🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 22 Sep 1963 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformWWDDD

It was Linton Park CC at home, and win the toss I did not have to think twice about — flat pitch, quick outfield, I put us in.

The lads didn't let me down. Dick Langridge played the innings of the day, 48 at the top, and had good company from Stan Wratten's 37 and Gordon Fenner's 26 to drag us up to 166/7 from our 42 overs. Not every visit to the crease was so glorious, mind — Bob Arnold and Cliff Anscombe both trudged back for ducks, and I daresay the tea urn had a good laugh at their expense before they'd even reached the boundary rope. Fair play to the extras column too, which weighed in with 28 of its own and, on this showing, deserves a place in the middle order.

I chipped in myself with bat in hand, glad to say, though it was very much a team total built on Langridge's effort more than mine. Worth noting, as the season's ledger stands, that Dick now leads our 1963 Married run charts with that very 48, while Ray Howard continues to lord it over the Singles with 88 — the rivalry, gentle as it is, rumbles on.

A tidy 28-run win in the end, and a thoroughly satisfying Sunday for club and captain alike. Onwards we go.

Sun 15 Sep 1963 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformWDWDW

As we travelled down to Staplehurst on Sunday, I lost the toss – no change there, then – and we were put into the field.

Staplehurst huffed and puffed their way to 91 all out in 29.2 overs, and frankly it could have been a good deal worse for them. A wicket at 2-1 set nerves jangling early, and once 37-3 became 37-6 the innings was in freefall, three batsmen departing without troubling the scorers. At the heart of it all was Michael Chambers, spinning a web few of them could read, finishing with a magnificent 6-28 including four maidens – not a run given away lightly. Alan Wilkes (3-25) and David Gale (1-22) tidied up admirably in support, with J- Blunt's unbeaten 28 the only real resistance.

Chasing 92, I'm rather pleased to say I led from the front with an unbeaten 54, though Norman Mattingley and Dick Langridge both fell for ducks along the way to keep things interesting for the crowd. Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 15 byes testament to a wicket with ideas of its own, but we got home by four wickets.

A day of milestones too – David Gale passed 100 career wickets, and Michael Chambers's six-for lifted him past J Donovan to 22nd on the club's all-time list. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine advert for village cricket at its most chaotic best.

Sat 14 Sep 1963 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformLWDWD

Off John Thirkell we lost the toss on Saturday and Bowaters CC sent us in the field, which on a September afternoon felt like being asked to fetch the coal before you'd even taken your coat off. Still, no complaints from this quarter, especially once Alan Tucker got his fingers round the ball. He span his way through the visitors' order for a quite magnificent 5-18, with H Mannering giving splendid support at 4-21 and Terry Donovan keeping things tight with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure. Bowaters slid from a wobbly 8-1 to a rather forlorn 82 all out in 35.1 overs, William Preston's 36 the only real resistance, and the rot from 81-7 to 82-10 suggested nerves were fraying nicely down their order.

Chasing 83 should have been the easy part, and mostly it was, though we contrived to lose a wicket with just 3 on the board to keep everyone honest. I chipped in with 40 to see us home, while poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, coughing up 10 byes in the process — the sort of thing that gets mentioned at tea whether you like it or not.

A five-wicket win, then, and a landmark day for Tucker, who leapfrogs Ernest Cruttenden into 18th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Onwards we go, in good heart and better form.

Sun 08 Sep 1963 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformLLWDW

Sunday 8th September dawned fine over Linton Park, and with Harrietsham the visitors, winning the toss felt like the first stroke of luck we'd need all season. I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'll happily take credit for, since it's not often my hunches survive contact with reality.

John Ames set about proving me right with a fine 41, the kind of innings that makes a captain look wiser than he is, before Frank Brattle chipped in with an unbeaten 39 to help us to a tidy 103 for 1 off our 26 overs. One wicket down all afternoon rather rather undersold the control with which we batted — Harrietsham's bowlers must have wondered what they'd done to deserve such calm treatment. Brattle, for what it's worth, continues his quiet march up the season's run charts, now sitting second in the club's 1st XI standings with 396 to his name — a man clearly saving his best for when it matters least urgently, if such a thing exists in cricket.

Alas, for all our restraint with the bat, neither side could summon the wit or the weather to force a result, and honours were shared. A draw, then — the great English compromise, satisfying no one and offending no one. Still, with Ames purring and Brattle ominously in form, I left the field more encouraged than the scorebook alone might suggest. Onwards.

Sat 07 Sep 1963 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformDLLWD

I toed the line for the toss, called wrong as usual, and watched St Lukes Maidstone CC waltz off to bat. No matter — my bowlers had other ideas. We had them 6-1 before anyone had settled in a deckchair, and though George Winter dug in for a defiant 44, the rest of the order rather lost the plot. H Mannering was the chief tormentor with 3-20, I chipped in with 2-23, and Terry Donovan bowled two miserly maidens on his way to 2-37. St Lukes were bowled out for 109 in 43.2 overs, with L Gardener and B Lamb both departing without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 110 should have been a formality, and it very nearly wasn't. We lost a wicket with the board still reading nought — the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the Rennies — before the second-wicket pair steadied things with a crucial stand of 50. D Simmons played the anchor role beautifully for 42, Norman Mattingley chipped in with 31, and I managed 28 of my own to help see us home, though Frank Brattle and Terry Donovan both contributed golden ducks along the way. We scrambled over the line at 110-7 in 36.5 overs, winning by three wickets with rather more grey hairs than the scoreline suggests.

Two points banked, and thoroughly earned. As it stands I lead the 1963 first-team run charts with 519, and Terry Donovan sits third in the wicket-takers with 24 — proof, if any were needed, that this side has more about it than a nervy run-chase might suggest. A scratchy win is still a win, and I'll take it every time.

Sun 01 Sep 1963 🧢 1st XIv HB Hambros Bank · HomeformDDLLW

Sunday the first of September, and Hambros Bank rolled up the drive with the sun doing its level best to cooperate. The coin bounced my way and, ever the optimist, I put us in to bat. William Buck was in fine touch, 52 to his name, and found a willing ally in Robert Murray, whose 46 helped stitch together a third-wicket stand of 53 that gave the innings its backbone. I chipped in with 21 of my own, more graft than grace, and we closed on a respectable 168 for 6 from our 46 overs.

Defending it proved a different sort of afternoon. Pavitt and Raiser put on a stand of 102 for the second wicket that had us checking the sightscreen for sympathy, Pavitt reaching 55 and Raiser a tidy fifty of his own. But we chipped away — Alan Wilkes the chief tormentor with 4 for 48, David Gale and Michael Chambers a wicket apiece, Chambers miserly enough to bowl three maidens, and poor D McEuan trudging off for a duck. Richard Ashby had his gloves full behind the stumps, eight byes the only real blemish. Hambros closed on 145 for 7.

Not all workaday, mind: Robert Murray brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, and William Buck's 52 nudged him past Stan Wratten into second on our all-time run charts — proper history made between tea and close.

A draw, then, honours shared, and both sides sent home no worse for wear — which, on a day this pleasant, felt about right.

Sat 31 Aug 1963 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformLDDLL

From the captain's chair, Saturday 31st August 1963. We hosted A.Trembeths, and I won the toss and put them in, fancying there might be something in the pitch for the bowlers. As it turned out, there was rather a lot in it. They subsided from a shaky 4-1 to a genuinely calamitous 8-4, with J-Norris, L-Hart and D-Syms all trooping back for ducks before most of the tea urn had boiled. Dick Langridge was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 5-34 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, and John Crellin chipped in handsomely with 5-46 at the other end. Only a-Trembeth, with a defiant 31, and J-Mortlock's 20 gave the innings any shape at all, and they were all out for 80 in 21.1 overs.

Chasing such a modest total, we contrived to make rather harder work of it than the scoreboard suggests was necessary, needing the best part of fifty-one overs to get there. Robert Murray played a fine supporting hand of 26, and I was happy to see us home with an unbeaten 27, guiding us to 81 for 3. Murray continues his fine season, sitting fourth in the 1963 first-team run charts with 325 to his name.

Slow going it may have been, but a win is a win, and seven wickets to spare with two points banked is nothing to grumble about.

Sat 24 Aug 1963 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLLDDL

Saturday 24 August 1963, Aylesford Paper Mills at home, and I won the toss and fancied our chances with the bat. I fancied wrong.

We were bowled out for 58 in 27.2 overs, which is not a total to frighten anyone, least of all Aylesford Paper Mills. We'd been ambling along steadily enough at 40 for 4 before the innings simply fell over — 51 for 7 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. H Mannering and Barry Langridge both made the long walk back for nought, and I shan't dwell on it further than the ducks deserve.

Defending 58 is a job for miracle workers, and while we aren't quite that, we gave it a proper go. Doug Milner had the opposition one down with just a single run on the board, and for a few overs we allowed ourselves a flicker of hope — Colin Cheeseman and Rodda both departed without scoring, courtesy of some fine bowling. David Gale was the pick of us by some distance, mopping up 3 for 27 and, in the process, taking his season's tally to 43 wickets — a effort that deserves rather better support than we managed to give him. But Cliff Anscombe had other ideas, batting through unbeaten on 44 to see Aylesford home at 62 for 4 in just 12.2 overs.

Five wickets the margin, and a fair reflection of the day. Not our finest hour with bat or ball — heads up, chins slightly less so, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 18 Aug 1963 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformLLLDD

Sunday the 18th of August found us at home to The Mote CC, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever came after. Ron Hickman's 20 was the mainstay of a rather modest 84 all out from 34 overs, and once the wickets began to go they came in an unseemly hurry, 14 for 1 collapsing to 16 for 4 before anyone had quite settled into their deckchair. Three ducks blotted the card that afternoon — Stan Wratten and Robert Murray for company, and I confess I was the third, though we needn't dwell on it.

With such a slender total to defend, the lads did us proud with the ball. The Mote were held to 88 for 5 from 26.2 overs, T. Rickard's unbeaten 23 the backbone of their reply, ably supported by John Waters' 21. John Ames led the attack magnificently with 3 for 28, Len Conway was miserliness itself with 1 for 20 and two maidens to his name, and Dick Langridge picked up 1 for 29 for his troubles.

We shall draw a veil over my own afternoon with the bat, as promised, and turn instead to sunnier news: Roy Clarke now sits third in the 1st XI's season run charts with 333, and John Ames fourth among the wicket-takers with 21 — proof that somewhere in this ramshackle outfit, standards are being kept.

In the end The Mote got home by 5 wickets. A defeat, no question, but a spirited one, and we'll be sharper for it next Sunday.

Sat 17 Aug 1963 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformLLLLD

Saturday 17th August 1963, and off we trundled to Bowaters CC in what I can only describe as cautious optimism. I won the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might suggest to the contrary.

What followed was, in the finest traditions of this club, a bit of a horror show. Seven for one felt manageable enough, the sort of stumble you shrug off with a cup of tea and a knowing nod. Then the wheels came clean off: seven for one became fourteen for four before anyone had really settled their pads, and Roy Clarke, Dick Langridge and H Mannering each contributed a golden duck apiece to the cause — a hat-trick of nought that I shan't let them forget in a hurry. I did what I could with the bat to shore things up, but 55 all out from 22.4 overs was the sorry sum of our labours.

Credit to the lads, though — with the ball in hand we turned into an altogether different side, bowling and fielding with real purpose to keep Bowaters to nothing themselves, a spirited response that at least salvaged our pride.

So honours shared in the end, a draw when neither side could force the issue — which, given the state we were in at fourteen for four, I'll happily take. Up the season's run charts I find myself leading the 1st XI with 470 runs, which is some comfort on the long drive home. Character-building stuff, this cricket lark.

Sat 10 Aug 1963 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · AwayformWLLLL

It was straight down to business at Tilling Steven on the 10th of August — the coin fell my way, and there was really no debate to be had. On a morning that promised runs, we batted, and for once the promise was kept. Robert Murray played the innings of the day, motoring serenely to fifty and beyond to finish unbeaten on 51, while I chipped in with 42 of my own alongside a watchful Frank Brattle, who made 27. Murray and his opening partner set the tone with a brisk stand of 52 for the first wicket, and between the lot of us we posted 166 for 5 from our 42 overs — respectable, if not the total of legend. Special mention, as ever, to poor Roy Clarke, who contributed nothing but did so with admirable style, departing for a golden duck.

With the total defended, our bowlers set about their work, and the opposition could find no way through — the innings simply refused to yield a result, and honours were shared. Neither side, in the end, could force the issue, and a draw it duly was.

Off the field, there was cause for a quiet toast: Frank Brattle's 27 nudged him up into 8th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a fine bit of history-making on an otherwise placid afternoon. And with the runs still flowing, I find myself atop the 1963 first-team charts with 465 for the season — long may it continue. All told, a draw with dignity: no fireworks, but no complaints either.

Mon 05 Aug 1963 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDWLLL

John Thirkell here, reporting on a hot August evening away at Bearsted — and I'll be honest with you, it's not one for the scrapbook.

We lost the toss, they had first knock, and by the close of their innings we knew we were in for a long night in the field. Ian Lambert and Colin Fleetwood both brought up commanding centuries, adding a ruinous 197 for the second wicket after David Andrews had given them a brisk platform, and Bearsted eventually declared us weary at 292 for 2 from their 54 overs. Terry Whittaker toiled hardest for 1-38, with David Gale chipping in at no small cost, but truthfully the runs simply flowed too freely for us to lay a glove on the game.

Chasing 293 was always going to want something special, and it never quite arrived. We lost our first wicket with just one on the board and never recovered any real rhythm, subsiding to 115 all out. William Buck stood firmest for his unbeaten 33, well supported by Roy Clarke's 20, but three of us — myself included — trooped back for ducks, and I shall draw a discreet veil over my own contribution beyond admitting it. Thirty-five byes rather summed up the afternoon behind the stumps.

There was, at least, one ray of sunshine amid the wreckage: Roy Clarke's knock nudged him up to 18th on the club's all-time run list, and he now sits second in this summer's charts with 331 runs, while David Gale continues to lead the wicket-takers with 36.

A hammering by 177 runs, then, and no way of dressing it up. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 03 Aug 1963 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWDWLL

Skipper's Log — Saturday, 3rd August 1963. Headcorn CC the visitors, and a fine one it turned into, even if the scoreline won't say so.

I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first, a decision I still maintain was the correct one regardless of what followed. Robert Murray and I put on a brisk 70 for the first wicket, and I went on to make 71 — pleasing enough to lead from the front, though rather less pleasing was the collapse that followed, three wickets tumbling for a mere three runs as we slid from 125 for 2 to 128 for 5 quicker than you could pour the tea. We recovered our composure to close on 147 for 8 from 46.3 overs, a total that felt useful without ever feeling safe.

So it proved. Headcorn's openers put on 105 before we so much as looked at the wicket column, and from there the game rather slipped from our grasp. C. Smith saw them home with an unbeaten 70, well supported by G. Murrell's 51 and G. Gore's 20 not out. Dick Langridge kept us honest with 3 for 44, and there was some small consolation in sending v. Du Buisson back for a duck — though one wicket was scant reward for 36.4 overs of honest toil.

Beaten by seven wickets, then, and no arguing with it. Frank Brattle's 19 did at least see him climb to ninth on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is more than most of us can claim from the day. Heads up, back to the nets — there's always next Saturday.

Mon 29 Jul 1963 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Birkenhead Grasshoppers CC · HomeformWWWWW

Beaten by 61 runs, but honestly the toss did us no favours — Birkenhead Grasshoppers won the call, took first knock, and simply made better use of the conditions than we managed. R R Dodd played the innings of the day, a classy 73, with M Weir unbeaten on 39 and R Stears chipping in 28 as the visitors ground their way to 188/7 from their forty overs, a 61-run fourth-wicket stand doing the real damage. Credit to Terry Whittaker, who bowled beautifully for 3-37 and kept us in the contest, with Eddie Page (2-38) and Terry Donovan (1-43) offering good support in the field.

Chasing 189, we never quite got the platform to build a serious challenge. I was pleased to lead from the front with a well-made 52, and Robert Murray played nicely alongside me for 39, but beyond that the innings rather fell away — three ducks in the order (Gordon Fenner, Ossie Fryer and Alan Wilkes all departing for golden nothings) meant we were bowled out for 127 in 34.3 overs, some way short of the target.

A word for the season charts amid the gloom — I'm pleased to say I lead the 1963 Midweek XI run-scoring, and Terry Donovan tops the wicket-takers, so there are individual honours to be proud of even in a losing team effort.

All told, a good toss to lose and a middle order that let us down on the day. We'll dust ourselves off, have a look at the batting card, and come back stronger next week.

Sun 28 Jul 1963 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformWWDWL

Won the toss at Folkestone on Sunday and, with the sun out and the outfield fast, there was never much doubt I'd have first use of the pitch. It didn't feel like a masterstroke when we lost an early wicket with just 6 on the board, but Ron Wratten settled things beautifully, batting right through to finish 79 not out, and a third-wicket stand worth 53 gave the innings some much-needed backbone. Poor Dick Langridge will remember little of his own contribution with the bat — a golden duck to file away and forget — but we were pleased enough with 167 all out from 52.4 overs, given how it began.

Defending that total, we made Folkestone work for it. Brian Humphries played a lovely hand of 65, well supported by John Butler's 25 and Graham Miller's 20, their second-wicket pair putting on a stubborn 61 that threatened to take the match clean away from us. Langridge made amends for his morning with the bat, striking back with 3-23, while John Ames and David Gale chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Alan Wilkes bowled a marvellously tight spell, five maidens and barely a bad ball in it. Roy Clarke had a trickier afternoon behind the stumps — 11 byes is not the sort of statistic any keeper enjoys seeing in print.

Folkestone got home at 168/5 in 43.1 overs, five wickets the margin. I'm proud to say I still lead the season's run charts with 352, and David Gale continues to top the wickets column with 35 — small consolations on a losing afternoon. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 27 Jul 1963 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformLWWDW

Saturday brought Tovil to Linton Park, and after winning what I like to call the toss of good sense, we opted to bowl first. They battled their way to 120 all out from 28 overs, J Archer leading the resistance with 26 and C Maitland chipping in a handy 23, though we had them rattled early with a wicket down for just 8.

Credit to the lads for a proper spell of cricket: we tore through the middle order from 30-2 to 39-5 in the time it takes to pour a tea, with D White and D Hitchen both trudging back for ducks. Terry Whittaker was the man of the match by any reasonable measure - a thoroughly deserved 5-35 - while David Gale bowled with real discipline for 5-53, including two maidens that must have felt like torture to face.

Our reply, alas, read rather differently. All out for 73 in 26.5 overs, we shed wickets in a hurry from 37-3 to 52-6, with Dick Langridge, David Gale and Barry Langridge each contributing a golden duck to an innings best filed under "character-building." Twelve byes told their own tale of a trying day behind the stumps for Roy Clarke. My own 344 runs keep me handily placed atop the season's run charts, for what little comfort that offered on the day.

Beaten by 47 runs, undone more by our batting than their bowling. Chins up - we'll be better for it next week.

Tue 23 Jul 1963 🧢 Midweek XIv SX Senacre Staff XI · HomeformWWWW

Called correctly at the toss on Tuesday evening and had no hesitation in electing to bat — with hindsight, perhaps my sternest test of nerve all season. The lads never quite got going, and 77/8 from our fourteen overs tells its own tale: wickets tumbled alarmingly from 21-2 to 34-5 in the space of what felt like minutes, with Gordon Fenner and David Gale both departing for golden ducks. Only W Woodward showed the patience the situation demanded, digging in for an unbeaten 20 to drag us to something defendable, if only just.

Seventy-seven never looks like enough on paper, but cricket has a habit of making fools of paper. Senacre Staff XI lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board and never truly recovered their composure, as we ran through the top order from 2-1 to 11-4 in a blur of movement and nerve. Owen and B Cannell both fell for ducks, Gordon Fenner picked up 2-1 to atone handsomely for his earlier failure with the bat, and Terry Donovan (2-4) and Michael Chambers (2-8) chipped in to leave the visitors bowled out for 60.

A special word for Len Conway, who made his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark earned over many a long summer, and one the whole club should raise a glass to. Woodward now leads our 1963 run charts, Chambers our wicket charts.

We got over the line by 17 runs. A scrappy, nerve-jangling win, but a win all the same — and on a night like this, we'll take it gladly.

Sun 21 Jul 1963 🧢 1st XIv LX Len Newbury's XI · HomeformLLWWD

We won the toss on a bright Sunday and had no hesitation in asking Len Newbury's XI to bat first, a decision that looked rather clever once R. Creasey had cracked a fine fifty on his way to 68, well supported by J. Freeman's 37. We nabbed an early wicket at 7-1, which briefly flattered us before the middle order settled in, but once the tail was exposed we tore through it with the gleeful efficiency of lads who smell a Sunday roast — 158-7 became 163 all out in a blur, Barnes and Chandler both back in the pavilion without so much as a run to their name. Len Conway was quite magnificent, 3-2 and barely broke sweat, with David Gale (3-51) and Michael Chambers (3-56) mopping up the rest.

Chasing 163, John Ames played the innings that mattered with a composed 44, and I was glad to potter along unbeaten on the same score myself, with Gordon Fenner's 25 keeping things ticking. We got there in 46 overs, 165 for 7, three wickets and a good deal of relief to spare.

Rather a special afternoon off the field too — I brought up 10,000 career runs for the club, Len Conway's contribution nudged him past Robert Wood into 16th on our all-time run charts, and David Gale's three wickets carried him past Ernest Cruttenden into 17th among our all-time wicket-takers. I lead the 1963 run charts on 339, with David leading the wickets on 29.

A thoroughly earned two points, and a Sunday to remember.

Sat 20 Jul 1963 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformLLLWW

Saturday 20th July, 1963. Sun out, Rumwood in town, and I won the toss and put us in — the right call, I felt at the time, and I'm sticking to that story regardless of what followed.

We laboured to 173 all out, and thank heavens for Roy Clarke, whose well-crafted 52 held the innings together like a man determined not to let a good pitch go to waste. Dick Langridge chipped in a handy 32 and Terry Donovan 23, but the scorebook makes for wincing reading either side of that. A wicket down for nought before anyone had settled, then a lovely stand of 67 for the third wicket promised better things — only for the whole affair to unravel from 90 for three to 98 for six as if someone had pulled a plug. Basil Sears, David Gale and Barry Langridge all contributed the traditional duck to proceedings; I shan't dwell on it, except to say I have.

With the ball we fought back handsomely. Dick Langridge was the chief tormentor with 4 for 24, backed up nicely by David Gale's 2 for 37 (two maidens too — nothing given away lightly) and Terry Donovan's solitary but useful wicket. Rumwood, for their part, got up to 161 for 7 off Iliffe's 39 and Buckland's unbeaten 28, leaving us to settle for a draw. My afternoon behind the stumps was a chastening one — 20 byes is not a number I'll be framing — though my 15 with the bat kept the scorer occupied. Worth noting: Roy's fifty eased him past Tom Osborn into 19th on the club's all-time run list, and he now sits second in this year's charts, with David Gale leading the wickets. Honours shared, pride bruised, and the tea, as ever, was the highlight.

Sun 14 Jul 1963 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDLLLW

Sunday 14 July, and Anchorians rolled up the drive with the sun out and the Duckling in fine feather. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my luck with the coin remains firmly stuck in the 1950s — and we were put into the field.

Anchorians made a workmanlike 105 all out in 40.2 overs, S. Simmonds top-scoring with 20, though it was our bowling that told the real story. An early strike had them 7-1 and rattled, and once we got among them again — 80-6 tumbling to 92-9 in a blur — the innings had nowhere to go. D. Medhurst departed without so much as troubling the scorers, poor fellow. Alan Wilkes was magnificent, 5-28 and thoroughly deserved, with Michael Chambers (2-19, five overs unmolested by a single run) and David Gale (2-33) offering splendid support.

Chasing 106, we were similarly brisk in losing our first wicket cheaply at 4-1, but Frank Brattle settled the nerves in style, striding to 61 not out, well supported by Robert Murray's unbeaten 35, and we cantered home for the loss of two wickets in 23 overs. Only John Ames left disappointed, walking for a duck. Roy Clarke had his work cut out behind the stumps — twelve byes tells its own tale — but no matter.

Notable milestones too: Maurice Fenner's 8 runs nudged him to 8th on the all-time run charts, and Michael Chambers's brace lifted him to 24th among the wicket-takers — the old boys' honours board keeps shuffling nicely.

A comfortable eight-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfactory Sunday. Onwards we go.

Sat 13 Jul 1963 🧢 1st XIv TX Terry Whittaker's XI · HomeformLDLLL

Saturday the thirteenth of July found us hosting Terry Whittaker's XI, and having won the toss, I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, though our card didn't always thank me for it afterwards. We were bowled out for 104 in 40.2 overs, Richard Ashby leading the way with a tidy 22, while the middle order rather lost its head, tumbling from 16 for 1 to 31 for 4 in the space of a few overs. A blot on the card: Terry Whittaker's duck, which I shan't dwell on further out of politeness.

104 looked distinctly gettable when we took the field, but the visitors never found their feet, reaching only 55 all out in 29.2 overs, the innings collapsing from 55 for 7 to 55 for 10 in a hurry. Butler, Clark and Stanford all departed without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball, finishing with figures of 4 for 28, while Ron Hickman (3-5) and Alan Tucker (3-8, five of them maidens) did rather more than their share of the damage. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, conceding 14 byes, though he'll take some consolation from sitting second in the 1963 first-team run charts with 227 to his name. Tucker's three wickets, meanwhile, nudged him past Don Hartridge into eighteenth on the club's all-time list.

We ran out winners by 49 runs. A scrappy total defended in style — a very good day for the club.

Sun 07 Jul 1963 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformDLDLL

Sunday took us down to Aylesford Paper Mills, and losing the toss set the tone before a ball was bowled — they had first use of a flat one and made us pay for it. Peter Medhurst simply refused to get out, cruising to 87 not out, with Willard's fine 63 and Alan Baker's unbeaten 39 filling in the gaps either side of a stand of 98 for the second wicket that did for our afternoon's ambitions. John Ames toiled hardest for 1-43, with Michael Chambers and Alan Wilkes chipping in a wicket apiece, but 217/3 from 43 overs was always going to take some chasing.

Chasing it we duly failed to do. Frank Brattle and John Ames put on a promising 50 for the first wicket, and Brattle's 27, Ames's 25 and Robert Murray's unbeaten 27 were about the only things worth writing home about. Between 50 and 54 the innings simply fell apart, four wickets tumbling in the time it takes to pour a tea, and I must confess to playing my part in the collapse — I departed for nought, and the least said about that particular stroke the better. Stan Wratten and Len Conway kept me company in the duck's-egg club. Poor Roy Clarke, meanwhile, spent the day chasing byes behind the stumps, eight of them in total, though he can console himself with second place in the season's run charts.

Beaten by 121 runs, no dressing it up. We'll be better for it next week — we'd rather struggle to.

Sun 30 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · HomeformDDLDL

Sunday brought Tilling Steven to Linton Park, and having won the toss I fancied our chances first up with the bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might suggest by close of play.

Fifty all out in 38.5 overs was a modest total, and modest is being kind. Alan Tucker's 20 was easily the innings' backbone, but we lost early ground at 7 for 1 and then shed wickets like autumn leaves, 7 for 1 becoming 7 for 4 before anyone had settled into their pads. William Buck and X Rayner both fell without troubling the scorers, and I'm afraid I completed the hat-trick of ducks myself — a golden blob, first ball, the sort of dismissal that gives a captain nightmares. Leading by example is all very well until the example is quite so bad.

With the ball we fared rather better. Tilling Steven were untroubled in the end, reaching 54 for 2 in just 14.3 overs, though they too stumbled early at 5 for 1. Excell's unbeaten 22 saw them home, while Michael Chambers toiled honestly for 1 for 24 and, on the season's wicket charts, sits a very respectable third with 18 to his name — Roy Clarke meanwhile sits second among the run-scorers with 224.

Not our day, beaten by eight wickets, and no prizes for guessing where the post-match inquest began. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sun 23 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv MA Maidstone AKCC · HomeformWDDLD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 23 June 1963. Won the toss, and against my better judgement decided we'd have a bat. In hindsight, the pitch had other ideas.

104 all out from 53 overs is not a total to frighten anyone, though it might have been worse without Stan Wratten's watchful 27 and Roy Clarke digging in for an unbeaten 24. The middle order rather lost its nerve — 90 for 7 became 104 all out in the sort of collapse that gives a captain grey hairs he can ill afford. Commiserations to C. Haylor and Ossie Fryer, both of whom made the long walk back for nought — the Duck Club ledger swells again. 🦆

In the field we at least made a match of it. Their openers put on 75 before we prised the first wicket loose, and L. Murrell went on to a fine 57, but 106 for 2 from 35 overs told its own story. Ray Howard was superb — 2 for 25 with four maidens, miserly as a Yorkshireman with a bar tab — though our wicketkeeper had a torrid afternoon, 15 byes leaking through like the village roof.

There was a silver lining: Roy Clarke's 24 nudges him to 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he now sits second in this season's 1st XI charts with 219 runs. 📈 Beaten by eight wickets in the end — no disgrace, but plenty to work on before next week.

Sat 22 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformLWDDL

Roy Clarke's Match Report — Saturday 22 June, away to Rumwood CC

Lost the toss, lost the initiative, and there wasn't much I could do about it — Rumwood took one look at the pitch and stuck us in the field. To their credit, Buckland played a proper captain's innings of 37, with John Carter (29) and Pound (26) doing the honest graft either side of him, and that fourth-wicket stand of 57 was the difference between a total we could chase and one we couldn't quite. David Gale bowled beautifully for his 3-71, five maidens included — the sort of spell that empties a batsman's confidence over by over — while Dick Langridge chipped in with 2-52 to keep the scoreboard honest.

With the bat, Basil Sears played the innings of the day, 78 gloriously past his fifty, and brought up 5,000 career runs for the club in the process — a landmark that deserved a bigger stage than a soggy Saturday at Rumwood. John Crellin's 25 supported nicely, and their third-wicket stand of 60 was the backbone of our 149/6. I contributed my own small share along the way. Poor C. Haylor made his walk of shame for a duck, and Bob Arnold's afternoon behind the stumps was a trial by fire — eleven byes tells its own story.

David Gale's three wickets also nudged him past J. Donovan to 21st on the club's all-time list, which is rather nice. A draw, then — honours even, nobody quite deserving more, and the tea, as ever, the true winner of the day.

Sun 16 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformDLWDD

Sunday 16 June found us on the road to Bobbing Court, and my luck was out before a ball was bowled — I lost the toss and we were put into the field. It's never the outcome you want, but the lads set about it with good cheer, and by the close of their innings we had reason to feel rather pleased with ourselves. They posted 157 for 9 off their 45 overs, Roger Mills top-scoring with 39 and Denis Fowle chipping in 35, with C Robinson's 25 rounding out the damage. Poor F Honey departed without so much as a nibble at the scorebook. The real story, though, was Michael Chambers, who simply ran riot to finish with a remarkable 7 for 76 — the sort of spell that has opposition openers checking the fixture list for years to come. David Gale weighed in with 2 for 37, and I was happy enough to send down four maidens of my own in support.

Chasing 158, we never quite got the wheels turning. I made 48 and Roy Clarke a tidy 26, but wickets fell around us and we were bowled out for 131 in the 41st over, with both William Buck and Michael Chambers making twin ducks of it. Beaten by 26 runs in the end — a defeat, but not a disgrace, against a total we ought to have chased down on a good day.

Roy Clarke continues his fine season, now second in the 1st XI run charts with 187, and David Gale sits second among the wicket-takers with 19 — proof, if any were needed, that the engine room is running well even when the top gear lets us down. We'll dust ourselves off and be better for it next week.

Sat 15 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformDDLWD

Lost the toss again — some things never change — and Headcorn duly took first knock on a pitch that looked made for batting. And so it proved, at least to begin with: their openers put on a chastening 107 before we so much as troubled the scorebook, and I confess there were one or two grim faces round the boundary rope as the score climbed. But cricket has a way of turning, and turn it did. Once John Carter got his tail up he was unplayable, finishing with a magnificent 5-58, while Terry Donovan bowled with real discipline — 3-62 and three maidens to show for his afternoon's toil — and between them we hauled Headcorn back to 176/8 from their 46.2 overs, C. Smith's well-made 59 and G. Murrell's fifty the mainstay of an innings that could have been so much worse for us.

Chasing 177, we lost an early wicket with just 7 on the board and my heart was in my mouth, but a sturdy 55-run stand for the fifth wicket steadied things nicely. I was pleased to lead from the front with 61, well supported by J. Woodward's 29, though poor Roy Clarke endured a day to forget — a duck with the bat and 12 byes through his gloves. We closed on 152/9 from 44 overs, agonisingly short.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly no worse than either side deserved after a scrap like that.

Sun 09 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformDDDLW

For all to see, and the lads to muse over:

Sunday, 09 June, and the fixture list took us to Gore Court. I lost the toss — again — and duly found myself watching from the boundary as they elected to bat, which on a day like this felt less like misfortune and more like a formality.

Gerald Lukehurst had clearly decided this was to be his afternoon, and who were we to argue: a superb 124, the sort of innings that makes a captain reconsider his field placings roughly every over. He had willing company too — Robin Bush unbeaten on 38 and David Harris with 29 — and after a flying start of 89 without loss, the pair put on a further 95 for the second wicket before we so much as glimpsed a breakthrough. B Norman kept his head amid the carnage, finishing with 2-75 and two maidens to show for his patience, which under the circumstances counted as heroism.

Set 208 from 43, we replied with 136/8 from our 51 — a chase that never quite found its legs. William Buck led the way with 47, Basil Sears chipped in with 37, and the pair of them built the innings' best stand, 61 for the sixth wicket, before the middle order rather lost its nerve, subsiding from 14-1 to 27-4 in the time it takes to put the kettle on. Ron Hickman's name, I'm sorry to report, goes into the Duck Club ledger for a nought. I contributed my own small piece to the run chase, and to a season's tally now standing at 234.

Honours shared, then — a draw earned more by their generosity in setting a stiff target than by our resistance in chasing it. Tea, as ever, was the highlight.

Sat 08 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformLDDDL

We had first use of the ball on Saturday, and against Tovil it proved the making of us. They were bowled out for 91 in 33.2 overs, despite M. Taylor's watchful 38 and useful support from J. Morrison's 20 — an early wicket at 8 promised us a good day, though a stubborn fourth-wicket stand of 57 threatened to spoil the script. No matter: we tore through the middle and lower order, 76 for 4 becoming 82 for 7 almost before anyone had finished their tea. David Gale was magnificent, 6 for 39 with four maidens to his name, ably backed by Terry Donovan's 3 for 12 and Terry Whittaker's solitary but tidy wicket.

Chasing 92, we made a proper meal of it, as is our custom. Roy Clarke and Frank Brattle both weighed in with 22 — Brattle's unbeaten knock nudging him past George Champion into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, no less — while E. Bevan and Bob Arnold departed for ducks and Clarke's afternoon behind the stumps cost us 14 byes for good measure. We scraped home at 94 for 8, and I'm pleased to say my own season's form held up, 227 runs still keeping me top of the 1st XI charts, with Terry Donovan's 18 wickets doing the same up front.

A nervy, scruffy, thoroughly typical two points. We'll take them all day.

Fri 07 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDLDDD

Friday last took us down to West Farleigh, and true to form I lost the toss — my coin-calling remains, as ever, the weakest part of my captaincy. They chose to bat, and we trooped into the field to see what could be done about it.

Sixteen overs later they'd posted 112 for 7, Joe Fenner playing the shepherd to their innings with a fine 41. There was some consolation for us, mind: poor Trevor Fermor was sent back for a duck without so much as a nudge off the square, which I'm sure will be mentioned to him at the bar for some weeks yet. Alan Wilkes was the story of the innings, though, steaming in for a superb 4 for 35, with David Gale chipping away for 2 for 66 alongside him.

Chasing 113 was always going to ask questions of our nerve, and we duly lost an early wicket with just 6 on the board — the sort of start that has spectators reaching for their flasks in sympathy. But the innings settled, and I was fortunate enough to bat through, finishing unbeaten on 49 as we reached 103 for 5 from our sixteen overs. Not quite enough, in the end — beaten by 9 runs, a margin that will sting rather more on the drive home than it will by next Friday.

Still, with 220 runs now to my name this season and David Gale up to 11 wickets, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 03 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWDLDD

Terry Whittaker's captain's column, Linton Park CC v Bearsted CC, Monday 3rd June 1963

I lost the toss, Bearsted chose to bat, and I confess my heart sank a fraction as we trooped out into the field on what promised to be a long afternoon. So it proved, in a manner of speaking: David Andrews cashed in with a fine 72, and once he and Gordon A Hawkins settled in for that sixth-wicket stand of 73 - Hawkins finishing unbeaten on 40, with Peter Prince chipping in 40 of his own - our bowling figures began to look distinctly agricultural. Alan Tucker was the one shaft of light, prising out three for 46, while Gordon Fenner and I shared the mopping-up, I with the rather unglamorous return of one for 60. Bearsted closed on 239 for 6.

Chasing that lot, we lost an early wicket with the score on just 1, which is never the tonic a captain wants to administer to his own nerves before lunch. But Gordon Fenner played beautifully for 71, and Roy Clarke, promoted to hero status with an unbeaten 54, put on 108 together for the fourth wicket to drag us back into calm water, William Buck adding a tidy 20. We finished on 211 for 9, agonisingly short but honourably so - and there was a pleasing footnote in Clarke's innings nudging him past Herbert Rayner into 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list.

So it ended in a draw, honours shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. On reflection, a fair result: we bowled like a side who fancied a chat rather than a wicket, but batted like one that remembered where the exit was. I'll happily take a draw against Bearsted and the drive home for tea.

Sun 02 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformWWDLD

Lost the toss again on Sunday, so Folkestone CC had first use of a good batting surface and made themselves thoroughly at home. Brian Humphries anchored the innings with a fine 43, well supported by David Brickell's 26 and Sid Smith's 24, and their openers had already put on 61 before we found a way through. Ian Pepper departed for a golden duck, a small mercy amid the carnage. It was John Ames who turned the afternoon our way, spinning through them for 5-46 with four miserly maidens, well backed by Ron Hickman's 2-17 and Michael Chambers's 1-23, as we restricted them to 173/8 from 46.3 overs.

Chasing that down, we lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board, which had the tea urn rattling with nerves. Roy Clarke's 36 and my own 40 steadied the ship, and a stand of 52 for the fifth wicket, with Robert Murray weighing in with 21, kept our hopes flickering. Len Conway and Terry Donovan both departed for ducks, and sixteen byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Clarke. We closed on 149/7 from 47 overs.

Murray's 21, incidentally, nudged him past John Taylor into 7th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a tidy footnote on an otherwise scrappy day. With neither side able to force the issue, honours were shared. A draw felt fair, if faintly unsatisfying, and there is plenty still to play for this season.

Sat 01 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformDWWDL

Saturday 1 June 1963, and a fine day for it as the visitors arrived at Linton Park. Winning the toss, I put us into the field first — always a gamble, but the pitch looked to have a bit in it. They settled to 159/6 off their 45, with C. Rye compiling a watchful 54 not out and R. Holland weighing in with 49, G. Davis chipping in 36; a healthy second-wicket stand of 56 did most of the damage after we'd nipped out the opener for just 5. Terry Donovan was the pick of the attack with 2-33, Alan Tucker and Robert Wood chiming in with a wicket apiece, and there was a small mantelpiece moment amid it all — Tucker's solitary scalp nudging him past J. Donovan to 20th on the club's all-time list, which is the sort of thing that means rather more to us than it perhaps should.

Chasing 160, we never quite found our rhythm. Terry Donovan, having done the business with the ball, then did it again with the bat — a composed 54 not out, backed by J. Woodward's 21 and a useful fourth-wicket stand of 50. But 92-4 became 100-7 with alarming haste, poor Bob Arnold enduring the ignominy of a golden duck behind the stumps and ten byes besides, and we limped home on 152/8, the last few overs adding a defiant 35 to keep the game alive.

Honours shared, then — a draw earned as much through obstinacy as artistry, and on this evidence, entirely fair.

Sun 26 May 1963 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLDWWD

John Ames celebrated his 200th appearance in Linton colours with a spell to make grown men weep into their tea – 7-52, four maidens, not a run given away lightly – and for a glorious afternoon it looked like The Mote might be undone by their own generosity. Malcolm Bristow's 69, with John Waters (33) and John Reader (21) lending sturdy support and a first-wicket stand of 57, had carried them to what should have been a commanding total. But 120-3 became 128-6 under the sort of pressure that makes a captain's heart sing, Ames running riot and Ron Hickman (3-37) mopping up, and they were bowled out for 169. G- Offen departed without troubling the scorers. For a while, we dared to dream.

Then we batted, and the dream evaporated rather quicker than the tea urn's contents. From a respectable-ish 12-1 we contrived to slump to 19-4 in the time it takes to say "well bowled", with Basil Sears, Robert Wood and David Gale all departing for ducks – a trio of blobs that will not adorn the scorebook kindly. I did what I could with 15, but it was a lone hand against the tide, and all out for 67 in 33.3 overs was never going to trouble anyone.

Beaten by 102 runs, then, and no arguing with the arithmetic. But a word for Ames's landmark day, and for the top of the season's charts where I sit second with 119 runs and Ames third with 10 wickets – there's substance in this side yet. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 25 May 1963 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformLLDWW

Off the field, Gore Court arrived at Linton Park in fine fettle, and my luck was out before a ball was bowled — I lost the toss and had no say in the matter. They elected to bat, and their openers made the most of first use of a good pitch, putting on 73 before we finally prised one loose. David Hillier led the way with a fluent 39, Peter Baker unbeaten on 35 and Andrew Ogle chipping in 29, taking Gore Court to a competitive 174/5 off their 47.1 overs. Credit where it's due — Terry Donovan bowled beautifully for 3-49, five of those overs maidens, with Alan Tucker and Terry Whittaker chipping in a wicket apiece to keep it respectable.

Chasing 175, we lost our opener for next to nothing — 7-1 was hardly the platform I'd have chosen — and for a while it looked like a long afternoon in the field might be followed by an even longer one at the crease. But a stand of 51 for the fourth wicket steadied the ship, and I was glad to play my part with 36, well supported by Robert Murray's 27 and Terry Donovan's 22, as we closed on 143/7. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes his one blemish on an otherwise honourable afternoon, though he can console himself with having crept past William Blight into 25th on the club's all-time run-scorers list.

So honours shared, and rightly so — neither side could quite land the killer blow. A draw that felt, in the best village-cricket tradition, entirely fair to both.

Sun 19 May 1963 🧢 1st XIv CC Claributs Circus · HomeformLLLDW

Won the toss on a fine Sunday and, with Claributs Circus visiting, I fancied runs on the board and sent us in. It nearly went awry at 5 for the loss of an early wicket, the sort of jittery start that has a captain reaching for the flask, but Ray Howard settled things beautifully, striking a superb 85, and a stand of 83 for the third wicket with John Ames, who chipped in a handsome 36, put the innings back on an even keel. I added 23 myself down the order, more graft than grace, and we closed on a healthy 204 for 5 off our 45.

Defending that kind of total is meant to be the easy part, and so it proved. Barry Langridge set the tone with the ball, 2 for 6 including two miserly maidens, while David Gale and Michael Chambers weighed in with two apiece to leave the visitors reeling. Only G Pilcher, with 37, offered any real resistance as they folded for 101 in 37.3 overs, Richard Langridge and A Barr both back in the pavilion without scoring.

A day of landmarks besides: Ray Howard brought up 3,000 career runs and, for good measure, a wicket that lifted him to 11th on our all-time bowling list, Michael Chambers reached 50 career scalps, and Robert Murray's 16 nudged him to 8th among our all-time run-scorers. A comprehensive 103-run win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Sat 18 May 1963 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformLLLLD

Saturday 18 May 1963 saw us take the road to Maidstone YMCA, and having called correctly I fancied a bat first — no hesitation at all.

It didn't start well. Six for one felt like the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the hip flask early, but Terry Donovan and J Woodward steadied the ship beautifully, their fourth-wicket stand of 67 the real spine of the innings. Donovan finished unbeaten on 44, Woodward chipping in a fine 34, and we closed on 127 for 5 from our 44 overs — not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but enough, as it turned out, to be going on with.

Then Donovan did something rather special with the ball. Seven wickets for 26 runs is the sort of spell that has team-mates quietly moving away from you at the bar in case some of it rubs off, and he simply ran through them — 43 for 3 became 53 for 6 before the Maidstone lads knew what had hit them. Merricks, Orpin and Williams all trudged back without troubling the scorers. Alan Tucker bowled beautifully too, 2 for 15 with five maidens — miserly doesn't quite cover it — and Terry Whittaker weighed in with one for 16. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 15 byes conceded, but no matter. Maidstone were bowled out for 73 in 24.4 overs, Phillips top-scoring with 24, and we came away 54 runs to the good.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and onwards we go.

Sun 12 May 1963 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformLLLLL

No luck with the coin on Sunday, and Bobbing Court CC took first use of a good-looking Linton Park wicket. They made themselves thoroughly at home too, closing on 158 for 7 from their fifty-three overs. T Ades led the way with a fine 57, well supported by Jack Whibley's 49 and Denis Fowle's unbeaten 21, the pair adding 63 for the third wicket to give their innings its backbone. Happily Roger Mills and C Robinson departed without troubling the scorers, both falling to an attack in which David Gale ran riot — five wickets for 43, five of his overs maidens, a spell that also nudged him past Bert Buckoke into 23rd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Michael Chambers and Ray Howard chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Chasing 159, we never quite found the fluency to match it, closing on 129 for 8 from our forty-six. Ray Howard top-scored with 37, Frank Brattle made 34 and Robert Murray 30, but the middle order rather lost the thread, Stan Wratten and I both departing for ducks — I shall draw a discreet veil over mine. J Woodward had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, eight byes escaping his gloves.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. With Brattle leading our season's run charts and Gale sitting handsomely second among the wicket-takers, there is plenty to be cheerful about, even if the skipper's own contribution with the bat was, this week, strictly ornamental.

Sat 11 May 1963 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformLLLLL

I only made 33 runs, not runs and wickets — let me make sure I fold that in once, naturally, alongside the bowling figures.

There's no toss luck for us either way in the writing task itself — just the report. Here it is:

Well, the coin let us down before we'd even begun, and Charles Arkcoll took first use of a green-looking track. Not that it mattered much once we got the ball rolling — Terry Donovan was in menacing form, snaring 3-22, with Robert Wood (2-11) and Alan Tucker (2-20) chipping away either end, and Terry Whittaker keeping things miserly with a couple of maidens for good measure. Randolph Thompson top-scored with a defiant 36, well supported by Stan Wratten and John Abnett with 26 apiece, but three of their number departed without troubling the scorers, and 128 all out felt, at tea, like a target well within our compass.

It was not to be. Whatever demons possessed our top order at Charles Arkcoll's hands possessed the middle and lower orders too — wickets clattered from 46-6 to 54-9 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a cup of tea, and three of our lads left for ducks of their own. Terry Donovan again led the way, this time with the bat, top-scoring with 24, and I chipped in with a few runs myself, but 68 all out was a sorry reply to their total.

Sixty runs the wrong side of the ledger, then, and a chastening afternoon all round. Nothing for it but to lick our wounds, book the nets, and remember why we love this maddening game.

Wed 08 May 1963 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWLLLL

Wednesday last saw us on the road to West Farleigh, where I lost the toss and duly discovered that calling correctly and calling usefully are two entirely different arts — we were asked to chase, and given first use of the ball, which at least let us open proceedings with a bit of leather on willow rather than the other way round.

The home side made hay to the tune of 76/2 from their twelve overs, R Matthews unbeaten on 26 and rather too pleased with himself about it, though Terry Whittaker did his level best to spoil the party with figures of 2-37 — pick of our attack, and no argument.

Chasing 77, we replied with 71/4, a touch short in the end but not without merit. Frank Brattle led the way with a fine 33, and I was glad to chip in alongside him with 25 of my own, the pair of us doing what we could to drag the total within sight. Less happily, poor Dick Langridge endured the walk of shame for a duck — the Duck Club ledger duly updated, much to the lads' amusement and his.

Brattle now leads our 1963 run charts with 43 to his name, while Whittaker sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 7 — early season form worth watching.

Beaten by five runs in the end, which stings rather more for how close it was. But there was enough heart and application out there to suggest we'll be the better for it next week.

Sun 05 May 1963 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWWLLL

On winning the toss on a bright Sunday at Linton Park I fancied a bat, and how I've lived to regret it. We were reduced to rubble almost before the tea urn had boiled, tumbling to 0-1 inside the first over and never quite finding our feet thereafter. John Ames stood defiantly amid the wreckage with a fine 33, but around him the innings simply came apart, 52-6 collapsing to 58-9 in a blur, and poor Frank Brattle, Robert Murray and Richard Ashby all trooped off for ducks. All out for 59 in 18.5 overs was, frankly, a modest total to defend.

Yet cricket delights in confounding a captain's gloom. West Farleigh set off in similarly wobbly fashion, slipping from 49-5 to 56-8, with Roly Day and W Quayle both bagging ducks against our attack. Michael Chambers was magnificent, his 5-30 thoroughly deserved, while David Gale strangled the scoring with six maidens on his way to 2-18, a spell that also carried him past Basil Sears into 25th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. There was warmer news too, with William Buck reaching 5,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to regardless of the result.

In the end Micky Back's unbeaten 20 nudged West Farleigh home by two wickets, a defeat that stings rather more for how close our bowlers dragged us back into it. Ames and Chambers now sit proudly atop this season's run and wicket charts respectively, and there is plainly enough steel in this side to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 28 Apr 1963 🧢 1st XIv MA Maidstone AKCC · HomeformDWWLL

Sunday 28 April brought us a home fixture and, I'll confess, considerably more hope than the scorecard ultimately justified. Winning the toss and putting the opposition in seemed the sensible course, and for a while it looked shrewd enough — until Brian Aiston and William Dover settled in, finishing unbeaten on 44 and 36 respectively, with Maurice Tasker's 34 knitting together a third-wicket stand of 68 that did most of the damage. John Ames was the pick of our attack with 1-8, Michael Chambers bowled a tidy 1-9 with four maidens to show for his discipline, and Stan Wratten chipped in with 1-31. All told, 151/3 from their 41 overs was a total that asked serious questions of our batting.

Questions we answered poorly. Ray Howard's 28 was a lone beacon of sense in a reply that unravelled from 58-5 to 62-8 in the sort of rush that has grown men reaching for the teapot in despair. Ducks for B Norman and Michael Chambers didn't help matters, and 13 byes gave poor Roy Clarke behind the stumps a thoroughly testing afternoon. All out for 69 in 36 overs told its own sorry tale.

Beaten by 82 runs, then, and no dressing that up. Ray Howard leads our run charts for the season and Michael Chambers sits fourth among the wicket-takers, so there are green shoots amid the wreckage. We'll be better for it next week — we rather have to be.

Sat 27 Apr 1963 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWDWWL

The road took us to West Farleigh CC on Saturday, and when the coin fell kindly I had no hesitation in putting us in to bat — a decision I spent much of the afternoon quietly reconsidering. We were bowled out for 73 in 33.4 overs, the first wicket falling for a paltry 8, and the Duck Club ledger swelled alarmingly: Roy Clarke and Bob Arnold walked back for nought, and I completed the trio of shame myself with a golden blob, gone first ball — a captain leading by example, just not the example one hopes for.

With the ball, though, we gave a rather better account of ourselves. West Farleigh replied with 76 for 8 from 30.1 overs, their own first wicket also going cheaply at 2, and we sent Joe Fenner and Trevor Fermor back without troubling the scorers. Reg Oldfield's 29 did the heavy lifting for them, but Terry Whittaker was magnificent throughout, six miserly maidens on his way to a thoroughly deserved 5 for 27. I managed 2 for 11 and R. Bevan picked up 1 for 27, though poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, conceding 11 byes.

In the end West Farleigh scraped home by two wickets, and 73 was never quite enough to defend. Richard Ashby and Terry Whittaker head our early-season charts with bat and ball respectively — proof there's talent in the side, even if the captain wasn't showing much of it. Not our day. Heads up, back to the nets.