🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 22 Sep 1963 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformLLDDD

Sunday 22nd September saw us at home, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and, with the sort of confidence that usually precedes disaster, stuck us in to bat. For a while it looked the right call. Dick Langridge played the innings of the day, a fine 48 that had the deckchairs murmuring approval, with Stan Wratten a steady 37 and Gordon Fenner a brisk 26 alongside him. We closed on 166 for 7 from our 42 overs, helped along by a generous 28 extras — the bowlers' unwitting contribution to the cause.

Not every man enjoyed his afternoon in the sun. Bob Arnold and Cliff Anscombe both endured that particular walk back to the pavilion reserved for the golden duck, heads high, pride rather more dented, and no doubt already plotting revenge with next week's bat.

The season's ledger continues to make interesting reading: Dick now leads the Married run charts on the strength of that 48, while Ray Howard sits handsomely atop the Singles table with 88 — a gap the rest of us married men would rather not discuss over tea.

As for the result, 166 was not, in the end, enough. We fell 28 runs short, beaten fair and square. Still, there was enough in the batting to suggest better days ahead, and if nothing else, the ducks gave the tea-hut something to talk about. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 15 Sep 1963 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformLDWDW

Lost the toss on a bright Sunday at Staplehurst — no surprises there, my coin-calling remains as reliable as an English summer — and found ourselves stuck in the field. Early on it looked routine enough at 2 for 1, but then Michael Chambers got his fingers working and simply took the game away from them: 37 for 3 became 37 for 6 in the blink of an eye, with Catt, Holden and Paine all trudging back for ducks. He finished with a magnificent 6-28, four of his overs going for nothing at all, well backed up by Alan Wilkes's 3-25 and a wicket for David Gale. Staplehurst were bowled out for 91 in 29.2 overs, J Blunt's unbeaten 28 the only real resistance.

Chasing 92 was never going to be straightforward on this ground, and so it proved, though I confess a certain quiet satisfaction in getting my head down for 54 not out while Norman Mattingley and Dick Langridge contributed golden ducks at the other end. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 15 byes disappearing past him, but we got there by 4 wickets.

A special day besides the result: David Gale reached 100 career wickets, and Michael Chambers's haul lifted him past J Donovan to 22nd on the club's all-time list. Two points, thoroughly deserved, and a very fine afternoon's work all round.

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

From the captain's chair — Saturday 14 September 1963. Bowaters CC were the visitors, and having lost the toss I did the only sensible thing a captain in my position can do, which is put a brave face on being asked to chase.

As it turned out, the field was rather the place to be. Bowaters never quite got their innings into second gear, wobbling to 8 for 1 early on and never truly recovering, before folding from 81 for 7 to 82 all out in the 36th over — William Preston's 36 the only real resistance. Alan Tucker span a web through them, 5 for 18, with H Mannering lending stout support at 4 for 21, and Terry Donovan tying an end down with a couple of maidens for good measure. Trevor Clinch and Colin Cole trudged back without opening their accounts, which I shall put down to the wicket rather than the will.

Eighty-three to win is never quite the formality the scorebook suggests, and so it proved when we lost an early wicket with just 3 on the board — the sort of nervy start that has spectators reaching for their flasks rather than their applause. But John Thirkell, who continues to lead our 1963 run charts and did nothing here to relinquish that crown, played the anchor role beautifully for 40, and I was glad to chip in with 40 of my own to see us home. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 10 byes testament to a pitch with ideas of its own.

Five wickets, two points, and thoroughly earned — a fine day's work all round.

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

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 · HomeformDLLLD

Saturday, 7th September 1963. Fine turnout to host St Lukes Maidstone, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they won the toss and chose to bat, leaving us to make the early running with the leather.

We couldn't have asked for a better start, with the first wicket falling for just 6, and though George Winter's 44 dragged St Lukes towards respectability, our bowlers never let them settle. A spell of 53-3 becoming 55-6 in the blink of an eye did for them, with L Gardener and B Lamb both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. H Mannering was the chief tormentor with 3-20, John Thirkell (2-23) and the ever-parsimonious Terry Donovan (2-37, two maidens and not a run to spare) doing the mopping up. All out 109 from 43.2 overs — a fair morning's work.

Chasing it should have been the easy part, and true to Linton Park form we made it anything but, losing a wicket before troubling the scoreboard. Credit to the lads for steadying the ship — a stand of 50 for the second wicket set things right, D Simmons top-scoring with 42, Norman Mattingley (31) and John Thirkell (28) lending sturdy support, and I chipped in with 28 myself, for what it's worth. Frank Brattle and Terry Donovan both had quieter afternoons with the bat.

Three wickets to spare, 110-7 the final tally, and two points safely banked. A nervy watch from the boundary, but thoroughly earned all the same.

Sun 01 Sep 1963 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDLLL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 1st September 1963.

We welcomed the visitors on a day that felt, from the toss onwards, entirely too even-handed for anyone's blood pressure. The coin obliged me and I sent us in, a decision I'd like to take full credit for, though truthfully it owed more to habit than tactics. William Buck played the innings of the day, 52 to his name, and found sturdy company in Robert Murray's 46 and John Thirkell's 21, the pair adding a vital 53 for the third wicket while the rest of us, myself included with a modest 21, filled in around the edges. All told, 168 for 6 from our 46 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but enough, we hoped, to be defended with pride.

And defend it we very nearly did. R Pavitt and J Raiser put on 102 for the second wicket in a stand that had us reaching for the scorebook and wondering whether the tea urn should be put on early, both men passing fifty in fine style. Alan Wilkes hauled us back into it with 4 for 48, David Gale chipped in with one, and Michael Chambers, three tidy maidens to his name, took the other. D McEuan departed without troubling the scorers at all. Eight byes behind the stumps suggested our wicketkeeper had rather more exercise than intended.

They finished on 145 for 7, and honours were shared. A fair result, if I'm honest, and a happy one too — Robert Murray brought up 3,000 runs for the club, which called for rather more than the usual round of applause.

Sat 31 Aug 1963 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDDLL

Saturday 31 August 1963 saw us play host, and having won the toss I sent the opposition in — a decision that, for once, looked rather clever. They subsided to 8-4 with three ducks in the book, and though a- Trembeth (31) and J- Mortlock (20) did their honest best to repair the damage, there was no answer to Dick Langridge, who span his way through them for 5-34 off three miserly maidens, well backed up by John Crellin's 5-46. All out for 80 in 21.1 overs — the kind of collapse that has a captain permitting himself a small, private smile at mid-off.

That smile, I confess, did not survive the afternoon. Chasing a target that ought to have been a formality, we contrived to make heavy weather of 81, crawling to it in 50.4 overs for the loss of three wickets — cricket's equivalent of parking a Rolls-Royce in a skip. Terry Whittaker held firm for 27 not out, Robert Murray chipped in with 26 on his way to 325 for the season and 4th in the club's run charts, and I managed 27 myself, though none of it made for pretty watching.

In the end we were beaten by seven wickets, having bowled the opposition out for a song and then somehow failed to sing one ourselves. Heads up, then, and back to the nets — there is a lesson in there somewhere about not chasing 80 as though it were 280.

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 18 August 1963 saw The Mote CC visit Linton Park, and winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and I'm sticking to that story regardless of what followed.

What followed, in truth, was a touch ragged. From 84 all out in 34 overs there's little to hide behind: we slipped from 14-1 to 16-4 in the sort of collapse that has spectators suddenly very interested in their tea, and three of our number — John Thirkell, Stan Wratten and Robert Murray — departed without troubling the scorer. Ron Hickman stood rather alone with a battling 20, for which the whole side owes him a pint.

With the ball, though, we gave a proper account of ourselves. John Ames was superb, tearing through with 3-28, while Len Conway (1-20, and two miserly maidens besides) and Dick Langridge (1-29) kept things tight enough that 84 nearly, nearly held up. The Mote crept to 88-5 in 26.2 overs, T. Rickard unbeaten on 23 and John Waters chipping in with 21 to see them home by five wickets. As for my own contribution — nought, and we shall draw a discreet veil over it, as agreed.

Elsewhere in the season, Roy Clarke continues to purr along in 3rd on the run charts with 333, and Ames now sits 4th among the wicket-takers with 21. A defeat, then, but not a disgrace — we'll be better for it next week.

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

1963, Bowaters CC — a Saturday to file quietly in the log and reach for the sherry rather than the champagne.

Winning the toss, I elected to bat, and I still maintain it was the right call — the pitch, the weather, the general vibe of the thing all pointed that way. What the pitch did not point towards was 7 for 1 inside the first exchanges, which rather set the tone for what followed. From there the innings did not so much collapse as gently disintegrate: 7 for 1 became 14 for 4 in the time it takes to pour a tea, and Roy Clarke, Dick Langridge and H Mannering each strode out, had a look around, and strode back again without troubling the scorer — three golden ducks in support of one another, which takes a certain camaraderie. We were all out for 55 in 22.4 overs, a total that flattered nobody.

But cricket, mercifully, has two innings' worth of redemption on offer, and the lads took the ball with something to prove. Bowaters, for all our early generosity, could find no answer either, and were bowled out for nought — a scarcely believable turn that had me checking the scorebook twice.

Two capitulations, honours even, and a draw that satisfied precisely no one and everyone in equal measure. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts for the season with 470, proof that not all was chaos in 1963. Verdict: a match best remembered fondly, described vaguely, and never examined too closely by either side.

Sat 10 Aug 1963 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLLLLL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 10 August 1963

Called it right at the toss and, with the sun doing its level best to hold off the Kent drizzle for once, there was never any question of doing anything but batting first. Robert Murray played the innings of the day, ticking serenely past his fifty to finish 51 not out, while John Thirkell's 42 gave the innings its spine and Frank Brattle chipped in a handy 27. The pair at the top put on 52 to set us on our way, though poor Roy Clarke will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck in the club gazette — these things happen to the best of us, Roy, and no doubt you'll have your revenge next week. We closed on a respectable 166 for 5 from our 42 overs.

Then came the small matter of defending it, and defend it we did — I even got to bowl a bit myself, picking up 42 of my own in the process, for whatever that's worth to a captain more used to totting up other people's figures. Their innings folded without troubling the scorers for a result either way, and honours were shared: a draw, honestly earned, with neither side able to land the decisive blow.

A word too for Frank Brattle, whose 27 today eased him past Maurice Fenner into 8th on the club's all-time run charts — a fine, quiet achievement amid the afternoon's larger events. And John Thirkell continues to lead our 1963 run-scoring table with 465 for the season, a man very much in form. All told, a thoroughly honourable draw, and a day none of us will be sorry to have spent at the crease — or, in my case, occasionally in front of it.

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

We came to Bearsted on Monday 5th August full of the usual optimism, which lasted precisely as long as it took to lose the toss. Put in to field, we watched Colin Fleetwood and Ian Lambert set about us with real relish — 82 up before we so much as troubled the scorers, then a second-wicket stand of 197 that had our fielders' shadows growing longer by the over. Both men reached three figures, Lambert finishing unbeaten on 103, Fleetwood on 100, with David Andrews chipping in a brisk 45. Terry Whittaker (1-38) and David Gale (1-60) did what containing could be done in the circumstances, but 292 for 2 from 54 overs was always going to be a mountain, not a molehill.

And so it proved. Our reply began at 0 for 1 and, in the finest traditions of the club, never really recovered its composure. William Buck battled hard for an unbeaten 33, with Roy Clarke's 20 the only other score of note, but three of our number — John Thirkell, Ossie Fryer and Michael Chambers — departed without troubling the scorers, and I regret to say I made a fourth, my contribution best filed under Things We Do Not Discuss. Thirty-five byes rather summed up the day for William Buck behind the stumps. All out 115 in 52.4 overs told its own tale.

A thumping defeat by 177 runs, then — no dressing it up. Roy Clarke remains second in our season's run charts and David Gale tops the wickets, small crumbs of comfort on a day of otherwise wall-to-wall humility. Back to the nets, lads.

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

Splendid start of the season, we won the toss and I elected to bat — the right call, I felt.

We were 147/8 from our 46.3 overs, thanks in no small part to John Thirkell's fine 71, with Robert Murray chipping in 26 alongside him. The openers gave us a proper flyer — 70 on the board before Headcorn so much as looked at a wicket — but from 125/2 to 128/5 the innings rather resembled a deckchair collapsing in a stiff breeze. Still, 147 felt like something to bowl at.

And bowl at it they did, with interest. Their openers matched ours stride for stride — 105 up before we so much as troubled them — and from there C. Smith (70 not out) and G. Murrell (a handsome 51) simply got on with the job, G. Gore adding an unbeaten 20 for good measure. Small mercies: young Du Buisson departed for a diamond duck without so much as squinting at the scoreboard, and Dick Langridge toiled manfully for figures of 3-44, but 149/3 came up with overs to spare and the game, frankly, gone.

I was pleased enough to lead from the front with 71 — and John Thirkell, still ominously in form, now heads the 1st XI run charts with 423 for the season. But this was Headcorn's day by seven wickets, and ours to reflect on. Heads up, lads — back to the nets, and better luck next Saturday.

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

From the captain's chair — Monday 29 July 1963. Birkenhead Grasshoppers CC were the visitors, and no luck with the coin either; they called correctly and had first use of what looked a decent surface, leaving us in the field to start proceedings.

We toiled manfully enough. Grasshoppers ground their way to 188 for 7 off their 40 overs, with R R Dodd the chief architect of our discomfort — a polished 73 — ably supported by M Weir's unbeaten 39 and R Stears' 28, the pair putting on 61 for the fourth wicket while we rather admired from the boundary. Terry Whittaker was the pick of the attack with 3 for 37, and Eddie Page (2-38) and Terry Donovan (1-43) chipped in their share of the damage limitation.

A target of 189 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and answers were in short supply. John Thirkell played a lovely hand for 52 — the innings of the day — with Robert Murray's 39 the only other score of real substance, and I was happy enough to contribute 52 myself from the captain's berth. Beyond that, alas, the ducks came in threes: Gordon Fenner, Ossie Fryer and Alan Wilkes all departed for golden nothings, and we folded for 127 in 34.3 overs.

A small consolation amid the wreckage: Roy Clarke's unassuming 6 runs quietly nudged him past Richard Harris into 18th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — the sort of milestone best celebrated with a pint rather than a fanfare.

Beaten by 61 runs, then, fair and square. We'll be better for it next week.

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

Sunday last took us down to Folkestone, and having won the toss I did what any captain raised on tea and optimism does — stuck us in to bat. It didn't start well, an early wicket down with just 6 on the board leaving us all rather glum over our gloves, but the middle order steadied things nicely, a third-wicket stand of 53 doing much to restore my faith in human nature. Ron Wratten was the tale of the day, batting on serenely to 79 not out while wickets fell around him, and we were all out for 167 from 52.4 overs — respectable, if not spectacular. Special mention, of the wooden-spoon variety, to poor Dick Langridge, whose golden duck 🦆 will doubtless follow him round the clubhouse for weeks.

In the field we fought hard. Dick Langridge, redeeming himself splendidly with the ball, took 3-23, with John Ames and David Gale chipping in a wicket apiece, and Alan Wilkes bowling five miserly maidens that gave nothing away. Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes slipping through fingers that must have been thinking of the tea urn. Brian Humphries, though, made merry with 65, well supported by Butler and Miller, and a second-wicket stand of 61 put the game beyond us — Folkestone getting home at 168/5.

Beaten by five wickets, then, but not disgraced. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 27 Jul 1963 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLWDL

It was a Saturday to forget, but here's the tale of it. We won the toss and stuck them in, and for a while it looked the right call — an early wicket down with just 8 on the board had us purring. Terry Whittaker was magnificent, prising out five for 35, and David Gale bowled with real discipline too, two maidens among his 5-53. Between them they turned 30-2 into 39-5 and had the visitors teetering, though J Archer's 26 and C Maitland's 23 dragged them up to 120 all out from 28 overs. A touch more than we'd have liked, but eminently gettable.

Except it wasn't gettable, not by us, not that day. We collapsed from 37-3 to 52-6 as if the pitch had turned to soap, Dick Langridge, David Gale and Barry Langridge all departing without troubling the scorers, and the whole innings folded for 73 in 26.5 overs. Twelve byes crept through poor Roy Clarke behind the stumps — the sort of afternoon best forgotten over a pint.

One crumb of comfort: David Gale's five-for nudged him past Ernest Cruttenden and into 17th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, a nice footnote to an otherwise chastening day, and he continues to lead our 1963 wicket charts with 34, with John Thirkell still top of the run pile on 344.

Beaten by 47 runs, then, fair and square. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Tue 23 Jul 1963 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLWWL

Not our day at Linton Park, but what an afternoon it was for the record books.

I won the toss on a Tuesday evening that felt made for batting, and true to form I fancied our chances first up. Alas, 77/8 from our fourteen overs told a story of ambition outrunning execution — we tumbled from 21-2 to 34-5 in the sort of collapse that makes a captain suddenly very interested in the state of the tea urn. Only W Woodward kept his head, finishing unbeaten on a watchful 20, while poor Gordon Fenner and David Gale trudged back for golden ducks, not troubling the scorers in the slightest.

Set 78 to defend, we needed something special, and for once the cricketing gods smiled on our bowlers rather than our batsmen. The visitors lost an early wicket at 2 and never quite recovered their composure, sliding from 2-1 to 11-4 while we hunted in a pack. Gordon Fenner, so unlucky with the bat, made handsome amends with 2-1, ably supported by Terry Donovan (2-4) and Michael Chambers (2-8) — Owen and B Cannell both departing without scoring for good measure. They were bowled out for 60, but it was seventeen runs too many for our fragile total to withstand.

A proud note amid the gloom: Len Conway turned out for his 100th appearance in Linton colours, his 12 runs easing him past Robert Wood to 16th on the all-time run list — a landmark that will long outlast the scoreline. Not our day, then, but heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 21 Jul 1963 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLWD

Sunday 21st brought the visitors to Linton Park, and I'll confess I liked our chances when I won the toss and stuck them in. That confidence looked well founded as we had them 7 for 1 early on, though R. Creasey had other ideas, compiling a fine 68 to anchor their innings, well supported by J. Freeman's 37. Just as they threatened to bat us out of the game, we found another gear — 158 for 7 became 163 all out in the blink of an eye, with W. Barnes and C. Chandler sent back for ducks. Len Conway was the pick of the attack with 3 for 2, a spell of genuine menace, while David Gale (3-51) and Michael Chambers (3-56) chipped in handsomely. A word too for David Gale, whose three wickets nudged him past Alan Tucker into 18th on the club's all-time list — the sort of milestone that means rather more to the man himself than to the scorebook.

163 looked gettable, and for a while it was. John Ames led the chase with a well-crafted 44, John Thirkell was there at the close unbeaten on 44, and Gordon Fenner weighed in with 25. I managed 44 myself, more by luck than method, but 165 for 7 from our 46 overs wasn't quite enough — we fell three wickets short.

Not our day, then. Thirkell continues to lead our run charts this season with 339, and Gale the wickets with 29, so the engine room remains in good order even when the result doesn't follow. Heads up, and back to the nets.

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

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 · HomeformDLLLL

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 ? · HomeformLDLLL

Saturday 13 July 1963. We won the toss, and I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I still stand by, whatever the scorebook might suggest by close of play.

It wasn't our tidiest effort with the bat. We slid from 16-1 to 31-4 in the sort of collapse that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces, and poor Terry Whittaker's golden duck did little to lift the mood on the boundary. Richard Ashby held things together with a battling 22, but 104 all out from 40.2 overs always felt a touch light on a good pitch.

Happily, the ball had other ideas. Our visitors simply couldn't cope — 55-7 became 55 all out inside 29.2 overs, with E. Butler, S. Clark and B. Stanford all trudging back for ducks of their own. Gordon Fenner was magnificent, tearing through with 4-28, while Ron Hickman (3-5) and Alan Tucker (3-8, five miserly maidens) squeezed the life out of the innings. I even managed to get among the wickets myself with four, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for weeks to come. Alan's efforts nudged him past Don Hartridge into 18th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a fine personal landmark, rather overshadowed by poor Roy Clarke's 14 byes, though he'll take some consolation from sitting second in the season's run charts.

Down by 49 in the end, and quite right too. Heads up, back to the nets, and better luck — and rather steadier hands behind the stumps — next week.

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

Sunday the 7th of July found us on the road to Aylesford Paper Mills, and the day started as these days so often do for us — I lost the toss, and they had no hesitation in sticking us in the field. Forty-three overs later we'd shipped 217 for 3, and the truth is Peter Medhurst simply battered us to all corners, 87 not out of pure quality, with Willard's fine 63 and Alan Baker's unbeaten 39 doing plenty of damage besides. Their second-wicket pair put on 98 and that, in essence, was the match won and lost. John Ames toiled honestly for 1-43, with Michael Chambers and Alan Wilkes chipping in, but 217 was always going to be a tall order on that ground.

And so it proved. Frank Brattle's 27 and a watchful 27 not out from Robert Murray, backed by John Ames's 25, gave us a platform of sorts — a solid opening stand of 50 — but from 50 for 1 to 54 for 4 the innings simply fell through the floor, and Stan Wratten, Len Conway and John Thirkell all made ducks as the tail offered nothing. We were bowled out for 96. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes the price of a lively pitch, and as for your captain — I shan't dwell on my own nought except to say the less said, the better.

Beaten by 121 runs, no arguments. A chastening afternoon, but Roy's runs and Michael's wickets this season give us plenty to be proud of, and we'll come back stronger next week.

Sun 30 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDLDL

Sunday 30 June 1963, and we welcomed the visitors under skies that promised more than our top order ultimately delivered. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — still convinced it was the right call, whatever the scorebook might suggest otherwise. At 7-1 we were merely stumbling; by 7-4 we were sprawled flat on the pavilion steps, wondering what had hit us. William Buck, John Thirkell and X Rayner all departed without troubling the scorers, and only Alan Tucker, with a gritty 20, gave the innings any shape at all. Fifty all out in 38.5 overs was a modest total, and we knew it.

Modest, but not, in the end, quite modest enough to defend. Our bowlers had their moments — Michael Chambers toiled honestly for 1-24 — and we had them wobbling at 5-1, which briefly rekindled the tea-hut optimism. But Excell's unbeaten 22 steadied the ship, and they cantered home at 54-2 in just 14.3 overs.

As for the skipper, the less said the better: a golden duck, out first ball, which is not the example one hopes to set when asking others to graft. Small consolation from the season charts — Roy Clarke sits second in the club's run-scoring table with 224, and Michael Chambers third among the wicket-takers with 18 — proof that others are carrying the flag while I carry the drinks.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and fairly so. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Sun 23 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDDLD

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 · AwayformLLDDL

Saturday last took us down to Rumwood CC, and the coin was against us from the off — they won the toss, chose to bat, and left us standing about in the field wondering what the pitch report actually meant. They ground their way to 170/6 from their 46 overs, B- Buckland leading the charge with 37, John Carter chipping in a tidy 29, and v- Pound adding 26, the pair putting on a stand of 57 for the fourth wicket that did rather more damage than we'd have liked. David Gale was the pick of the attack by some distance, 3-71 and five miserly maidens to show for his afternoon's toil, with Dick Langridge lending a hand at 2-52.

In reply we made a fair fist of it, 149/6 from our 37, anchored by a Basil Sears innings of real substance — 78, sailing well past his fifty, with John Crellin a fine foil for 25 and the two of them adding 60 for the third wicket. Poor C- Haylor will not remember his day quite so fondly, departing for a duck, while Bob Arnold's afternoon behind the stumps cost us 11 byes he'd sooner forget.

Honours even, then — a draw that flattered neither side particularly, though Sears reaching 5,000 career runs for the club, and Gale climbing to 21st on our all-time wicket list, gave the tea urn something worth toasting.

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

Sunday 16 June found us on the road to Bobbing Court, and my luck was out before I'd even had a cup of tea — lost the toss, and they had no hesitation putting us into the field. Their innings rumbled on to 157/9 from 45 overs, Roger Mills top-scoring with 39, well supported by Denis Fowle's 35 and C Robinson's 25. Poor F Honey departed without so much as a single to his name. But it was Michael Chambers who stole the show, running thoroughly amok with figures of 7-76, while David Gale chipped in a useful 2-37 and John Ames simply refused to be scored off, sending down four maidens of grim, metronomic parsimony.

Set 158 to win, we made a decent fist of it without ever quite threatening. John Ames, having bowled his heart out, backed it up with 48 with the bat, Roy Clarke added a tidy 26, and I managed to potter my own way to 48. Sadly William Buck and Michael Chambers both fell for ducks, and we were all out for 131 in the 41st over.

Beaten by 26 runs, then — no disgrace against a side who batted and bowled with more discipline than us on the day. Roy Clarke continues to climb the season's run charts and David Gale the wicket charts, which is some comfort. We'll dust ourselves down, have a pint, and be better for it next week.

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

Saturday 15th June found us on the road to Headcorn, and the coin did us no favours — heads or tails, it hardly matters, we lost it either way and were put into the field. Headcorn made merry early doors, their openers putting on a hundred and seven before anyone so much as looked at the umpire, and it took some determined bowling to haul them back. C. Smith made a handsome 59 and G. Murrell followed him past his own fifty, and between them 176/8 from 46.2 overs looked a tidy total. Credit where it's due: John Carter was in irresistible form with 5-58, and Terry Donovan chipped in with 3-62, including three maidens that gave away nothing at all. Poor K. Goodall and S. Parnham departed without troubling the scorers, which is never a pleasant walk back.

Our reply had its wobbles — seven on the board and already a wicket down is the sort of start that has you reaching for the tea urn early — but a fifth-wicket stand of 55 steadied things nicely. I was glad to lead from the front with 61, and J. Woodward gave fine support with 29, taking us to 152/9 from our 44 overs. Roy Clarke had a day to forget, a golden duck with the bat and twelve byes through the gloves, though I daresay we've all had afternoons like that.

Honours shared, then — a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed nobody, which is perhaps the most English result of all.

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

Sunday last saw us take the long road to Gore Court, and the coin did us no favours — they called correctly and stuck us in the field, which on reflection may have been the day's only masterstroke against us. Gerald Lukehurst simply toyed with us, 124 of pure class, and by the time he and Robin Bush had put on 95 for the second wicket after a brisk opening stand of 89, the game had rather got away from us. Robin himself finished unbeaten on 38, David Harris chipped in 29, and honest B Norman, 2-75 with two tidy maidens to his name, was about the only one of us to lay a glove on proceedings. 208/2 from 43 overs was a sobering total to chase.

We set off in reply well enough, William Buck top-scoring with a fine 47 and Basil Sears a handy 37, the pair anchoring a stand of 61 for the sixth wicket that briefly had us dreaming. But cricket has a cruel sense of humour, and we duly obliged by collapsing from 14-1 to 27-4 in the time it takes to pour a tea. Ron Hickman will not thank me for recording his golden duck for posterity, but the Duck Club ledger must be kept honest.

Amid the wreckage, real cause for celebration: John Thirkell brought up 10,000 career runs for the club, and sits proudly atop our 1963 run charts with 234. We limped to 136/8 from 51 overs and a draw, honours shared with neither side able to force it home. A day, then, for milestones rather than victories — and we'll gladly toast Thirkell's landmark over the batting.

Sat 08 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDDDL

Saturday the 8th of June found us with first use of the ball against our visitors, and for once the plan actually survived contact with reality. They lost an early wicket with just 8 on the board, and though a fourth-wicket stand of 57 threatened to make liars of us all, we tore through the middle and lower order in a spell that took them from 76-4 to 82-7 almost before the tea urn had boiled. David Gale was magnificent, 6-39 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, while Terry Donovan (3-12) and Terry Whittaker (1-26) tidied up what little was left. M- Taylor's 38 and J- Morrison's 20 were the only real resistance; the rest, including a duck for M- Hutchinson, subsided for 91 all out in 33.2 overs.

Chasing such a modest total ought to have been a formality, and we made a proper meal of it instead. Roy Clarke and Frank Brattle both made useful 22s, the latter unbeaten, but wickets fell around them with alarming regularity — E- Bevan and Bob Arnold both out for ducks — and 14 byes off Roy Clarke's gloves did nothing to steady the nerves. We limped to 94/8 from our 38 overs, and somehow contrived to lose by 2 wickets.

There were bright spots amid the wreckage: Frank Brattle's runs shifted him to 10th on the club's all-time run charts, and David Gale's six-for lifted him to 22nd among our wicket-takers. But statistics are cold comfort after a defeat this needless. Not our day, lads — back to the nets, and perhaps a word with the coach about running twos.

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

Friday 7th June saw us make the trip to West Farleigh, and my coin toss form remains as woeful as ever — call it wrong again, and it was West Farleigh who padded up first.

Into the field we went, and 112/7 from their sixteen overs was a decent effort on their part, Joe Fenner's 41 doing most of the damage. But the story of our bowling was Alan Wilkes, who ran through them with a superb 4-35, ably backed up by David Gale's 2-66. Special mention, too, for Trevor Fermor's departure without so much as a whisper on the scoreboard — a golden duck to treasure, or perhaps not, depending on which dressing room you were sat in.

Chasing 113, we made a wobbly start, an early wicket down with just 6 runs to our name setting the pulse racing rather earlier than any of us would have liked. But John Thirkell steadied things beautifully with an unbeaten 49, and I managed to contribute 49 of my own alongside him, as we clawed our way to 103/5. In the end it wasn't quite enough, and we fell 9 runs short.

Thirkell continues to top the 1963 run charts with 220 to his name, and Gale's 11 wickets keep him lurking in fourth on the bowling list — both men doing their bit while the rest of us catch up. A narrow defeat, honestly earned, and we'll be better for it next week.

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

It was Bearsted CC at home on Monday 3rd June, and for once the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they won the toss and had few doubts about batting first on a pitch that, in fairness, gave them every encouragement. Seventy-two runs went on the board before we so much as troubled the scorers, which is not the start a captain dreams of, but the lads regrouped well enough. David Andrews played the anchor role beautifully for his 72, with Peter Prince (40) and an unbeaten Gordon A Hawkins (40) lending sturdy support, and their sixth-wicket pair put on a chastening 73 before Alan Tucker, bowling with real purpose for his 3-46, dragged us back into it. Gordon Fenner and Terry Whittaker chipped in a wicket apiece, and 239/6 from fifty overs felt about right for the conditions.

Chasing that down was always going to be a proper afternoon's work, and losing an early wicket with just 1 on the board did nothing for the collective nerves. But Gordon Fenner batted magnificently for 71, and Roy Clarke — playing the innings of a man with the club's history books in mind, as it turned out — made a composed 54 not out, the pair adding a priceless 108 for the fourth wicket. William Buck's 20 kept things ticking, and we closed on 211/9, agonisingly short but never disgraced.

Roy's innings also nudged him past Arthur Cornwallis into 22nd on the all-time run charts — a nice bit of history amid the toil. In the end honours were shared, and on the balance of the day's play, a draw felt like the fairest, if slightly frustrating, verdict.

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

It was Folkestone at home, and after I lost the toss – as is now becoming something of a Sunday tradition – we were put into the field. Their openers set about us with real intent, 61 on the board before we so much as glimpsed a breakthrough, and it took Ian Pepper's golden duck to finally crack the door open. From there John Ames turned into an absolute menace, spinning his way to 5-46 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, well backed by Ron Hickman's 2-17 and Michael Chambers' solitary but useful wicket. Brian Humphries' 43 and useful contributions from David Brickell and Sid Smith still saw Folkestone to a healthy 173/8 off their 46.3 overs – a target that looked, from the boundary rope, rather more imposing than it perhaps should have.

Our reply began in the worst possible fashion, two on the board and already one down, the sort of start that has grown men reaching for the tea urn in despair. John Thirkell, top-scoring with a fine 40, and Roy Clarke with 36 dragged us back into calmer waters with a 52-run stand for the fifth wicket, and I was pleased to chip in with 40 of my own. Len Conway and Terry Donovan both departed for ducks, and sixteen byes told their own tale of Roy Clarke's afternoon behind the stumps – a testing one, by anyone's standards. We closed on 149/7 from our 47, agonisingly short but honourably so.

A draw, then – honours shared, and on the balance of the day's play, a fair result. John Ames continues to lead our wicket charts and John Thirkell our run charts, and if this was anything to go by, both may keep the scorers busy yet.

Sat 01 Jun 1963 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWLDL

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 · AwayformLDWLD

Sunday saw us venture to The Mote, coin firmly against us, and I confess I do like a bowl on a good morning – small mercies. The Mote made hay early, their openers putting on 57 before we could lay a glove, and Malcolm Bristow eventually carried on to 69, with John Waters (33) and John Reader (21) keeping the scoreboard honest. For a while it looked ominous, but from 120-3 they stumbled to 128-6, and there the innings truly unravelled. John Ames was magnificent, 7-52 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, ably backed by Ron Hickman's 3-37, and G- Offen departed without troubling the scorers. All out 169 from 50.5 overs felt, at that stage, like a job well done.

Sadly our reply read like a cautionary tale for junior cricketers everywhere. From a steady-ish 12-1 we contrived to slide to 19-4, with Basil Sears, Robert Wood and David Gale all back in the pavilion without scoring – three ducks in one innings is the sort of thing that gets mentioned at the AGM. I did what I could with 15, but 67 all out from 33.3 overs was never going to trouble The Mote's target.

Beaten by 102 runs, then, and no arguing with the arithmetic. John Ames continues to bowl beautifully, now third in the season's wicket charts, while John Thirkell's runs keep him second among the batters – proof there's genuine quality in this side, even when the rest of us conspire to hide it. We'll regroup, dust off the pads, and be better for it next week.

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

Handing us the ball at the toss doesn't usually feel like a consolation prize, but on a warm May Saturday against Gore Court it turned into rather a fair契约. They made hay early, David Hillier and the top order putting on 73 for the first wicket before Terry Donovan finally found a way through — 3-49 with five maidens thrown in, miserly enough to make the openers work for every run. Hillier's 39, Peter Baker's unbeaten 35 and Andrew Ogle's 29 dragged them to a healthy 174/5 off their 47.1, with Alan Tucker and Terry Whittaker chipping in a wicket apiece for good measure.

Chasing it down, we didn't make life easy for ourselves — gone for 7 with the first wicket down, which is never the tonic a captain wants to see. But John Thirkell steadied things beautifully with 36, Robert Murray added 27 and Terry Donovan, not content with his bowling heroics, weighed in with 22 more; a battling 51-run stand for the fourth wicket was really the innings' spine. I managed 36 myself, more by application than elegance. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes the price of a pitch that clearly had ideas of its own.

Worth raising a glass to Robert Murray, whose 27 sees him climb to 7th on the club's all-time run charts. And with Thirkell now 2nd in this season's run standings and Donovan top of the wicket pile with 13, the old boys' scorebook is filling up nicely.

In the end honours were shared, neither side able to force the door open. A draw, then — honest toil, no losers, and a decent tea. I'll take that.

Sun 19 May 1963 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLDW

As Ray Howard raised his bat for eighty-five, I confess I allowed myself a small smile from the boundary rope. Sunday's do at home began with the coin, and for once it fell kindly – I had no hesitation putting us in, and Ray took that as his cue to play the innings of the season. We slipped to 5 for the loss of an early wicket, the kind of nervy start that has grown men reaching for the flask before the tea interval, but John Ames (36) and John Thirkell (23) steadied things, and a crucial 83-run third-wicket stand set us on our way to a handsome 204/5 from our 45 overs. I even chipped in with 23 myself, more through stubbornness than style.

Defending it, though, proved a different story. They were bowled out for 101 in 37.3 overs, so on paper it reads as a triumph of the attack – Barry Langridge (2-6, with two tidy maidens) leading the charge, ably backed by David Gale (2-23) and Michael Chambers (2-27) – but 101 was never going to be enough to chase down 204, and in the end we fell 103 runs short at the other end of the ledger. Richard Langridge and A Barr departed without troubling the scorers, which rather summed up our top order's afternoon.

Still, there was much to celebrate: Ray brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, and Michael Chambers reached his half-century of wickets – milestones worth toasting whatever the result. Beaten, undeniably, but not disheartened. We'll be better for it next week.

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

Sunday last saw Bobbing Court CC pitch up at Linton Park, and true to form the coin let us down again — they called correctly and had no hesitation in batting. Not that we minded terribly; a long afternoon in the field on a fine Sunday has its charms, at least until T Ades got his eye in and made 57 of them, with Jack Whibley chipping in 49 and Denis Fowle an unbeaten 21, the pair putting on 63 for the third wicket while we stood about admiring the scenery. Their innings closed on 158 for 7 from 53 overs, which felt about 40 too many until David Gale decided enough was enough and ran through them for 5-43, five overs of which were maidens — a spell of real menace, backed up nicely by Michael Chambers and Ray Howard with a wicket apiece. Roger Mills and C Robinson went for ducks, which is always a small mercy.

Chasing 159, we mustered 129 for 8 from our 46 overs — Ray Howard leading the way with 37, Frank Brattle 34 and Robert Murray 30 all playing their part, though John Thirkell and Stan Wratten both fell without troubling the scorers. J Woodward had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes going begging, and as for your correspondent's own duck, the less said the better.

A draw, then, honours even — though there was cheer enough: Ray Howard's wicket edged him past Herbert Rayner into 11th on the club's all-time list, Frank Brattle still leads our run charts for the season, and Gale sits proudly second among the wicket-takers. A fair result, all told, and a reminder there's life in this old side yet.

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

Charles Arkcoll won the toss and stuck us in — no complaints from me, that's how these things go on a Saturday. The lads did the early work well: Terry Donovan steamed in for 3-22, with Robert Wood (2-11) and Alan Tucker (2-20) chipping away, and Terry Whittaker refused to give an inch with two tidy maidens. Three of theirs went for ducks at our hands, which felt like a decent morning's work. But Randolph Thompson (36) had other ideas, and with Stan Wratten and John Abnett both chipping in 26 apiece, they crawled their way to 128 all out in 37.4 overs — more than we'd have liked, but nothing that felt beyond us.

Then we batted. Oh dear.

Terry Donovan, having already done his bit with the ball, top-scored again with a gutsy 24, but around him the innings simply evaporated — 46 for 6 became 54 for 9 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a cup of tea, and Roy Clarke, E- Bevan and Bob Arnold all trooped back for ducks of their own. All out for 68 in 32.5 overs, and the arithmetic did the rest.

A 60-run defeat, then, and not much to dress it up as anything else. Credit where due — John Thirkell continues his quiet rise up the run charts and Terry Whittaker leads the wickets column with some style. As for the rest of us: heads up, chins out, and back to the nets. There's always next Saturday.

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

Beaten by five runs at West Farleigh, and if I'm honest, we've no complaints about the arithmetic. Asked to bowl first, we held them to 76/2 from their twelve overs — a decent shift, R Matthews unbeaten on 26 doing most of the damage to our figures, though Terry Whittaker kept things tidy with 2-37 and a fair claim on the man-of-the-match tea.

Chasing 77 was always going to be brisk, and we gave it a proper go. Frank Brattle set the tone with a lively 33, John Thirkell chipped in nicely with 25, and I contributed a modest 25 of my own — enough to keep the scorer's pencil busy, not quite enough to keep the nerves at bay. Poor Dick Langridge, meanwhile, will be buying the first round after departing for a golden duck; the Duck Club ledger grows heavier by the week, and I suspect he knows it.

In the end we fell agonisingly short — 71/4 to their 76/2, five runs the difference between glory and a long, reflective drive home. Frank now tops the season's run charts on 43, and Terry leads the wickets with 7, so the engine room is clearly firing even if the scoreboard didn't quite oblige on the night.

A tight, well-fought contest, lost by the narrowest of margins. We'll take the positives, chalk it up to fine margins, and come back next week determined to turn "nearly" into "did."

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

Sunday last, we welcomed West Farleigh CC, and for once the coin did as it was told, so I had no hesitation in putting us in. Whatever confidence that decision carried lasted about as long as it takes to say "0-1", which is precisely where our innings stood before some of us had settled into our deckchairs. John Ames, admirably unmoved by the carnage around him, compiled a fine 33, but from 52-6 to 58-9 the rest of the order departed in something of a hurry, and Frank Brattle, Robert Murray and Richard Ashby each contributed the traditional golden duck to a total of 59 all out from 18.5 overs. Not, by any measure, a par score.

Yet defend it we did, gamely, and for a while it looked positively heroic. Roly Day and W Quayle both fell for ducks as West Farleigh wobbled from 49-5 to 56-8, and Michael Chambers bowled quite beautifully for 5-30, ably supported by the miserly David Gale, whose 2-18 included six maidens. But Micky Back's unbeaten 20 saw the visitors home at 60/8 in 31.3 overs, and we were beaten by two wickets.

Off the field there was rather more to celebrate: John Ames brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, and David Gale's two wickets moved him past Basil Sears to 25th on the club's all-time list. A landmark day, then, if not quite a victorious one. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 28 Apr 1963 🧢 1st XIv ? · 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

Terry Whittaker leads the club's 1963 wicket charts with 5 – and blow me, he goes and finds them all in one afternoon at West Farleigh. Marvellous timing, terrible for my nerves, since by then I'd rather needed him to.

We won the toss on a fine April Saturday and, in a fit of optimism I now regret, stuck us in. Seventy-three all out in 33.4 overs is not a total that troubles the West Farleigh scoreboard operator, and the top order rather set the tone by losing the first wicket at 8. John Thirkell, Roy Clarke and Bob Arnold all made the long walk back for nought, and I compounded matters personally with a golden blob of my own — leadership, apparently, is knowing when not to bat.

The bowling, mercifully, remembered its manners. West Farleigh slipped to 2-1 early on, and we sent Joe Fenner and Trevor Fermor packing without a run to their name, but Reg Oldfield settled in for 29 and dragged them towards the target. Terry Whittaker was the story of the day, though — 5-27 with six maidens thrown in for good measure, tight as you like, while John Thirkell chipped in with 2-11 and R. Bevan a wicket too. Bob Arnold had a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes leaking away, and in the end West Farleigh got home by two wickets.

Not our day, then, and not for want of trying with the ball. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.