🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 27 Sep 1969 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformWDWDL

Called it right at the toss on a bright September Saturday and, with the sort of misplaced confidence that has undone better captains than me, elected to bat. It did not go entirely to plan. We were bundled out for 100 in 43.4 overs, rescued from real embarrassment by Terry Donovan's watchful 30 and Mike Iliffe's tidy 21. Beyond that the order rather fell apart, and I'm afraid I must own my share of it — a first-baller myself, keeping close company with Brian Relf and Jon Harris in what the scorebook cheerfully calls the Duck Club. Three noughts in one innings takes a certain communal effort, and we managed it admirably.

Defending a total that modest was always going to be uphill work, and so it proved. Mote A eased to 101 for 1 in just 22 overs, with a Kendall innings of real substance — 60 not out — doing most of the damage while we toiled. Jon Harris, at least, had the decency to earn his corn with the ball, finishing with 1-19 and denying them a completely serene afternoon.

There was proper cause for cheer amid the wreckage, though: Richard Ashby brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth far more than the result. Paul Bowles, meanwhile, continues to lead the 1969 run charts with 921.

Beaten by nine wickets, no arguments. A captain ought to lead from the front — next week I shall try leading with the bat instead of a straight walk back to the pavilion.

Sat 20 Sep 1969 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWWDWD

Won the toss on a bright September Saturday and elected to bat — the right call, I felt at the time, and nothing that followed made me regret it. We crawled and nudged our way to 185 for 8 from sixty overs, Basil Sears the rock at the end with an unbeaten 39, Paul Bowles chipping in a handy 32 and Andrew Moss adding 21. Not a total to frighten anyone, but respectable enough to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did, with West Farleigh replying in only forty overs — which tells its own story about how briskly they went about their business. Peter Cooper played the innings of the day, 66 not out of pure quality, with Ron Kemp keeping him company for a fine 51. We did have our moments: John P Day departed for a golden duck, and Brian Relf was the pick of the attack, tight as you like with three maidens on his way to 4 for 33. I managed to do my bit with 2 for 17, and Terry Donovan chipped in with 2 for 26 alongside me.

A word for the mantelpiece: Stan Wratten brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that puts our narrow defeat rather in perspective. Bowles continues to lead the season's run charts with 911, and I find myself sitting second in the wickets column with 54.

As for the match itself — beaten by a single wicket, which is about as painful as losing gets. Heads up, lads. Back to the nets.

Sun 14 Sep 1969 🧢 1st XIv MH Mersham Hatch · HomeformWWWDW

Sunday 14th September, and honours ended up shared — but not before we gave the members plenty to talk about over their teas.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation putting us in, and it proved a shrewd call as we rattled along to 205 for 3 off our 45 overs. The undoubted star was Paul Bowles, who compiled a magnificent unbeaten hundred — the kind of innings that makes a captain's decision look a good deal cleverer than it was. Andrew Moss chipped in nicely with 43, and Cliff Anscombe's 32 kept things ticking along handsomely in support.

With the ball, we set about defending our total, and the visitors battled hard to 164 for 9 off their 52, but never quite threatened to chase us down. J. Copeland led their resistance with 26, well supported by A. Gosling's 25 and R. Lewis's unbeaten 23. Paul Bowles, not content with his century, then took the ball and ran through them with 4 for 55 — a proper captain's nightmare to bowl against. Ron Hickman (3-29) and Dick Langridge (1-21) chipped in gamely, while Mike Stephens bowled with typical miserliness, sending down five maidens to strangle the scoring.

Nice to note, too, that Cliff's 32 nudges him past Bob Arnold to 17th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Ron's three wickets lift him past Ernest Cruttenden to 22nd among the wicket-takers — the history books quietly rewriting themselves while the tea urn boiled.

A draw, then, honours shared — but with Bowles in this sort of form, leading both our run and wicket charts for the season, I'd wager we'll turn a few of these into wins before the summer's out.

Sat 13 Sep 1969 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformDWWWD

Saturday last saw St Lukes Maidstone CC pay us a visit, and for once the coin obliged me kindly. I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and the lads repaid the faith handsomely, ambling to 199 for 7 off 47.4 overs on a pitch that clearly agreed with us. Paul Bowles played a lovely hand of 59, Basil Sears chipped in with a brisk 24, and I was rather chuffed to finish unbeaten on 64, having spent the closing overs marshalling what tail we had left. Poor Derry Evans will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, but a gazette report without a little gentle ribbing wouldn't be worth the ink.

If our batting had been comfortable, our bowling turned positively predatory. St Lukes were bowled out for a modest 93 in 35.4 overs, undone chiefly by Paul Bowles, who ran through them like a fox in a henhouse for figures of 6 for 46, three of those overs maidens for good measure. B. Lamb's 26 and C. Nicholls's 25 were the only real resistance, while J. Francis departed for nought without so much as a nibble. Terry Donovan and Jon Harris tidied up the rest with 1 for 0 and 1 for 16 respectively.

A pleasant footnote: Paul's 59 runs eased him past Tony Levick into 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he now sits proudly atop both the 1969 run and wicket charts. A fine all-round display, then, and a thoroughly deserved 106-run victory. Two points banked, and not a bad way to spend a September Saturday.

Sun 07 Sep 1969 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformWDWWW

Sunday the 7th of September found Anchorians CC on our turf, and for once the coin behaved itself — I called correctly, and with barely a moment's hesitation sent us in to bat. It proved a mixed blessing. We limped to 123 for 9 off our 53 overs, rescued from embarrassment chiefly by Richard Ashby, unbeaten on 32, with Jon Harris chipping in a useful 30. Elsewhere the scorebook made grim reading — Benny Bell, Percy Brattle and Paul Brattle all contributed that most humbling of cricketing gifts, the golden duck. Three in an innings takes some doing.

Defending 123 looked a tall order on paper, and so it very nearly proved, K Brown compiling a fine, well-earned 68 with sturdy support from B. Henley's 37. But the bowlers dug in magnificently. Benny Bell, evidently deciding batting wasn't his afternoon's calling, took the game by the scruff with 3 for 23, well backed by Jon Harris's 3 for 33 and Ron Hickman's 2 for 39 — the latter sending down five parsimonious maidens and barely allowing the Anchorians batsmen to breathe. C Spencer, D Carver and I Lackowicz all departed without troubling the scorers, ducks at our hands to match our own.

In the end honours were shared, 119 for 8 leaving them agonisingly short. Not a classic for the purists, but a proper scrap — and with Andrew Moss and Ron Hickman both riding high in the season's charts, there's plenty still to play for.

Sat 06 Sep 1969 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformDWDWW

Skipper's Notebook — Saturday 06 September 1969

Won the toss against A.Trembeths and never seriously considered doing anything but bat first — the wicket looked too good to leave to chance, and for a while it justified the confidence. Andrew Moss played the anchor role beautifully for 35, and I chipped in with 25 alongside him, but the middle order rather fell over itself thereafter, with Paul Bowles, Derry Evans and Tim Thirkell all departing for ducks. All out 109 from 39.2 overs was, frankly, a par score dressed up as a good one, and I suspect a few of us walked off wondering whether we'd left runs out in the middle.

Happily, the ball told a different story entirely. Paul Bowles turned in an absolute masterclass, spinning his way to 6-47 with seven maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that wins matches on its own and leaves a captain with very little to do but rearrange the field and admire it. I managed to get among the wickets myself with 3-19, Jon Harris chipped in with 1-13, and between us we reduced A.Trembeths to rubble, with a- Trembeth, R- Tottman and L- Fell all collecting ducks of their own. Only a- Johnson's 23 offered any real resistance as they folded for 86 in 41.1 overs.

A 23-run win, then, built on a modest total but sealed by bowling of real substance — Paul Bowles continues to lead our 1969 wicket charts with 68 scalps, and Andrew Moss sits second in the run charts with 606. A scratchy batting effort rescued by the ball. I'll take that every day of the week. Onwards.

Mon 01 Sep 1969 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWDWDW

Lost the toss again on Monday — I'm beginning to think the coin has it in for me — and Bearsted elected to bat, leaving us to toil away in the field. They compiled 129 all out from 50.5 overs, built chiefly around Michael Jeffreys' 37 and useful support from R Hinks with 32, but for all their application there was no answer to Derry Evans, who turned his off-breaks square to finish with a magnificent 5-45. Jon Harris and R Pocock chipped in with two apiece, Mick Gibson and P Johnson departed without troubling the scorers, and Terry Whittaker bowled with such miserly discipline that nine of his overs went for nothing at all. A thoroughly satisfying shift in the field.

We began the chase in no great hurry and, in truth, made rather harder work of 129 than the bowling figures suggested we ought to. Wickets fell steadily as we stumbled to 132 for 9 from 54.4 overs, with Keith Walker and R Pocock both walking back for ducks of their own — the ledger balanced, if nothing else. It was Terry Whittaker, unbeaten on 49, who held the innings together with real composure, well supported by Stan Wratten's 26 and my own contribution of 23 down the order.

One wicket in it at the close, and not a run to spare — the sort of nerve-shredding finish that makes club cricket worth turning up for. Two points banked, thoroughly earned, and Whittaker in irresistible form with bat and ball alike. A fine day's work all round.

Sun 31 Aug 1969 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformDWDWD

Sunday 31 August 1969 found us on the road to Staplehurst, and the toss did us no favours — we were put straight into the field on a day that would test both patience and shoe leather. Their innings crept to a healthy 196/9 off 53.5 overs, built chiefly around P. Holland's fine 65 and well supported by M. Pontin's 35. B Pudney departed without so much as troubling the scorers, which was some consolation. The real story, though, was Jon Harris, who span an absolute web through their middle order for a magnificent 6-30 — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their tea. John Ames chipped in with 1-20, and I did my bit too, going for just 1-39 with four maidens to show for the toil.

Chasing 197, we made hard but ultimately successful work of it, closing on 197/7 from 46 overs. Paul Bowles led the way with a classy 53, Frank Brattle added a sturdy 43 and Terry Donovan 37 — though Basil Sears and Tim Thirkell both fell without scoring, and poor Richard Ashby had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 16 byes going begging past him. I added 34 of my own, which, I'm reliably informed, nudges me up to ninth on the club's all-time run-scorers list — not bad for a Sunday's work.

A tense finish, but we got there by three wickets. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a long drive home made considerably more cheerful for it.

Sat 30 Aug 1969 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · AwayformDDWDW

Lost the toss on a bright Saturday at Whitstable, and lost it comprehensively — no sooner had I called wrong than we were despatched into the field to watch our opponents bat, and bat, and bat some more. B. Waters and Frank Nutten put together an opening stand that frankly bordered on the rude, both reaching three figures unbeaten as Whitstable rattled to 258 without loss from their 48.2 overs. We tried everything short of a strongly worded letter to prise them apart; nothing worked.

Set an imposing target with little realistic hope of chasing it down, we settled instead for damage limitation and did rather well at it. Terry Donovan led the resistance with a fine 41, well supported by Frank Brattle's 33 and Derry Evans's unbeaten 26, while poor Basil Sears endured the long, lonely walk back for nought — the ducks were quacking loudly in the clubhouse that evening. We closed on 124 for 4 from our 52.

Richard Ashby had a torrid time behind the stumps, 15 byes going begging, though nobody envied him standing up to that kind of scoring rate. On a happier note, my own contribution of 13 runs nudged me past Maurice Fenner into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — small beer next to Waters and Nutten, but I'll take it. Brattle, meanwhile, continues his fine season, now third in the 1969 first XI charts with 390 runs.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely intact, and I suspect we got the better end of the bargain given how the day began.

Sun 24 Aug 1969 🧢 1st XIv MH Mersham Hatch · AwayformDDDWD

We took the field first at Mersham Hatch on Sunday 24 August, ball in hand before a run had troubled the scoreboard. Mersham Hatch batted through to 141 all out in 57.4 overs, C. Smith the pick of them with a fine 51, nicely supported by A. Southern's 22, while W. Jeanes trudged off for a duck. I found some rhythm through the middle overs and finished with 5-24, five of them maidens, the sort of spell a captain doesn't often get, so I shall make the most of mentioning it. Paul Bowles (2-31) and John Ames (2-41) did the tidying up either side of me.

Chasing 142 to win, we made rather harder weather of it than our bowling had any right to expect, limping home at 142/7 from 37 overs. Cliff Anscombe played the innings of the day, a well-crafted 52, with Andrew Moss giving fine support alongside him for 45. Cliff's afternoon with the gloves was livelier than his afternoon with the bat, mind, with ten byes going begging behind the stumps.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Paul Bowles continues to lord it over the rest of us, top of both the run charts with 667 and the wicket charts with 61, one man doing the work of a full top order and attack combined.

Three wickets in hand at the death and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sat 23 Aug 1969 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformDDDDW

Saturday 23 August 1969 saw Aylesford Paper Mills CC roll up the drive, and having called correctly at the toss for once in my life, I didn't hang about — straight in to bat, no dithering, no false modesty about our top order.

What followed was a fairly sedate stroll rather than a gallop: 52 for 1 off our 17 overs, the sort of scoreline that suggests more tea was drunk in the pavilion than boundaries were struck in the middle. Andrew Moss was the man doing the heavy lifting, an unbeaten-in-spirit-if-not-in-fact 21 that held the innings together while the rest of us admired his technique from the safety of the boundary rope. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Paul Bowles continues to make the rest of the 1st XI look faintly ridiculous, his 666 runs for the summer now sitting atop the table like a number the devil himself would be proud of.

In the end neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared — a draw that pleased nobody enormously but offended nobody either, which in club cricket is sometimes the most English result of all.

My verdict: a match that will not trouble the history books, but a thoroughly pleasant afternoon's cricket against good opposition, and with Bowles in this sort of form, there's plenty still to play for this season.

Sun 17 Aug 1969 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformDDDDD

Sunday saw us play host to Mote A, and after winning the toss I had few qualms about asking them to have a bash first. It looked a shrewd move as their innings limped to a close on 110 all out from 41.5 overs, though Peter Prince's 39 and a handy 25 from J. Barker gave them a bit more respectability than the scorecard otherwise suggests. Mike Foster, S. Wilson and P. Coatsworth all trooped back without so much as a run to their name, which tells its own story. With the ball I had one of those days where everything comes out right, finishing with 3-21 including five maidens, while Paul Bowles (3-27) and Nigel Thirkell, with a wonderfully tidy 2-2, did the damage either side of me.

Chasing 111, I got my head down and made 46, with Richard Ashby chipping in nicely alongside me with 21 to keep the innings ticking over. Percy Brattle will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, but the Duck Club ledger waits for no man. We eventually squeaked home by 3 wickets, and I'll happily admit a bat-and-ball afternoon like that doesn't come along often for a captain.

Amid all this, a quiet word of real note: Paul Bowles brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that rather puts the rest of us in the shade, especially given he already leads both the 1969 run and wicket charts. A good day for the club, all told, and a fine one for the record books.

Sat 16 Aug 1969 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformWDDDD

Saturday 16 August 1969, and Bowaters CC rolled up as our visitors on a day that promised runs, if you knew where to look for them. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain, whatever certain members of the tea hut might mutter.

We shuffled our way to 157 all out from 54 overs, a total built rather than blazed. Terry Donovan led the way with a fine 38, well supported by Jim Hall's 33 and Derry Evans's 28. Less gloriously, Andrew Moss and Tim Thirkell both departed for ducks, proving once again that the bowling shed has no favourites.

Defending it, we scrapped hard. Bowaters closed on 154 for 6 from their 42 overs, with Alf Jewiss ploughing a lonely and rather magnificent furrow to 74 not out, ushered along by Fred Dinnage's 22. William Preston, at least, went for nought. Jon Harris was the pick of our attack with 2 for 21, Terry Donovan chipped in with 2 for 44, and I did my bit too — 2 for 46 with five maidens, mean enough to keep the score honest even if the wickets column stayed modest. It nudges me to third in this season's 1st XI wicket charts, for what that's worth over a pint.

So: honours shared, a draw when neither side could force the issue. A fair result, and frankly a relief for my figures.

Wed 13 Aug 1969 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLWLDD

Another away-day dawns and, true to Linton Park tradition, I lost the toss again. Gravesend, sporting sorts, elected to bat, and so it was pads off, boots on, out into the field went the lads.

They ground us down to 151 for 8 off their 49 overs, Gaynor Kingston playing the anchor role with 42 and Graham Hinks lending fine support with 39. But there was joy for us too — I found some real turn and mystery out there, finishing with 5 for 34 off five miserly maidens, with Terry Donovan chipping in nicely at 2 for 21. A shame about the 15 byes; poor Percy Brattle will want that Wednesday back.

Chasing 152, our reply rather fell apart in the sunshine — 82 all out in 29 overs, three ducks on the board (David Tolhurst, Ron Hickman, and yours truly among them — we shall draw a veil over my own contribution with the bat). It wasn't our finest hour with the willow, and Gravesend deserved their day.

On the bright side, those five wickets keep me handily placed atop the 1969 Midweek XI bowling charts with nine for the season, so all is not lost.

Verdict: a 69-run defeat that flatters nobody, but the bowling gives us something to build on. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward to the next one.

Sun 10 Aug 1969 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · HomeformLWDDD

Sunday 10 August 1969, and Sibton Park CC rolled up to Linton Park with the sun doing its level best to behave. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain, whatever anyone says down at the clubhouse afterwards.

We batted our way to 200 for 6 from 49 overs, a total built chiefly on Mick Filmer's fine 63, with Andrew Moss (48) and Frank Brattle (29) lending sturdy support. Moss continues to build a lovely season, now sitting second in the club's run charts with 487.

Defending it, we found Sibton Park in no mood to be rolled over. Geoffrey Kirk cruised serenely past his fifty to finish on 65, well supported by E. Impett's 45, and it fell to our bowlers to keep chipping away at 49 overs of resistance. Terry Whittaker was pick of the attack, 4 for 51 with four miserly maidens thrown in — no surprise from a man third in the season's wicket charts with 37 already banked. I weighed in with 2 for 64 with the ball, having earlier chipped in a watchful 17 with the bat. David Rawlings did at least depart for a duck at our hands, small mercies and all that.

In the end 168 for 7 was as far as they could push it, and neither side could force matters further. Honours shared, then — not quite the win I'd have wagered on at lunch, but with Filmer and Moss batting like that and Whittaker bowling like that, I'll happily take the omens into the rest of the season.

Sat 09 Aug 1969 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformDLWDD

Won the toss at Headcorn on a Saturday that promised more than it delivered, and with a good grass wicket underfoot there was really only one decision to make: we batted. Paul Bowles set about the bowling with real purpose for 47, and Frank Brattle gave him fine support with 46 of his own, the pair of them dragging us along nicely to 181 for 8 from our 53 overs. Not every contribution sparkled, mind — poor Tim Thirkell trudged back for a duck, the sort of dismissal that gets a sympathetic pat on the shoulder and nothing more said about it.

Out in the field we set about defending it, and Headcorn's Smith played the innings of the day, a fine 64 that very nearly took the match away from us, helped along by Groombridge's 31 and Excell's 20. But Paul Bowles simply would not be denied, running through them for a magnificent 7 for 90 — figures that, we're reliably informed, carry him past Stan Wratten and up to 17th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. I chipped in with 1 for 8, and Terry Whittaker bowled a tidy, miserly spell for 1 for 32 including three maidens. Headcorn closed on 155 for 9, and honours were shared.

A draw, then — honest toil from both sides, and Paul Bowles once again proving himself the engine of this team, top of both our run and wicket charts for the season. We'll take it and go again next week.

Wed 06 Aug 1969 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformWLWLD

John Thirkell here, and I'd like it noted for the record that electing to bat first on the sixth of August was, in fact, the right call — I shall be seeking no further congratulations on the matter, having awarded myself quite enough already.

We posted 162 for 8 from our 44 overs, a total built rather than blazed, with Benny Bell top-scoring on 34 and John Ames chipping in a tidy 29. My own contribution I'll mention just the once and move swiftly on, lest anyone think I'm dining out on it for the rest of the season.

Gravesend's reply had one alarming interlude — Brian Pothecary, having sailed past his fifty, ground on to a rather more menacing 79 — but around him our attack did the honest work that doesn't always get the headlines. Dick Langridge was the pick of us with 4 for 46, Ron Hickman toiled away for 2 for 33 with four maidens that must have felt like penance to face, and Terry Donovan picked up 1 for 12. Peter Beynon departed for a duck, which I'm reliably informed by our long-suffering scorer moves Ron past Ernest Cruttenden into 22nd on the club's all-time wicket list — a modest immortality, but immortality all the same.

Gravesend closed on 130 for 9, five short-ish of parity and nowhere near close enough to trouble us, so honours were shared. A draw it was, then — not the stuff of legend, but a thoroughly decent afternoon's cricket, and nobody went home unhappy. Well, perhaps Pothecary's bowlers.

Sun 03 Aug 1969 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformWDLWD

Sunday last saw us hosting Staplehurst, and the coin let me down as usual — over it went and down came their captain's finger pointing us straight to the field. Fine margins, cricket. They settled in nicely and made a proper afternoon of it, running up 216 for 5 off their 49.3, with Thurlow the chief architect at 78 and Munn ticking along handsomely for 67, Pontin chipping in with 45 to round out a solid total. Credit where due: Terry Donovan bowled beautifully for his 2-60, Paul Brattle nagged away for 1-8, and I managed 2-65 myself with five maidens thrown in for good measure — proof that even a captain who can't win a coin toss can still strangle a run-rate now and then.

Tea came and went, and we set about the chase with 175 for 4 off our 43 overs — a spirited reply rather than a swashbuckling one, but honest cricket all the same. John Ames was the class act, 71 and looking barely troubled, with Fred Greenfield (33 not out) and Mick Filmer (25 not out) seeing us home to respectability without ever quite threatening the target.

So it finished level, honours shared, neither side able to force the issue — which about sums up a Sunday where nobody could get the better of anybody. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Andrew Moss continues to pile up the runs and sits second in our charts with 421, while I find myself third among the wicket-takers with 32. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but an afternoon well spent, and nobody went home unhappy except perhaps the tea urn, which took a proper battering.

Sat 02 Aug 1969 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformLWDLW

The road to Maidstone Ymca is a fair old trek, and I confess the coach conversation had rather more to do with Saturday's fry-up than tactics — but once we were out in the field, thoughts sharpened quickly enough. Their innings ran to 146 for 6 off 48 overs, built chiefly around T. Grenfell, who reached a well-made fifty and went on to an unbeaten 83 that we simply couldn't shift, with Pete Worsnop chipping in a useful 31 alongside him. We did have our moments, mind — J. Hulme back in the pavilion without so much as troubling the scorers was a small mercy amid the accumulation. Brian Relf was pick of the attack with 1 for 29, Ron Hickman chimed in with 1 for 30, and I did my bit too, 1 for 36 with four maidens to show that not every over was there for the taking.

Batting, we never quite found our rhythm, subsiding to 110 for 8 from our 40 overs. Basil Sears held things together with a top score of 24, well supported by Benny Bell's 23, but wickets fell steadily enough that a chase was never truly on the cards.

Elsewhere in the season's ledgers, Andrew Moss continues to press near the top of the run charts with 413 to his name, and Ron Hickman sits handsomely in second on the wickets list with 43. As for Saturday itself: honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the decisive blow — not a classic, but an honest afternoon's work, and no shame in that.

Sun 27 Jul 1969 🧢 1st XIv PC Paddock Wood CC · AwayformWLWDL

Sunday sent us to Paddock Wood, and I lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season — they had first use of what looked a decent surface, and duly took it. No matter; we settled into the field with quiet confidence, and it was repaid in spades. Paddock Wood limped to just 70 all out from their 32 overs, Anstead's 27 the only real resistance, while Bradshaw and Aldridge came and went without so much as troubling the scorers. Benny Bell was the story of the innings, spinning through them for a magnificent 5-16, and I'll allow myself one boast in these pages: I chipped in with 3-28 and four maidens, keeping things tight while Jon Harris mopped up with 2-6. A total collapse, and thoroughly deserved.

Chasing 71 was never going to be straightforward — it never is in this fixture — and Andrew Moss saw us home in the classiest fashion, unbeaten on 36 as we crawled to 71/5 in 30.2 overs. Poor Cliff Anscombe had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping nine byes, though nobody begrudged him after that morning's heroics with bat and ball elsewhere.

A word of celebration too: Benny Bell brought up 50 career wickets, a landmark thoroughly earned and warmly applauded by all. Andrew Moss now sits second in our 1969 run charts, and I find myself third in the wicket-taking table with 29 — not bad for a captain who still can't call a coin correctly.

A five-wicket win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards indeed.

Sat 26 Jul 1969 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · AwayformDWLWD

Saturday 26 July 1969, away at Sibton Park, and having won the toss my finger went up for batting without a flicker of doubt — a decision I stand by, though the scorebook may quietly disagree.

We limped to 107 all out in 47.4 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Terry Donovan, unbeaten on 33 and playing the innings of a man determined to reach a milestone — more of which shortly. Elsewhere the card made for grim reading, with Brian Relf, Ian Cridland and Brian Fuller all back in the pavilion for ducks before they'd had time to loosen their pads. Not our finest hour with the willow.

Sibton, sensing blood, strolled to 108 without loss in just 27.1 overs. J. Law made a classy 59 not out, well accompanied by Geoffrey Kirk's unbeaten 38, and the pair barely broke sweat. My own 18 with the bat felt rather beside the point by the close, and ten byes behind the stumps told a tale of a wicketkeeper having one of those testing afternoons we've all endured.

Amid the wreckage, one shaft of sunshine: Terry Donovan brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a thoroughly deserved landmark. Mike Iliffe, meanwhile, continues his quietly excellent season, now fourth in the 1969 first-team run charts on 272.

Beaten by ten wickets, then — a chastening day out. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 20 Jul 1969 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformDDWLW

I lost the toss and watched from the boundary as Sevenoaks Vine CC took first use of what turned out to be a decent shirt-front — and didn't they make the most of it. George Downton's 55 was the innings that mattered, given sturdy company by v-East's 44 and P Ellison's 26, and by the time they'd batted their full fifty overs they'd posted 192 all out. Credit where due, though: Paul Bowles was magnificent with the ball, a five-for and more finishing 6-76, with Ron Hickman chipping in 3-36, Mike Stephens 1-50, and Jon Harris tying things down with a couple of maidens. We even had John Miles back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, which felt like some small consolation on an otherwise chastening afternoon in the field.

Chasing 192, we never quite found the momentum to make a match of it, closing on 138 for 8 from our fifty-two. Frank Brattle held things together nicely with an unbeaten 39, Mike Stephens supporting well with 29, and I contributed my own small share along the way. Robert Chance's duck was the one blot on an otherwise gritty rearguard.

Fittingly, it was Bowles's day off the field too — his six wickets nudged him past Jack Fryer into 19th on the club's all-time list, and he continues to lead both our run and wicket charts for the season. A draw, then, honours even, and on reflection a fair result — we were second best for long enough that a share of the spoils felt like a job well done.

Sun 13 Jul 1969 🧢 1st XIv CX Colin Eldred's XI · HomeformLDDWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 13 July 1969. We hosted Colin Eldred's XI at home, and what followed was one of those afternoons that reminds you why this daft old game gets its hooks into a man.

Put in first, we asked the visitors to bat, and for a while they threatened to make a proper day of it before folding for 143 in 45 overs. F Swetman held firm for an unbeaten 42, with G Cant and J Boultwood chipping in, but at the other end it was carnage - three batsmen back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. The architect of the collapse was Paul Bowles, who bowled like a man possessed to finish with 6-36, while Jon Harris and Ron Hickman tidied up two apiece and Terry Whittaker strangled the life out of the middle overs with four maidens. Not a run given away lightly indeed.

Chasing 143, we made harder work of it than the target deserved, stumbling to 145/5 from 44.2 overs. Andrew Moss led the way with 33, Paul Bowles backed up his heroics with the ball by adding 31 with the bat, and Fred Greenfield saw us home unbeaten on 23 - no mean feat given he'd spent the morning shipping 12 byes behind the stumps. I chipped in myself, glad to see us over the line by five wickets.

A word too for Bowles, whose six-for nudged him up to 20th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. The lad is having a season to remember. A good day for the club, and a thoroughly deserved one.

Sat 12 Jul 1969 🧢 1st XIv BK Beverley CC, Kent · HomeformWLDDW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 12 July 1969

No luck with the coin on Saturday, and Beverley CC, Kent won the toss and chose to bat first, leaving us to graft away in the field. Graft we did, too. R. Gawler and E. Turner both went cheaply for ducks as the score slipped to 1-1, and from there our attack never let them settle. Paul Bowles was magnificent, ripping through with 5-37, with Brian Relf (2-23) and Terry Donovan (2-46) mopping up either end, while Brian Fuller bowled six miserly maidens that gave the batsmen nothing to work with. Even so, K. Collard dug in for an unbeaten 34, and with useful support from B. Terry (22) and P. Shirley (20) they crawled their way to 131 all out in 43.5 overs — more than felt fair reward for the resistance shown.

Chasing 132, we never quite found our rhythm. Andrew Moss top-scored with a tidy 29, and I chipped in with 25 alongside some useful overs with the ball earlier in the day, but the middle order rather fell over itself — 100-6 became 105-9 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. We were bowled out for 118 in 47.2 overs, with eight byes conceded along the way giving poor Jim Hall behind the stumps a distinctly testing afternoon.

Thirteen runs the difference in the end — close enough to torment us on the drive home, not close enough to console us. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets.

Mon 07 Jul 1969 🧢 1st XIv PH Penenden Heath · HomeformWWLDD

Monday 7th July 1969 saw the visitors roll up to Linton Park, and what a day it turned into. Batting first, we posted a brisk 124/5 from our 16 overs — Robert Chance led the charge with a fine 36, well supported by Benny Bell's 34. Special mention, as ever, must go to poor Cliff Anscombe, who contributed a golden duck to proceedings, though he'd more than make up for it before the day was out.

With the ball, we were positively ruthless. The visitors were bowled out for 92 in just 14.3 overs, C. Palmer's 31 and a. Maddox's 25 the only real resistance, while Mercer, Washington and Young all trooped back for ducks of their own — misery loves company. Ron Hickman was the chief tormentor with a superb 3-8, Benny Bell chipped in with 3-35 on top of his runs, and Frank Brattle took 1-22 for good measure.

The real story of the day, though, belonged to Cliff Anscombe, who brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours — duck notwithstanding, a landmark worth more than any score. With Paul Bowles still ploughing on at the top of the 1969 run charts and Ron Hickman now well clear at the head of the wickets column, the old firm continues to deliver.

Five wickets the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved. A grand day for the club, and an even grander one for Cliff.

Sun 06 Jul 1969 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformWWWLD

Sunday last saw us make the short trip to Aylesford Paper Mills, and having called the coin correctly for once, I did what any captain with a shred of optimism does on a fine morning — stuck us in to bat.

It would be flattering to call what followed a batting collapse, since collapse implies we were once upright. Thirteen for one from four overs is not so much an innings as a polite cough before the rain of wickets that, mercifully, never quite came. Quite what the umpires made of it I dread to think, though I suspect the tea urn saw more action than most of our stroke play.

Credit where it's due — Paul Bowles continues to lead our run charts for the season with 514 to his name, a statistic that flatters the rest of us by comparison and reminds the club there is, in fact, a discernible difference between batting and simply standing at the crease looking purposeful.

In the end, honours were shared, a draw wrestled out of the day by two sides equally unable to force the issue — which, given our start, might be the most heroic result we could have hoped for. A stalemate earned rather than a defeat suffered, and on the evidence of four overs, I'll happily take it.

Sat 05 Jul 1969 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformDWWWL

Lost the toss again — I really must get a new coin, or perhaps just a new face for calling it — and Charles Arkcoll had no hesitation in taking first knock on a Saturday that promised much and, in the end, delivered a very English stalemate. We took the field with what I like to think was quiet menace, though 172 for 9 off 41.5 overs suggests the menace was more of a low simmer than a rolling boil.

Brian Aiston gave us the full tour, 71 well-made runs, with R Britcher and L Russell chipping in 36 apiece to keep the total respectable. Credit where due to Benny Bell, whose 4 for 46 — including two miserly maidens — did the real damage up top, while I managed to sneak among the wickets myself with 2 for 15, and Brian Relf added a well-earned 1 for 37.

Chasing 173, we never quite found the gear to get there, closing on 126 for 8 from our 42 overs. Basil Sears anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 54, ably assisted by Andrew Moss's 30, though poor Frank Brattle's walk back for nought will earn him a permanent seat in the Duck Club. One shaft of sunshine: Paul Bowles's six runs quietly nudged him past Bob Arnold into 16th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and keeps him top of this season's charts on 508.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and just enough left in the tank for the tea urn.

Sun 29 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv CP Canterbury Pilgrims · HomeformWDWWW

Sunday 29 June 1969 saw us play host, and if the Almanack remembers this one at all, it will remember it as a day the bowling deserved rather better than the batting delivered.

Put into the field, we watched the visitors settle in for the long haul, and settle in they did — 169 all out from 48.1 overs, built around A Vaughan's fifty-and-two, with R Long (34) and D Toze (23) chipping in dutifully. Small mercies came in the shape of D Garrett and M Skelton, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. But the day belonged, unarguably, to Paul Bowles, whose 7-54 was the kind of spell you talk about in the bar for weeks — a five-for and then some, richly deserved. Alan Wilkes toiled away splendidly in support, 3-72 with seven maidens to show for his patience.

Chasing 169, we never quite found our rhythm, folding for 138 in 57 overs. Andrew Moss battled to 43, Robert Chance made a tidy 33, and Paul Bowles chipped in with 22 to add to his bowling heroics — but three ducks, from John Ames, Cliff Anscombe and Dick Langridge, told their own sorry story down the order.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: Chance's 33 nudged him past Richard Harris into 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Bowles continues to top our 1969 run charts and sits second in the wickets — a one-man band carrying us through a wobbly season.

Not our day, then — beaten by 31 runs. Heads up, lads; back to the nets.

Sat 28 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · HomeformDWDWW

Here's the match report:

Well, we won the toss on Saturday and I elected to bat, and for once I shall permit myself a small pat on the back for that decision, because it turned out rather well. It wasn't the most fluent of innings from the side as a whole — 139 all out from 50.5 overs tells its own story of graft over glamour — but Paul Bowles played beautifully for his 46 and gave the innings a spine it might otherwise have lacked. Poor Benny Bell will want the scorebook burned; a duck is never a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, and I dare say he'll be reminded of it in the bar for weeks to come.

Then Tilling Steven came out to bat, and frankly I don't think they knew what had hit them. Bowled out for a mere 31 in 14.3 overs, with Moorekite, Craft and Excell all departing without troubling the scorers, it was as one-sided a collapse as I've witnessed on our ground. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 8 for 8, including three maidens, which I'll admit felt rather special, and Paul Bowles chipped in nicely with 1 for 21 to squeeze the life out of any resistance.

A win by 108 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. With Paul now leading our run charts for the season and myself sat second among the wicket-takers, the old firm seems to be doing its bit. Onwards indeed.

Thu 26 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · AwayformDDWDW

Rain threatened all week, but Thursday brought us to Tilling Steven with the ball in hand and something to prove. Winning first use of the ball, we set about their order and, seventeen overs shy of anything comfortable, saw them close on 77/6. Terry Whittaker was the chief architect of that collapse with 3-20, ably backed by Benny Bell's 2-15 and Ron Hickman's steady 1-39. Mountford's 28 was the one innings that threatened to trouble us, but young G. Shepherd departed for a duck, and the rest never quite got going.

Chasing 78 was never going to be the formality the scoreboard might suggest, and so it proved. Robert Chance top-scored with a fine 23, and John Ames gave him good company with 21, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end and poor Mike Iliffe's name will appear in the book with a duck beside it, for which I have every sympathy. I chipped in with the bat myself and was glad to see us edge, rather than stride, over the line, the innings closing at 78/5 from 13.3 overs with the scores level and one solitary run the difference.

A win by the barest of margins is still a win, and on a day when nerves were shredded rather more than strictly necessary, I shall take it gladly. Paul Bowles continues to lead our run charts and Ron Hickman our wickets, and long may both keep piling up. Scrappy, nervy, occasionally comic, but ours.

Wed 25 Jun 1969 🧢 Midweek XIv WC West Kent Wanderers CC · HomeformLWLWL

Wednesday 25 June 1969, and West Kent Wanderers CC came calling. I won the toss and, with the sort of confidence that usually precedes a soaking, had no hesitation in batting first. As it turned out, the pitch behaved, though not everyone found the runs on offer — Terry Whittaker and Percy Brattle both walked back for ducks, heads bowed in that peculiarly English shame reserved for the number on the scoreboard. Fortunately Paul Bowles was in no mood to join them, compiling a fine 84, and I chipped in with 31 to help us to a respectable 166/8 from our 53 overs.

Defending it, the Wanderers never quite got away from us, closing on 124/8 from 46 — R. Langridge unbeaten on 36 and Steve Gower's 25 the only real resistance, while R. Pocock departed for a duck of his own at our hands. Terry Whittaker, clearly saving his best for the ball rather than the bat, tore through with 3-5, Paul Bowles bowled a mean 2-35 with six maidens for good measure, and I picked up 1-5. Poor Cliff Anscombe had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 9 byes going astray, but nobody held it against him.

There was cause for celebration regardless — Paul Bowles brought up 100 career wickets and climbed to 17th on the club's all-time run charts, and currently leads our 1969 Midweek XI for runs, with Whittaker topping the wickets column. In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, then, but a thoroughly good one to be part of.

Sun 22 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv HC Hartley Country Club CC · HomeformWDDWD

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to suspect the coin has a grudge against me — and so we trooped out into the field on a Sunday that Hartley Country Club CC had clearly marked in their diaries as a run-scoring opportunity. To their credit they set about it steadily rather than spectacularly, crawling to 124 all out off 50.5 overs, A Lush leading the way with 35, well supported by B Smith and C Young with 20 apiece. It was Paul Bowles who did the heavy lifting with the ball, prising out four for 66, while Dick Langridge chipped in three for 21 and Ron Hickman strangled the innings from one end with two for 16 and seven maidens that must have tested the patience of every batsman he bowled at.

A target of 125 looked gettable, and so it proved, if not without the odd wobble — 126 for 4 off 38.3 overs, with Paul Bowles again to the fore, top-scoring with 30 that quietly nudged him past Roy Clarke into 18th on the club's all-time run charts. Frank Brattle chipped in a handy 22, and I was pleased to see us home with an unbeaten 25 of my own. Poor Percy Brattle had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, leaking nine byes, but no harm done in the end.

Two points, six wickets to spare, and Bowles and Hickman continuing to top this season's charts. A thoroughly satisfactory Sunday.

Sat 21 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · HomeformWWDDW

Since this was a draw, I'll close the report accordingly rather than framing it as a win or loss.

Saturday last saw Hythe CC roll up to Linton Park, and the toss went against us as usual — they had first knock, and made themselves quite at home doing it. But if the coin wasn't kind, the ball certainly was: I found some rhythm I didn't know I still had, finishing with 6-53 and eight maidens to show for the graft, with Brian Relf chipping in tidily for 2-21. Tim Dearman and Dan Smith still put bat to ball rather better than we'd have liked, unbeaten on 54 and 43 respectively, and between them dragged Hythe to 150/8 from their 43 overs — B-Thomason at least departed without so much as a squeak off the bat.

Chasing it down, we never quite found the fluency to match the bowling. Mike Iliffe played the innings of the day, 53 well beyond his fifty and the clear backbone of the reply, with Paul Bowles a busy 22 in support — enough, incidentally, to nudge him past Don Clayton into 19th on the club's all-time run charts, and he now sits proudly atop this year's 1st XI run-scoring table with 398. I added a watchful 18 of my own, though ten byes on the sheet suggest Jim Hall had rather a testing afternoon behind the stumps, and we stalled on 141/6 from our 37.

So honours were shared, and perhaps that's fitting — neither side deserved to leave empty-handed. A draw, then, but an honest one, and I'll happily take a day where the ball behaved even if the tea urn saw more action than the run rate.

Thu 19 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv TW The Willows · HomeformDWWDD

I fielded first at home to The Willows and won't pretend the openers troubled us unduly, restricting them to 68 for 8 from their 16 overs, with only K Kemsley showing any real fight for an unbeaten 20. Ron Hickman was the chief architect of the collapse, tearing through with 3 for 14, well supported by Benny Bell's 3 for 18 and Terry Whittaker chipping in with 1 for 12. A Fox and Terry Whittaker went back to the pavilion without so much as a run to their name, which tells you all you need to know about the conditions.

Chasing 69, we made harder work of it than the target perhaps deserved, limping to 72 for 5 in 14 overs. Andrew Moss held the innings together with an unbeaten 23, while I must confess to contributing a golden duck of my own, out for nought and content to let the scorebook speak for itself rather than dwell further on the matter.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Paul Bowles continues to lead the run charts with 376, and Ron Hickman's tally now stands at a handsome 31 wickets, his afternoon's work here doing no harm to that total whatsoever.

Five wickets the margin, and a scrappy, unlovely, thoroughly satisfactory way to bank two points. We'll take it, ducks and all.

Sun 15 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformLDWWD

Bobbing Court arrived at the ground on a fine Sunday, and for once the coin fell my way — I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and I still maintain it was the correct call, whatever the sceptics in the pavilion might mutter. We laboured our way to 172 for 9 off 48.4 overs, a total built rather than blazed. I found some form to top-score with 45, and was grateful for good company from Dick Langridge, who chipped in a tidy 28, and Terry Donovan with 26. Not every card is without blemish, mind — poor Frank Brattle departed for a duck, a sight that never gets any easier to watch from the boundary.

In the field we set about defending it, and the story of the afternoon belonged almost entirely to Ron Hickman, who span a web through the Bobbing Court order for a quite magnificent 7 for 33, nine of his overs going for nothing at all. A Williamson held firm for 28 in reply, and Terry Donovan backed up Ron nicely with 2 for 23, but between them our bowlers strangled the innings to 95 for 9 off 46 overs — agonisingly short, and honours were shared.

A proper silver lining amid the stalemate: Dick Langridge brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth more than any single result. With Paul Bowles leading our season's run charts on 372 and Ron now up to 28 wickets, the summer's shaping up nicely. A draw, then — not the win we wanted, but not for want of trying.

Sat 14 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformDLDWW

Saturday, 14th June, and Tovil arrived at our place to find the sun out and the square looking its Sunday best. I won the toss and elected to bat, which I like to think showed sound judgement rather than a simple reluctance to field after lunch, and the lads repaid the confidence handsomely. We closed on 188 for 3 from our 43 overs, built around a wonderfully composed 96 not out from Paul Bowles — cruelly denied his century, though he wore the disappointment better than I would have. Mike Iliffe chipped in nicely with 48 and Frank Brattle added a brisk 26, and by tea we felt we had enough runs to be interesting.

Tovil's reply was a study in stubbornness, Jim Archer's 23 the backbone of an innings that crawled to 106 for 8 from their 46 overs. Paul Bowles, evidently not content with his batting heroics, took the ball and helped himself to 3 for 42, while I managed 2 for 18, which I shall mention here once and then, in the spirit of modesty, never again. Derry Evans picked up a wicket for just 6, and Brian Fuller bowled with a miser's discipline, four maidens to his name.

There was extra reason for cheer besides: Bowles's 96 sent him past Len Conway and up to 20th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, and he now sits handsomely atop our 1969 run charts and second among the wicket-takers. In the end neither side could force the door open, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but a thoroughly satisfying one to bat and bowl our way into.

Mon 09 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv PC Primrose & Len CC · HomeformWDLDW

John Thirkell, Skipper's Log — Monday 9th June 1969

Won the toss against Primrose & Len, and I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and the lads didn't let me down. Cliff Anscombe played the innings of the day, a well-made 52 that did the bulk of the scoring, and I was glad to lend a hand with 30 of my own as we posted 113/4 from our sixteen overs. A total to defend, certainly, but with this lot of visitors you never quite know.

Defending it proved a nervier business than the batting. Primrose & Len rallied through S Day, whose 26 were the runs that mattered, with useful support from A Wright (23 not out) and H Saunders (21) — enough to keep us honest but, in the end, not quite enough to see them home. D Barnard went for a duck, which always raises a cheer from the boundary. Ron Hickman was the chief tormentor with the ball, 2 for 38, with Terry Donovan chipping in for 1 for 32. Behind the stumps poor Cliff had a torrid afternoon of his own, 13 byes leaking away — no doubt he'll say the fifty balances the ledger.

We got over the line by 15 runs, and a word too for the record books: Cliff's fifty nudges him past Roy Clarke into 17th on the club's all-time run charts. A scratchy, hard-fought win, but a win all the same — and on a Monday evening, we'll take that every time.

Sun 08 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv HC Hartley Country Club CC · AwayformDWDLD

Sunday last took us down to Hartley Country Club CC, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't dither for a second — on a pitch that looked made for batting, we were in.

And in we duly stayed, posting a handsome 176 for 6 off our 44 overs. Paul Bowles was in imperious form, cruising past his fifty to finish with 61, while I chipped in with 34 and Robert Chance added a tidy 31 to the cause. Not every man's afternoon in the sun, mind — poor Fred Greenfield endured the walk of shame for a duck, and I dare say he'll hear about it in the bar before he hears the end of this report.

With the ball, we set about defending our total with real purpose. Hartley were bowled out for 136 in 42.3 overs, C Young's 36 the best of a brave rearguard, well supported by B Smith (30) and D Fountain (25), while G Murrell and S Porter both departed without troubling the scorers. But the story of the innings was Paul Bowles, spinning a web that yielded a scarcely believable 9 for 52, with Dick Langridge tight and miserly at the other end — four maidens and a wicket for his trouble.

A red-letter day for Bowles besides: those runs and wickets nudge him up two separate all-time club lists, and keep him well clear at the top of this season's run charts. We got home by 40 runs — a thoroughly good day for the club, and one Fred will be keen to forget.

Sat 07 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWDWDL

Saturday last saw Rumwood CC pay us a visit, and honesty compels me to admit our innings was no thing of beauty. Bowled out for 149 in 54 overs, we leaned heavily on Frank Brattle's 30, with Mike Iliffe's 29 and Mike Stephens's 25 keeping the scoreboard ticking over rather than galloping. I contributed a workmanlike 17 of my own down the order — nothing to trouble the highlights reel, but useful runs, and I'm reliably informed they were enough to nudge me past George Champion into 11th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, which is the sort of small mercy a captain clings to on a day when the bat otherwise behaved like a blunt instrument.

In the field we set about defending our modest total with rather more conviction. Ron Hickman was the chief tormentor with 2-30, well supported by Terry Donovan's 1-24 and Mike Stephens's tidy 1-30, while Brian Fuller bowled like a man allergic to boundaries, sending down five maidens. Rumwood, though, had other ideas, J. Pearson batting through unbeaten for a composed 38 and Don Clayton chipping in with 29 as they steered home to 113 for 5 from their 45.

So honours shared, neither side quite able to land the decisive blow. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but a fair reflection of an afternoon where both sides scrapped hard and nobody deserved to lose.

Mon 02 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv TN Tovil Nomads · HomeformLWDWD

Not our finest quarter of an hour with the bat still to come, but by heavens the ball did the talking. Winning the toss and asking them to bat, I'll admit I fancied our chances, though even I didn't expect them to fold quite so meekly for 98 in under sixteen overs. B Aiston's 25 was the only real resistance; everything else dissolved in the face of Ron Hickman, who span a web through their order figures of 7 for 17 that will be talked about in the clubhouse for weeks. Terry Whittaker and Benny Bell mopped up the rest, each helping themselves to a wicket, and there was a warm ripple of applause when Ron's tally ticked over to fifty career wickets — a landmark thoroughly deserved.

Chasing 99 should have been a formality, and that it wasn't tells you everything about the peculiar torment of village cricket. R Venner and K Boorman departed without so much as troubling the scorers, and though Paul Bowles played the innings of the day with a fluent 31, we subsided to 86 for 5 from our sixteen overs and fell agonisingly short by 12 runs. Nine byes in the reckoning suggests Benny Bell will not look back on his afternoon behind the stumps with any great fondness.

So: heads up, and back to the nets. Paul continues to lead our run charts with 199 for the season, and Ron sits proudly second among the wicket-takers with 17 — small consolations on a day when, quite simply, the bat let the ball down.

Sun 01 Jun 1969 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · AwayformDLWDW

Sunday 1st June saw us make the trip to Hythe, and having called correctly at the toss, I didn't hesitate for a moment before opting to bat first — a decision I'd spend the rest of the afternoon quietly hoping wouldn't come back to haunt me.

We posted 153/7 from our 53 overs, a total built on a decent top order effort. I chipped in with 41 myself, though I'd say the real backbone came from John Ames with a fine 40 and Andrew Moss's steady 25 — between us we gave the total a bit of shape without ever quite cutting loose.

With ball in hand we set about Hythe with real purpose. Terry Donovan was magnificent, ripping through with 4-22 and, in doing so, sailed past Frank Taylor into 8th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a milestone well earned on a day when he barely missed. Mike Stephens (2-50) and John Ames (1-13) chipped in nicely, Ron Hickman bowled three tidy maidens to choke the scoring, and M Jackson and Haine both departed without troubling the scorers. Hythe fought hard through G Willsher (32), Tim Dearman (31) and R Apps (20) to reach 122/8 from their 46, but couldn't quite force the win.

So honours shared in the end — a draw when neither side had it in them to land the killer blow. Frustrating in the moment, perhaps, but with the bat and ball both doing enough, I'll happily settle for that and the drive home in good spirits.

Sat 31 May 1969 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · AwayformLDLWD

Winning the toss at Tovil, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook suggests. Sixty-two all out in 39.3 overs is not a total to frighten anyone, and with Benny Bell, Basil Sears and Derry Evans all contributing a golden nothing apiece, there were moments in that innings when I wondered whether I'd made the right call after all. Still, runs on the board are runs on the board, however meagrely assembled.

Set to defend a total that wouldn't trouble a decent tea interval, we turned instead to the ball, and here the afternoon changed character entirely. Mike Stephens was quite magnificent, snaring seven for thirty-five with six overs of miserly maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell bowlers dream about and rarely deliver. I chipped in with three for twenty myself, which I mention with as much pride as modesty allows. Tovil's reply petered out at sixty in 34.5 overs, a- Mitchell's battling 24 the only real resistance, while D- Hitchin departed without so much as troubling the scorers.

Two runs. That was the margin, and I don't mind admitting my heart hadn't fully returned to its resting rate by the time the players shook hands. Paul Bowles continues to lead our run charts and I'm rather chuffed to be topping the wickets column myself. A nervy win, but a thoroughly deserved one, and two points banked all the same.

Mon 26 May 1969 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDLDLW

Not the tidiest afternoon for everyone with the willow — poor Mike Iliffe and Percy Brattle both trudged back for ducks. I fared rather better myself, seventy-eight in the end, safely past my fifty and pleased with it, with Andrew Moss lending sturdy support for twenty-four. We were all out for 162 from our sixty-five overs — defendable rather than daunting.

Monday the 26th of May, and Bearsted CC were our visitors at Linton Park. The coin fell my way for once, and I sent us in to bat first.

Bearsted came at it sensibly. Gordon Hawkins was in fine nick for his eighty-one, backed by Colin Fleetwood's twenty, though K Willson went for a duck. Dick Langridge did the damage with three for thirty-four, I chipped in two for fourteen with four maidens, and Terry Donovan took one for twenty-one. Percy Brattle then had a torrid time behind the stumps too, nine byes escaping him. Bearsted closed on 150 for 8 — short of us, but with wickets to spare.

Small mercies: Paul Bowles's single wicket nudged him past Don Hartridge into 22nd on the club's all-time list, and he still leads our 1969 run charts with 164, while I find myself topping the wicket column with fourteen. A draw, then — honours shared, and nobody entirely satisfied, which is rather the point of the game.

Sun 25 May 1969 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformWDLDL

It was a proper cricket Sunday, and there's no better way to spend one than watching Mote A crumble to 100 all out. I'll admit I got a bit of luck rolling in from the off, and I'm not too proud to say so — 5-18 is the kind of figure you dream about rather than expect, and it's the sort of afternoon a bowler remembers long after the tea's gone cold. Paul Bowles and Ron Hickman weren't hanging about either, with Paul's three maidens setting the tone and three of their top order trudging back for ducks before they'd even got their eye in.

Chasing 101 should never be straightforward in this game, but Paul Bowles made light work of it, cruising to 52 not out and putting his feet up while Robert Chance kept him company with an unbeaten 33. We got there for the loss of just one wicket, in a canter that had the tea urn barely cool before it was all wrapped up.

Beyond the bare scoreline, there was plenty to raise a glass to. Paul brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours in some style, and his half-century nudged him past Fred Greenfield into 22nd on the club's all-time run charts. I reached 300 career wickets along the way too, which is a number I shan't pretend not to be chuffed about.

A thumping nine-wicket win, two points banked, and both our season charts still led from the front. Can't ask for much more than that.

Tue 20 May 1969 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDWDLD

Tuesday brought West Farleigh CC to Linton Park, and the coin, as is so often its custom with me, landed the wrong way up. Put in to field, we can have few complaints about the toll it took: Don Fermor timed his way to 44 with Colin Clark chipping in a tidy 21, and between them West Farleigh crept to 101 all out inside sixteen overs. It could have been considerably worse without Ron Hickman, who span through their order like a man possessed to finish with 6-29, ably backed by Terry Donovan's 2-25. I managed to prise one out myself, 1-21, and permit myself the observation that Peter J Day departed for a duck without troubling the scorer at all, alongside the wicket of Reg Oldfield.

Chasing 101 ought to have been a formality on a good day, but our reply never quite found its rhythm. Andrew Moss battled hardest for his 20, while the Duck Club's ledger swelled alarmingly, Mike Iliffe, Dave Hales and Tim Thirkell all walking back for nought as we stumbled to 58/7 from our sixteen overs.

Small mercies remain: Moss now leads the 1st XI's run charts for the season with 98, and Hickman sits proudly atop the wicket pile with 9, so the engine room is clearly firing even when the rest of us are misfiring spectacularly.

Beaten by 43 runs in the end, a margin that flatters neither the toss nor our top order. We live to fight another Tuesday, and we'll be better for it next week.

Mon 12 May 1969 🧢 1st XIv TW The Willows · HomeformDDWDL

Won the toss on a fine Monday evening and, for reasons that seemed sound at the time, decided we'd have a bat. The visitors can have few complaints about that decision by the close, though whether it was shrewd captaincy or simply blind optimism I shall leave for the committee to debate over their pints.

What followed was a brisk little innings — 59 for 1 in just 8.1 overs, the kind of scoring rate that leaves the tea ladies scrambling to get the urn on in time. Cliff Anscombe played the anchor role to perfection, ending unbeaten on 27, while Andrew Moss gave him fine company with 25 not out of his own. Between them they made the rest of us look rather superfluous with the bat, which is not an unfamiliar feeling on this ground.

We turned to defend our total with the usual mixture of hope and hollering, and the visitors gave as good as they got, for neither side could quite land the decisive blow. A draw, then — honours shared, and perhaps no bad thing given the effort both XIs put in under a gathering evening sky.

Special mention to Andrew Moss, who continues his fine form and now sits second in our 1969 run charts with 78 to his name. A tidy evening's work all round: not a win, but no disgrace either, and the sandwiches were gone before the last ball was bowled — always the truest measure of a good match.

Sun 11 May 1969 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformLDDWD

I lost the toss and we were put into the field, which on reflection turned out rather well for us. Brian Allsworth's 39 and 30 from E Smith gave Gore Court the bones of a total, though an early wobble to 1-1 suggested the pitch had a bit of devil in it. Mike Stephens was the pick of our attack with 3-47, Dick Langridge chipped in with 3-54, and Benny Bell bowled beautifully tight for 2-18 with four maidens to show for his parsimony. We had M Wright back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and altogether we restricted them to 159 all out, which felt, at tea, like a target within our compass.

It was not to be. Our own innings began in a manner distressingly familiar, tumbling to 0-1 before we'd properly settled. Cliff Anscombe's 34 was the mainstay, with Fred Greenfield's 30 and Andrew Moss's 23 offering support, but wickets fell around them with grim regularity. John Ames and I both contributed golden ducks apiece, and I shan't dwell on my own further, except to say the shot selection will be reviewed in private. All out for 124, some 35 runs shy of the target.

A defeat, then, and not a flattering one. But with Frank Brattle sitting second in the season's run charts and Mike Stephens leading the wickets with seven, there's plenty to build on. We'll regroup, we'll bat with a straighter head next Sunday, and we'll be better for it.

Sun 04 May 1969 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformWLDDW

Sunday the 4th of May found us on the road to Bobbing Court, and I lost the toss in the manner to which I've grown accustomed — the coin, as ever, has never once liked me. They elected to bat, leaving us to toil away in the field, and toil we did, dragging things back from what might have been a proper mauling. Robinson made a composed 52 not out, with Webb and Wallace both chipping in 48 apiece, and by the time their innings closed on 169 for 3 from their allotted 47 overs, the scorebook made for grim reading. Credit where it's due, though: Dick Langridge bowled tidily for his 2-52, Benny Bell chipped away with 1-40, and Terry Donovan, tight as a drum, squeezed out two maidens when boundaries were the order of the day everywhere else.

Our reply was, shall we say, a more modest affair. Frank Brattle again showed why he's second in the season's run charts, top-scoring with a gutsy 40, and Benny Bell offered fine support with 33. Beyond that, the cupboard was rather bare — Stan Wratten, Fred Greenfield and Dick Langridge all departed for ducks, three quacks in a single card being more ornithology than batting, and we limped to 101 for 9 off our 44 overs with the last pair required to see out the innings.

So honours shared, a draw wrenched from the jaws of what could easily have been worse. Not our finest hour with the willow, but the bowlers kept us in the contest, and a share of the spoils on a tricky day counts for something. We'll take it, and live to bat again another Sunday.

Sat 03 May 1969 🧢 1st XIv CC Chiddingstone CC · HomeformDWLDD

Saturday 03 May 1969, and we welcomed Chiddingstone CC to Linton Park under skies kind enough for cricket. I called correctly and, with the confidence of a man who'd forgotten what our top order can do to a Saturday afternoon, stuck us in. Wisdom prevailed: 155 for 5 off our 47, built around a lovely, unhurried 77 not out from Paul Bowles, with Terry Whittaker (23) and Mike Stephens (22) filling in the mortar. Poor Basil Sears will not want reminding of his duck, but every side needs a sacrifice to the cricketing gods.

Defending it, we found Chiddingstone rather less at home. They were bowled out for 72 in 28.1 overs, Derek Hatt's 29 the only real resistance, while J King and Bill Hollands both departed without troubling the scorer. Paul Bowles, not content with his runs, took 4 for 10 with the ball, Mike Stephens chipped in with 4 for 13 and three tidy maidens, and Terry Whittaker mopped up with 1 for 7. Jim Hall had a wretched time behind the stumps, ten byes going begging, but nobody much minded by tea.

There was history made too — Whittaker's runs eased him past George Champion into 11th on the club's all-time run list, and Bowles's four wickets pushed him past J Donovan into 25th among our leading wicket-takers, with both men also topping the 1969 charts in their respective disciplines.

An 83-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — Basil's duck notwithstanding.

Sun 27 Apr 1969 🧢 1st XIv PC Paddock Wood CC · HomeformLDWLD

Sunday last, the sun almost cooperating and the tea urn fully briefed, we welcomed Paddock Wood CC and I did the traditionally rash thing of winning the toss and asking us to bat — the right call, as it turned out, though I'll take credit sparingly given how these things usually go.

We limped and occasionally strode our way to 112 for 8 off the full 39 overs, a total that felt less like a declaration of intent and more like a polite suggestion. Stan Wratten was the innings' one real point of stubbornness, finishing unbeaten on 40 while the rest of us came and went with varying degrees of dignity. I contributed my own small brick to the wall, though the details are best left in the scorebook rather than repeated here. Cliff Anscombe's useful 16 deserves its own mention, quietly nudging him past Len Conway and into 19th on the club's all-time run-scoring list — a piece of history achieved, as these things often are, without anyone in the middle noticing at the time.

In the field we set about defending our modest total with more optimism than the maths strictly allowed, and for a while it worked a treat: Paddock Wood found themselves wobbling to 8 for 1 off just 5.2 overs, Terry Donovan doing the early damage with a tidy 1 for 2. Alas, the weather or the umpires or simple cricketing stalemate intervened, and honours were shared.

A draw, then — cricket's great shrug of the shoulders. Not a win, but with a total like ours, arguably a heist.

Sat 26 Apr 1969 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLLDWL

As captain, the toss went against us that Saturday and we were sent out into the West Farleigh field, resigned as ever to our fate. I can't say the openers made it easy on us, but wickets did fall — Terry Whittaker bowled a tidy, miserly spell for 4-52, including a couple of maidens that must have felt like small victories in themselves, while I found my own rhythm to finish with 6-58. Bowling out the opposition for 173 from their 45.4 overs felt, at the time, like the platform for a proper chase.

Alas, chasing has never been our strong suit, and 137/9 from our fifty overs told its own story. Mike Iliffe held things together with a fine 37, and I chipped in with 35 of my own — small consolation for a top order that otherwise found the going sticky. Special mention, as tradition demands, for poor Paul Bowles, whose golden duck earns him this week's entry in the Duck Club ledger; he takes his walk of shame with the rest of us cheering him on regardless.

So honours shared it was — a draw when neither side could quite force the issue, which given our batting struggles probably flatters us more than we deserve. Still, six wickets and a battling 35 with the bat is as good a way as any for a captain to spend a Saturday afternoon, and West Farleigh will have gone home fully aware they'd been in a match. All told: no shame in a draw earned the hard way.