🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 27 Sep 1959 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformDLDLL

Sunday last, with the sun doing its best to bless proceedings, I won the toss and — in a fit of optimism I may come to regret in print — sent us in to bat. The lads responded handsomely enough: 196 for 8 off our 37 overs, built on a fine 69 from Tony Levick, who sailed serenely past his fifty as though the bowling owed him money. Stan Wratten chipped in a tidy 43 and Pat Hardwick a workmanlike 28, and between them the middle order gave the total a respectability it might not otherwise have earned.

A nod, too, to the history books: Richard Harris's unassuming 7 runs quietly nudged him past Don Hartridge and into 13th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — the kind of milestone that will mean rather more to him in twenty years than it did in the moment. Elsewhere the season's ledgers continue to make interesting reading, with Ray Howard sitting 3rd in the 1959 1st XI charts on 562, Tony Levick leading the Married run count, and John Abnett — modestly, but undeniably — topping the Singles table.

Alas, 196 proved not to be enough, and we were beaten by 45 runs in the end. A batting effort with genuine merit, rather let down elsewhere; we'll regroup, dust ourselves off, and no doubt be better for it next week.

Sat 26 Sep 1959 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformDDLLL

Lost the toss on a bright Saturday and found ourselves put in the field — never my favourite way to start a Saturday, but there it is. Dummy Site set about building a total, and while J. Norris's 44 gave them a platform, ably supported by R. Holland's 23 and C. Rye's 20, it was Ray Howard who had the final word, turning it prodigiously for a magnificent 5-61. Terry Whittaker toiled away in support with 2-60 and two tidy maidens for good measure, Stan Wratten chipping in with 1-21, and poor A. Johnson was sent back before he'd troubled the scorers. All out for 186/9 from their 37 — a target that felt very much gettable.

And gettable it proved, though not without the usual heart-in-mouth club cricket theatre. Stan Wratten, having already shown his class with the ball, then rolled his sleeves up with the bat for a superb 87, well backed by Tony Snook's 31 and Pat Hardwick's 20. Robert Wood, less fortunate, departed for a golden duck. We crept home at 190/7 in 40.3 overs — three wickets to spare and the collective blood pressure of the clubhouse considerably raised.

Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 23 byes leaking away rather more than any of us would like, but no matter — the lads got the job done. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts with 669 for the season, and Terry Whittaker now sits third in the wickets with 41. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a win that owed as much to nerve as to skill.

Sun 20 Sep 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDDLL

Beaten by 112, and I'll admit the toss looked a lot cleverer at half past two than it did by teatime. I had no hesitation in batting first, and for a good while it looked the right call — Pat Hardwick played a fine hand for 71, and Robert Murray gave him excellent support with an unbeaten 47, the pair of them dragging us to 157/6 from our 38 overs. Elsewhere the card made less cheerful reading, with Eddie Lawrence and John Thirkell both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

157 felt defendable enough as we took the field, and for twelve overs and three balls it was carnage of the right sort — Baker, Webb and Seager all departed for ducks, and John Ames bowled quite beautifully, finishing with eight for 25, a five-for and thoroughly deserved. Ray Howard chipped in handily with 2-20. The visitors were shot out for a mere 45.

Which rather makes the final margin a puzzle, and I shan't pretend to explain it — least of all my own contribution, a duck of the most forgettable variety, over which we shall draw a discreet veil.

Two footnotes worth raising a glass to: Robert Murray's knock eased him past William Blight into 20th on the club's all-time run charts, and Ray Howard's two wickets nudged him past Don Hartridge into 14th among the wicket-takers — Pat and John, meanwhile, continue to sit handsomely in 2nd on this season's respective charts. A curious afternoon, then: outbowled them by a mile, outbatted ourselves somehow. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 19 Sep 1959 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLLDDL

Not the greatest of Saturdays for the road trip down to Bearsted, and it started as it meant to go on — lost the toss, no say in the matter, straight out into the field. They made themselves at home to the tune of 196/5 off their 43, George Lambell stroking a fine 63 and Tony Snook chipping in with a well-made 56, the pair of them putting on 111 for the third wicket while we stood about admiring the scenery. Credit where due, Pat Hardwick toiled away for 2-51 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, and Tony Snell (2-64) and G Martin (1-24) kept the chances coming.

We replied with 154 all out, and for a while it looked rather promising — 60 on the board before the first wicket fell, Frank Brattle purring to 53, with Bob Arnold (29) and Basil Sears (27) lending a hand. But cricket has a way of humbling a side, and from 142-5 we somehow contrived to be 150-8, G Martin departing for a golden duck. Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps too, nine byes the price of an honest effort.

There was, at least, one moment to raise a cap for: Frank brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, easing past Robert Murray into 21st on the all-time list. Small mercies. Down by 42 in the end — heads up, back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sun 13 Sep 1959 🧢 1st XIv TC Tunbridge Wells CC · HomeformLLLDD

Sunday 13 September 1959, and it fell to me to lose the toss — a duty I appear to be discharging with almost professional consistency this season. Tunbridge Wells elected to bat, and duly made themselves at home: 202 for 4 off their 43 overs, with Roger Phillips compiling a majestic unbeaten hundred and Peter Lloyd chipping in a handsome fifty in support. John Thirkell toiled nobly for 2-17, with Pat Hardwick and John Ames each prising out a wicket for their trouble, though the visitors' scoreboard rattled on regardless.

Our reply never quite got out of second gear. Frank Brattle played a lone hand of real substance, 63 well-crafted runs, ably assisted by Trevor Fermor's 22, but all out for 118 in 40 overs tells its own sorry tale. Three of our number — John Ames, Robert Wood and Roy Clarke — took the walk of shame for ducks, which even by our modest standards is an unwelcome hat-trick of nought.

Not all was gloom, mind. Robert Murray brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a teacup to, and Brattle's innings nudged him past Len Conway into 22nd on the all-time run-scorers' list. John Thirkell continues to lead our 1959 run charts on 655, with John Ames second in the wicket-takers on 44.

Beaten by 84 runs, then — a chastening afternoon. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 12 Sep 1959 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformLLLLD

Saturday 12 September 1959, and Bowaters CC came to Linton Park with the sun out and the wicket looking fair. I lost the toss — no great shock, my season's coin-calling form remains stubbornly poor — and we were put into the field.

We toiled honestly for our 205/7 off 48 overs. S Lusher led the attack beautifully with 3-40, and Maurice Fenner (2-57) and Pat Hardwick (1-23) chipped away either end, but Roy Cole simply would not be shifted, cruising to 64, with Colin Cole (43 not out) and William Preston (35) offering sturdy support. A few too many boundaries for my liking, but nothing shameful.

Chasing 206, we made a fair fist of it, reaching 177/6 from our 37 overs. It fell to me to carry the innings with 70 — I shan't pretend the applause walking off wasn't rather satisfying — with Pat Hardwick (38) and Frank Brattle (23) keeping me company. Poor S Lusher, so heroic with the ball, departed for a duck; cricket has a cruel sense of humour. And 14 byes down to Roy Clarke told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps — the lad will laugh about it over a pint, eventually.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could force the issue. Pat Hardwick's consistency continues to tell, now fourth in the 1st XI's season charts with 460 runs. A fair result, a fine tea, and, dare I say, rather a good watch.

Sun 06 Sep 1959 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformWLLLL

As it stands, June anniversaries aside, September the sixth found Anchorians CC visiting Linton Park in generous late-summer form, and it must be said the toss did us no favours whatsoever — down went the coin, and down went any hope of batting first. Still, cricket is a game of small mercies, and a new ball in Ames's hand is no small mercy. He was quite magnificent, 4-46 of relentless, probing stuff, with MacIldowie miserly alongside him — six maidens, not a run given away lightly — and Howard chipping in gamely for good measure. Ufton and Dixon built the Anchorians' innings sensibly around two well-made fifties, Hart adding useful runs, and 206/9 felt, by tea, like rather a lot to chase.

Chase it we did, after a fashion. Ames, evidently not content with his bowling heroics, top-scored again with 42, Murray anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 31, and Howard weighed in once more with 22 — the lower order clinging on gamely enough to see us to 136/6. Young Buck, meanwhile, endured rather a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, those fifteen byes a cruel statistic that flatters no one and tells its own quiet story.

So a draw it was — honours shared, pride largely intact, and Ames now hauling himself up both the season's bowling and, on this evidence, the batting charts besides. Not a win, but not a defeat either, and on a day when the coin betrayed us early, I'll happily settle for honours even.

Sat 05 Sep 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLWLLL

Saturday 5th September saw us on the road, and having called correctly I had no hesitation in batting first — a pitch too good to leave for later, or so I told myself. We settled to 179 for 5 off our 43, the innings built around a lovely unbeaten 80 from Maurice Fenner, calm and correct throughout, with John Thirkell chipping in a handy 49 alongside him. A total we felt had something in it, though not, as it turned out, quite enough.

In the field we simply ran into a man in irresistible form. L. White made an imperious 104 not out, well supported by Jim Archer's fine 57, and between them they took the sting out of anything we tried. John Thirkell led the attack manfully for 1-33, M. Brunger chipped in with 1-39, and Tony Snell bowled with real discipline for his three maidens, but 180 for 2 off 38.3 overs told its own story — they cantered home by eight wickets. My own contribution, for what it's worth, was 49.

One bright note amid the gloom: Maurice's 80 eased him past John Ames into 7th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a landmark worth raising a glass to even in defeat. Thirkell, meanwhile, continues to lead our 1959 run charts with 647 to his name — a season to be proud of regardless of Saturday's result.

Not our day, then, comprehensively outplayed by a man in the form of his life. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 30 Aug 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLWLL

Skipper's Log, Sunday 30 August 1959 — a home fixture, and won the toss, which in hindsight was the last thing that went entirely to plan.

Put in to bat, we ground our way to 208/8 off 49.1 overs, which felt like a proper score on the day. Ray Howard led the charge with 48, and he had fine company in Maurice Fenner and Pat Hardwick, who both chipped in 45 apiece. I contributed a modest 34 of my own, more graft than grace, but it all added to the pile.

Two hundred and eight looked a mountain, and so it proved. The opposition simply had no answer — bowled out for 90 in 32.3 overs, with only T Ades (23) and Denis Fowle (21) offering any real resistance. Jack Whibley, P Goodwin and L Tyler all trooped back without so much as troubling the scorers, which is always a sorry sight from the other end but a merry one from ours. Ray Howard, not content with his runs, turned his arm over to devastating effect — 4-43 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — well backed by Maurice Fenner's 3-35 and a tidy 1-0 from John Thirkell.

A word for the mantelpiece: Howard's four wickets nudge him past J Donovan into 16th on the club's all-time list, a fine effort in a season where he already sits fourth among our wicket-takers and John Thirkell tops the run charts.

Final verdict: a proper thumping, and no arguments about who deserved it.

Sat 29 Aug 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLLWL

Down by 5 wickets on a warm Saturday at home, and if I'm honest, the coin toss was the last thing that went entirely to plan. We had first use of the ball, and for a glorious spell it looked like a triumph — D Smith, Dave Knowler and J Witt all trooped back without so much as a single to show for it, and our visitors folded for 26 in 18.4 overs. S Lusher was quite magnificent, 6 for 10 with five maidens thrown in for good measure, the sort of figures you frame rather than file away, and Terry Whittaker chipped in handsomely with 4 for 13. Not a run given away lightly, as they say.

Chasing 27 ought to have been a formality, and in the end it was, though we contrived to make rather harder work of it than the arithmetic suggested — 104 for 3 off 19.3 overs, with Bob Arnold cruising to 67 and Roy Clarke unbeaten on 22 to see us home. Eighteen byes in the reckoning told their own story of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Roy, bless him.

Amid it all, a couple of milestones worth raising a teacup to: Frank Brattle's ten runs edged him past Jack Fryer into 24th on the club's all-time run charts, while John Thirkell's two wickets lifted him past Herbert Rayner into 9th on the all-time wicket list — and he continues to lead our 1959 run charts with 564, with Terry Whittaker second in the wickets column on 39.

All told, not our day with the bat when it mattered most, but a spell of bowling to remember. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 23 Aug 1959 🧢 1st XIv S S.Kimmins · HomeformDDLLW

Sunday 23 August 1959, and we welcomed Dummy Site to Linton Park under skies that promised more than they delivered — much like our fielding, if I'm honest. I lost the toss, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a personal vendetta from the coin, and we were put into the field.

They rattled along to 147/7 from their fifteen overs, with Gardiner-Hill playing the anchor role beautifully for 40, Woodhouse chipping in with 27 and Raikes unbeaten on 20. Alan Wilkes was magnificent with the ball, 4-51 that kept us in the hunt, well supported by John Ames (2-31) and Gordon Fenner (1-31). Poor Roy Clarke had one of those afternoons behind the stumps — eight byes is the sort of statistic that follows a man home and sits with him at supper.

Chasing 148, Ray Howard batted with real purpose for 44, John Thirkell offered fine support with 32, and I did my modest bit with 32 of my own. But fifteen overs is a cruel mistress, and we finished on 134/5 — thirteen runs shy, agonisingly so.

Credit where due: Thirkell continues to lead our season's run charts with 560, and Wilkes now sits atop the wicket-takers with 52 — both quietly building rather remarkable summers. As for the rest of us, it's heads up, chins up, and back to the nets. A narrow defeat, honestly earned, and no shame in it.

Sat 22 Aug 1959 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformWDDLL

We travelled to Charles Arkcoll on Saturday last, and the coin, for once, smiled kindly on me. I had no hesitation in putting us in, and it was John Thirkell who set about the job properly, top-scoring with 34, with Robert Murray matching him run for run and Basil Sears chipping in a handy 22. I contributed 34 myself, which I mention only because someone has to. All told we mustered 159 all out in 37.4 overs — a total that felt, at tea, rather more modest than it turned out to be. Roy Clarke, Alan Wilkes and Tony Snell each returned with a golden duck for their trouble, though two of them would have their say later with the ball.

And what a say it was. Alan Wilkes ran through them with 4-12, Terry Whittaker matched him almost wicket for wicket with 4-14, and Tony Snell was miserliness personified — 2-13 with four maidens to his name. Randolph Thompson, John Abnett and Roger Chapman all departed without troubling the scorer, and the innings folded for a mere 61 in 32.2 overs. Poor Bob Arnold had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, leaking 11 byes, but even that couldn't dent the margin.

A word too for Len Conway, whose 20 runs nudged him past Robert Murray to 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list — quiet history in the making. Won by 98 runs, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work all round.

Sun 16 Aug 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWDDL

Sunday the 16th of August found us at home, and for once the coin cooperated — I called correctly and, with visions of a long, lazy afternoon in the field for the opposition, sent us in to bat. Sixty overs later we'd posted 201 for 6, built almost entirely on the broad shoulders of John Thirkell, whose unbeaten 116 was as fine an innings as this reporter has had the pleasure of watching from the other end. William Buck chipped in handsomely with 54, though it must be recorded, in the interests of full disclosure, that Eddie Lawrence and Pat Hardwick both took the long, silent walk back for nought.

Defending the total, we set about our work with real purpose. The visitors were bowled out for 120 in 45.1 overs, John Ames leading the charge with a superb 4 for 35, well supported by Gordon Fenner's miserly 3 for 19 (six maidens — not a run to be had) and Alan Wilkes's 3 for 56. R- Ellis, T- Brooker and - Horton all departed without troubling the scorers, though J- Waters and S- Kitchin, both with 38, gave the innings some backbone. Nine byes, meanwhile, told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for William Buck.

Two footnotes for the club history: John Thirkell brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours in style, and Alan Wilkes's three wickets carried him past Gordon Fenner into second on the all-time list. Thirkell now leads the 1959 run charts with 486, Wilkes the wickets with 43.

For all that, it wasn't our day — beaten by 81 runs. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 15 Aug 1959 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformWLWDD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 15 August 1959. Away at Bowaters, and for once the coin behaved itself; I won the toss and, in a fit of tactical daring, stuck us in.

The lads rewarded the decision handsomely, cantering to 183/6 off our 41 overs. William Buck led the way with a thoroughly well-made 59, Pat Hardwick chipped in a fine 49, and Frank Brattle's brisk 31 rounded things off nicely — and, quietly, carried him past Ernest Cruttenden into 25th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Not bad for a Saturday afternoon.

With the ball, Terry Whittaker was the story of the day — 3-16 off seven miserly maidens, bowling like a man with a grudge against the scoreboard, and in the process easing past Rev Thomas Burra into 22nd on our all-time wicket-takers list. Gordon Fenner chipped in with 2-44 for good measure. But Alf Jewiss had other ideas, cracking a fine 57, well supported by Roy Ecclestone's 47, and ten byes off poor Bob Arnold's gloves told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps. Bowaters squeezed home at 184/6 with two balls to spare.

Four wickets the wrong way, then, but plenty to be cheerful about — Frank and Terry both etching their names further up the honours boards even in defeat. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts this summer with 370, and Terry now sits 3rd among the wicket-takers with 31. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 09 Aug 1959 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformLWLWD

We hosted Harrietsham CC on Sunday, and having won the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody in the pavilion argued with me. Ray Howard led the way with a fine 49, John Thirkell chipped in an unbeaten 34, and William Buck added 29, while I contributed a workmanlike 34 of my own. Robert Wood and John Abnett, alas, will not be troubling the scorers this week, both departing for golden ducks. All out for 191 in 52.4 overs — respectable enough, though not quite enough to have Harrietsham quaking in their boots.

In the field we made them work for every run. Ray Howard, in inspired form, ran through their order with 5 for 71 and nine miserly maidens, ably backed by John Ames (3 for 25) and Gordon Fenner (1 for 30), with D Brown and T Lurcock both sent back without troubling the scorebook. Only Keith Chaney, unbeaten on 70, stood defiantly in our way, guiding them to 158 for 9 from their 58 overs. Poor William Buck had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 30 byes slipping past him like eels.

A word of cheer amid the toil: Gordon Fenner's 15 runs nudged him past Arthur Cornwallis to 16th on the club's all-time run list, while Ray Howard now leads our 1959 run charts with 370 and John Ames sits second among the wicket-takers with 33. Honours shared, then — a draw that flattered neither side, but pleased both.

Sat 08 Aug 1959 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLLWLW

It was Headcorn CC at home on Saturday, and losing the toss meant we were asked to chase — hardly the ideal script for a captain hoping for a quiet afternoon, but there we are. Put in to field, we set about our task with Pat Hardwick in inspired form, plundering 6-60 for a five-for richly deserved, while Terry Whittaker did his tidy best alongside him — 4-41 with four maidens, not a run given away lightly. Between them they had Headcorn all out for 173 in 48.1 overs, L Murrell's fine 52 the standout, well supported by K Goodhall's 34 and L Woodcock's 24. M Porter and C Foster departed without troubling the scorers.

Set 174, we made a fist of the chase without quite landing it, closing on 134/8 from our 42 overs. Frank Brattle led the way with a stout 43, John Thirkell chipped in with 34, and I managed to contribute the same. Bob Arnold's golden duck was one for the archive, and twelve byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Roy Clarke.

Amid the toil, some milestones worth raising a glass to: Terry Whittaker reached fifty career wickets and climbed past Basil Sears on the all-time list, while Robert Murray's four runs eased him past Jack Fryer into 23rd on the run-scorers' roll — and still leads our 1959 charts with 330.

Honours shared, then — a draw earned more in the field than the middle, but an afternoon we can be proud of nonetheless.

Sun 02 Aug 1959 🧢 1st XIv NC Newington CC · HomeformDLLWL

Sunday the second of August found us hosting Newington CC, and the coin, as is so often the case for this captain, betrayed us entirely — they called correctly and had no hesitation in taking first knock. Undeterred, we set to our work in the field with something approaching purpose. Stan Wratten was quite magnificent, scything through the order for 4-27, with John Ames tidy and miserly alongside him (3-19, three maidens to his name — not a run given away lightly) and John Thirkell chipping in with 2-17. Newington limped to 87 all out in 31 overs, K Ivory's 30 the only innings of any substance, and we had them well shackled.

Chasing 88, we made rather harder work of it than the scorecard perhaps warranted. T Phipps and N Couchman departed without troubling the scorers, and poor Pat Hardwick was undone for a duck — the sort of afternoon that reminds a man why he took up gardening as a hobby. But Robert Murray, ever the reliable head, played the innings that mattered with 27, and Stan Wratten — not content with his heroics with the ball — saw us home unbeaten on 20. We scrambled over the line at 91/7 in 33 overs, three wickets to spare.

Murray now sits proudly atop the 1959 run charts with 326, and Ames is second among the wicket-takers with 30 — form the club can be rather pleased with. A nervy chase, a fine bowling display, and three wickets in hand at the death: a good day for the club, and I shall take that with both hands.

Sat 01 Aug 1959 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformLDLLW

Beaten fair and square at Aylesford, but not without a fight or two.

We lost the toss on the first day of August and were sent into the field, which set the tone for a long, honest afternoon's toil. Peter Medhurst played the innings of the day for the home side, an unbeaten 52 that had the look of a man entirely unbothered by our bowling, with R Harvey (46) and Cliff Anscombe (25) lending sturdy support. Tony Snell worked hardest for his figures, 4-86 off a long spell, with Ricky Lusher chipping in a wicket for his efforts, and at least K Kennison departed for nought to remind us we hadn't entirely lost our teeth. Aylesford closed on 174/6 from their 45.4 overs — a total that looked, from the boundary, rather more imposing than we'd have liked.

Our reply never quite got out of second gear. Robert Murray led the way with a gritty 24, Robert Wood chipped in 20, and I managed a modest 19 myself, but wickets fell steadily around us and Roy Clarke, Terry Whittaker and Tony Snell all made ducks as we subsided to 117 all out in 40.2 overs.

There was a silver lining amid the wreckage: Murray's 24 eased him past Ernest Cruttenden into 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he now sits second in this season's 1st XI charts with 299 runs — proof, if any were needed, that class endures even on days the scoreboard doesn't cooperate.

Beaten by 57 runs, then, and fairly so. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word about application, and come again next week rather better for the lesson.

Sun 26 Jul 1959 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformLLDLL

The road to Folkestone is a long one, and I confess I spent most of it fretting about my decision to bowl first — except I didn't, because the coin obliged and I sent us in to bat, which at least meant I could do my fretting from a deckchair. Ray Howard set about proving why he's having the season of his life, ticking his way to 61 with the calm indifference of a man who has done this before, while Robert Murray chipped in an unbeaten 39 and John Ames a tidy 30. Robert Wood and Tony Snell, less fortunate, were both back in the pavilion before troubling the scorebook — these things happen, and we shall say no more about it. All out for 224 off 49.5 overs, a total that felt useful without being conclusive.

It was Alan Wilkes who made the difference with the ball, bowling with a discipline bordering on the miserly — seven maidens and 6 for 66, a spell that will live long in the memory and rightly nudges him up to second on the club's all-time wicket-takers, past Gordon Fenner. John Ames backed him up handsomely with 4 for 68. Folkestone's John Butler played a captain's innings of his own, 74 well made, with Blacklocks and Smith lending support, and they pushed us all the way to 223 before falling agonisingly short.

One run. One. I shall be lying awake counting it for weeks — but a win is a win, and we'll take it gladly.

Sat 25 Jul 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLDL

Saturday last, and Linton Park welcomed the visitors under skies that, for once, gave nothing away either side. Winning the toss, I put them in, and how the decision repaid us: the visitors were bowled out for a modest 121 in 37.5 overs, with only Jim Archer, 37, and D. Hitchin, 21, offering any real resistance. The real story was Robert Wood, who turned his arm over to devastating effect — 5 for 49 of pure witchcraft — while Terry Whittaker chipped in a miserly 3 for 26 off four maidens, and Basil Sears mopped up with 2 for 33. A tidy morning's work, and not a boundary conceded without a grimace from somewhere in the field.

With the bat, we were rather more of an adventure. Basil Sears led the way with 33, well supported by William Buck's unbeaten 33 and Pat Hardwick's 31, but we shan't dwell too long on the sorry sight of both Clarkes departing for ducks — the sort of coincidence that makes a captain reach for the tea urn rather early. We closed on 124 for 5 off 26.5 overs, and I even managed three wickets myself, which pleased me more than it probably should. Basil's efforts, too, nudged him past Ray Tippen into 24th on the club's all-time wicket list — a fine, quiet piece of history.

For all that, we fell by five wickets in the end. A game we should have shut the door on, and didn't — but there's next Saturday, and there's always next Saturday.

Sun 19 Jul 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLLLD

Sunday 19 July 1959, at home, and I did the unthinkable — won the toss and elected to bat. Correct call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook may eventually say about it. Tony Levick led the way with a fine 73, well past his fifty, and along with John Thirkell (48) and Ray Howard (48) we ground our way to a respectable 237/9 from 54.5 overs. Rather buried in the middle order I contributed a tidy 48 myself, though nobody will remember that by teatime.

Worth pausing on, amid the runs: Tony Levick brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, and his 73 shoved him past Frank Taylor into 9th on our all-time run-scorers list. Not a bad afternoon's work for a man who'll insist he was "just seeing it well."

Then came the small matter of defending it, and defend it we very nearly did. G. Clarke gave us a proper fright with 76, supported by J. Baker (36) and D. Goodliffe (26), as they crept to 240/9 from 49.4 overs. R. Dollymore, at least, departed for a golden duck without troubling the scorers — small mercies. Alan Wilkes toiled manfully for 4-85, with Ray Howard (3-80, and now up to 17th on the all-time wicket list past Dennis Smith) and John Ames (2-54) chipping in gamely.

In the end, one wicket. One. The margin by which cricketing hearts are broken and club gazettes are given something to write about. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 18 Jul 1959 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformLDLLL

Saturday 18th July, and Rumwood CC came calling. We lost the toss – no great surprise, the coin has had it in for me all season – and were put into the field, which at least gave the lads something to do before the tea urn came out.

They ground their way to 170 for 9 off 49 overs, Pound top-scoring with 27, well supported by Iliffe (21) and Cheesman (20). But it was Terry Whittaker who caught the eye, 2 for 26 with four maidens thrown in for good measure – not a soul got fat off him. Tony Snell and Robert Wood chipped in with 2 for 37 apiece, and between the three of them Rumwood never quite cut loose.

Chasing 171, we replied with 135 for 5 off our 36, Maurice Fenner the undoubted star of the afternoon with a classy 59 not out, Frank Brattle giving him good company with 21. Poor Bob Arnold, though, will want to forget his duck as quickly as the scorebook allows. Nineteen byes speaks volumes of a trying day behind the stumps for Roy Clarke – sorry, Roy.

There was a silver lining amid the streaky business: Fenner's innings nudged him past John Ames into 7th on the club's all-time run charts, while Wood and Whittaker continue to sit handsomely in 2nd on this season's batting and bowling lists respectively.

In the end, honours shared, a draw with neither side quite able to force the issue – which, given the byes, felt about right.

Thu 16 Jul 1959 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformL

As we've beaten Benenden by 44 runs, deep at the crease with Tony Snell's 6-24, I'll draft the report now.

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Thursday 16 July, and off we trundled to Benenden, where I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'm rather pleased to report vindicated itself handsomely by close of play. We laboured somewhat for our 103/9 off 22 overs, nothing to write home about on paper, but as it turned out, quite enough.

Benenden's reply never got out of first gear. M- Price and J- Gunn both departed without so much as a nibble at the scorebook, which set the tone nicely, and from there Tony Snell simply took over. Figures of 6-24, including four maidens, are the sort of thing club cricketers dream about over their Ovaltine, and it was a five-for thoroughly and richly deserved. Alan Wilkes chipped in smartly with 3-9 and Gordon Fenner mopped up with 1-19, and between the three of them Benenden were bowled out for a paltry 59 in 21.3 overs. Forty-four runs the margin, and two well-earned points in the bag.

Beyond the result, a day for the record books all round. Tony brought up 200 career wickets — a milestone that speaks for itself and needs no purple prose from me. Gordon's two runs eased him past Herbert Rayner into 17th on the club's all-time run list, and Alan's three wickets took him past John Taylor's tally into 3rd on the all-time wicket-takers' chart. Quite the collection of ticked boxes for one Thursday afternoon.

All told: a modest total defended magnificently, milestones tumbling like Benenden's wickets, and the lads home with two points and rather more swagger than the 103 alone would suggest was warranted. A thoroughly good day out.

Sun 12 Jul 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWLDLL

Sunday 12 July 1959, and away we went, hearts high and technique questionable. I called correctly at the toss — a rare enough event to note in the log — and, in a fit of optimism I'd later regret, chose to bat.

It did not go especially well. Ninety-eight all out from thirty-five overs is the sort of total that makes the tea urn seem like the highlight of the innings. Tony Tipples top-scored with a stout 27, and Pat Hardwick chipped in nicely with 26, the pair of them doing rather more than their fair share while the rest of us looked on from the pavilion in varying states of embarrassment. John Ames and William Buck both departed for golden ducks, and — in the interests of full disclosure — your correspondent joined them with a duck of his own. The less said, the better.

With the ball we fought harder than we'd batted. Tony Tipples was the pick of the attack, 2-14 and thoroughly miserly, while John Ames sent down three maidens without so much as a murmur of protest. But M. Bristow had other ideas, cruising to 71 not out and steering them home to 100-2 in 26.2 overs with plenty to spare.

Down by eight wickets, then, and no arguing with it. Robert Murray continues to lead our run charts with 224 for the season — a beacon of competence the rest of us can only aspire to. Heads up, chins in, back to the nets.

Sat 11 Jul 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWLDL

Down by 62 runs to the visitors, but let's not dwell on the arithmetic just yet.

Saturday brought us the ball first, and for a good while it looked a sensible enough decision. S- Gore had other ideas, though, digging in for an unbeaten 44 that stitched the innings together, with B- Patey (34) and G- Bugge (21) chipping in around him. Small mercies: E- Capiling departed without so much as a nudge off the mark. Terry Whittaker toiled away for a fine 4-59, Tony Snell bowled with real discipline — three maidens and 2-47 to show for it — and Ricky Lusher chimed in with 1-17. All told, 170/8 from 46 overs was a total that asked serious questions.

Questions we rather fluffed the answers to. Pat Hardwick stood alone with the bat, carving out an unbeaten 49 while wickets tumbled around him, and when Brian Mills, Terry Whittaker and Tony Snell all trooped back for ducks, the writing was very much on the pavilion wall. All out for 108 in 36.3 overs told its own sorry tale. Poor Roy Clarke, meanwhile, had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping 11 byes for his trouble — no doubt more due to a lively pitch than any want of effort.

Still, the season ticks on: Basil Sears sits 5th in the run charts with 207, and Whittaker's 19 wickets keep him 4th among the bowlers. As for Saturday — simply not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 05 Jul 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDWLD

It was Sunday 5 July 1959, and we welcomed the visitors to Linton Park under grey club-cricket skies, blissfully unaware quite how long an afternoon lay ahead. Put into the field, we watched D Hill-Wood settle in for a fine 84 and X Bowraillon add a brisk 76, with C Hambro's 37 keeping the scoreboard turning long after the tea urn had gone cold. John Ames toiled manfully for his 5-110 — thoroughly deserved, even if the figures rather flattered the batting more than the bowling — while Gordon Fenner chipped in with 4-85, two of them beautifully miserly maidens, and Maurice Fenner picked up one for his troubles. All told, 328 all out from 56.2 overs is not a total one chases down over cucumber sandwiches.

And so it proved. Pat Hardwick led our reply with a gutsy 46, John Ames followed his bowling exertions with 30 more with the bat, and Maurice Fenner added 21, but wickets tumbled around them — poor Michael Fagg departing for a duck that he will, I suspect, hear about at the bar for some weeks yet. I managed 30 runs and found some rhythm with the ball for five wickets of my own, small consolation as we folded for 204 in 44 overs.

There was, at least, something to raise a glass to: John Ames's runs lifted him past Maurice Fenner into 7th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Robert Murray continues to lead our 1959 charts with 218 and Ames himself sits second among the season's wicket-takers with 21. But a 124-run defeat is a 124-run defeat. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 04 Jul 1959 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformLDDWL

Called the toss correctly on Saturday and, with the sun doing its best impression of an English summer, there was never really a decision to make — we batted. Eddie Lawrence anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 48, with Len Conway (45) and Maurice Fenner (41) piling in either side of him to see us to a handsome 206/4 from our 41 overs. I even found time to contribute 41 myself, mostly, I suspect, by accident.

Charles Arkcoll came out determined to make a match of it, and for a while Stan Wratten looked like he might do just that, compiling a fine, occasionally impertinent half-century of 70. But wickets fell steadily around him — P Beasley back for a duck early on set the tone — as Maurice Fenner, not content with his runs, turned his arm over for 3-42, Ricky Lusher and Robert Wood chipped in with two apiece, and Tony Snell strangled the middle overs with four maidens. I managed three wickets myself, which felt only fair after the batting. Poor Roy Clarke had one of those days behind the stumps, 10 byes escaping his gloves like scalded cats, though nobody held it against him. They finished on 140/9.

Amid it all, Basil Sears quietly reached 50 career wickets and climbed the club's all-time list, while Len Conway's 45 nudged him up the run-scorers' table too — the sort of milestones that pass by almost unnoticed until someone checks the book afterwards.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly, about right.

Sun 28 Jun 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLLDDW

Sunday 28th June, and we won the toss and had a bowl first — a decision that looked shrewd for about three overs before G. Davis decided to make a proper afternoon of it. He finished unbeaten on a magnificent 105, well fed by L. Fell (28) and M. Beacon (24), as they racked up 208 for 7 from their 39.3 overs. A. Trembeth, at least, never troubled the scorers, sent packing without so much as a single to his name. Credit where due — Alan Wilkes bowled beautifully for 5-84 with two maidens, and Pat Hardwick and Robert Wood chipped in a wicket apiece, but 208 was always going to take some chasing.

And chase we did, briefly, gloriously, in the shape of Basil Sears, who batted like a man who'd read the script and decided he alone would follow it — 85 of the finest, well supported by Robert Wood's 25. Everyone else, alas, seemed to have left their bats in the car; Michael Fagg, John Abnett and Roy Clarke all made the long walk back for nought, and the ledger will not let them forget it. We folded for 159 in 40.5 overs.

Basil's now third in the club's run charts for the season, and Alan Wilkes sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 30 — small consolations on a day we lost by 49 runs. Not our day, lads. Back to the nets, and let's find some company for Basil next time.

Sat 27 Jun 1959 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLLLDD

It was Aylesford Paper Mills CC who came calling on Saturday, and having lost the toss I was informed, with the customary lack of ceremony, that we'd be chasing. No matter — a spot of fresh air with the ball first suited the lads well enough.

The visitors settled in for the long haul, working their way to 191 for 5 off 46.3 overs, built chiefly around J Bate's fine 59 and R Fowler's well-crafted 55, with B Pointon chipping in 31. Pat Hardwick led the attack beautifully with 1 for 33, while both Terrys did their bit — Whittaker miserly as ever with two maidens en route to 1 for 57, and Donovan not far behind with 1 for 59. A target of 192 to win, then, and no shortage of overs in which to make a mess of it, which is very much our speciality.

To our credit, we kept our nerve. Robert Wood played the innings of the day, striding to 73 with real authority, well supported by Terry Donovan's 35 and H Clarke's 24. It was scratchy in places — 194 for 7 off 36.3 overs tells its own tale of a chase that wobbled more than it flowed — but we got over the line by 3 wickets, and a win is a win, however inelegantly assembled.

John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts with 213 for the season, and Terry Whittaker sits fourth among the wicket-takers with 15. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one the tea urn thoroughly deserved.

Sun 21 Jun 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLLD

Sunday 21 June 1959, and we welcomed the opposition for what turned into a real tug-of-war of a match. Put into the field, we watched G. Murrell settle in for a chanceless 69, with E. Gill (27) and P. Barnes (22) offering stubborn support, and the total crept to a stiff 197 all out from 54 overs. S. Skinner departed for a duck without so much as a glance at the scoreboard, small mercies. The day, though, belonged to Ray Howard, whose 7-80 — three miserly maidens included — was as fine a piece of bowling as we've seen on our ground in some time, ably backed by Gordon Fenner's 2-22 and John Ames chipping in with one.

Our reply had its wobbles. Clive Smith batted with real class for 83, the innings' backbone, but 185/9 from 43 overs left us short of the target, the extras column a painful sight with 20 byes gifted through poor Roy Clarke's gloves on an unforgiving afternoon.

Amid the toil, some tidy footnotes for the club historians: Gordon Fenner's 11 runs eased him past H.G. Smith into 18th on the all-time run list, while his two wickets lifted him past John Taylor into 2nd among the club's leading wicket-takers — Ray Howard, meanwhile, continues to lead the 1959 run charts with 212, and John Ames sits third among the season's bowlers.

A draw, then, honours shared and pride largely intact — not the win we wanted, but with Howard in this form, few sides will fancy batting against us twice.

Sat 20 Jun 1959 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformDLLLL

Saturday 20 June 1959, and we made the journey down to Rumwood in fine spirits, if not quite yet fine form. Winning the toss, I had little hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I still stand by, whatever the scorebook might later suggest. S Lusher played the anchor role beautifully for 44, with Len Conway (36) and S House (24) chipping in handsomely to see us to 141 all out from our forty overs. Robert Wood, alas, will not be troubling the highlights reel this week, departing for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it on the chin with the good grace the club expects.

Defending 141 was always going to ask questions of the bowling attack, and it was Len Conway who supplied most of the answers, a fine 3-31 backed up admirably by Tony Snell's 3-67 and Terry Whittaker's tidy 1-18, four maidens included — mean stuff indeed. Rumwood built steadily through v- Pound's 48 and useful contributions from M- Iliffe and Buckland, while a- Chapman and Greenaway both fell without scoring, but they closed on 140-8, agonisingly short.

A word for Len Conway, who with his 36 runs eased past Ernest Cruttenden into 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a quiet milestone amid a busy afternoon, and a fine one.

In the end, honours were shared, a draw that felt about right — two sides too evenly matched, and too stubborn, to be separated by a single run.

Sun 14 Jun 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLDLLL

Sunday 14th June saw us head out with rather more hope than history would credit, and for a while the ball did all the talking. First use of the willow-getters into the field, and the lads made a decent fist of it — the openers, T Aylett and B Clarke, sent back for ducks before they'd troubled the scorers, and from there it was really Alan Wilkes's afternoon. He turned it square all day and finished with a quite magnificent 6-55, ably backed up by D. Hughes (2-34) and John Ames, who bowled with the meanness of a man guarding his allotment — 2-51 and four maidens to show for it. Even so, Robin Bush (30), Denis Fowle (28) and Don Capeling (24) dragged the opposition to 163 all out in 42.4 overs, which in hindsight was rather more than we could live with.

Then came our reply, and here the less said the kinder. Sixty-seven all out in 22.2 overs is not a total one dwells on with any relish, and with Stan Wratten and John Abnett both departing for golden ducks, the innings had the shape of a collapsing deckchair. Add to that eleven byes gifted through a wicketkeeper having an afternoon best forgotten, and you have the makings of a proper old-fashioned thrashing.

Down by 96 runs, then — no dressing it up. Small consolation that John Thirkell continues to sit handsomely second in the season's run charts and Alan Wilkes tops the bowling with 25 scalps, but Sunday belonged entirely to the opposition. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 13 Jun 1959 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLLDLL

Saturday 13 June saw us make the trip to Headcorn, and if the toss was any indication of the day ahead, it set the tone rather well — we lost it, and were sent out to field under a sky that no doubt looked more promising than our afternoon would prove.

Headcorn built a useful 178/9 from their 47 overs, G. Murrell the chief architect with a fine 57, well supported by C. Smith's 37. Credit where it's due: Terry Whittaker was a menace with the ball, running through the order for 6-56, while Len Conway bowled with the miserly discipline of a man counting every penny — 3-36 and eight maidens, not a run given away lightly. K. Goodall and L. Woodcock both departed for ducks, small mercies in an otherwise chastening total.

Our reply never quite got going. Eddie Lawrence's 35 and Conway's 32 (the man was determined to make a nuisance of himself all day) were the only real resistance, and we folded for 135 in 33.4 overs, Peter Hughes' duck a blot on an otherwise scrappy card. Twenty-nine byes told their own sorry tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Roy Clarke.

There were bright spots amid the wreckage — six wickets for your skipper, and Conway's efforts moved him past Bert Buckoke into 18th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, while he now sits second in this season's charts with 18 scalps, Robert Murray third with 164 runs.

Beaten by 43 in the end. Character-building stuff, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 07 Jun 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLLDL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 07 June 1959. We hosted, the coin fell our way, and I had few doubts about what to do with it: into bat we went.

It proved the right call, if only just. We compiled 186/8 from our 49 overs, a total built on a genuinely fine fifty from John Thirkell (54), well supported by Frank Brattle (32) and Robert Murray (29). I confess I rather enjoyed getting among the runs myself, top-scoring with 54 — though a captain leading from the front is rather easier to arrange when the rest of the order is playing as well as it was.

With the ball, we turned in the kind of afternoon that makes all those cold nets sessions worthwhile. Alan Wilkes was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 5-27 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, and John Ames chipped in handsomely with 4-33, with Len Conway taking 1-27. R Day's 29, backed by R Pavitt's 22 and D Harris's 21, kept them afloat, but G Williams and A How departed without so much as a nibble, and the innings folded for 109 in 34.1 overs.

Milestones abounded amid the gloom — Wilkes passed 300 career wickets, and Conway's solitary scalp nudged him past Bill Hall into 19th on the club's all-time list. Small consolation, though, for a defeat by 77 runs. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 06 Jun 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLDLLD

Down by a duck 06 June 1959. The toss came my way and, in a fit of confidence I may live to regret, I sent us in — a decision the scorebook has already begun to hold against me.

Eighty-two for nine from thirty-four overs and two balls is not, by any measure, a total to frighten anyone, and it told a story of one man holding the fort while the walls crumbled around him. Basil Sears played the innings of the day with a fine 30, showing the sort of application the rest of us might have borrowed for ourselves. Sadly it wasn't a vintage afternoon with the bat elsewhere down the order — both Brian Mills and Roy Clarke walked back without troubling the scorers, and there's precious little to say about a duck except that it tastes better roasted than worn.

With the ball we at least made a match of it. Robert Wood was superb, snaring three for 25, with J Donovan chipping in for one for 26 and Terry Whittaker bowling two tidy maidens to squeeze the runs. K- Lambeth fell to us without scoring, which was some small comfort. But G- Winters played the anchor role beautifully for 32, well supported by E- Priest's 23, and the opposition eased home on 86 for 4 with overs to spare.

Six wickets the wrong way, then, and a long, quiet drive home. Basil's form continues to be the one bright thread through our season — fifth in the run charts with 102 to his name — but for the rest of us it's heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets.

Sun 31 May 1959 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformWLDLL

Sunday saw Folkestone CC roll into Linton Park under grey skies and greyer prospects, and having lost the toss we were duly sent out to field — the sort of decision that tells you everything about what the opposition thought of our pitch. They compiled a stout 172 for 9 off their 45.5 overs, John Spanswick anchoring things with 30, Cecil Blacklocks and David Brickell chipping in 25 and 22 respectively. But the day belonged, unarguably, to Alan Wilkes, whose 5 for 80 — three maidens and all — was the kind of spell that has the tea urn buzzing with talk long after the players have gone home. John Ames (2-33) and Gordon Fenner (1-40) tidied up admirably around him.

Chasing 173, we replied with 162 for 5 from our 38, never quite getting there but never quite losing either. Robert Murray finished unbeaten on a composed 34, with Tony Tipples and Ray Howard both contributing handsome 30s, and I'll modestly note my own 30 kept the scoreboard ticking. Poor William Buck was the exception that proves the rule, departing for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it on the chin.

A nice footnote: John Ames's 30 runs eased him past Maurice Fenner into 7th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a proper landmark on an otherwise damp afternoon. With honours shared, this was a draw that flattered neither side particularly, but pleased both — cricket doing what cricket does best, refusing to be hurried to a conclusion.

Sat 30 May 1959 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · HomeformDWLDL

Saturday last, and we welcomed Old Williamsonians to Linton Park in what the scorebook will remember rather more fondly than my captain's knees do. Lost the toss, put in to bowl first — no great hardship, since a morning with the new ball beats an afternoon watching the tea urn. The visitors ground their way to 217/7 off 45.2 overs, largely on the back of L. Waddams' fifty-and-more (85), with Ward (35) and A. Robinson (26) filling in the gaps. John Thirkell toiled away beautifully for 4-82, four maidens and all, while Richard Harris and Terry Whittaker chipped in a wicket apiece.

Chasing 218 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. Ricky Lusher's 48 was the one innings with any real substance, and I'll happily take my own 22 alongside Thirkell's, but three ducks — H. Clarke, Roy Clarke and Arthur Cradduck all departing for nought — told their own story, and 95 all out in 37.2 overs was a meagre response. The 25 byes conceded rather summed up Roy Clarke's afternoon behind the stumps; these things happen to the best of us, and he'll have a better one soon enough.

My four wickets were some small consolation, and it's pleasing to note Thirkell now sits second in the season's run charts with 142, Whittaker third among the wicket-takers with seven. But 122 runs is 122 runs, and no amount of silver linings disguises a hiding. We were second-best from the toss onwards — we'll regroup, dust ourselves down, and be better for it next week.

Sun 24 May 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDDWLD

Ray Howard's ton did the heavy lifting, and 215/4 always looked a decent score at the toss — a decision I made with rather more conviction than I usually manage before nine o'clock on a Sunday.

215 for 4 off our fifty-seven overs was a proper total, built almost entirely on the broad shoulders of Ray Howard, who cashed in for a magnificent 128 — three figures, no less, and a knock that shuffled him past Bob Arnold and up to 11th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Stan Wratten chipped in nicely with 41, and between them they gave us something to bowl at.

Bowl at it we duly did. Len Conway was quite magnificent with the ball, four wickets for a miserly 14 runs, four maidens to boot, and in the process leapfrogged Ray Howard himself into 20th on the all-time wicket-takers list — the sort of tidy irony this game specialises in. Ray backed up his batting with 3-31, Gordon Fenner picked up one, and M. Zilka's 37, D. Cousins' 33 and P. Hinks' 30 were the only real resistance as the opposition folded for 141, with R. Moore, T. Brooker and E. Ratcliffe all back in the pavilion without so much as a single to their names.

There was a proper occasion buried in the defeat too: William Buck brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth more than any scoreline.

For all that individual brilliance, the maths simply didn't add up on the day — we go down by 74 runs. Not our day, then. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 23 May 1959 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformLDDWL

Saturday last saw us welcome Gore Court CC, and having lost the toss we were duly put in to bowl — which at least spared me the walk out to open in front of a full teapot's worth of spectators. Their openers set about us with real purpose, 81 for the first wicket before Terry Whittaker finally prised them apart and finished with a splendid 3-34, William Blight chipping in with 3-57 and S Lusher with one. John Bishop's 74 was the innings that mattered, well supported by Laurence Rostron's 37 and J Vince's 34, and they closed on 203/7 from their 46 — a total that left us knowing exactly how much work lay ahead.

Our reply began wretchedly, 5-1 on the board before some of us had found our guard, and for a horrible moment it looked like a long afternoon in prospect. But Frank Brattle's 49 anchored things beautifully, Bob Arnold's 34 and Terry Whittaker's 27 lending sturdy support, and a fourth-wicket stand of 54 dragged us back into contention. Poor Basil Sears departed for a duck, bless him, while behind the stumps Roy Clarke endured one of those days — ten byes will not be troubling the highlight reel.

We closed on 193/9 from 42, ten runs short with wickets in hand — honours shared, and probably a fair reflection of an afternoon that swung one way then the other. Small consolation that Bob Arnold's runs nudged him past Ray Howard into 11th on the club's all-time list; lesser consolation still that John Thirkell and Terry Whittaker continue to lead our season's charts while the rest of us make up the numbers. A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and rather typical of us.

Wed 20 May 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWLDDW

Won the toss on a Wednesday evening in May and, ever the optimist, I had no hesitation in sticking us in first. It proved a decision I'd spend the rest of the night quietly regretting, as we limped to 89/9 from our fourteen overs. Robert Murray battled hard for 22, but around him the order rather fell over itself — Michael Fagg, Alan Wilkes and William Buck all contributing that most traditional of club cricket offerings, the golden duck. Three in one innings takes some doing.

Defending 89 was always going to ask a great deal of the lads, and so it proved. J. Mills played the anchor role beautifully for an unbeaten 37, shepherded along by B. Allard's equally patient 31 not out, and between them they saw the target home in 11.4 overs. There were pockets of joy for us — F. Baker back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and Len Conway bowling beautifully for 3-39, well supported by Alan Wilkes's 1-23. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping eight byes for his troubles.

One footnote of real pride amid the gloom: Len Conway's three wickets nudged him past the Reverend Thomas Burra into 20th on the club's all-time list — history made, even in defeat.

Beaten by six wickets in the end, no arguing with that. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 18 May 1959 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformLWLDD

1959 saw a great deal of cricket, though on Monday 18th May at home to Marden CC we were made to work harder than the scorebook alone might suggest. I lost the toss — no great surprise, I'm rarely trusted with a coin — and Marden had few qualms about putting us in.

It was not, by our lofty standards, a vintage batting display. We crawled to 112 for 6 from our 32 overs, rescued from the more ordinary contributions by John Ames's watchful 22, and I confess there were moments in the shed when the tea urn seemed the more reliable performer. Still, on a pitch offering enough for the bowlers, we sensed 112 might do.

So it proved, and handsomely. John Ames, having done his bit with the bat, turned the innings on its head with the ball, running through Marden with a magnificent 5 for 15 — the sort of spell that has grateful teammates queuing to buy the pints. Cliff Anscombe bowled with real discipline, 3 for 22 including four maidens, not a run given away lightly, and Stan Wratten chipped in with 1 for 5, a wicket that quietly nudged him past Jack Fryer into 11th on the club's all-time list. F Day held out gamely for Marden with 28 not out, but it was not nearly enough, and they folded for 70.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved. A total that looked modest at four o'clock looked rather grand by close of play — the very essence of village cricket.

Sat 16 May 1959 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformLLWLD

Lost the toss on a fine Saturday at Gore Court, and duly found myself consigned to the field while our hosts had first knock. They compiled a stern 191 for 9 off their 54 overs, built on an opening stand of 62 before the platform gave way to a brisk second-wicket stand of 64. John Bishop batted with real substance for his 80, well supported by Alan Priston (28) and J Vince (27). But credit to the lads — we hauled things back sharply, tumbling them from 167 for 4 to 180 for 7 in a hurry, with David Rigden and John Stapley both back in the hutch without scoring. Len Conway did the heavy lifting with 4 for 51, Maurice Fenner chipped in with 3 for 36, Robert Wood took one, and Terry Whittaker bowled with admirable meanness, three maidens to his name.

In reply we reached 190 for 9 from 42 overs — honours even, more or less, though it felt a touch tighter watching it unfold. Maurice Fenner played the innings of the day, 93 well-crafted runs, with John Thirkell (30) and Len Conway (25) lending sturdy support after a second-wicket stand of 56. We too had our wobble, 178 for 5 becoming 189 for 8 in short order, Bob Arnold and R Spillane departing for nought. I managed a watchful 30 myself.

Beyond the scorecard, a day thick with milestones: Fenner reached 2,000 career runs and leapt to 7th on our all-time list, while Conway claimed his 50th career wicket and climbed to 23rd. A draw, then — honours shared, and not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Sun 10 May 1959 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLLLWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 10 May 1959. We hosted West Farleigh CC on a fine spring afternoon, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat, a decision that still looks sound in the cold light of the scorebook.

We batted through to a respectable 180/6 from our 46 overs, the innings built around a fine 48 from John Thirkell, with Robert Murray (32) and John Francis (29) both playing their part. I chipped in with 48 of my own from the captain's berth, though I shall let others judge whether that was down to skill or simply refusing to get out of the way of a rare good day.

West Farleigh gave chase with West Farleigh doggedness, reaching 176/7 from their 42, Reg Oldfield's 33 the backbone of the reply, with S Hughes (31 not out) and R Muir (29) keeping the required rate within touching distance. Our bowling held its nerve when it mattered — Cliff Anscombe the pick with 2-13, well supported by Tony Tipples (2-34) and John Ames (2-68), while Gordon Fenner tightened the screws with 2 miserly maidens.

In the end four runs separated the sides and honours were shared — a draw that felt, on reflection, entirely fair to both. John Thirkell continues to lead our 1959 run charts, and Gordon Fenner sits proudly fourth among the wicket-takers. A thoroughly good afternoon's cricket, and nobody went home unhappy — which, in this game, is very often the best result of all.

Sat 09 May 1959 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLLW

Beaten, but not disgraced. Saturday, 09 May 1959.

Called it right at the toss and, with the sun out and no good reason to bowl first, I stuck us in. Ninety-two all out from 37.1 overs told its own story — a modest total held up almost single-handedly by Basil Sears' 39, with John Thirkell chipping in a tidy 22 behind him. Brian Mills, S House and Roy Clarke, alas, all made their way back to the pavilion without troubling the scorer, three ducks in one innings being rather more than the tea urn could bear.

With the ball, though, we made a proper fist of it. They were 94/7 from 23.3 overs by the close, and it was closer than the eventual result suggests — E- Lawrence stood firm for an unbeaten 47, but at the other end wickets kept tumbling, J- Francis among them for a golden duck. Len Conway was magnificent, 3-11 and miserly with it, while John Thirkell backed up his runs with 3-46 and three maidens for good measure, and Robert Wood picked up 1-0. I allowed myself a quiet smile at 3 wickets and 22 runs of my own — not a bad afternoon's work for the skipper, even in a losing cause.

In the end they got home by three wickets, and fair play to them. But with Basil now up to 2nd in the season's run charts and John Thirkell 3rd among the wicket-takers, there's plenty to build on. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sun 03 May 1959 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformLLLLL

Sunday 3rd May took us down the road to Harrietsham CC, and I'll confess I made the bold call to bat first upon winning the toss — a decision I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself handsomely. We compiled 159 all out in 39.1 overs, Ray Howard the backbone with a fine 48, Stan Wratten chipping in 38 and John Ames a tidy 25. Not every man's afternoon went to plan — Tony Tipples and John Thirkell both walked back for ducks — but the total had a healthy look about it as we took the field.

And healthy it proved. Harrietsham simply could not cope, subsiding to 62 all out in 27.1 overs, only Ray Tong showing any real resistance with 29. Alan Wilkes was quite magnificent, tearing through the order with 7 for 25 — six of those overs maidens, not a run given away lightly — while Gordon Fenner (2-18) and Ray Howard (1-7) mopped up around him. L Lambert, Keith Chaney and B Berry all departed without troubling the scorers. As for your correspondent, I too made a duck, and the less said about that the better.

A word of cheer amid my own failure: John Ames's 25 runs saw him leapfrog Frank Taylor into 7th on the club's all-time run charts, a landmark worth raising a glass to. Ray Howard now tops our 1959 run charts and Alan Wilkes the wickets — both thoroughly deserved.

Victory by 97 runs, two points banked, and honestly, what more could a captain ask of his lads.

Sat 02 May 1959 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDLLLL

Saturday 02 May 1959, and Bearsted CC came calling. I lost the toss — no change there — and they trotted off to bat, reaching a tidy 113/3 from 26.4 overs. We had them three down for just 3, mind, and thought we had a sniff, but Gordon Hawkins (57 not out) and George Lambell (45) put on 98 for the third wicket and calmly took the game away from us. Credit to Terry Whittaker, who bowled beautifully for 3-28, and Tony Snell, tight as a drum with two maidens — without them it could have been considerably worse.

Chasing 114, we made a hash of it. Gone for a duck first ball, 0-1, and though we steadied for a while, the innings folded spectacularly from 60-7 to 66 all out — the sort of collapse that has grown men reaching for the shed and a stiff cup of tea. Frank Brattle, Brian Mills and Roy Clarke all made the walk of shame with ducks apiece, swelling the club's least wanted ledger nicely. Out in 23.4 overs, beaten by 47 runs.

Small mercies: Eddie Lawrence still tops our season's run charts with 16, and Terry Whittaker leads the wickets with 3 — early days yet, and plenty of room to grow into both tables.

Not our finest afternoon, all told. Heads up, bats reslung, and back to the nets we go.