – we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 14 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv TC Tunbridge Wells CC · AwayformLLWWD

Sunday 14th September saw us motor over to Tunbridge Wells CC with hopes reasonably high and the coin, as ever, entirely indifferent to them. Down went the toss, and down went any say we had in the matter — they elected to bat, and we trudged out to bowl on what looked a decent track. Alan Burton settled in and made merry with a well-crafted 70, Charles Wicker chipped in with 36 and Mike Willard finished unbeaten on 32, the pair having put on 84 for the first wicket before John Ames finally prised them apart. Ames was excellent throughout — 2-54 with four maidens to show for his patience — and Robert Wood weighed in with 1-26 as they closed on a stiff 175/4 from their 47 overs.

Our reply, in a word, collapsed. The first wicket fell for a solitary run, and from there it was a procession — Stan Wratten, John Ames and Cliff Anscombe all contributing that most humiliating of cricketing gifts, the golden duck. All out for 77 in 28.2 overs, we were beaten by 98 runs and never remotely in it.

Small mercies: John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts with 650 for the season, and John Ames, duck notwithstanding, tops the wicket-takers with 54. As for the rest of us — well, the tea was good, the drive home was quiet, and we'll be considerably better for it next week.

Sat 13 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformWLLWW

Saturday last, and the coin let us down once again — Bowaters called it right and had first knock at Linton Park, leaving us to toil away with the ball under a September sun that, for once, actually turned up.

They batted with real intent, running us to 206 for 6 off their 45.2 overs. Harry Jeffery was the chief architect of our afternoon's labour, cruising past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 72, while Roy Melhuish (42) and William Preston (31) chipped in handsomely around him. Full credit to the attack, mind — J Donovan bowled with real purpose for 3-58, and got fine support from Bob Arnold (2-38) and Ricky Lusher (1-47), without whom that total might have got altogether more embarrassing.

Chasing 207 was always going to ask questions of the top order, and to our credit we asked a fair few back. Frank Brattle played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 60 that held the whole thing together, with D. Morton (33) offering sturdy company. But 137 for 5 off our 40 overs told its own story — we simply ran out of overs before we ran out of ideas, or perhaps the other way round.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Not the win we'd have wanted, but with Jeffery in that sort of form and Brattle holding firm at the other end of the day, there's plenty for the club to be cheerful about over a pint in the pavilion.

Sun 07 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDWLLW

Sunday last brought Anchorians CC to Linton Park, and having won the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I felt at the time, and nothing that followed talked me out of it. We laboured to 99 all out in 37.4 overs, which reads rather more modestly on paper than it felt from the middle. Robert Murray was the mainstay with a fine 41, John Ames chipped in handsomely with 24, but the card had its blemishes — Cliff Anscombe and Alan Wilkes both departed without troubling the scorers, ducks the pair of them.

If batting was a scratchy affair, the bowling was quite the opposite. Anchorians were bundled out for a paltry 38 in 27.4 overs, undone by some superb work with the ball — L Martin, Don Wykes and J Toon all back in the pavilion without scoring. John Ames was magnificent, claiming 5-17, while Alan Wilkes bowled with real discipline for 4-9 and seven maidens. Not to be left out, I managed 5 wickets myself, alongside my 24 with the bat — a rare day when the skipper's contribution matched the collective effort.

There was a lovely personal note too: John Ames brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, and his 24 today moved him past Maurice Fenner into 8th on our all-time list. Murray now sits 2nd in this season's run charts, Wilkes top of the wicket pile. A fine win, 61 runs the margin. Onwards.

Sat 06 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · AwayformWDWLL

Off the field on Saturday, we headed out to Dummy Site full of purpose, and having called correctly at the toss there was only ever one decision to make — we batted. And rather handsomely too: 163 for 4 off our 44 overs, built on a splendid 67 from Basil Sears, with William Blight (42) and an unbeaten 30 from Robert Murray keeping the scoreboard honest. Poor John Ames, so often the hero with ball in hand, endured a golden duck with the bat — but more of his redemption shortly.

In the field we were relentless. The opposition were bowled out for a mere 74 in 34.1 overs, undone by three ducks and a procession of dismissals that never let them settle. William Blight, on a roll all day, took a magnificent 4 for 13, with John Ames making amends for his batting blank by claiming 3 for 23, including three miserly maidens. R- Holland chipped in with a wicket too, and only D- Smith, with 20, offered any real resistance. Bob Arnold had a lively time behind the stumps, if 8 byes are anything to go by, and I did my modest bit with 16 of the runs.

The abiding memory of the day, though, belongs to William Blight, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly deserved. A fine win by 89 runs, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sun 31 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWDWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 31 August 1958.

Won the toss, and against my better judgment come close of play, elected to bat. It did not go especially well. Sixty-one all out in 32.1 overs is not a total to frighten anybody, and the walk back to the pavilion became something of a well-trodden path, with John Ames, E. Childs and Roy Clarke all making twos into the book for nought. Cliff Anscombe alone stood firm, his 21 the only innings of any substance, and rather more than the rest of us managed put together. As for the skipper, I shall draw a discreet veil — a golden blob, out first ball, which is not the example one hopes to set when one has just sent the side in.

Happily the ball proved kinder to us than the bat had. The visitors were made to work hard for their 65-8 off 29.1 overs, with Don Capeling and Cyril Dyson both back in the hutch without scoring. Alan Wilkes was quite magnificent, seven for 42 and a five-for thoroughly deserved — no surprise to anyone, given he now leads the 1st XI's wicket charts for the season with 49. John Ames chipped in too, 1 for 20 with five miserly maidens, proof that not everyone in whites that day was as generous with runs as our top order had been.

In the end we fell two wickets short, and honestly, with a total like ours, we were fortunate it was that close. Heads up, back to the nets — there is bowling to be proud of here, and batting very much to be worked on.

Sat 30 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDWDW

Saturday 30 August 1958, at home, and the coin did us the courtesy of falling our way — in went the boots, or rather in went us, on winning the toss.

We can't pretend it was our finest hour with the willow. 116 all out in 45.1 overs is the sort of total that has the tea urn muttering under its breath, though Stan Wratten stood rather magnificently above the rubble with a well-crafted 68. Everyone else, it must be said, made him look better still — John Abnett and Tony Snell both departed for ducks, and the rest of the order offered precious little in support.

With the ball, though, we were an altogether different proposition. Their reply folded for 74 in 37.1 overs, with W. Buck, H. Morris and S. Carter all sent back without so much as a squeak off the bat. William Blight led the charge with a fine 4-24, Tony Snell — clearly deciding batting wasn't his afternoon — turned in 3-16 with a miserly nine maidens, and Cliff Anscombe chipped in with 2-4 for good measure.

Alas, arithmetic is a cruel master, and 116 plays 74 still leaves us 42 runs light. Stan continues his climb up the season's run charts and Tony his among the wicket-takers, so the individual furrows are ploughing nicely even as the team ledger reads red. Not our day, then — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 24 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv S S.Kimmins · HomeformLWDWD

Sunday saw us welcome Dummy Site to Linton Park, and having called correctly for once in my life, I had no hesitation in sticking us in — a decision that looked either shrewd or barmy depending on the hour. We laboured to 130/9 off 43.2 overs, a total that owed most of its respectability to Robert Murray's 48, the rest of us contributing the sort of cameo appearances best described charitably.

Still, 130 proved just enough breathing room once we took the field. Dummy Site never quite got going, subsiding to 82/9 from 22.3 overs, with M- Gardiner-Hill's 21 the only innings of note — and a- Day, I'm sorry to report, marched off for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers. Alan Wilkes was magnificent with 4-43, ably supported by Gordon Fenner's 3-27 (three maidens included — not a run given away lightly) and John Ames's tidy 2-5.

Those two wickets for John Ames were rather more than routine tidying-up, mind you — they carried him past John --'s Taylor to the very top of the club's all-time wicket-takers' list, a landmark worth raising a glass to in the bar afterwards. He continues to lead our 1958 bowling charts with 43 wickets, while John Thirkell keeps ticking away at the top of the run charts with 621.

A win by 48 runs, then — scrappy in parts, but a win is a win, and we'll take it gladly. Onwards.

Sat 23 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformLLWDW

Saturday 23 August 1958 saw Charles Arkcoll come to Linton Park, and having won the toss I didn't so much deliberate as blurt out "we'll bat" before anyone could talk me out of it. It proved a shrewd call, or possibly a lucky one — William Blight and Robert Murray laid a fine platform with 46 and 27 respectively, before Ray Howard batted us to a handsome 180/3 from our 41 overs, finishing unbeaten on a chanceless-looking 61. Declaring the innings closed by circumstance rather than choice, we felt we had runs enough to work with.

So it proved, almost. Our attack squeezed hard: Ray Howard backed up his batting with the ball, 2-26, John Ames aside nobody among the visitors could quite get away, with William Blight and John Thirkell chipping in a wicket apiece, and Tony Snell simply refused to be scored off, six maidens telling their own story. John Ames's 33 and Stan Wratten's 24 were the mainstays of their reply, but 96/5 from 43 overs was never going to catch us, only bore us into a draw. Poor Roy Clarke had one of those afternoons behind the stumps, eight byes going begging, while I contributed a workmanlike 26 with the bat.

There was proper cause for celebration regardless — Ray Howard's runs and wickets both saw him leapfrog club legends into the all-time lists, a fine day's work by any measure. A hard-fought, honours-even affair: not the win we wanted, but a thoroughly good watch.

Sun 17 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformDLLWD

Sunday the 17th of August found us at home to Dummy Site, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't dither for a moment — we were batting. Robert Murray was the man of the innings, a fine 97 built on a well-made fifty, and he carried us to 155 all out from 47.5 overs almost single-handed. Less gloriously, the Duck Club ledger swelled: Stan Wratten, Roy Clarke and Richard Harris all took the long walk back for nought, which is the sort of thing one's teammates never quite let one forget.

With the ball, though, we were a different proposition altogether. John Ames was simply unplayable, spinning his way to 8 for 31 with eight maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly, that. Alan Wilkes chipped in handsomely with 2 for 39, and between them they had the opposition duck-hunting of their own, with F- Holding, P- Jordan and I- Milsted all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Only J- Waters, with 28, offered any real resistance, but 74 all out from 40.5 overs was never going to trouble us.

Worth noting for the record: those 8 wickets carried John Ames past Gordon Fenner into second on the club's all-time list, and he now sits proudly atop this season's wicket charts with 41, while John Thirkell continues to lead the run-scoring with 590.

We ran out winners by 81 runs — a thoroughly good day for the club, and one the tea urn will be talking about for weeks.

Sat 16 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformDDLLW

Saturday 16th August, and the road took us to Bowaters — a fixture that always promises a fair scrap, and so it proved. Losing the toss, we were sent out to bowl first, and it was Terry Whittaker who set about the honours board with real intent, a five-for of 5-42 that was the spell of the day by some distance and thoroughly deserved. Tony Snell was the model of parsimony at the other end, six maidens and 2-29, with Gordon Fenner chipping in a wicket too. Even so, John Woollett gave us a lesson in application with a well-made 70, ably supported by William Preston (31) and John Bush (24), and Bowaters closed on a stiffish 158/8 from their 48 overs. Colin Cole and John Evans, at least, will be quietly grateful the Duck Club ledger only remembers deeds, not names read aloud.

In reply we never quite found the fluency to chase it down, settling for 129/5 from our 36 overs. John Thirkell top-scored with 39 — a knock that keeps him handsomely clear atop the season's run charts on 578 — with Gordon Fenner unbeaten on 39 and Frank Brattle a tidy 23. I contributed my own 39 and enjoyed every minute of it, while poor Bob Arnold made the long walk back for nought, joining the club's less illustrious ranks.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite land the finishing blow. Whittaker's five-for will live long in the memory; the rest of us shall simply have to make do with the tea.

Sun 10 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformLDDLL

It was the Harrietsham fixture at home, and the coin let us down as it so often does — they won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first, leaving us to spend the morning in the field wondering what we'd done to deserve it.

As it turned out, quite a pleasant afternoon's work. Harrietsham were bowled out for 163 in 44.2 overs, T Bridle's 44 the backbone of their innings with Keith Chaney (38) and D Hampshire (27) chipping in. But the day belonged to John Ames, who span his way through them for a remarkable 7-53 — thoroughly unplayable, by all accounts — with Cliff Anscombe and Gordon Fenner tidying up either end (1-25 and 1-27 respectively, Fenner's four maidens a lesson in miserliness).

Chasing 164, we made harder work of it than the bowling perhaps deserved, D Brown and J Moody both departing without troubling the scorers. But John Thirkell batted beautifully for an unbeaten 87, well supported by Ames again (34) and Anscombe (25 not out), steering us home to 167/6 in 35.3 overs and a four-wicket win. Poor Roy Clarke will want this report bound in leather and burned — a golden duck to remember.

Rather a red-letter day off the field too: Thirkell brought up 6,000 career runs for the club, while Ames leapfrogged Tony Levick into 9th on the all-time run-scorers list and Gordon Fenner into 2nd among the wicket-takers. Two well-earned points, and a thoroughly satisfying way to spend a Sunday.

Sat 09 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDLDDL

Off he skips to the middle on the fifth of August 1958, coin spinning, and — no change there — it lands wrong way up for us. Headcorn take first knock, and there it more or less ends for the toss's usefulness to our cause. They settle in for 54 patient overs and post 158/5, with L. Murrell easing to an unbeaten 55, well supported by G. Smith (30) and R. Pears (26). Credit where due: Robert Wood bowled beautifully for 2-17, J. Donovan and Bob Brigden chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Tony Snell fairly strangled the scoring with three maidens. All told, a tidy shift with the ball that deserved rather better than what followed.

What followed, dear reader, was a batting collapse of such comprehensive misery that I hardly know where to begin. Sixty all out in 34 overs. J. Donovan fought the good fight for 23 and carried what dignity the innings possessed, but around him it was carnage — John Thirkell, Robert Wood and Bob Arnold all bagged ducks, and I regret to inform the gazette that your correspondent completed the set with one of his own. The less said, as I noted at the crease, the better.

One small mercy amid the wreckage: Bob Brigden's solitary wicket nudged him past Ray Tippen into 21st on the club's all-time list — some things endure even when the scoreboard doesn't.

Beaten by 98 runs, then, and no arguing with that margin. We bowled like a side with a plan and batted like one that had left it in the pavilion. Back to the nets, lads — we'll be better for it next week.

Mon 04 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDLDD

As a captain reflecting on 4th August 1958, ordering a bright, self-deprecating first-person report I'll write straight to the specification.

Monday last, and I confess the toss felt like the easiest decision I'd make all day — I called correctly and had no hesitation putting the visitors in the field first. It proved a shrewd call, if I say so myself. Maurice Fenner played the innings of the day, 85 crisp runs that set the tone, with Stan Wratten's own fifty of 67 giving the innings real backbone, and William Buck chipping in a tidy 20. Only poor John Ames let the side down with the bat, ducking out for nought before more than making amends later — of which more shortly. We closed on a healthy 211/5.

Defending it, we never quite let the visitors settle. Brookes battled to 32, with Smith and Goodwin offering support on 28 and 26, but wickets fell steadily around them — Osborn and Harman back in the pavilion without scoring a run between them. John Ames, still smarting from his golden duck, produced a magnificent 5-37 to seize the day, while Ray Howard's 5-53, built on three tight maidens, kept the squeeze on throughout. All out for 143.

As for your captain, the least said the better — a first-ball blob rather undermined any claims to leading by example, though five wickets with the ball offered some quiet redemption. Notable milestones abounded: Ray Howard's fifty career wickets, John Ames past three hundred, and Fenner's innings lifting him to eighth on the all-time run charts.

Beaten by 68 runs, then, but with enough craft on display to suggest we'll be no pushovers next week.

Sat 02 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformWLDLD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 02 August 1958. We travelled to Aylesford Paper Mills CC in fine spirits, and I won the toss and elected to bat, which I still maintain was the right call, whatever the wife says about my judgement in other matters.

The lads batted with real application. Basil Sears played the innings of the day, 65 well-constructed runs, with Maurice Fenner (34) and John Thirkell (25) lending sturdy support to bring us to 172 for 7 from our 42 overs — a total with a bit of meat on its bones. Less gloriously, C Haylor and Bob Arnold both made the long walk back for nought, and I shall say no more about that, other than to note the ducks are noted for posterity.

With the ball, we set about them properly. R Walker gave us some trouble with 44, and Alfie Pullen dug in for 30 not out, but Aylesford could only muster 125 for 7 from their 41 — three of their number, Cliff Anscombe, R Fowler and Ken Lewis, departing without troubling the scorer. Maurice Fenner was magnificent, 3 for 26 with five miserly maidens, ably backed by William Blight (2-50) and Terry Whittaker (1-17). I even chipped in with 25 myself, more through stubbornness than style.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but with John Thirkell now leading our 1958 run charts on 452, and performances like this, I'll happily take it.

Sun 27 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformDWLDL

The road took us to Folkestone on Sunday, and my call of the coin was, as ever, wide of the mark — they had first use of a pitch that gave precious little away all day. Gordon Heyer top-scored with an unbeaten 41, but there wasn't much comfort beyond him: Tony Miles fell to us without troubling the scorers, and Alan Wilkes bowled like a man with a grudge, 4 for 27 from an extraordinary 16 maidens. Stan Wratten (2-5) and John Ames (2-30) tidied up the rest, and Folkestone were all out for 126 in the 62nd over — a fine shift in the field on a long afternoon.

Chasing it, we never quite got away from them either. Ray Howard led the reply with a watchful 31, Stan Wratten weighing in with 29 of his own, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end and we closed on 126 for 8 — level pegging almost to the run, though not by design. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, 9 byes slipping past him, which he will no doubt blame on the Folkestone bowlers rather than his own gloves.

With John Thirkell still ploughing on at the top of our run charts and Alan Wilkes' 16 maidens further swelling his league-leading wicket haul, the individual honours season continues nicely even where the team result would not. Honours shared, then — a draw that flattered neither side, but shamed us not at all.

Sat 26 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformDDWLD

1958. Bowles bowled us out for 39, lost by 70 runs. Time to write the report.

Saturday, 26th July 1958. Home to Dummy Site, and I lost the toss for the fourth time this month — a run of luck that's beginning to feel less like coincidence and more like a personal vendetta from the coin itself. We were put in the field, which on a morning like that felt almost merciful, given what was to follow with the bat.

To their credit, the visitors batted with some application, S- Bowles compiling a watchful 30 as they crawled to 109 all out in 45.1 overs — an innings that tested patience on both sides of the boundary rope. Tony Snell was in a mood not to be trifled with, snaring 4-43 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, well supported by Terry Whittaker's 3-40 and Robert Wood's tidy 2-14. L- White and R- Maurice departed without so much as a nibble at the scorers' pencils.

Then came our reply, and here the less said the better, though duty compels me to say it anyway. William Blight, Brian Relf and G Abel all fell for ducks, and the rest of us fared little better as we folded for 39 in 21.4 overs. I managed 15, which on this showing counted as a rearguard action of sorts.

Beaten by 70 runs, then — a proper hiding, no dressing it up. But John Thirkell still leads our run charts with 418 for the season, and Tony Snell's 30 wickets keep him handily placed in second. We'll be better for it next week. We rather have to be.

Sun 20 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv JL J G Larkings · HomeformWDDWL

Sunday 20 July 1958, and Dummy Site welcomed us to home soil with the toss lost and the ominous instruction to field first — never my favourite way to spend an afternoon, but there we are. The visitors ground their way to 177 all out from 49 overs, D. Goodliffe leading the charge with 40 and G. Clarke unbeaten on 36, O. Popplewell chipping in 23. Credit where due: Ray Howard was superb with 4-67, and Maurice Fenner and Alan Wilkes both took three apiece, Wilkes bowling three miserly maidens that had their middle order muttering into their tea.

We came out to chase and made a fair fist of it, 175/9 from our 44 overs — agonisingly short, but a proper effort. Maurice Fenner was magnificent, 78 carrying the innings almost single-handed, with Ray Howard (28) and Robert Murray (26) lending sturdy support. Less gloriously, Tony Levick and John Thirkell both bagged ducks, and I'm afraid I must own up to joining them myself — nought to my name, and the least said about that walk back the better.

Season-wise, Fenner continues to prove his worth, now second in the 1st XI run charts with 311, while Wilkes leads the wicket column with 32 — the engine room of the side, no question.

In the end, honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody — which, on reflection, might be the most English result of all.

Sat 19 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWDDW

A tricky old wicket at Linton Park on Saturday 19th July, and for once the toss went kindly enough to put us in the field first. Our visitors made a fair old hash of things against Tony Snell, who bowled like a man possessed — 8 for 14, seven maidens included, wickets tumbling as though the strip were greased. L Watson and M Clements both walked back without troubling the scorers, and Robert Wood chipped in at the other end with 2 for 2 for good measure. All out for 46 in 28.1 overs; not a run given away lightly, and not much of an afternoon for the visiting batsmen either.

With the bat we set about our task briskly, G Martin batting with real composure for an unbeaten 23 as we reached 49 for 1 in just 14.1 overs. I cannot claim the same distinction myself — out for a duck, and the less said about that particular stroke the better; we shall draw a veil over it, as promised. Roy Clarke had a testing time behind the stumps, ten byes slipping past him on a pitch that clearly had ideas of its own.

Tony Snell's afternoon caps a fine season — 26 wickets now, second in the club's charts, and thoroughly deserved. And yet, for all that good work, we finished on the wrong side of it, beaten by four wickets in the end. Cricket has a way of humbling you just when you think you've got its measure. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 13 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformWWWDD

Sunday brought Dummy Site to our ground, and the coin, as it so often does when it matters, betrayed me — down it went and we were put into the field. No matter; there are worse ways to spend an afternoon than watching the opposition subside, and subside they duly did, all out for 93 in 45.2 overs. M. Wolfe's 26 and P. Ruddy's 24 were the only real resistance, while three of their number — Ford, French and Holmes — trudged back for ducks. The architect of it all was Alan Wilkes, who bowled with the miserly precision of a man checking his own change twice, nine maidens among his overs on the way to a magnificent 6-36. John Taylor (2-12) and Ray Howard (2-22) tidied up the rest between them.

With 94 to chase, we made rather brisker work of it, racing home at 94/3 in just 21.1 overs. Stan Wratten's 53 was the innings of the day, elegantly supported by Ray Howard's unbeaten 27. Poor Roy Clarke, meanwhile, will want a quiet word with himself after conceding twelve byes — a stern test of reflexes he'll not thank me for mentioning.

Two footnotes worth raising a glass to: Stan brought up 4,000 runs for the club, and Ray's runs carried him past Gordon Fenner into 18th on our all-time list. With John Thirkell still leading the 1958 charts on 403 runs and Wilkes now on 29 wickets, the season has real shape to it. A seven-wicket win, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 12 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformLWWWD

Saturday 12th July found us at home to Dummy Site, and the coin — for once — smiled on me. Batting first seemed the sensible plan, and if it wasn't exactly a vintage batting display, it did the job: 134 for 7 off 51.2 overs, built around John Taylor's watchful 33 and Len Conway's tidy 29. I contributed a workmanlike 17 myself, of the sort that pleases no one greatly but annoys no one either.

Defending it looked a stretch on paper, and P- Ruddy made sure of that with a composed unbeaten 59, well backed by E- Capiling's 20. But we scrapped: Tony Snell was the pick of the attack with 2 for 34, Len Conway and J Donovan chipped in with a wicket apiece, and M- Patey went for a golden duck courtesy of a smart bit of fielding rather than the bat. Ten byes, mind, told their own story about Roy Clarke's afternoon behind the stumps — not his finest hour, though we've all had one of those.

In the end they closed on 122 for 5 off 39, and honours were shared. A word for J Donovan, whose solitary wicket nudged him past Dennis Smith into 16th on the club's all-time list — history quietly made while the rest of us were worrying about byes.

A draw, then, and a fair one. Nobody deserved to lose, and frankly nobody quite deserved to win either.

Sun 06 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLWWW

Sunday 6th July, and a fine one it was for cricket, though by the close honours were shared and neither side could quite land the killer blow.

Winning the toss and putting the visitors in felt the right call at the time, and for a while it looked shrewd enough — until X Forbes settled in and compiled a handsome 53, with X Hare (31) and D Rankin (31) chipping in to help the tourists to 203 all out from their fifty overs. Alan Wilkes, bless him, was in one of those moods where the ball seems to have a mind of its own, spinning his way to 5-103, with Maurice Fenner (3-39) and John Thirkell (1-12) mopping up the rest between them.

With 204 to chase, we set about it in workmanlike fashion, Maurice Fenner again the mainstay, cracking a fine 72 to keep us in the hunt. We closed on 167/9 from our 41, agonisingly short, and it must be said the Duck Club did rather brisk business — William Buck, J Carman and J Lea all taking that lonely walk back for nought, and I shall say no more about it in front of the tea urn.

Season honours, at least, remain in good order: John Thirkell sits proudly atop the run charts with 377, and Alan Wilkes leads the wickets with 23 — both men doing their bit to keep the old club's reputation intact.

A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and honours even. We'll take it, and live to fight another Sunday.

Sat 05 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformDDLWW

Charles Arkcoll came to Linton Park on Saturday, we lost the toss, and – for once – I wasn't sorry to be sent into the field, given how the pitch played.

Randolph Thompson had other ideas about our afternoon, compiling a chanceless 72 not out that had the boundary rope earning its keep, with Stan Wratten's 20 offering support. Our top order fared rather less gloriously: John Perkins and Humphrey Morris both departed for ducks, the sort of contribution that gets you a sympathetic pat and nothing more. But this was Tony Snell's day and no mistake – 6 for 39, a thoroughly deserved five-for and then some, with Robert Wood (2-18) tidying up and John "-'s" Taylor miserly as ever through his five maidens en route to 1-45. Charles Arkcoll were held to 131 for 9 off their 51.2 overs, a total that felt, by tea, distinctly gettable.

So it proved, though not without the customary palpitations – 132 for 6 off 37 overs, four wickets to spare, the win sealed with rather more comfort on paper than in the stomach. John Thirkell was the man of the hour with the bat, 64 well-made runs carrying us home and extending his lead atop the season's run charts.

A word, too, for Snell, whose six wickets today lift him past Michael Morton and into 7th on the club's all-time list – rare company, richly earned.

A good day for the club, all told: bowled with real discipline, batted with just enough nerve, and won by four wickets. I'll take that every Saturday going.

Sun 29 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformLDDLW

Sunday 29 June 1958, and Dummy Site rolled into Linton Park on a day that felt, at first, like it might get away from us. I lost the toss — no great surprise there — and we were put into the field, which at least spared me the anguish of choosing.

They batted on and on, closing at 113 all out in the 39th over, built chiefly around a- Trembeth's fine 67 and useful support from R- Holland's 23. Credit where due: it was a proper effort by the visitors, and for a while it looked like heavy lifting lay ahead. But John Ames had other ideas, steaming in for a richly deserved 5-27 — the kind of spell that has him now sitting second in the season's wicket charts with 19 — while Alan Wilkes chipped in with 3-49 and Stan Wratten, miserly as ever with three maidens, took 1-11. G- Davis, K- McDowall and D Furminger all departed without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 114, we made hard work of it, as is our tradition, crawling to 120/7 from 47 overs. Stan Wratten again led the way with 31, Tom Osborn added 25, and Tony Levick saw us home unbeaten on 20. G Martin and Robert Murray both fell for ducks, proving the art of getting out cheaply is not confined to one side of the innings. I found some rhythm myself with the ball, taking five.

A nervy, scratchy, thoroughly typical village win by three wickets — but two points are two points, and we'll take it with both hands.

Sat 28 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformLLDDL

Here's the match report:

There's a particular satisfaction to a Saturday that starts with a lost toss and ends with a comfortable win, and this was one of those days. They elected to bat first, which on paper looked the sensible choice — until it wasn't. Our attack made a proper meal of them, bowling the visitors out for a modest 60 in 36.4 overs, with G- Mills departing without troubling the scorers. The star turn was undoubtedly John --'s Taylor, whose 5-19 (with eight overs going for nothing at all) was the kind of spell that has the rest of the side quietly reassessing their own place in the bowling order. Len Conway chipped in handsomely with 4-31, leaving precious little for anyone else to do.

Chasing 61 was never going to trouble us unduly, and so it proved. William Buck steered us home with an unbeaten 31, batting with the calm assurance of a man who knew the hard work had already been done by others. We reached the target for the loss of just two wickets in 26.1 overs, wrapping things up with time to spare for a leisurely pint.

It continues to be quite the season for two of our number — Buck now sits second in the club's run charts with 186, while Taylor leads the wicket-takers with 21. On this evidence, long may it continue. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one to file under "job done, no fuss."

Sat 21 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLLLDD

Off it went, Aylesford Paper Mills asking us to bowl first, and for once the toss going against us proved no bad thing. We had them in some bother, restricting the visitors to 109 all out from 34.4 overs, though A Whibley's 49 and a watchful 27 from Colin Watson gave the innings a respectable spine. The real story, though, was Terry Whittaker, who bowled like a man with a grudge — 4 for 45, four maidens, not a run given away lightly. John --'s Taylor chipped in with a tidy 2 for 6 (he now leads our 1958 wicket charts with 16, the show-off) and Tony Snell picked up 2 for 36. Even your captain found a bit of rhythm, snaring four.

Restricting them to 109 felt like a job well done. Chasing it should, by rights, have been the easy part.

It was not. Alfie Pullen and R Baker went back without troubling the scorers, Tony Snell made a pair of the day by following his bowling exertions with a duck, and the rest of us shuffled about without ever laying a glove on the target. We subsided to 49 for 9 from our 30 overs, a full 60 runs shy, and there is no dressing that up as anything other than a proper collapse.

Not our day, then — bowled and fielded like county men, batted like it was our first outing of the season. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets: there is work to do before Aylesford get the better of us twice.

Sun 15 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWLLLD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 15 June 1958. We travelled to what turned out to be a proper old-fashioned battle of attrition, the kind that reminds you why this game gets under your skin.

Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'll stand by that even after we were shot out for 153 in 47.1 overs. Stan Wratten was the mainstay with a fine 49, and got good company from Cliff Anscombe (23) and Frank Brattle (22), though the rest of us rather let the side down by comparison. Still, a defendable total, or so we told ourselves over the teacups.

And defend it we very nearly did. Don Capeling led their reply with 35, well supported by Gordon Kemsley (25 not out) and T Aylett (20), while W Studt trudged off for a duck, poor chap. But the day belonged to Alan Wilkes, whose 6-57 was a five-for and then some — thoroughly deserved and the difference between a nervy finish and a comfortable one. John Ames chipped in with 2-37 and seven maidens, tight as you like, while Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, 12 byes going begging. They closed on 133/8 from their 45, and that was that.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite land the knockout blow. Frustrating, perhaps, but with John Thirkell top of the run charts and Wilkes now among the wickets in some style, the season ticks along nicely enough. A fair result, all told, and the sandwiches were excellent.

Sat 14 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLWLLL

We lost the toss on Saturday and were put in to field, which on a June afternoon at Headcorn always feels less like a decision and more like a punishment. Headcorn made 147 all out, G. Murrell playing the innings of the day with a handsome fifty (70), well backed by G. Gore's 21. To our credit we hunted them down doggedly: Terry Whittaker was the chief tormentor with 4-45, Tony Snell bowled with the miserly discipline of a man counting every penny (3-22 from five maidens), and John "-'s" Taylor chipped in with 3-24 — a spell that, we later discovered, carried him past Gordon Fenner to the very top of the club's all-time wicket-taking list. Not a bad afternoon's work for a man who probably just wanted his tea.

Set 147 to win, we replied with 126/9 from our 38 overs, never quite getting there but never quite disgracing ourselves either. William Blight led the way with a fine 44 — enough to see him leapfrog F S W Cornwallis into 20th on the club's run charts — and Basil Sears supported nobly with 38. K. Goodall, R. Excell and J. Kemp had gone cheaply with the bat earlier in the day for Headcorn, and we returned the compliment somewhat, with John "-'s" Taylor and Robert Wood both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I managed a watchful 15 myself, more stubbornness than style.

So, honours shared, and a draw that satisfied nobody but offended nobody either — which, in village cricket, counts as a result.

Sun 08 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLWLL

Sunday 8th June found us hosting on what promised to be a fine afternoon for cricket, and so it proved, if not quite in the manner we'd hoped. Winning the toss and electing to field, we watched our visitors compile 160 all out from 51 overs, built around a well-made fifty from A How (55) and useful support from R Pavitt (21). It wasn't a bad shift with the ball, mind — John Ames led the attack beautifully with 3-45, John "'s" Taylor chipped in with 3-56, Alan Wilkes picked up a tidy 2-12, and Cliff Anscombe bowled with real discipline, sending down four maidens for good measure. Roy Clarke had a trickier time of it behind the stumps, eight byes going astray, but wicketkeeping on this ground has humbled better men than him.

With 161 needed, Maurice Fenner played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 84 of real substance, and found willing company in John Ames (29 not out) and William Buck (26). Between them they had us motoring to 169/3 in just 34 overs — the sort of chase that ought to have settled the afternoon in our favour.

Alas, cricket has a way of reminding a captain that arithmetic isn't everything, and we finished up beaten by an innings and 4 runs. John Thirkell continues to top our 1958 run charts with 283, and John Ames now sits second among the wicket-takers with 12 — small consolations on a day that got away from us. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 07 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLDLWL

Saturday the 7th of June found us away, put into the field first, and for a while it looked ours for the taking. Their innings closed at 179 all out in 40.1 overs, D- Pound's 65 the backbone past his fifty, F- Baker chipping in a useful 42. We had our moments too — E- Priest, P- Parkinson and W- Bingham all shipped out without so much as a single to their name, three ducks in the book being a rare treat for any bowling side. I can't pretend to false modesty: I found some rhythm with the ball that afternoon, 6-46 with a couple of maidens thrown in, a five-for I shan't be forgetting in a hurry, and William Blight backed it up handsomely with 4-59.

With the bat we gave a decent account of ourselves. John--'s Taylor anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 62, Len Conway made a fine 50 of his own — passing C Murdoch into 25th on the club's all-time run-scorers list in the process, no small feat — and William Blight added a brisk 23 as we closed on 183 for 5 from our 45 overs. Eight byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for poor Roy Clarke.

And yet, for all that, it wasn't to be — down by 5 wickets in the end. Robert Murray continues to purr along nicely in 2nd on this season's run charts with 172, which is some consolation. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Sun 01 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformDLDLW

Sunday 1st June saw Folkestone CC roll up the drive, and having won the toss I chose to bat — a decision I spent the rest of the afternoon quietly reconsidering. Seventy-seven all out in twenty-seven overs is not a total that troubles the printers, and the Duck Club secretary had a busy day of it, with Maurice Fenner, Robert Murray and J Lea all completing that most miserable of walks back to the pavilion without so much as a single to their name.

Needing defending, the lads rallied rather magnificently with the ball. Ray Howard was quite unplayable, taking 4-20 and — rather more importantly for the family scrapbook — bringing up 1,000 career runs for the club in the process, a landmark that deserves a very large tea. Alan Wilkes was equally parsimonious, 3-34 with five maidens showing just how little Folkestone enjoyed facing him. Tony Miles departed for nought to keep the Duck Club ledger honest on both sides. Folkestone crept to 79/7 from thirty-five overs, David Brickell's 24 and Gordon Heyer's 21 proving just enough, with my own contribution of 15 doing little to change the arithmetic.

So, by the finest of margins — one solitary wicket — it was not our day. A cussed, close-run thing that owed everything to a wretched batting collapse and almost nothing to the bowling, which was, in truth, rather splendid. Back to the nets we go, heads bloodied but unbowed.

Sat 31 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · HomeformLDLDL

We lost the toss on a fine Saturday and were sent in to field, which is never quite the tonic one hopes for before elevenses. Old Williamsonians made their way to 137 all out in 55.2 overs, J. Brooks top-scoring with a tidy 52 and S. Walsh chipping in 21, but our attack kept a firm grip throughout. John Taylor was the chief tormentor with 3-16, well backed by Tony Snell's miserly 3-26 (six maidens — the man barely let the ball off the leash) and G Martin's 3-32. A thoroughly disciplined shift with the ball, all told.

Chasing 138, we crept and occasionally charged our way to 140/5 from 27 overs. I was fortunate enough to have one of those days where everything comes off the middle, finishing unbeaten on 84, with Robert Murray's 32 a fine second act. Poor Frank Brattle will want to forget his contribution — a golden duck to spoil an otherwise merry card — and Roy Clarke's eight byes suggest the wicketkeeping gloves felt a size too small out there.

Beyond the result, there was real cause for a second pint at the bar: John Taylor brought up 300 career wickets, a landmark achieved with typical understatement, while Tony Snell's efforts today eased him past Herbert Rayner into 8th on the club's all-time list. Thirkell now leads our 1958 run charts with 256, Taylor sits 5th among the wicket-takers.

Home by five wickets, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 25 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLDLD

Skipper's Log, Sunday 25 May 1958. A visiting side arrived at Linton Park with, I dare say, no real notion of what was coming.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than merely stubborn. Cliff Anscombe played the innings of the day, motoring past his fifty to 75, while Stan Wratten chipped in a handy 38 and G Martin saw us home with an unbeaten 26. All told we posted 188/6 from our forty overs — a total that had the tea urn practically vibrating with anticipation.

Then it was our turn to bowl, and what a turn it proved. The visitors' innings resembled less a cricket match than a gentle unravelling, R Rogers and R West both departing for ducks before they'd had time to loosen their pads. John "-'s" Taylor was the chief tormentor, snaffling 4-27 with seven miserly maidens that must have felt, to the batsmen, like being slowly strangled by kindness. Ray Howard (3-10) and Cliff Anscombe, not content with his runs, added 3-25 for good measure. They were bowled out for a paltry 70 in 38.3 overs.

Up in the season's charts, John Thirkell continues to lead the run-scoring with 172, and Ray Howard now sits third among the wicket-takers with eight. As for Sunday: a victory by 118 runs, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round.

Sat 24 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformWWLDL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 24th May 1958. Gore Court came to visit, the sun had the good manners to stay out, and I promptly lost the toss — which, on reflection, was the last thing to go entirely to plan.

Put in the field, we watched John Bishop settle in and compile a handsome 68, with D Cliffe (42 not out) content to play the quieter tune alongside him, and the pair's 66 for the fourth wicket doing most of the damage to our afternoon. Richard Ogle chipped in with 22, and for a while it looked like Gore Court might bat us clean out of the match. But 133 for 4 became 141 for 7 in short order as Basil Sears found his rhythm to finish with 2 for 29, well backed up by William Blight's 2 for 33 and Robert Murray's 1 for 20. They closed on 171 for 7.

Chasing 172, we made rather harder work of it than the target deserved, though Robert Murray's unbeaten 68 and John Thirkell's well-crafted 53 — the pair adding 70 for the third wicket — kept us in touch throughout. I contributed 53 myself, which I shan't pretend wasn't satisfying. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes going astray, but nobody's perfect on a Saturday.

We finished level, 171 for 7 apiece — honours shared, and probably a fair reflection of an afternoon where neither side quite had the stomach to finish the job.

Sun 18 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformWWWLD

Sunday the 18th of May found us away at Dummy Site, the toss lost and duty done — into the field we trooped, asked to have first use of the ball. Their innings crawled to 103 all out from 42 overs, J. Worley the chief nuisance with a watchful 31, well backed by R. Ellis's 26. It might have been worse for them still, mind: F. Holding, T. Brooker and D. Parton all trooped back for ducks, which at least gave the scorebook something cheerful to report. The bowling, though, was the story of the day — I managed 7 for 45, five maidens in there too, the sort of spell one dares not expect twice in a career, while Ray Howard chipped in nobly with 3 for 37 to keep the squeeze on.

Alas, glory with the ball rarely pays the rent, and our reply folded for a modest 67 in 33.2 overs — Stan Wratten and C. Haylor both departing for golden ducks of their own, proof that this game delights in symmetry even when it hurts. Chasing a target that ought to have been well within reach, we simply couldn't find the runs.

Up the season charts there's some comfort: Ray Howard now sits second in the club's run-scoring for 1958 with 101, and I find myself second in the wicket-takers with 9. Small consolation for a defeat by 31 runs — heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 17 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformDWWWL

Saturday last took us down to Gore Court, and losing the toss meant we were asked to have first use of the leather rather than the willow — out in the field before we'd properly finished our tea. Robin Bush gave us a torrid afternoon, farming the strike to a superb unbeaten hundred, with John Bishop ticking past his own fifty in support and Alan Priston chipping in an unbeaten 24; their second-wicket stand of 108 was, frankly, the innings. G Martin toiled well for 1-32, Tony Snell picked up 1-39, and Terry Whittaker bowled beautifully tight, four maidens and barely a run given away for nothing. They closed on 195/2 from 45.3 overs, which left us a fair old mountain.

In reply we limped to 92/9 from our 47 overs — Basil Sears top-scoring with a battling 28, well supported by S House's 21, while G Abel and G Martin both took the long walk back without troubling the scorers, ducks apiece for the club ledger. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 11 byes conceded telling their own tale.

Two footnotes of cheer amid the toil: Bob Arnold's 4 runs eased him past Arthur Cornwallis into 14th on our all-time run-scorers' list, and Robert Murray now sits 4th in this season's charts with 57. Honours shared, then — a draw that flattered nobody, least of all us.

Thu 15 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformWDWWW

Thursday 15th May, and Dummy Site rolled up expecting an easy afternoon. Winning the toss and choosing to bat felt like the right call at the time, and I'll stand by it in print if nowhere else. We limped to 70/7 off our sixteen overs — Bob Arnold the shining exception with a battling 21, while poor Cliff Anscombe's contribution will be remembered fondly as a duck rather than fondly at all. Seventy on that pitch always looked a touch light, but we've chased down worse with a following wind and a following optimism.

Sadly the wind, and the optimism, deserted us. Dummy Site strolled to 72 without loss in a mere twelve overs, W. Johnson unbeaten on 43 and T. Osborn keeping him tidy company on 25 not out. There was precious little for our bowlers to cling to, and by the end we were merely spectators at our own defeat.

One shaft of sunshine amid the wreckage: Bob's 21 runs nudged him past Herbert Rayner and up to 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a small but permanent mark on the honours boards while the rest of us are forgotten by teatime. Elsewhere, John Thirkell continues to lead our 1958 charts with 111 runs for the season.

Ten wickets is a hiding by any measure, and there's no dressing it up. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — Linton Park will fight another day.

Mon 12 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLWDWW

From the captain's chair — Monday 12 May 1958, and West Farleigh CC in town for what turned out to be a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's cricket. I lost the toss, as is traditional, and West Farleigh had no hesitation in taking first knock. Reg Oldfield and Trevor Fermor set about building something respectable, 42 and 40 apiece, and for a while it looked as though we might be in for a long day in the field. But Gordon Fenner had other ideas, tearing through the order with 5-30 to leave the visitors bowled out for 125 from their 35 overs. Cliff Anscombe chipped in handsomely too — 2-28 with three maidens, not a run given away lightly — and John Taylor picked up one for good measure. W Quayle and J Hickford will not be dining out on their contributions, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

With 126 needed, William Buck played the innings of the day, 65 well past his fifty, and found a fine ally in Robert Murray, unbeaten on 36, as we eased home at 133/5 with an over to spare. Ray Howard and John Taylor both made the walk of shame for ducks, proof that even a winning side has its crosses to bear.

A red-letter day all round — Gordon Fenner passing 300 career wickets in the same match he ran riot with the ball, while Buck's knock keeps him third in this season's run charts. Five wickets, two points, thoroughly earned. We'll take that.

Sat 10 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDLWDW

Saturday 10th May 1958 saw Bearsted CC visit for what turned out to be a proper old-fashioned tussle, and I'm delighted to report we came out the right side of it.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first — and for once my judgement wasn't found wanting. We lost that first wicket cheaply at 8-1, the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the flask before the tenth over, but Ray Howard settled things beautifully, cruising to 76 not out, and found a fine ally in William Blight's 42 as the pair added a match-defining 103 for the third wicket. We closed on a healthy 146/3. Spare a thought for poor John Thirkell, undone for a duck — these things happen to the best of us, as I was about to discover myself.

Bearsted's reply promised trouble through Tony Snook (38), Gordon Hawkins (36) and George Lambell (29), but once the middle order went at 125-5 to 127-8 the innings unravelled fast, Mick Gibson, Bryan Elswood and Jack Marshall all departing without scoring. Len Conway was quite magnificent, running through them for 7-29 with two miserly maidens, well backed by William Blight and Tony Snell. Roy Clarke had a wretched afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes going astray, and as for my own contribution — a duck — the less said the better. Nice to note Bob Arnold's 8 runs nudged him past H G Smith on the club's all-time list.

Nineteen runs the margin, two points banked, and a very satisfactory day's work.

Sun 04 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformLDLWD

The road to Harrietsham on a fine May Sunday brought the usual pre-match ritual: lost toss, no say in the matter, out into the field we went. It could have been worse. Gordon Fenner turned his arm over like a man possessed, 5 for 41 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, and between us we kept Harrietsham to 172 for 8 from their 44 overs — Keith Chaney's 32 the chief nuisance, with D Davis and J Wheeler chipping in useful support. John Thirkell and Cliff Anscombe mopped up a wicket apiece, tidy and mean.

Chasing 173, I confess I rather enjoyed myself, finding some form for 110 — the sort of innings one dreams about on the drive home rather than expects on the day. Maurice Fenner batted sensibly for 28 and Cliff Anscombe finished unbeaten on 20 as we cantered home to 176 for 4 in just 26 overs. Poor Frank Brattle will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, but such is the game. Behind the stumps C Haylor had a torrid afternoon of it, 20 byes leaking away, though nobody begrudges a keeper a hard day in early season.

A word for Alan Wilkes, whose solitary wicket quietly nudged him past Frank Taylor into fourth on the club's all-time list — history made almost unnoticed, as these things often are.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a six-wicket win to carry us home in good spirits.

Mon 28 Apr 1958 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLDLW

A splendid Bank Holiday tussle at Linton Park, though I confess my scorebook still hasn't quite forgiven me for those seventeen runs.

Winning what passes for a toss in these parts, we sent the visitors in, and they set about compiling a stiff 194 for 7 off their 43.3 overs — G Hawkins and E Gill both making handsome 49s, with K Chaney chipping in 26 to round out a total that had us thinking twice about our tea arrangements. Alan Wilkes was the pick of the attack with a fine 2 for 23, and honourable mentions to Gordon Fenner (2-49, three tidy maidens among them) and John Ames (2-52), who between them kept things from getting entirely out of hand.

Our reply of 155 for 7 off 36 overs fell agreeably short, propped up gamely by Jeff Anscombe's unbeaten 46, Stan Wratten's 32 and William Buck's 24 — though poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping 14 byes that I shall diplomatically attribute to a lively pitch rather than dodgy gloves. My own 17 runs will not trouble the record books, but Gordon Fenner's afternoon most certainly will: those two wickets carried him past John Taylor to the top of the club's all-time wicket-takers' list, a landmark worth raising a glass to in the pavilion.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride dented but not broken, and Fenner's name now etched in club folklore. We'll take it.