🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 25 Sep 1960 🧢 1st XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformWLDLW

Sunday 25 September 1960 saw us on our travels as visitors, and winning the toss I did the only sensible thing a captain can do on a fine afternoon — elected to bat. It felt like the right call at the time, and I'm sticking to that story regardless of what followed.

What followed, in truth, was a batting performance best described as brief. We were bowled out with barely a murmur, and poor Len Conway contributed nought to the cause, departing for a golden duck that I'm sure he'll be hearing about in the clubhouse for weeks to come. Still, cricket has a way of offering small consolations amid the wreckage, and Pat Hardwick provided one — his 24 runs were enough to see him leapfrog Len Conway into 19th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a modest personal triumph plucked from a collective misfortune.

Elsewhere the season rolls on regardless of our afternoon's troubles: John Thirkell continues to lead the 1st XI run charts with 672 for the summer, while Gordon Fenner tops the 2nd XI's with 11. Proof, if any were needed, that the club's story is bigger than one bad batting display.

We were beaten by 6 wickets in the end, no great surprise given the total we'd set them to chase. A humbling one, all told, but we'll dust ourselves off and be better for it next week.

Sat 24 Sep 1960 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformWWLDL

Sunday's Skipper's Log — Dummy Site, at home, 24 September 1960.

Lost the toss, put in to chase, and there's always a moment on a morning like that where you wonder if the day's already been decided for you. Our bowlers had other ideas. Their innings closed at 133/8 off 44 overs, with Fell (46) and Richardson (45) doing the damage before John Thirkell turned the screw with a superb 4-22. Terry Whittaker was miserly as ever — four maidens and 2-24 — and Frank Brattle chipped in with a wicket for good measure. A total that looked gettable, which in this game is often the most dangerous kind.

So it proved, more or less. We stumbled to 135/7 in 34.5 overs, never quite comfortable, Bob Arnold seeing us home with an unbeaten 27, well backed by John Thirkell (23, and busy with the ball too) and John Waters (22). Your captain managed 23 with the bat and found some rhythm with the ball, taking four wickets for good measure — the sort of afternoon a skipper dreams about and rarely gets. Frank Brattle's duck was the one blot on an otherwise cheerful card.

A quiet word too for Pat Hardwick, whose two runs nudged him past Len Conway into 19th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — history made in the most understated fashion possible. Thirkell continues to lead the 1960 run charts with 658, Whittaker sits second in the wickets with 53.

A fine win by three wickets. Onwards.

Sun 18 Sep 1960 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWWWLD

Sunday 18 September 1960, and having won the toss I did what any captain does when he can't decide anything else in life with such conviction — I stuck us in. Whether that was tactical genius or blind optimism is a debate best left for the clubhouse. Sixteen overs later we'd crawled to 76/8, with Ray Howard doing the heavy lifting for 36 while Cliff Anscombe and Terry Whittaker both departed for ducks, presumably still wondering what happened. Not a total to frighten anyone, and we knew it.

Out we went to defend it anyway, because that's what English cricket asks of you on a Sunday afternoon. And then something rather wonderful happened: J. Mills, E. Priest and J. Bristow all went for nought as Ray Howard, fresh from his batting labours, tore through them with 6-28, ably supported by Alan Wilkes's 3-32. I even chipped in with 17 wickets-worth of enthusiasm, if not menace. They folded for 66 in 15.5 overs, and for a glorious moment it looked like we'd nicked it from nowhere.

Alas, ten runs shy in the end — cruel arithmetic on a day when the bowling deserved better luck. Still, plenty to toast: Ray brought up 2,000 runs for the club and climbed to 12th on the all-time wicket list, while Len Conway's two runs eased him past Pat Hardwick into 19th on the run charts. A defeat, yes, but one with its pockets full of silver linings. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 17 Sep 1960 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLWWWL

As I've stated at every AGM since we started keeping records, the toss is only worth having if you know what to do with it, and on a fine Saturday against Bearsted I fancied our chances putting them in the field first. In truth, our innings never quite settled into its rhythm — 1-1 inside the first over rather set the tone — but John Thirkell batted with real purpose for his 64, well backed by Roy Clarke's 20, and the pair at five wickets down stitched together a vital 55 to give us something to bowl at. The tail, alas, did its level best to give it all back, tumbling from 122 for five to 128 for eight in a mad scramble, with Basil Sears and Peter Hughes both departing for ducks. We closed on 129 for 9 from 43.4 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but not nothing either.

In the field we scrapped hard for it. Ricky Lusher was the pick of the attack with 2 for 20, well supported by Robert Wood's 2 for 30 and Tony Snell's solitary wicket, while Terry Whittaker kept things admirably tight with a couple of maidens. Bearsted, through Ron Parsons' 32 and useful contributions from Colin Fleetwood (23 not out) and George Lambell (20), edged to 103 for 5 from their 33 overs before the clock rather than our bowling called a halt.

There was much to celebrate off the scorecard too — Basil Sears' 200th appearance in Linton colours, Frank Brattle's 100th, and Robert Wood climbing to 20th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. A draw, then: honours shared, pride mostly intact, and tea, as ever, the true winner of the day.

Sun 11 Sep 1960 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformWLWWW

Beaten but not bowed once more, this being the sorry summary of our efforts against Staplehurst CC on a Sunday that started so promisingly with a correct call at the toss. Batting first seemed the obvious course, though 120 all out from our 37 overs suggests the pitch had other ideas. Frank Brattle's 22 and Robert Murray's 22 were the only real substance in the innings, while William Buck, Roy Clarke and Richard Harris each contrived to depart for a golden duck apiece — a hat-trick of nought that did nothing for the tea-interval mood.

In the field we fought harder than the scorecard suggests. Gordon Fenner was magnificent, 3 for 44 with five miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, and John Ames chipped in handsomely with 3 for 60. Between them they accounted for D. Burton, J. Klemen and H. Catt without so much as a run to their names. But L. Murrell had other plans, compiling a chanceless 74 not out to steer Staplehurst home at 121 for 6, a four-wicket win that flattered nobody more than it did him.

Amid the gloom, one shaft of light: Stan Wratten's 19 runs today were enough to nudge him past William Buck into second on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a small consolation on an otherwise humbling afternoon. Pat Hardwick continues to lead our 1960 charts with 599 runs, and John Ames now sits fourth among the season's wicket-takers. As for the result — well, beaten by four wickets, chastened, and already looking forward to putting it right next week.

Sat 10 Sep 1960 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformWWLWW

As it stands, we've beaten Bowaters CC by 6 wickets to close a fine Saturday at home – 10th September, 1960, and worth setting down before memory softens the edges.

Losing the toss is never how you'd script it, and being asked to field on a September afternoon rarely feels like a kindness, but the lads set about it with proper application. Bowaters were shot out for 108 in 33 overs, Frank Hallard's 34 the only real resistance, while Roy Cole, Harry Jeffery and Trevor Clinch departed without troubling the scorer at all. Terry Whittaker was the chief tormentor with 4-49, Len Conway backed him up nicely with 3-46 and four maidens besides – not a run given away lightly – and Robert Wood chipped in with 2-6, economy that suggests the Bowaters middle order rather lost its nerve.

A target of 109 ought to have been a formality, and so it proved, if not quite without incident – 109/4 from 39.4 overs tells you we took our time about it. Pat Hardwick anchored the chase beautifully for an unbeaten 52, well supported by Basil Sears' 20, and we duly got over the line by six wickets.

Two small pieces of club history along the way: Len Conway's 16 runs eased him past Pat Hardwick into 19th on the all-time run list, while Terry Whittaker's four wickets lifted him past Ray Howard into 13th among the club's wicket-takers – and with 51 scalps and 584 runs respectively leading this year's charts, Whittaker and Hardwick continue to do most of the heavy lifting. A good day for the club, and no arguments from this captain.

Sun 04 Sep 1960 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDWWLW

As we lost the toss and were sent into the field, I confess my heart sank slightly — but the lads had other ideas entirely.

Anchorians huffed and puffed their way to 77 all out from 30 overs, and frankly it could have been worse for them only because D Wright dug in for an unbeaten 29, with G Harrow chipping in 22. Everyone else may as well have brought a book to read while they waited their turn, with J MacIldowie and B Mitchell both departing without so much as a squeak on the scoreboard. The architect of the collapse was Ray Howard, who bowled as if he had a personal grievance with the Anchorians order, returning the quite ridiculous figures of 7 for 28. Gordon Fenner did his bit too, tidy as you like with 3 for 27 and eight maidens — the sort of miserly spell that makes batsmen question their life choices.

Set a modest target, Len Conway and Stan Wratten simply strolled to it, knocking off 79 without loss in 24 overs. Conway was in imperious touch, unbeaten on 52, with Wratten a fine foil on 26 not out — the pair never remotely troubled.

Two footnotes for the record books: Conway's fifty eased him past Pat Hardwick into 19th on the club's all-time run charts, while Howard's seven-for lifted him past Terry Whittaker into 13th among the wicket-takers. A ten-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 28 Aug 1960 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformWDWWL

Here's the match report:

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There's a particular flavour of embarrassment reserved for a skipper who loses the toss, watches his side asked to bowl, and then discovers that chasing 79 was somehow the harder half of the day's work. Sunday's visit from Sevenoaks Vine CC began well enough for us with the ball — we bowled first and had them in all sorts of trouble, dismissed for a modest 78 in 29 overs. John Ames was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 5-16 and leaving the Vine batsmen groping about like men searching for their glasses in the dark. Gordon Fenner chipped in with 2-18 and Alan Wilkes with 1-22, while Terry Whittaker's two maidens were the very picture of miserliness. Only Rodney Crang, with 38, offered any real resistance.

Set 79 to win, we made distinctly heavy weather of it. R Bates, George Downton and P Lawrence all departed without so much as a nibble at the scorebook — three ducks in a chase that should have been a formality. It fell to Robert Murray (27) and John Thirkell (25 not out) to steady a wobbling ship, with your correspondent contributing a watchful 25 of his own, and we scrambled home five wickets down.

A word of cheer amid the stumbling: Gordon Fenner's 16 runs saw him leapfrog Richard Harris into 15th on the club's all-time run charts — a small immortality earned on an afternoon of otherwise scratchy batting.

Five wickets is five wickets, however inelegantly won. We'll take it, dust ourselves down, and press on.

Sat 27 Aug 1960 🧢 1st XIv SL St Lukes · HomeformWWDWW

Saturday 27 August 1960, and we welcomed Dummy Site to Linton Park under skies that, in hindsight, held rather more mischief than they let on. I won the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might suggest to the contrary.

The truth of it is we never quite got going. Seventy-seven all out in 32.5 overs is not a total to trouble anyone, and it owed what little respectability it had to William Buck's gutsy 32. Beyond that, the middle order rather fell over itself — Robert Murray, Robert Wood and Derek Pantony all contributing that most humbling of club cricket traditions, the golden duck. Three in one innings takes some doing, and not in a good way.

With the ball, we at least gave a account of ourselves. Tony Snell was the pick, snaring 2-27, with Pat Hardwick chipping in for 1-8, and Robert Wood — perhaps working off his batting frustrations — sent down five overs without conceding a run. But Dummy Site's R- Aiston played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 44 shepherding them home, well supported by R- Clarke's 20, as they cruised to 80/3 in 34.3 overs.

Beaten by seven wickets, then, and no dressing it up as anything else. Pat Hardwick continues to lead our run charts for the season and Tony Snell sits handily in the wicket-takers, so the cupboard isn't entirely bare — but this was a day the bat let us down badly. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 21 Aug 1960 🧢 1st XIv S S.Kimmins · HomeformLWWDW

Right, no toll gate, straight to the report.

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Sunday 21 August, and Dummy Site rolled into Linton Park with the sun out and, for once, the toss going my way. I had no hesitation in choosing to bat — a decision I stand by, though 111 all out from 41.1 overs was hardly a declaration of intent. John Ames led the way with a fine 31, John Thirkell chipping in with 25 of his own, and yours truly adding a tidy 25 to the cause. Ray Howard and Robert Murray, meanwhwile, both contributed the traditional golden duck, which I'm told builds character.

If the batting was modest, the bowling was another matter entirely. Dummy Site folded for 81 in 24 overs, undone chiefly by Ray Howard, who span through them like a man possessed for a magnificent 8-44. John Ames (1-5) and the ever-miserly Robert Wood (1-19, with four maidens to his name) offered fine support, while Boxhall, Vass and Nathan were all sent back without troubling the scorers — a golden duck of our own making. Poor Roy Clarke had his work cut out behind the stumps, conceding 11 byes for his trouble, though nobody's perfect on a Sunday.

Special mention, too, for Pat Hardwick, whose 12 runs eased him past Herbert Rayner into 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list — and who continues to lead our 1960 charts with 521 runs, with Robert Wood third among the wicket-takers on 36.

We got over the line by 30 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 20 Aug 1960 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformDLWWD

Saturday last saw Aylesford Paper Mills roll up the drive, and for once the coin agreed with me, so I had few qualms about batting first on what looked a decent track.

We settled to 190 for 5 off our 43, John Thirkell playing the innings of the day with a fine 55, Eddie Lawrence chipping in a handsome 45 and Robert Murray adding a further 34 to the cause. Poor Pat Hardwick, meanwhile, was reminded that cricket is a game of glorious failures as much as glorious fifties, departing for a duck that even the ducks on the boundary pond seemed to eye with sympathy.

With the ball, it was a rather more chastening afternoon for the visitors. J Simmonite gave us something to think about with a well-made 50, well supported by Cliff Anscombe's 41, but three of their number — R Walker, Ken Lewis and M Seath — went back to the pavilion without so much as troubling the scorer. Robert Wood was the chief tormentor with 4 for 63, Tony Snell chipped away for 3 for 54, and Ricky Lusher bowled with real discipline — 2 for 9 and four maidens to show for it. Poor Bob Arnold had a torrid time behind the stumps, 13 byes going begging, but nobody's perfect.

Aylesford were bowled out for 151 off 46.1, leaving us winners by 39 runs and two well-earned points. Worth noting, too, that Robert Wood's four wickets nudged him past Bert Buckoke into 21st on the club's all-time list — a nice bit of history to go with a thoroughly satisfying Saturday.

Sat 13 Aug 1960 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformWDLWW

Lost the toss on a Saturday that promised much and delivered a fair old scrap, and duly found ourselves standing in the field at Bowaters CC while the home side had first knock. No great hardship, as it turned out — we bowled tidily and had them back in the pavilion for 122, Alf Jewiss top-scoring with a watchful 35 and Bob Bourne chipping in 23. Robert Wood was the chief tormentor, spinning his way to 5 for 58 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, well supported by Terry Whittaker's 4 for 45 and a single scalp for Pat Hardwick.

Chasing 123 for victory, we made rather harder work of it than the bowling figures suggested we should, stumbling to 76 for 8 from our 43 overs. William Buck carried his bat manfully for an unbeaten 23, propping up an innings that otherwise resembled a house of cards in a stiff breeze — Pat Hardwick, William Agate and Bob Arnold all making the long walk back for nought, the Duck Club ledger swelling accordingly.

Small consolations amid the wreckage: William Buck's 23 nudged him past Stan Wratten into second on the club's all-time run charts, and Robert Wood's five-for lifted him past the Reverend Thomas Burra into 23rd among our wicket-takers — the old boy no doubt watching from above with a wry smile.

A draw, then, honours shared, and on reflection a fair result — we bowled like champions and batted like men who'd left their nerve on the coach.

Sat 06 Aug 1960 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLWDLW

The Duck Club at Linton Park, Saturday 6th August 1960

Lost the toss, asked to bowl first — and for once that felt rather like good news, given what followed. Headcorn were shepherded to 112 all out from 49.4 overs, with only F. Foreman (20) offering any real resistance. Terry Whittaker was in irresistible form, running through them with 5-31, while Len Conway bowled with the patience of a saint — 6 maidens on the way to 3-24 — and Robert Wood chipped in with 1-18. A tidy morning's work all round.

Chasing 113, we made harder weather of it than the target deserved but got there for the loss of just three wickets, 113/3 in 32.3 overs. Frank Brattle led from the front with an unbeaten 45, and H. Clarke was the perfect foil with 42 not out — between them they did most of the heavy lifting, while your captain rattled along to 16. Poor Bob Arnold had a torrid time behind the stumps, letting through 8 byes, and Len Conway, so masterful with the ball, suffered the ignominy of a golden duck with the bat — the walk of shame indeed.

Small mercies: Len's three wickets nudge him past Don Hartridge into 16th on the club's all-time list, while Pat Hardwick (509 runs) and Terry Whittaker (42 wickets) continue to lead the season's charts. Two points, seven-wicket win, and a thoroughly satisfactory Saturday — even if Bob's gloves and Len's bat might tell a different story.

Mon 01 Aug 1960 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDLWDL

Called it right at the toss on Monday and, with barely a glance at the sky, opted to bat first at Bearsted. It proved the correct call, if a touch more laboured than planned — 199 all out from 58.2 overs, built on a fine platform from Tony Tipples, whose well-made 65 anchored things nicely, and Stan Wratten, who cruised past his own fifty to 62. The pair put on 86 for the fifth wicket, which was rather the making of the innings, with Frank Brattle chipping in a useful 23 down the order.

In the field we were made to work for it, Bearsted battling to 152 all out from 45 overs. Ian Lambert's 37 was the innings that threatened us most, with A Mitchell and Ted White lending support, but the top order never recovered from losing their opener at 8 for 1 — and spare a thought for Bryan Elswood and Nick Wheeler-Robinson, both back in the pavilion without so much as a look at the scoreboard. Alan Wilkes was the story of the day, five wickets for 59 and nine miserly maidens to go with them, backed up nobly by Robert Wood and myself.

Plenty to raise a glass to besides: Robert Wood reached fifty career wickets, and Stan Wratten's innings edged him past William Buck into second on the club's all-time run list. A satisfying 47-run win, and the season ticks along nicely. Onwards.

Sun 31 Jul 1960 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformWDLWD

Sunday 31st July, and Harrietsham arrived at Linton Park in fine fettle, which was more than could be said for my luck at the coin toss. I called wrong, they chose to bat, and I settled for what I told myself was the more dignified role of watching from the field.

Watching, as it turned out, was the extent of our control over proceedings. Ray Tong made himself thoroughly at home for a magnificent century, 101 no less, with P Powis (37) and D La Plain (32 not out) offering cheerful support. John Ames toiled manfully for his 4-90, and Gordon Fenner chipped in with one for 57, but 248/5 declared-in-all-but-name from 54.3 overs was a mountain rather than a molehill by the time we came to bat.

And bat we did, briefly. Forty-two all out in 25.4 overs is not a total one dwells on with pride. Pat Hardwick, Cliff Anscombe and Richard Harris all made the long walk back for nought — three ducks in one innings is the sort of thing the club ledger remembers long after the rest of us have forgotten. Poor Cliff had a torrid time of it behind the stumps too, 17 byes leaking away like the afternoon itself. I managed 15, which felt almost heroic by comparison.

Beaten by 206 runs, no dressing it up. Still, John Thirkell sits handsomely 2nd in the season's run charts and Gordon Fenner 4th among the wicket-takers, so all is not lost. We'll be better for it next week — we rather have to be.

Sat 30 Jul 1960 🧢 1st XIv SX Sharps XI · HomeformDWDLW

Lost the toss on a warm Saturday at Linton Park, and Dummy Site duly stuck us in the field — which, on reflection, they may have come to regret only slightly, given they still posted a healthy 166 for 8 from their 45 overs. R Aiston's fifty was the innings' backbone, well supported by N Udberg's 33 and A Whittam's 26, though A Lamb went back for a duck without so much as a scoreboard flicker. Terry Whittaker was magnificent with the ball, 4 for 48, backed up nicely by Pat Hardwick's 2 for 22 and Robert Wood's 1 for 18, while Gordon Fenner bowled four maidens of the sort that makes batsmen mutter under their breath.

Chasing 166 in our 40 overs, we replied with 161 for 6 — Basil Sears making a fine 53, Pat Hardwick adding 47 and Bob Arnold a useful 20. Seventeen byes, mind, tell their own tale of a wicketkeeper having rather too eventful an afternoon. As for the skipper, a golden blob rather undermined any claims to leading by example with the bat — thankfully I found some rhythm with the ball, taking four wickets to salvage a shred of dignity.

Plenty to raise a glass to regardless: Roy Clarke's 100th appearance in Linton colours, Terry Whittaker's 100th career wicket and his climb past Ray Howard to 13th on the all-time list, and Pat Hardwick — who now leads our 1960 run charts with 504 — easing past H G Smith into 22nd. A draw, then, honours shared, and honestly, after a day like that, a fair result for all.

Tue 26 Jul 1960 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformLDWDL

As we skipped past Dummy Site on a Tuesday that turned out rather better than most, I won the toss and, with the usual mix of hope and bravado, decided we should bat first.

It wasn't the prettiest of innings. We limped to 103 for 9 off our sixteen, propped up almost single-handedly by John Thirkell's gutsy 38 – the sort of knock that makes a captain's job of writing this report a good deal easier. Poor Roy Clarke, meanwhile, will be looking to strike his name from the scorebook after a golden duck; these things happen to the best of us, and Roy remains one of the best of us regardless.

A hundred and three looked distinctly gettable, but cricket has a habit of humbling the confident, and so it proved for the visitors. Alan Wilkes was simply magnificent, tearing through their order for 7 for 46 – a five-for and then some, thoroughly deserved and the undoubted spell of the season so far. Tony Snell chipped in with 2 for 16, I managed to have a bowl myself for 38, and between us we sent Ellis, Parker and Smith back for ducks apiece as the innings folded for 70 in just 12.5 overs.

A word too for Len Conway, whose unassuming 8 runs quietly nudged him past Herbert Rayner into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list – history made without anyone much noticing at the time, which feels about right for this club.

Two points, and a 33-run win we'll happily bank. Not our finest batting display, but bowled and fielded like champions when it mattered.

Sun 24 Jul 1960 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformLLDWD

Beaten by 26 runs at Folkestone, but not for want of trying — a fair result on a good pitch, and one that leaves plenty to build on.

We lost the toss on a warm Sunday afternoon and were sent into the field, which after 44 overs of leather-chasing felt rather less like an honour than usual. Folkestone crawled and occasionally cantered to 161 all out, Reg Hoskins the chief architect with a watchful 40 not out, well supported by Percy Wright and John Butler with 25 apiece. But it was Alan Wilkes who made the day his own, tearing through the middle order for a magnificent 6 for 63 and reducing three of their number — Waddup, Taylor and Askew — to ducks in the process. John Ames chipped in with 3 for 44, Gordon Fenner picked up one, and Len Conway kept the runs on a tight leash with four maidens.

A target of 162 always looked gettable, and for a while it did too. Len Conway top-scored with a fighting 35, John Ames added 24 and Gordon Fenner 23 — the latter innings, incidentally, enough to nudge Fenner past Tom Osborn and into 16th on the club's all-time run charts, which we shall claim as our one unambiguous triumph of the day. Sadly Brattle, Hardwick and Buck all departed for ducks of their own, and we folded for 135 in 39.4 overs. Roy Clarke, meanwhile, spent the afternoon chasing byes behind the stumps — eighteen of them in the end.

A losing day, then, but a proud one in patches. We'll sharpen up and go again next week.

Sat 23 Jul 1960 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformDLLDW

Saturday the 23rd, and Dummy Site rolled into Linton Park for what turned into one of those afternoons only village cricket can produce. I lost the toss again — my coin-calling remains, as ever, the weakest part of my captaincy — and we were put into the field.

Credit to Robert Wood, who bowled like a man with a grudge, taking 3-15 and leaving the Duck Club ledger richer for R. Holbrook, D. White and J. Morrison, none of whom troubled the scorers. Pat Hardwick (3-18) and Gordon Fenner (2-26) chipped away either end, while Terry Whittaker bowled three maidens as tight as his waistcoat. F. Archer stood firm for 35 not out, ably supported by D. Hitchin's 20, and the visitors were shot out for 114 in 35.2 overs — a total that felt, briefly, very gettable.

It wasn't. Our reply stumbled to 101/9 off 53 overs, rescued largely by Pat Hardwick's gutsy 41, while Brian Relf, Peter Hughes and Robert Wood all made the long walk back for nought — Robert managing the rare feat of starring with the ball and departing without troubling the scorebook with the bat. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, 18 byes slipping past him like the afternoon itself.

Honours shared, then — a draw that flattered nobody and offended nobody. Pat Hardwick continues to lead our run charts, Terry Whittaker our wickets, and the rest of us continue quietly making up the numbers.

Sun 17 Jul 1960 🧢 1st XIv JL J G Larkings · HomeformLDLLD

Robert Murray strode out with the sun on his back and, rather magnificently, gave it a proper thrashing on his way to 62 — a well-made fifty that dragged us up to a respectable 168 for 8 off our 46. Winning the toss and batting first felt like the correct call at the time, and by close of play I was rather pleased with myself for making it.

Then came the ball, and with it Robert Wood in irresistible form — 4 for 35, two of them maidens, bowling with the sort of miserly discipline that leaves batsmen muttering into their gloves. Ray Howard chipped in handsomely with 4 for 51, Pat Hardwick nabbed one for 21, and between us Dummy Site were bowled out for 123 in 40.3 overs. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping 14 byes, while I contributed a watchful 16 with the bat and otherwise tried to look like I knew what I was doing.

Amid the runs and wickets, two small pieces of club history quietly turned over: Pat Hardwick's 11 eased him past William Blight into 23rd on our all-time run-scorers' list, and Ray Howard's four scalps lifted him past Terry Whittaker into 13th among our wicket-takers — both men now leading their respective 1960 charts, Hardwick with 413 runs and Wood with 18 wickets to his name this season.

We ran out winners by 45 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one I shall be reliving in the bar for some time yet.

Sat 16 Jul 1960 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformLLDLL

Well now, Saturday last saw Rumwood CC pitch up at our ground, and having lost the toss I found myself deprived of the one decision a captain actually enjoys making. Asked to field first, we set about it with rather more application than my team-talk deserved. Ricky Lusher was the chief tormentor, snaring four for 47, with Gordon Fenner (3-37, and three maidens besides — not a run given away lightly) and Len Conway (2-25) squeezing from the other end. R Venner made a fine, obstinate 74 to drag Rumwood to 139 all out from 47.4 overs, while Pound, Martin and Wood departed for ducks without so much as a wave to the scorebox.

Chasing 140, we made harder work of it than the target deserved, stumbling to 137 for 9 from our forty overs — honours even, in the end, but only just. Roy Clarke held things together nicely with an unbeaten 30, John Thirkell chipped in 25, Len Conway 21, and I managed a modest 25 of my own to keep the tail company. Less happily, Fenner, Arnold and Lusher all bagged ducks, proving that all-rounders can be all too even-handed with their failures as well as their successes.

A word of cheer amid the anticlimax: Terry Whittaker's solitary wicket eased him past Ray Howard into 13th on the club's all-time list, and he continues to lead our 1960 wicket charts with 30, while Thirkell sits second among the season's run-scorers on 345.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride mostly intact, and tea, as ever, the outright winner.

Sun 10 Jul 1960 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLLDL

As Skipper's Log — Sunday 10 July 1960, at home to visiting opposition.

Won the toss, and with the sun out and the tea urn already on, there was really only one decision to make. In we went to bat, and 165 for 5 off our forty overs felt like a fair reflection of a steady, sensible innings rather than a swashbuckling one. John Thirkell was the man of the afternoon, farming the strike beautifully for an unbeaten 51, with Pat Hardwick's 37 and Ray Howard's 25 giving the innings its backbone. Nothing flashy — just good, honest club cricket.

Defending it proved the harder half of the day. D Hill-Wood simply would not be shifted, ghosting to 79 and doing the bulk of the damage, with A Snook's fifty and X Leschalles' unbeaten 21 doing the rest of the tidying up. X Clegg at least fell to us without troubling the scorers. Gordon Fenner (2-47) and Alan Wilkes (2-68, three tight maidens among them) toiled manfully, but 166 for 4 off 35 overs got them home by six wickets. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes going begging — not entirely his afternoon.

There was, though, real cause for celebration: Pat Hardwick brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Frank Brattle's 12 eased him past Tom Osborn into 15th on our all-time run list. My own 51 was, I'll admit, rather satisfying too. Beaten, yes — but with milestones like these, we'll be all the better for it next week.

Sat 09 Jul 1960 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLWLLD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 9th July 1960

Won the toss, elected to bat, and told myself it was the right call before a ball had been bowled — the mark of a confident captain or a foolish one, and I dare say I'll let the reader decide. We crawled and cantered our way to 136 for 7 off 35.1 overs, the innings owing everything to Len Conway's fifty — a proper, well-made 53 — with Roy Clarke chipping in a useful 24 alongside him. Not a total to frighten anyone, but enough, we hoped, to have something to bowl at.

And bowl we did, with real heart. I found some rhythm myself and picked up four, Terry Whittaker was pick of the attack with 4 for 56, and Robert Wood bowled a tidy, miserly 2 for 25 with a couple of maidens to show for his discipline, Tony Snell chipping in with 2 for 33. We even had the pleasure of sending Bristow and Hughes back without troubling the scorers. Roy, having done his bit with the bat, had a torrid time behind the stumps, 12 byes leaking away like water through a village green in a downpour.

In the end it wasn't quite enough — beaten by two wickets as they reached 141 for 8. Small consolations amid the gloom: Robert Murray's 8 runs nudged him past Richard Harris into 13th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of thing that keeps a tea urn conversation going. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 03 Jul 1960 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformLLWLL

From the captain's chair, Sunday the 3rd of July 1960: we welcomed Dummy Site to the ground, and my call of the coin was, as ever, wide of the mark, so it was their innings first and ours with the ball. Not that Stan Wratten seemed to mind, prising out two for 44 with the sort of nagging accuracy that keeps a captain's hair from greying too fast, and Gordon Fenner chipped in with two for 78 of his own. But M- Bristow had other ideas, batting through for a majestic unbeaten 108, with M- Patey's well-made 79 lending stout support as the total swelled to 235 for 4 from their fifty overs.

In reply we made a fair fist of it without ever quite threatening the summit. Frank Brattle led the way with a well-made 52, William Buck added 38 and Eddie Lawrence a useful 25, but Robert Murray and Sean Carter both departed for golden ducks, and we subsided to 180 for 9 from our 49. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 15 byes slipping past him like eels.

There was, at least, one item for the mantelpiece: Buck's 38 nudged him past Stan Wratten into second on the club's all-time run-scorers' list, while Brattle (4th, 179 runs) and Fenner (4th, 14 wickets) continue to climb this season's charts. In the end, honours were shared — a draw that flattered neither side, but bruised nobody's pride either.

Sat 02 Jul 1960 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformLLLWL

Beaten by three wickets on Saturday, and I'll confess the toss winning felt rather cleverer at 11am than it did by teatime.

Charles Arkcoll came down to Linton Park, I called correctly and, with the sort of confidence that in hindsight deserved closer scrutiny, stuck us in to bat. It didn't entirely come off. We were bowled out for 103 in 39.4 overs, a total that owed almost everything to F. Wood's watchful 22 and Robert Wood's 21 in support — the pair doing rather more carrying than the rest of the order combined. Elsewhere the card made grim reading, with W. Nash and Derek Pantony both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Ducks, plural, and not the charming kind.

With the ball, though, we gave a proper account of ourselves. Robert Wood, having done his bit with the bat, turned his arm over to devastating effect — 4 for 32, including three maidens, the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their tea. Terry Whittaker chipped in with 2 for 33 and Tony Snell with 1 for 30, while Humphrey Morris and Sean Carter both fell for ducks against us, so honours even on that front. Still, John Ames's 42 and Reg Waters's 20 steered the visitors home at 106 for 7, helped along, it must be said, by ten byes that poor Roy Clarke would rather forget.

A three-wicket defeat, then, and no disgrace in it. Whittaker remains second in the county's wicket charts with 25 for the season, which is more than can be said for our batting confidence. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 29 Jun 1960 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformLW

Wednesday 29 June 1960, and it was off to Benenden CC for the lads, where I lost the toss and heard the dreaded words: we're in the field. No matter — cricket builds character, and Lord's willow-work needed answering.

Benenden made a fair fist of it, 146 all out from 27 overs, W. Lord top-scoring with a stubborn 40 and Ray Harding chipping in 38 alongside him. But the ducks flowed early doors — J. Bligh and D. Elliott both walked back for nought — and Alan Wilkes was the chief tormentor, 4 for 42 with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure. Tony Snell (2-40) and John Ames (1-17) did their bit too. Not a bad shift with the ball, all told.

Chasing 147, it could easily have gone the other way — Eddie Lawrence and Robert Wood both suffered the walk of shame for ducks, and poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, 9 byes going begging. But John Thirkell played the innings of the day, 66 well-crafted runs, ably backed by Frank Brattle's 37 and Percy Brattle's 20, and we scraped home at 147 for 7 in 27.3 overs. I'll confess a personal 66 felt rather satisfying, and it's enough to see me atop the Midweek XI run charts, with Wilkes leading the wickets.

A scruffy, nervy, thoroughly typical club win by 3 wickets — two points banked, and not one of them stolen.

Tue 28 Jun 1960 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLLW

From the captain's chair — Tuesday 28 June 1960

Well, we had visitors down at the ground, and for once I got the coin toss right — elected to bat, and thank heavens I did, because it meant I got to watch John Thirkell bat rather than bowl to him. We posted 133/6 from our sixteen overs, built chiefly on Thirkell's magnificent 78 not out, unbeaten and unbothered, with Robert Murray chipping in a handy 30 to make sure the total had some backbone to it. I'll confess a captain's bias here — I was rather pleased to have led from the front myself with that 78, though I shan't dwell on it too long lest I sound insufferable in print.

Then to the field, where matters turned rather more in our favour. Their reply never quite got going — D. Coveney, S. Simmons and B. Yates all trooped back without so much as troubling the scorers, and only B. Hinks, with a stout 29, offered any real resistance. Tony Snell was the story of the innings, running through them for 5-40, with Alan Wilkes mopping up nicely alongside him with 3-44. Poor Roy Clarke had a busy afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes the price of an eventful spell, and the visitors were bowled out for 97 from their sixteen overs.

There was a happy footnote too — Snell's five-for nudges him past Frank Taylor into fifth on the club's all-time wicket list, which is the sort of thing that makes losing a little easier to swallow.

And lose we did — down by 36 runs, our batting simply outpacing our bowling on the day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 26 Jun 1960 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformLLLLL

Sunday 26 June, 1960, and we found ourselves away at Aylesford Paper Mills, having lost the toss and immediately been asked to trot about in the sunshine chasing leather. Cliff Anscombe made a fair nuisance of himself with 49, well backed up by K Lane's 24, as they crawled to 154 for 8 off a marathon 45.5 overs. Len Conway was the pick of us with the ball — 2 for 39 and four maidens that must have felt like torture to face — while Terry Whittaker (2-41) and John Thirkell (1-3, and mercifully economical with it) chipped in nicely.

With 155 needed, we set about it in rather more businesslike fashion. William Buck's 30 led the way, Len Conway matched him with 30 of his own, and Robert Murray weighed in with 27, as we got home at 155 for 5 in 35.2 overs. I managed a modest 20 myself, and poor Roy Clarke will want a quiet word with himself after conceding 10 byes — a testing day behind the stumps if ever there was one.

Milestones worth raising a teacup to: Len Conway brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, Robert Murray's 27 nudged him past Tom Osborn into 14th on the all-time run charts, and John Thirkell's solitary wicket edged him past Michael Morton into 8th among our wicket-takers. Murray now sits 2nd in this season's run charts, Whittaker 2nd for wickets.

A fine win by 5 wickets, then, and a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sat 25 Jun 1960 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformLLLLL

Saturday 25th June, and the coin came down against us — Dummy Site chose to bat, and truth be told, on another day I might have made the same call myself. What followed was a lesson in patience, or the lack of it, as M- Beacon set about us for a well-crafted 80 and C- Rye purred to 73 not out, with K- McDowall chipping in 36 for good measure. 227 for 7 from their 42 overs told its own story. The one crumb of comfort came in the shape of Robert Wood, who span a web through their order for a magnificent 5-38 — the kind of spell that has the tea urn talking for weeks. Terry Whittaker toiled away for 1-13 with two tidy maidens, John Ames picked up 1-39, and at least P- Rye trudged off for a duck to remind us we weren't entirely toothless.

Chasing 227 was always going to want a big innings, and while Eddie Lawrence's 25 was a gutsy top score, and I managed a workmanlike 19 myself, the rest of the card made for grim reading — three ducks, courtesy of Pat Hardwick, Robert Wood and Richard Harris, as we folded for 92 in 30 overs.

There was a silver lining for the scrapbook: Robert Murray's 14 runs saw him leapfrog Gordon Fenner into 16th on the club's all-time run charts, and he continues to sit second in this season's run-scoring table with 183, with Terry Whittaker likewise second among the wicket-takers on 21.

Beaten by 135 runs, no way round it. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 19 Jun 1960 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLLLL

Well, another Sunday, another lesson in the gulf between "should win" and "did win" — but let's start where every good tale should: at the toss, which for once fell kindly in my direction, and I had few qualms about batting first at home.

The lads made a proper fist of it. Robert Murray was in imperious touch, farming the strike to 80 not out, with Pat Hardwick chipping in a handsome 51 and Basil Sears a brisk 38 alongside him. 206 for 4 off our 39 overs looked, on paper, like a total to make the tea urn nervous on the other side.

Alas, cricket has a habit of humbling the smug. Their reply never quite got out of second gear against John Ames, whose 4 for 25 was the pick of a fine bowling effort, well backed by Gordon Fenner's 4 for 49 (three maidens — the man simply refused to be hit) and a wicket apiece for Pat Hardwick and yours truly, who found some unexpected rhythm to bag four. E Champion and L Samson departed without scoring, N Turner's 55 and W Hall's 30 the only real resistance, and 143 all out was the final word — though our nine byes suggest poor Roy Clarke had rather a testing afternoon behind the stumps.

There were bright spots amid the gloom: Basil Sears reached 4,000 career runs for the club, and Robert Murray's innings edged him past Frank Brattle into 17th on our all-time run-scorers list. But 63 runs is 63 runs. Beaten fair and square — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 18 Jun 1960 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformDDLLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 18 June 1960. We travelled to Rumwood CC in reasonable heart, though the coin let us down from the off and they had first use of what looked a decent surface.

Put into the field, we can have few complaints with how the lads went about their business. Rumwood were shot out for 98 in 26.1 overs, J- Carter back in the hutch without troubling the scorers, and the innings held together largely by C- Bowman's 24. The day, though, belonged to Terry Whittaker, whose 5-44 was a five-for thoroughly earned and richly deserved, with Tony Snell offering splendid support at the other end — 2-51 and, better still, a couple of maidens to show for his miserly line.

Ninety-nine to win should have been well within our compass, and for a while it looked it, Richard Harris top-scoring with a battling 37 and your captain contributing a modest 18. But ducks for T- May, H Clarke and Terry Whittaker undid our good work, and we subsided to 95 all out in 31.3 overs — beaten by three runs in the end, the cruellest of margins.

Not all gloom, mind: John Thirkell brought up 7,000 career runs for the club, and now sits third in this season's run charts with 152, while Terry Whittaker's five-for lifted him past Don Hartridge into 15th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and second in the 1960 bowling charts with 20. A defeat, no question — but one with rather more silver lining than most. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 12 Jun 1960 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLDDLL

Sunday 12th June saw us on our travels, and not for the last time this season we returned with more sunburn than silverware. Winning the toss, I put us into the field first — a decision I stand by, whatever the scorebook says. The home side ground their way to 131 all out off 43.2 overs, Robin Bush (26) and T Ades (23) doing most of the damage, while poor B Clarke trudged off for a duck without so much as a nibble. Ray Howard was magnificent with the ball, 4 for 50, well backed up by Pat Hardwick's 4 for 53 and a tidy over from John Thirkell. John Ames, meanwhile, bowled with the miserly discipline of a man checking everyone's expenses — four maidens and not a run given away lightly.

With 131 to chase, we never quite found our rhythm. John Thirkell top-scored with a battling 21, I chipped in with 21 of my own, and between us we limped to 88 all out in 33.2 overs. Less happily, John Abnett and Derek Pantony both made the long walk back for nought — the Duck Club swelling its membership nicely this week.

Beaten by 43 runs, then, and no dressing it up. Pat Hardwick continues to lead our run charts and sits third among the wickets, so not all is gloom in the camp. We'll regroup, we'll go again, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 11 Jun 1960 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformDLDDL

Beaten by 11 runs, but plenty of pride in this one for the lads at Headcorn.

Lost the toss on Saturday — no change there — and Headcorn wasted no time putting us into the field, which suited us rather well. Tony Snell was a man possessed, tearing through their order for a quite staggering 8-45, backed up sensibly by Pat Hardwick (1-19) and the ever-parsimonious Terry Whittaker, whose 1-26 came with four maidens attached — the sort of bowling that gives a captain very little to worry about. Headcorn were bundled out for 101 in 36.3 overs, with Evans and Parnham both back in the pavilion without so much as a run to their name. Not a bad morning's work at all.

Chasing 101 should, on paper, have been the easy part. It wasn't. Bob Arnold played the innings of the day with a fighting 31, but the rest of the card told a sorrier tale, not least Robert Wood and Tony Snell — hero with the ball, forgotten man with the bat — both departing for ducks. Poor Roy Clarke, meanwhile, was put through the wringer behind the stumps, coughing up nine byes for his trouble. All out for 90 in 33.5 overs, eleven runs shy of the target.

A defeat, then, but one built on a genuinely magnificent bowling performance — and with Pat Hardwick topping the season's run charts and Terry Whittaker second among the wicket-takers, the engine room is clearly in good order. We'll sharpen the bat and be better for it next week.

Thu 09 Jun 1960 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDLDD

Ninety runs to spare, and we still contrived to lose by fifty-one. Only at Linton Park.

Thursday saw us win the toss, and I elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scoreboard says now. Ray Howard set about the bowling with real intent, cruising past his fifty on the way to 61, while Cliff Anscombe played the perfect foil with an unbeaten 24. Sixteen overs later we'd posted a handsome 135 for 4, and I confess I allowed myself a quiet smile at tea.

That smile did not survive the evening session. B Jefferies and R Raemers both departed without so much as a run to their names, and from there our reply never found its rhythm — 84 for 9 from the sixteen overs told its own sorry story. Alan Wilkes was magnificent with the ball, snaring six for 29, a five-for and thoroughly deserved, with Len Conway (2-17) and Terry Whittaker (1-25) chipping in dutifully. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, eleven byes going begging — not his finest afternoon with the gloves, though he'll shrug it off by Saturday.

One bright footnote amid the gloom: Frank Brattle's 11 runs eased him past Robert Murray into 17th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a small consolation prize worth toasting in the bar. Pat Hardwick continues to lead our 1960 run charts on 272, with Wilkes now boasting 25 wickets for the season.

The verdict, then: a batting performance that promised much, a bowling display that very nearly rescued us, and a fielding effort that gave away the game. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Mon 06 Jun 1960 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · AwayformWLDLD

Monday the sixth of June found us on the road to Dummy Site, and for once the coin did as it was told — I called correctly at the toss and didn't hesitate for a moment in electing to bat. It proved the right instinct. We compiled a tidy 153 for 6 from our 37 overs, built chiefly on Robert Murray's watchful 41, with Frank Brattle (36) and Ron Wratten (35) both playing their part in giving the total some backbone. Not every man enjoyed his afternoon in the middle, mind — poor Pat Hardwick trudged back for a duck, and I dare say he'll not thank me for putting it in print.

With the total defended, the bowlers had their say, and the opposition were dismissed without troubling the scorebook in any meaningful way — a proper collapse to admire from the safety of the boundary rope. It ought to have been a day for celebration, but cricket, as ever, had the final word: honours were shared, neither side able to force home the advantage, and we settled for a draw.

There was, however, cause for quiet pride beyond the result. Robert Murray's 41 runs eased him past Arthur Cornwallis and up to 17th on the club's all-time run-scoring list — a fine piece of history-making on an otherwise middling afternoon. And Frank Brattle continues his excellent season, now sitting 4th in our 1960 first-team run charts with 97 to his name. A draw, then, but far from a wasted day.

Sun 05 Jun 1960 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWLDL

Sunday last saw us at home, and having lost the toss we were put into the field first — which on a warm afternoon is either a blessing or a slow torture, depending on how the legs are feeling. They compiled 173 for 8 from their 56 overs, R Pavitt top-scoring with a watchful 42, while D Dally (25 not out) and A How (24 not out) saw them home to a total that felt, at tea, rather more than we'd have liked. Small mercies came in the shape of J Bailey and G Taylor, both back in the pavilion for ducks 🦆. Gordon Fenner was the pick of our attack with 4 for 73, and Alan Wilkes bowled with real discipline — 3 for 52 including seven maidens, not a run given away lightly.

With the bat we replied 170 for 8 from 39 overs, Gordon Fenner following his bowling with a fine 64, well supported by Pat Hardwick's watchful 52. Twelve byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for poor Roy Clarke, who I'm sure will laugh about it eventually. A nicer footnote: Maurice Fenner's two runs quietly nudged him past George Champion into sixth on the club's all-time run-scorers list 📈 — history made almost by accident.

So, honours shared. Neither side could quite force the issue, and a draw it was — a fair reflection of an afternoon where effort outstripped execution on both sides, ours included.

Sat 04 Jun 1960 🧢 1st XIv CC Canning Town Glassworks CC · HomeformLWWLD

Saturday 4th June saw Canning Town Glassworks CC roll into Linton Park, and no sooner had I lost the toss than we were consigned to leather-hunting duty in the sunshine while they padded up. It could have been grim, but for a while it wasn't: the lads toiled honestly, Terry Whittaker leading the line with 1-65 and S Lusher chipping in with 1-66, though the boundary board kept ticking over regardless. Peter Sharrock made merry with an unbeaten 69, well supported by Roy Ballard's fifty, and by the close of thirty overs the visitors had posted a healthy 142/2.

Which left us needing something rather special with the bat, and instead got something rather sobering. Fifteen overs, thirty-seven runs, all out — Bob Arnold and Richard Harris both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer, and the rest of us not doing a great deal to rescue the situation. An innings and one run the wrong side of the ledger by the finish, which is the sort of margin that leaves plenty of time to reflect over tea.

Credit where it's due — John Thirkell continues to sit third in our 1st XI run charts with 107 for the season, and Terry Whittaker's 13 wickets have him second among the bowlers, so all is not lost on the individual front. As for the team performance, the less said the better; we'll dust ourselves off, have a stern word about application with the bat, and go again next week.

Sun 29 May 1960 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLLWWL

Losing the toss on Sunday brought the usual sinking feeling, and sure enough we were put into the field to chase leather rather than runs. Folkestone made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 223/6 from their 47 overs. David Brickell was the chief architect, sailing past his fifty to finish on 59, with Cecil Blacklocks (47) and John Spanswick (29) lending sturdy support. Pat Hardwick was magnificent with the ball, returning 4-43, while John Ames toiled manfully for his solitary wicket at rather more expense (1-104) — the sort of figures that tell you the outfield was working overtime.

Set a stiff target, we mustered 142/8 from our 44 overs, never quite finding the fluency the chase demanded. John Ames again led the way with 35, Eddie Lawrence chipped in with 29 and Pat Hardwick, not content with his morning's bowling, added 28 more with the bat. Less happily, John Thirkell and Roy Clarke both trudged back for ducks, and poor Roy had a torrid time of it behind the stumps too, with 15 byes leaking through — a figure that rather speaks for itself. Your correspondent, meanwhile, contributed nothing but a duck of his own, and the less said about that the better.

Pat Hardwick continues his excellent season, now top of our run charts with 207 and third among the wicket-takers with seven. In the end honours were shared — a draw, when neither side had quite enough left to force the issue. Character-building stuff, and on we go.

Sat 28 May 1960 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · HomeformLLLWW

Saturday 28 May 1960, Old Williamsonians CC at home. Won the toss, chose to bat — as any self-respecting skipper would with the sun out and a wicket worth trusting.

It rather backfired. We limped to 114/9 off 33.5 overs, with only Pat Hardwick (34) and Len Conway (31) offering anything resembling resistance. John Thirkell, Eddie Lawrence and Bob Arnold all contrived to bag golden ducks, which is not a habit I'd recommend for club morale, and I set the tone myself with a golden blob of my own — a captain should lead by example, though on this occasion I led by cautionary tale.

With 114 to defend we scrapped hard. Terry Whittaker was superb, 3-37 with four maidens thrown in for good miserly measure, and Len Conway backed him up nicely with 2-66. We even had them back without troubling the scorers, but Blakeman (37) and Waddums (28 not out) steadied things enough to see Old Williamsonians home at 115/5 off 27 overs, a five-wicket win to them.

One bright footnote amid the gloom: Terry's three wickets carried him past J Donovan into 17th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and he now sits second in this season's charts with 12, with Pat still leading the run-scoring at 179.

Verdict: not our day, more golden ducks than a village pond, but heads up — back to the nets, and Old Williamsonians will get no easier a game from us next time.

Sat 21 May 1960 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformLLLLW

Saturday 21 May 1960, and we welcomed Dummy Site to Linton Park in conditions fit for cricket, if not entirely fit for our top order. I called correctly at the toss and, with the confidence of a man who hadn't yet seen the pitch, opted to bat.

It proved a chastening 42.3 overs. Ray Howard held things together with a fine 44, but the rest of us came and went with varying degrees of dignity, and John Ames and Alan Wilkes both departed for ducks — a pair of blobs that rather summed up the innings. All out for 122 was, frankly, a modest total to be defending, and I confess to some anxious tea-interval arithmetic.

I needn't have worried. Alan Wilkes, having contributed nothing with the bat, made up for it handsomely with the ball, spinning through their order for 5-34 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — miserly doesn't begin to cover it. Gordon Fenner chipped in with 4-35, and between the two of them there was precious little for the rest of us to do but applaud from the field. Dummy Site were bowled out for 72 in 31.2 overs, and we came away with a 50-run victory.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a reminder that in this game one man's duck is another man's five-wicket haul. Pat Hardwick continues to lead our run charts with 145, and Alan Wilkes now sits atop the wickets with 16 — a season very much alive.

Sun 15 May 1960 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDLLLL

Sunday 15 May 1960, and West Farleigh CC arrived at Linton Park to find the coin landing my way — a rare enough occurrence that I didn't hesitate to send us in. What followed was as handsome a batting display as this reporter has had the pleasure of announcing. Maurice Fenner played an innings of real substance, 121 not out and utterly serene about it, while Pat Hardwick (30 not out) and Stan Wratten (29) filled in the edges nicely. Poor Frank Brattle contributed his customary golden duck, which I'm assured builds character, though he seemed unconvinced. We closed on a mighty 196 for 3 from our 43 overs.

Defending that sort of total ought to be the easy part, and so it proved. West Farleigh never found their footing, subsiding to 76 all out in 30.5 overs, with only Trevor Fermor's 22 offering any real resistance. Three of their number — John P Day, Reg Oldfield and A. Parker — departed without troubling the scorers, which tells its own story. Alan Wilkes was the architect of the collapse, bowling with real menace for 6 for 29 and eight miserly maidens, ably assisted by John Ames's 4 for 47.

A win by 120 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. Pat Hardwick continues to lead our run charts for the season with 129, and Alan Wilkes now tops the wickets with 11. Onwards we go.

Sat 14 May 1960 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformWDLLL

The lads made the trek to Gore Court on Saturday and I lost the toss — never a good omen, and so it proved. Put in the field, we watched Alan Priston (39) and Jack Bispham (33) settle in nicely, with Maurice Ingleton (31) chipping in as they built to 180/8 from their 46.5 overs. Len Conway was the pick of the attack by some distance, 4-49 with five miserly maidens, ably backed by Terry Whittaker's 2-62 and a solitary strike for Pat Hardwick.

180 was always going to be a tall order on that outfield, and so it proved. We lost the first wicket for just 1, steadied briefly, then it all went rather south — 33-2 became 42-5 before most of us had finished our tea. Three ducks graced the book (Eddie Lawrence, Bob Arnold and Roy Clarke all taking the walk), and poor Bob had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 11 byes leaking through. Pat Hardwick's 21 was a lone beacon of resistance as we folded for 52 in 26 overs.

Small mercies: Richard Harris's solitary run nudged him up to 13th on the club's all-time run charts, and Len Conway's four wickets lifted him to 19th among our leading wicket-takers — history made, even in defeat. Pat Hardwick still leads our 1960 run charts, Terry Whittaker our wickets.

A chastening 128-run defeat, and no dressing it up. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Sun 08 May 1960 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWDLL

Sunday the 8th of May 1960, and the toss came up in our favour at home — bat first, I said, without a flicker of doubt, and I'm still not entirely sure why I sounded so confident about it.

We were bowled out for 138 in 43.5 overs, which felt like scratching a living rather than building an innings. Pat Hardwick led the charge with a fine 36, Eddie Lawrence chipped in a tidy 27 and John Thirkell 26, while poor Alan Wilkes made his way back to the pavilion for a duck, head bowed, dignity intact if nothing else.

Defending 138 always asks questions, and for a while it looked like we might not have the answers. Don Capeling threatened to bat us out of it with 43, and G Dane, R Clarke and L Tyler will have little to show for their afternoon's work. But Alan Wilkes, redeeming that earlier walk of shame in some style, produced the spell of the day — 5 for 47, four maidens included, not a run given away lightly. Terry Donovan backed him up handsomely with 4 for 15, and between them the innings folded for 88 in 33.5 overs. I added a watchful 26 of my own for good measure.

Beaten by 50 runs in the end — no disgrace in the bowling, rather too generous with the bat. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 07 May 1960 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformLLWDL

Saturday last, and Charles Arkcoll rolled up as our visitors, cricket bags packed with what turned out to be rather more application than ours. I lost the toss — a habit I'm cultivating for the highlight reel — and duly we were asked to field first, which on a fine May afternoon is no great hardship, whatever the scorebook eventually said.

They batted with real stickability, ambling to 157 all out in 41.2 overs. John Abnett led the way with 27, Frank Holding chipped in 25 and T Bridal 23, while poor J Ratcliffe trudged off without so much as a single to his name. Terry Whittaker was the pick of our attack by a distance, 4 for 42 of skill and persistence, with John Thirkell (2-9) tidy as you like and S Lusher (2-28) also among the wickets. Bob Arnold had a torrid time behind the stumps, 21 byes leaking away like the afternoon itself.

Our reply never quite found its rhythm. Basil Sears batted nicely for 34, Roy Clarke made 25 and Pat Hardwick 21, but support beyond that was thin — R Jones, Terry Whittaker and Peter Hughes all departed for ducks, and we folded for 125 in 35.1 overs. Sears now leads our 1960 run charts with 80, Whittaker the wickets with 7, so the engine room is in good order even if the coachwork wants attention.

Beaten by 32 runs, then, and fair enough too. We'll be better for it next week — we usually are, eventually.

Sun 01 May 1960 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformLLLWD

Sunday the 1st of May took us down to Harrietsham, and having won the toss I did what any self-respecting skipper does with a decent morning ahead of him — stuck us in. Stan Wratten played the innings of the day, 54 to his name, and Ray Howard chipped in handsomely with 39, the pair of them steering us to a tidy 159 for 5 from our forty overs. Not a total to frighten anyone perhaps, but enough, I felt, to give the lads something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did, though Harrietsham had other ideas. Ray Tong made a determined 44, D Brown 43, and D Hampshire saw them home unbeaten on 34 as they reached 164 for 4 with 34.1 overs on the clock. Ray Howard was again the pick of our attack — 3 for 55, two of them maidens, proper miserly stuff — with John Ames offering fine support for one. In the end it simply wasn't quite enough, and we went down by six wickets.

There was a silver lining or two amid the gloom. Stan's 54 eased him past William Buck into 2nd on the club's all-time run-scoring list, and Ray's three wickets nudged him past Ernest Cruttenden into 13th among our wicket-takers — both, I'd say, rather more permanent achievements than anything decided on a Sunday afternoon. A defeat, then, but one with enough good in it to send us home with heads high. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 30 Apr 1960 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformDLLLW

Saturday last, we welcomed Staplehurst CC to Linton Park, and I lost the toss — never a good omen, but there we are; they had us out in the field before I'd finished my tea.

They batted with real intent, closing on 156 all out from 26.5 overs. L. Murrell led them beautifully with a well-crafted fifty (53), well supported by W. Paine's 39, while W. Cook departed without troubling the scorers. Fortunately Ricky Lusher was in irresistible form, tearing through them with 4-18, with Terry Whittaker (3-46) and John Thirkell (2-25) chipping in handsomely to keep them honest.

Our reply was a rather more modest affair — 122 for 8 from our 38 overs. Basil Sears played the anchor role to perfection with an unbeaten 46, John Thirkell added a tidy 28, and I managed to scrape together 28 of my own. Poor Frank Brattle, alas, endured the walk of shame for a duck, and Roy Clarke had one of those afternoons behind the stumps where the ball simply would not stay put — 22 byes tells its own tale. A word of cheer, though: Terry Whittaker's three wickets nudged him past Dennis Smith into 18th on the club's all-time list, which is the sort of thing that makes a captain rather proud.

In the end neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the tidiest of afternoons, but an honest one, and there's a great deal to be said for that.