🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 26 Sep 1970 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformLLDWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 26 September 1970. St Lukes Maidstone CC were the visitors, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in choosing to bat, the pitch looking far too good to leave to the openers of the other side.

And how the lads repaid that confidence. We ground our way to a handsome 227 for 3 from 46 overs, the sort of total that has you enjoying your tea rather more than usual. Basil Sears led from the front with a fine 54, John Ames matched him almost run for run with 52, and David T Lowen anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten fifty of his own. Three half-centuries in one innings is not something this reporter gets to write every week, and I shan't pretend I wasn't rather pleased with myself for winning that toss.

With the ball, however, we rather ran away with ourselves. St Lukes were bowled out for a mere 95 in 39.2 overs, E- Aiston's 29 and B- Pearce's 22 the only real resistance, while poor B- Lamb and Ron Hickman departed without troubling the scorers. Ron himself made ample amends with the ball, a magnificent 4 for 7 including five maidens — miserly doesn't begin to cover it — with Graham Mountford (4-45) and Mike Stephens (2-18) mopping up the rest.

A thumping 132-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Heads up, backs straight — and back to the nets we go, already looking forward to the next one.

Sun 20 Sep 1970 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformLLLDW

The lads gathered on a fine Sunday to welcome Harrietsham CC, and when the coin came down my way there was really only one decision to make — we'd bat.

We made a solid fist of it, posting 163 for 6 from our fifty overs. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, a really fine half-century, with Mike Iliffe chipping in handsomely alongside him with 45, and Dick Langridge showing the youngsters how to finish an innings unbeaten on 22. I managed to add a useful 45 of my own. Not every name troubled the scorers mind — Brian Humphries and Jon Harris both departed for golden ducks, though I dare say they'll dine out on the story rather more than the scorecard.

Defending 163 always promises an afternoon of nerves, but the bowlers were magnificent. Paul Bowles, having already done his bit with the bat, ran through them with 4 for 12, backed superbly by David T Lowen's 3 for 10 and Dick Langridge's 2 for 51. Tony Gauna simply refused to be scored off, sending down four maidens, while Michael Lidstone and Edward Smith both walked back without troubling the scorers. Harrietsham's Laurie Holloway and Dennis Stones fought hardest with 24 and 23, but it was never enough, and they folded for 104. Poor Nigel O'Toole had a torrid time behind the stumps, gifting nine byes, but no matter.

A fine win by 59 runs — onwards indeed.

Sat 19 Sep 1970 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWLLLD

Cricket lends itself to a good match report, and the toss going my way for once made it feel like a day where the luck might just hold — though 127 all out from a rather leisurely 51.3 overs is not, on reflection, the sort of total that has opposition dressing rooms quaking. Graham Mountford's 25 and Basil Sears' 23 were the innings' only real substance, and with Paul Bowles, Tim Thirkell and Jim Hall all departing for ducks, there were rather more zeros on that scorecard than any captain cares to see. Still, we had runs on the board, and on a club cricket Saturday that is sometimes all one can ask for.

What followed with the ball, though, was the sort of thing that gets talked about in the bar for weeks. West Farleigh's 95 all out in 21.4 overs tells its own story, and Graham Mountford — clearly saving his best for later in the day — span his way to 7 for 40, an utterly unplayable spell that should have batsmen at every other club in the league checking the fixture list nervously. Mike Stephens backed him up beautifully with 3 for 18 and a couple of miserly maidens, and in doing so brought up his 50th career wicket, a landmark thoroughly deserved. Don Fermor's defiant 52 and Simon Day's 23 were the only real resistance, but three more ducks at our hands (Clark, Gedney and Ford) told the tale.

A 32-run win, two points, and Mountford now sitting on 60 wickets for the season with Andrew Moss's 666 runs still the standard to chase. A fine day's work, generously earned, and one for the scrapbook.

Sun 13 Sep 1970 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Le Hatch CC · HomeformWWLLL

Here's the match report:

The toss fell my way for once, and with the pitch looking true and the sky obliging, there was never really a decision to make — we batted. Brian Humphries set about proving the point in some style, anchoring the innings with a composed, unbeaten 22 as we motored along to 47 for the loss of just the one wicket in eight overs. Brisk, businesslike, and rather easier on the captain's nerves than usual.

Then came the small matter of bowling out Mersham Le Hatch, and here the lads rather excelled themselves — the visitors were dismissed for nought, all out, without so much as troubling the scorer. Quite how one explains a scoreline like that in the club gazette without sounding immodest, I do not know, so I shall simply report it and let the numbers do the boasting.

And yet, for all that dominance, the heavens or the clock or some other unseen hand denied us the finish our efforts deserved, and honours were shared — a draw when neither side could force matters to a conclusion. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, David T Lowen continues his quietly excellent campaign, sitting third in the 1970 first XI run charts with 397 to his name.

A funny old game, cricket — we bowled like champions, batted like gentlemen, and still walked off with nothing but a handshake to show for it. Verdict: a match won in all but name, and a draw we shall wear with quiet pride.

Sun 06 Sep 1970 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLWWLL

As it stands from the captain's chair, Sunday 6th September saw Anchorians CC as our visitors, and the toss went against us — we were sent in to field first, which on reflection did us no harm at all. The lads bowled beautifully, dismissing the visitors for a modest 98 in 39.2 overs. Les Neate top-scored with 37 and P- McBean chipped in 20, but otherwise our attack had them in all sorts of bother — three of theirs went back without so much as a nibble. David T Lowen was the story of the innings, spinning his way to 5-20 and thoroughly unplayable, while Brian Fuller (2-21, five maidens and stingy as ever) and Mike Stephens (2-21) squeezed the life out of the rest.

Chasing 99 should have been the easy part, and indeed we got there for the loss of three, Andrew Moss leading the way with 30, well supported by Brian Humphries (26) and John Thirkell (26 not out). I even managed to get off the mark myself with 26 — never let it be said the captain doesn't pull his weight now and then.

A nod too to Brian Fuller, who brought up his 50th career wicket for the club — a fine landmark on a fine day for the bowlers. Andrew Moss continues to lead our 1970 run charts with 649, and David T Lowen sits third in the wickets with 36.

All told, a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work: bowled them out cheaply, chased it down comfortably, and reminded ourselves why we love this funny old game.

Sat 05 Sep 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLWWL

Beaten but unbowed, that's how we'll file it. Winning the toss on a fine Saturday, I fancied runs on the board and had no second thoughts about batting first — though quite how we contrived to be bowled out for 99 in 41.3 overs is a question the tea urn may yet answer. Tim Thirkell stood firm for an unbeaten 30, David Piper chipped in nicely with 24, and somewhere in the middle order David T Lowen's duck will haunt his dreams rather more than mine, bless him.

Defending such a modest total always felt like asking the lads to bail out a rowing boat with a teaspoon, but credit where it's due — we made a proper fist of it. Graham Mountford was superb, his 3-46 built on the sort of miserly control that yielded six maidens and very little else for the batsmen to enjoy, while David T Lowen atoned handsomely with the ball, snaring 2-32, and Tony Gauna weighed in with 1-16. Still, their middle order had other ideas: B- Lewis's 27, backed up by L- Hart's 23 and P- Hardman's 22, ground us down until they reached home at 100/6 in 32.3 overs.

Four wickets the margin, and no arguing with the arithmetic. Andrew Moss continues to lead our run charts with 619 for the season, and Mountford's wickets column, now at 53, remains the one bright, unbending pillar in an otherwise wobbly Saturday. We'll dust ourselves off, have a stern word with the top order, and go again next week — chins up, sleeves rolled.

Mon 31 Aug 1970 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLLLWW

We travelled down to Bearsted on the last Monday of August with high hopes and, as ever, lost the toss — so out we trooped into the field while they made themselves comfortable. Their openers put on a maddening 78 before we prised the first one out, and from there Richard Tree (63 not out) and Ian Lambert (54) settled in as though the ground were theirs, with Dave Bromley chipping in 33 more. A pesky last-wicket stand of 37 runs we could all have done without rounded off a total of 248 for 7 from their 62 overs. Alan Wilkes toiled manfully for 3 for 78, Paul Bowles chipped in 2 for 49, Dick Langridge picked up one, and Tony Gauna bowled with such miserly discipline — six maidens — that the tea urn nearly ran dry waiting for a boundary.

Chasing 249, we made a fair fist of it. Our own openers matched theirs stroke for stroke, adding 64 before the first wicket fell, and Paul Bowles batted beautifully for 91, well supported by Andrew Moss (34) and Alan Wilkes (20). Poor Nigel O'Toole, alas, departed for a golden duck, and Benny Bell had a torrid time behind the stumps, gifting 21 byes. We folded for 202 in the 50th over.

Some cheer amid the gloom: Bowles's 91 lifts him to 12th on the club's all-time run list, past George Champion. But a 46-run defeat is a 46-run defeat — back to the nets, lads.

Sun 30 Aug 1970 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformDLLLW

As it stood at the toss, I confess I had a good feeling about it — put Staplehurst in the field on a Sunday and see how they liked it. We did like it, mustering 203/7 from our 47 overs, with Paul Bowles the architect of the innings — 89 of the finest, falling agonisingly short of what would have been a thoroughly deserved century. David T Lowen chipped in with a tidy 26 and Stan Wratten saw us home unbeaten on 26, the sort of contribution that never quite makes the highlights reel but wins matches all the same.

Then, ball in hand, Bowles simply wouldn't stop. Having done the damage with the bat, he did it all over again with figures of 5-28 and four maidens — miserly doesn't begin to cover it — and in doing so eased past Michael Morton into 14th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the sort of thing a man is allowed to mention in the bar afterwards. Ron Hickman (3-44) and David T Lowen (1-38) tidied up the rest, and Staplehurst were bowled out for 120 in 33.4 overs, J- Bathurst's 24 and John Munn's 23 the only real resistance. Three of their number departed without troubling the scorers at all.

Poor Cliff Anscombe had a trying afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes going begging, but no matter — a win by 83 runs is a win by 83 runs. Andrew Moss continues to lead the run charts this season and Hickman sits third among the wicket-takers. A thoroughly satisfactory Sunday. Onwards.

Sat 29 Aug 1970 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · AwayformLDLLL

John Thirkell's 67 led the way as we posted a competitive 182/6 at Whitstable, before Paul Bowles's 8-51 ran through their batting to seal a 55-run win.

There's a particular pleasure in winning the toss, having a good hard think, and then doing exactly what you were always going to do anyway — I put us in to bat and, for once, nobody in the pavilion questioned my judgement. John Thirkell set about the Whitstable bowling with real purpose, motoring past his fifty to 67, while Paul Bowles chipped in a handsome 43 and David T Lowen a tidy 20. Somewhat immodestly, I'll note I found some form myself with 67 of my own at the top of the order. 182/6 from our 48 overs felt like a total with a bit of steel in it.

So it proved. Whitstable never got going, undone chiefly by Paul Bowles, who ran absolutely riot with 8-51 — a spell that also carried him past Ray Howard and up to 15th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the sort of thing that gets a warm round of applause and a pint bought in the bar. John Thirkell was miserly as ever, six maidens and 2-16 to go with his runs, and now sits 2nd in the season's charts with 530. Two batsmen, P- Waters and R- Hassall, departed without troubling the scorers, and Whitstable were bowled out for 127 in 43 overs.

Twenty-five byes did rather suggest Jim Hall was having one of those days behind the stumps, but nobody's perfect, and 55 runs is 55 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 26 Aug 1970 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLLDLD

Gravesend, Wednesday, and the coin let us down again — Gravesend won the toss and, quite reasonably, decided we should sweat first. We took the field and stuck to our task well enough: they closed on 170/6 from their 55 overs, built around a classy Gaynor Kingston 57, with Ian Farthing (38) and Mukul Lall (33) filling in the mortar. Dick Langridge was the pick of us with 2-32, John Thirkell chipped in with 1-28, and Paul Bowles worked hard for his 2-63. A Morgan won't remember the day fondly, gone for a duck. Special mention, too, for Jon Harris, who bowled nine — nine! — maidens; the sort of miserly spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their tea.

Chasing 171, we made harder work of it than the target perhaps deserved, but Robert Chance played the innings of the season, 95 not out, calm and correct throughout, with Mike Iliffe's 41 the ideal foil at the other end. Paul Bowles and Steve Gower both departed for ducks, proving nobody is immune from the club's favourite bird, and ten byes suggested our man behind the stumps was having rather a testing afternoon. We got there anyway, four wickets in hand.

Two names for the record books: Chance's 95 lifts him past Roy Clarke to 19th on the all-time run list, while Langridge's brace takes him past Tony Snell into 7th among the wicket-takers. Cliff Anscombe still leads the season's run charts, Thirkell sits second among the bowlers. A scratchy day in the field, a nervy chase, but a win is a win — and we'll take it gladly.

Sun 23 Aug 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWLDLL

Sunday 23 August 1970, and we ventured away with the coin doing us a favour for once — I called correctly and, with the sun out and no good excuse to bowl first, sent us in.

We were bowled out for 130 in 51.3 overs, which on another day might have looked a modest total, but John Thirkell batted beautifully for his 63, and Brian Humphries chipped in soundly with 21. Elsewhere the top order rather fancied a change of scenery, with Robert Chance, John Ames and Nigel O'Toole all departing for golden ducks — three fresh eggs before lunch is not a record any of us will be framing.

With ball in hand we made a proper fight of it. They were skittled for 111 in 40.2 overs, C. Young's 32 their only real resistance. Alan Wilkes was magnificent — 6 for 56, a thoroughly deserved five-for and then some — while I was able to do my bit too, 2 for 12 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, and Tony Gauna picked up a useful 2 for 31. Poor Percy Brattle behind the stumps had a torrid afternoon of it, ten byes standing as testament to a wicket that clearly had ideas of its own.

Nineteen runs the final margin — desperately close, and no shame in it. Andrew Moss continues to purr along at the top of the run charts, and Alan Wilkes' wickets haul goes from strength to strength. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sat 22 Aug 1970 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformDWLDL

Beaten by six runs at home to Aylesford Paper Mills — and I'll admit, when we lost the toss and were sent out to field on a warm Saturday, I had a quiet feeling this one might go to the wire.

Aylesford posted 129 all out in 37.1 overs, and full credit to Colin Cheeseman for his 31, with Alan Perriman (23) and J. Perrin (22) chipping in to keep the total respectable. But it was Mike Stephens who did the real damage, tearing through their order with a magnificent 6 for 33 — the sort of spell that has the tea urn buzzing with talk before you've even sat down. Jon Harris (2-48) and Andrew Moss (1-22) mopped up admirably in support.

Chasing 130, we never quite found our rhythm, bowled out for 123 in 44.4 overs. Mike Stephens, not content with his heroics in the field, top-scored again with 30, and I managed a workmanlike 19 myself. Less happily, poor Tim Thirkell endured the walk of shame for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, Tim, and I dare say the lads will let you forget it by, oh, Christmas.

Andrew Moss continues to lead our 1970 run charts with 553, a fine effort that at least gives us something to toast. As for the match itself — six runs is nothing, a dropped catch, a mistimed single, the width of a bail. We were the better side for large stretches and simply couldn't finish the job. Chins up, lads — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 16 Aug 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDWLD

Sunday 16 August 1970, at home, and another instalment in the great unfinished business of Linton Park Cricket Club.

Winning the toss, we put them in, and for a good while it looked the shrewder call: C- Reader and P- Prince both departed without so much as a scratch on the scorebook, and Alan Wilkes bowled like a man possessed, six wickets for 65 and six maidens besides — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen checking the fixture list for next year. Jon Harris chipped in handsomely with three, and reached his 50th career wicket in the process, a landmark worth raising a glass to regardless of the result. John Thirkell tidied up with one. But B- Shaw had other ideas, farming what runs there were to a fine 68, and the visitors limped to 148 all out in 44.4 overs — more than we'd have liked, fewer than they'd hoped.

In reply, Cliff Anscombe played the innings of a man in no hurry whatsoever, 46 not out, with John Ames alongside him for 41 not out — between them they did most of the honest work. Mick Filmer, meanwhile, endured a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes speaking volumes without me having to. We closed on 153/4 from 39.4 overs, but fell six wickets short in the end.

Andrew Moss continues to top the season's run charts with 536, and Alan Wilkes sits third among the bowlers with 28 — small consolations on a day that got away from us. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 15 Aug 1970 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformDLDWL

Saturday 15th August 1970 saw us make the trip to Bowaters, and honours ended shared after two innings' worth of honest toil in the field and the odd flash of brilliance.

The coin let us down, Bowaters chose to bat, and we spent the day chasing leather. They rattled along to 174 for 6 off their 49.1 overs, Graham Piesley the pick of them with a well-made 51, Alf Jewiss chipping in with 48 and Geoff Spreadborough unbeaten on 40. Small mercy that Nick Nicholls departed for a duck at our hands, though it hardly dented their total. Graham Mountford was heroic with the ball — 4 for 81, four of those overs maidens, not a run given away lightly — with Brian Fuller and Jon Harris chipping in a wicket apiece.

Chasing 175, we never quite got there, closing on 136 for 8 off our 40. Jim Hall played a lovely hand for 52, well supported by Jon Harris's 20, but the middle order rather let the side down — Mike Iliffe and Tim Thirkell both contributed golden ducks, and I must confess to adding a third of my own. We shall draw a veil over the captain's contribution.

One footnote worth savouring amid the gloom: Graham Mountford brought up his fiftieth career wicket, a fine milestone earned the hard way. A draw, then — honours shared, pride mostly intact, and the tea urn, as ever, the real winner of the day.

Wed 12 Aug 1970 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformDLLDL

Wednesday 12 August 1970, and Gravesend CC came calling. Won the toss, and true to form I couldn't resist the sound of leather on willow — in we went to bat.

It wasn't the smoothest of starts, with a trio of ducks (Mike Iliffe, Jon Harris and Tony Gauna all failing to trouble the scorers), but Brian Aiston played the innings of the day, a really fine 88, with John Thirkell chipping in usefully with 26. We limped along to 160/9 off our 41.4 overs — a total that felt about forty short of comfortable, if I'm honest.

Defending it required some discipline, and the lads delivered in spades with the ball. Tony Gauna was magnificent, 4-41 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of miserly spell that makes a captain's job easy — well backed by Brian Aiston (2-5) and Nigel Thirkell (1-8), with J Piper back in the pavilion without scoring. But Kevin Wilson had other ideas, a splendid 89 that dragged Gravesend right back into it, ably assisted by Brian Hodgson's unbeaten 30. They finished on 152/7 from their 49, agonisingly short, and I added a watchful 26 of my own along the way.

A word for the mantelpiece: Mike Iliffe brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, duck notwithstanding — a proper milestone, and one deserving of a pint or two.

Honours shared, then. Neither side could quite land the killer blow, and on the balance of a match this tight, a draw feels about right.

Sun 09 Aug 1970 🧢 1st XIv SC Sibton Park CC · HomeformDDLDW

Beaten by the coin before we'd even bowled a ball – Sibton Park won the toss on a fine Sunday and sent us into the field, which in hindsight might have been the shrewder half of their day. The lads stuck to their task well enough: Sibton crawled to 141 for 9 off their 51, with Geoffrey Kirk (27) and G. Willis (24) the chief architects of the innings. But the tale of the afternoon belonged to Tony Gauna, who bowled with real hostility and control to finish with 7 for 49, including three miserly maidens – the sort of spell you write home about, or at least into the club gazette. Ron Hickman chipped in nobly with 2 for 63, and in doing so quietly nudged past Jack Fryer into 20th on the club's all-time wicket-takers' list. Progress, of a sort.

Alas, 141 proved rather beyond us. We subsided to 96 all out in 40.1 overs, Richard Ashby's gutsy 47 standing rather lonely against a chorus of ducks from D. Manktelow, Paul Brattle and Ron Hickman, each contributing nothing with admirable consistency. Not our finest hour with the willow.

So, beaten by 45 runs, and no arguing with the arithmetic. John Thirkell remains second in the season's run charts on 400, and Hickman climbs to fourth among the wicket-takers with 26 – small consolations amid the wreckage. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word with the batting order, and be better for it next week. As ever, the tea was the highlight.

Sun 02 Aug 1970 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformLDDLD

Sunday the second of August, and Staplehurst came calling with the sun out and the pitch, I'd hoped, doing me a favour. It didn't — the toss went against me and we were put in the field, which at least gave the lads first crack with the ball.

And what a crack it was. Staplehurst never got comfortable, subsiding to 73 all out in 31.1 overs. Chris Rogers battled to 27 and J. Bathurst chipped in with 21, but around them Dick Langridge simply ran amok — 5 for 10, three of his overs maidens, bowling that bordered on the unfair. John Ames (2-12) and David T. Lowen (1-14) tidied up what little was left. B. Thurlow and Bev Taylor were sent out with the bat but never troubled the scorers, which I shall put down to Staplehurst's bowling rather than dwell on further.

Seventy-four to win is no sort of target with an attack like that behind you, and so it proved. Stan Wratten played the anchor role beautifully for 30, Brian Humphries finished unbeaten on 22, and we strolled home in 24.5 overs for the loss of just two wickets.

Eight wickets, a mountain of confidence, and Dick Langridge in irresistible form — a thoroughly good day for the club, and one Staplehurst will be glad to see the back of.

Sat 01 Aug 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDLDDL

Here's the report for the club gazette:

Saturday last saw us pack the kit bags and head away, and having won the toss I didn't so much as pause for breath before opting to bat — a decision I'd like to claim came from deep tactical wisdom, but honestly it was mostly the look of the outfield. The lads rewarded that confidence handsomely, posting 207 for 5 off our 44 overs. Basil Sears led the charge with a well-crafted 62, Jim Hall stayed unbeaten on 51 to see the innings home in style, and Andrew Moss chipped in a tidy 31 of his own — my own contribution of 31 felt positively pedestrian by comparison, but I'll take it.

Defending the total, we set about them with intent, and though they battled to 104 for 9 off their 39 overs, it was never quite enough to trouble the scoreboard seriously. M. Tester's 27 was the only real resistance worth the name, while S. Williams and A. Spice both departed without troubling the scorers. The day, though, belonged unmistakably to Graham Mountford, who bowled with wonderful discipline for figures of 7 for 38 including six miserly maidens — a five-for and then some, richly deserved. David T Lowen chipped in with 1 for 19 in support.

In the end neither side could force the win, and honours were shared — a draw that, on reflection, flattered them rather more than us.

Sun 26 Jul 1970 🧢 1st XIv PC Paddock Wood CC · HomeformLDLDD

Sunday 26th July saw Paddock Wood arrive at Linton Park, and having called correctly for once, I had no hesitation in sticking us in — a decision that, in fairness, needs a stiff word from the captain before anyone reaches for the record books.

We were bowled out for a distinctly modest 61 in 27.1 overs, a total that flattered nobody. Mick Filmer stood rather alone with a battling 21, while the card told a sorrier tale elsewhere — Richard Ashby, Alan Cradduck and Percy Brattle all departed without troubling the scorer, three ducks 🦆 that rather summed up our morning. Andrew Moss, still ploughing on at the top of the 1970 run charts with 471 to his name, will no doubt want that innings forgotten by teatime.

With so little to defend, the lads dug in admirably. Dick Langridge was the pick of the attack with 2-16, ably backed by Jon Harris, whose two wickets and five miserly maidens (2-24) kept the scoring rate honest, and John Ames chipped in with 1-6. But Paddock Wood's Reed, unbeaten on 22, saw them home to 64-5 in 27.5 overs with five wickets to spare.

Beaten, then, but not disgraced — a bowling performance well worth the candle, undone by a batting effort that wouldn't have troubled a village fete. We'll regroup, remember which end the bat goes, and be better for it next week.

Sat 25 Jul 1970 🧢 1st XIv SC Sibton Park CC · AwayformDLDLD

Saturday 25th July, and the coach carried us out to Sibton Park with the sun on our backs and precious little else going for us — I lost the toss again, a run now stretching long enough to suggest personal enmity from the cricketing gods, and duly took up leather rather than willow.

Sibton made themselves at home, racing to 201 for 4 off their 51 overs, with E. Impett (89) and J. Law (68) putting on a batting exhibition that had our lads chasing shadows round the boundary. Credit where due, though: John Thirkell kept plugging away for 2 for 50, Tony Gauna chipped in a tidy 1 for 21, and Graham Mountford bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding his allotment — four maidens, not a run given away lightly.

Our reply never quite found its rhythm, closing on 114 for 7 from 46 overs. Brian Humphries top-scored with a gritty 40, well supported by Mountford's 23 with the bat as well as the ball — a fine all-round shift from him. Spare a sympathetic thought for poor David Piper, gone for a duck and no doubt still hearing about it in the bar.

So honours shared, a draw to file under "neither side quite fancied it." Small consolation, but John Thirkell's continued climb up the season's run charts — now second in the club — gives us something to toast. A day of missed opportunities rather than lost causes; we live to fight another Saturday.

Sun 19 Jul 1970 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformLDLDL

Sunday 19 July 1970, and Sevenoaks Vine CC rolled into Linton Park under obligingly summery skies. I called it right at the toss and, with the pitch looking true, there was never much doubt I'd have us bat first.

We made a tidy fist of it — 197 for 7 off our 49 overs. Cliff Anscombe led the way with a well-crafted 59, John Thirkell chipped in a fine half-century of his own with 53, and Clive Smith finished unbeaten on 28 to give the innings some late polish. Not a total to frighten anyone perhaps, but enough to work with.

And work with it we did. Sevenoaks were shut out for 118 for 8 from their 50, Rodney Crang's unbeaten 57 the only real resistance, well supported by P Ellison's 24. Three of their number — B J East, R Mudie and B- Verry — departed without so much as troubling the scorers, which always raises a cheer from the boundary. David T Lowen was the chief tormentor with a superb 4 for 32, Dick Langridge chimed in with 2 for 31, Jon Harris picked up 1 for 1, and Alan Wilkes bowled with a miser's discipline, three maidens to his name.

I'll confess a quiet satisfaction at leading from the front with 53, and there was extra cause for celebration in Cliff's innings, which nudged him past Tony Levick and into 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list.

In the end, though, neither side could quite force the door open, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but a thoroughly good one to be part of.

Sat 18 Jul 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWLDLD

Away again on Saturday, we won the toss and sent them in — always a source of quiet confidence that lasted almost exactly as long as B. Seager's innings, who ground out a fine 62 to anchor their total, well supported by C. Palmer's 49 and T. Mitchell's 33. They closed on 173 for 9 from their 48 overs, a total that felt about twenty runs too many by the time we came to chase it. Credit where due: Brian Relf toiled superbly for 3-50, with Graham Mountford (3-56, three of them maidens, not a man in generous mood) and Brian Fuller (3-63) sharing the spoils. J. Cutbush, B. Judge and K. Wilson all trooped back for ducks at our hands, which was some small consolation.

Our reply never quite got out of first gear. Richard Ashby's 33 was a lone flag planted in otherwise stony ground, and poor David Piper's golden duck rather set the tone for the rest of us. All out for 120 in 35.3 overs, beaten by 53 runs — no divine assistance forthcoming this week.

There was, at least, something to toast in the small print: Brian Relf's three wickets carried him past Don Hartridge into 24th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, while Mike Iliffe continues to sit handsomely 4th in this season's run charts and Graham Mountford still leads the wickets column with 39. The individuals prosper even when the side does not. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 12 Jul 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWLDL

It was a stumble at 0-1 that set the early tone, but by the close honours were shared, and on reflection that felt about right.

We lost the toss and were put in the field, and their top order made themselves thoroughly at home — 85 on the board before we so much as looked at the wicket column, B Formoy and G Cant both raising fine half-centuries (55 and 53) either side of D Poulton's 25. It took some patience, but patience is a captain's stock in trade, and eventually Alan Wilkes found his line to bowl a five-for of real quality (5-76), with John Thirkell tidy and mean alongside him (3-27, three maidens to prove it) and Jon Harris chipping in with one. M Wood, for what it's worth, departed for a duck at our hands — small mercies. All out 183 from 49.3 overs felt, at the time, like a total we could chase.

We began badly — 0-1 is not the platform one dreams of — but Richard Ashby (47 not out) and Frank Brattle (43) restored order with a stand of 68 for the fourth wicket that looked, briefly, decisive. Then came the sort of collapse only village cricket can conjure: 94-4 to 96-7 in the time it takes to fill a scorebook, David T Lowen, Terry Groves and Jon Harris all departing for ducks. I did what I could with 18, and found some late compensation with the ball, taking three wickets myself. We closed on 136-9 from 48 overs.

A draw, then — honours shared, nerves frayed, and the tea urn, as ever, the only undisputed winner of the afternoon.

Sat 11 Jul 1970 🧢 1st XIv BK Beverley CC, Kent · AwayformLLWLD

Beverley CC, and I'll confess I fancied our chances the moment I called correctly and stuck us in. Eighty-three all out from 37.4 overs wasn't quite the platform I'd envisioned mind you — rather a case of building the house and forgetting the roof. Poor Brian Fuller will want this one struck quietly from the record, a golden duck to open proceedings, though he'd more than make amends before the day was done.

Out we came with the ball, buoyed by nothing much beyond Kentish optimism, and for a spell it looked promising — John Stickells back in the pavilion without so much as a single to his name, and Fuller steaming in for a thoroughly redemptive 2-40. But Ralph Carter had other ideas, farming the strike to an unbeaten 54 and dragging Beverley home with R Long's useful 25 in support. They wrapped it up in just 15.3 overs, which tells its own story. I chipped in a battling 19 with the bat, for what little comfort that provides the scorebook.

Andrew Moss continues to purr along at the top of our 1970 run charts with 442, and Fuller's 24 wickets keep him third in the bowling — small consolations on an afternoon that got away from us. Beaten by eight wickets, no dressing it up. We were second best from the toss onwards, but there's cricket in this side yet, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 05 Jul 1970 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformWLLWL

Sunday the fifth of July found us on the road to Aylesford Paper Mills, and the coin, as is so often its custom with me, landed the wrong way up. They batted.

Not that the lads let it show. We fielded with enough discipline to be proud of, though Aylesford still ground out 183 for 8 from their forty-three overs. Alfie Pullen played the anchor role beautifully for 68, with Cliff Anscombe chipping in a handsome 52 alongside him — two partnerships we simply couldn't prise apart quickly enough. Small mercy: John Atkins departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers. With the ball, David T Lowen was magnificent, four wickets for 61 and three maidens to show for his miserliness, well backed up by Ron Hickman's three and John Thirkell's one.

Chasing 183, we never quite found the fluency to get there, settling for 151 for 7 from our fifty-two overs. David T Lowen, evidently not content with his bowling figures, top-scored again with 36, Brian Humphries made a tidy 28 and Andrew Moss added 22. Poor Mick Filmer will be buying the teas after his own duck.

Elsewhere, Ron Hickman's three wickets nudged him past Robert Wood into 21st on the club's all-time list — a fine bit of history-making on an otherwise frustrating afternoon.

A draw, then, honours shared, and honestly a fair reflection of two sides who simply wouldn't yield.

Sat 04 Jul 1970 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformLWLLW

Saturday 04 July 1970, away to Charles Arkcoll, and the coin let us down again — they took first knock, and we spent the afternoon in the field wondering why we bother calling.

They ground us out to 140 all out in 41.5 overs, John Ames the chief tormentor with 56, Brian Aiston chipping in with 24. Small mercies: Abnett and Mighall both departed for ducks at our hands. The real story, though, was Graham Mountford, who span through them like a man possessed — 6-40 off a miserly 8 maidens, hardly a boundary given away lightly. Brian Fuller (2-31) and Mike Stephens (2-62) mopped up what little Graham left them. It was, by some distance, the best bowling performance of our summer.

Sadly, bowling doesn't win matches on its own, and our reply was a sorry affair — 67 all out in a brisk 21.3 overs, the innings over almost before the tea urn had cooled. Mike Iliffe (22) and Terry Groves (22) did what they could, and I managed 22 myself, but three ducks — Andrew Moss, Jim Hall and Alan Cradduck — told their own tale of a batting line-up that simply didn't turn up.

Mike Iliffe remains 5th in the season's run charts with 237, and Graham Mountford now leads the wicket-takers with 36 — some consolation amid the wreckage. Beaten by 73 runs, and no arguing with it. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Wed 01 Jul 1970 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDDLLD

We were put in the field first on Wednesday, and if you'd told me at teatime that we'd only lose by six wickets I'd have taken it gladly, because their innings had the look of a rout in the making. T Smith made an assured 82 and found willing company in C Myers, unbeaten on 66, and between them they carried the total to 172 for 3 from their 43 overs. Credit where it's due, though — Alan Cradduck kept plugging away for figures of 1 for 18, John Thirkell and John Carter chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Ron Hickman bowled six maidens that must have felt like penance to face.

Chasing 173, we made a proper fist of it. Graham Abel played the innings of the day, 71 full of the sort of clean hitting that has spectators nudging one another, with Cliff Anscombe unbeaten on 41 and Robert Chance adding a brisk 28 in support. We finished on 176 for 4 — no, wait, we finished short, beaten by six wickets, but not before giving the scorebook something to remember us by.

Robert Chance's 28 nudged him past Len Conway into 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is exactly the sort of small triumph a losing side needs. Cliff Anscombe continues to lead the 1970 Midweek XI run charts with 115, and John Thirkell sits second in the wicket charts with three.

A defeat, then, but an honest one, played in good spirit and with enough runs on both sides to keep the tea urn busy. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 28 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · AwayformLLWLL

Sunday 28 June saw us head to Sevenoaks Vine, and losing the toss meant an afternoon in the field to start – never my favourite way to spend a Sunday, but there it is. They batted through to 199 all out in 49.3 overs, B. Todd top-scoring with a tidy fifty (53), well backed by George Downton (32) and W. Notley (25). Rodney Crang and B. Verry both went for ducks, which at least kept the scorers busy. The real story was Jon Harris, relentless with the ball – 4-54 and five maidens, not a run given away lightly – with Alan Wilkes chipping in handsomely at 4-66 and David T. Lowen picking up one for 76.

Chasing 200, we got there in some style: 202/5 from 50.3 overs for a five-wicket win. Cliff Anscombe anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 55, Robert Chance played a fine hand of 54, and Andrew Moss weighed in with 41 to see us home in good order.

A word of note on the mantelpiece front: Cliff's 55 took him past 2,000 career runs for the club, and also saw him leapfrog Frank Taylor into 16th on the all-time run-scorers list – a landmark day for a man who just quietly gets on with it. Andrew Moss continues to lead the 1970 charts with 410 runs, and David Lowen sits a healthy 5th in the wicket-takers with 18. A fine win, thoroughly deserved, and onwards we go.

Sat 27 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLWL

Saturday 27th June, and a mixed afternoon at Linton Park to file for the gazette.

Winning the toss and putting the opposition in, we saw Brian Fuller in irresistible form — 6 for 42 off a miserly stretch that included seven maidens, the sort of spell that has the tea urn boiling in anticipation before you've even sat down. Brian Relf chipped in handsomely with 3 for 33, and Nigel Thirkell picked up a wicket for good measure, as Woodcock and Sykes both departed for ducks. Only T. Maskell offered real resistance with 25, and the visitors were dismissed for 94 in 39.1 overs — a total that, on paper, should have been well within our compass.

And so it might have been, but for a top-order that never quite settled. John Thirkell was the shining exception, striking a fine 67 to march us past his fifty and keep the innings on track, while poor Percy Brattle endured a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes escaping his gloves like naughty schoolboys at the final bell. We limped to 95 for 4 in 26.1 overs — enough to win the match, not enough, alas, to avoid handing it to the opposition by 6 wickets, who chased down the target with rather more composure than we managed defending it.

John Thirkell's 67 keeps him second in the 1st XI run charts this season with 307, and Brian Fuller's 6-for lifts him to third among the wicket-takers with 20. Fine individual furniture, then, in a house that still needs tidying — we'll be better for it next week.

Mon 22 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformWLLLW

Monday 22 June found us on the road to Aylesford Paper Mills, sun out and hopes high, though I confess my luck at the coin held true to form and promptly deserted us. Aylesford elected to bat, and there was nothing for it but to trudge into the field and hope for the best.

The best, it must be said, was a shade too good for us. Ian Milner played a proper captain's innings of his own, 54 well-made runs that set the tone, with Brian Fitch's 35 and an unbeaten 27 from John Atkins padding things out nicely for them. They closed on 132/4 from their sixteen overs, which felt about ten runs too many even as David T Lowen toiled honestly for his 2-36 and Ron Hickman chipped away for 1-43.

Chasing 133 was always going to want a touch of daring, and Benny Bell did his best to supply it, batting sensibly for an unbeaten 29, with Andrew Moss keeping him company for a handy 27. But wickets fell at the other end with the regularity of church bells, and 92/7 from our sixteen overs left us twenty runs light and forty short by the close.

Not our day, then, and the nets beckon this week. Still, Andrew Moss continues to top our season's run charts with 369, and Ron Hickman sits second in the wickets column with 21 — reminders that the summer is long, and that this was merely one damp entry in an otherwise promising ledger.

Sun 21 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv HC Hartley Country Club CC · HomeformLWLLL

Sunday last, Hartley Country Club made the trip out to us, and for once the coin obliged before the weather could — heads it was, and I had no hesitation in taking first knock on a pitch that looked worth backing ourselves on.

We were duly rewarded. David T Lowen batted with the sort of serene disregard for the scoreboard pressure that a captain dreams of, ending unbeaten on a chanceless 105, while Graham Abel's fifty and Andrew Moss's 34 gave the innings real backbone. 199 for 6 from our 47.5 overs was a total to be proud of — though poor Mike Iliffe will be nursing a golden duck rather than a golden memory from the day. He has my sympathy, and my assurance that nobody remembers these things. Much.

With runs on the board, it fell to the bowlers to finish the job, and finish it they did in style. Alan Wilkes was superb, tearing through with 4 for 36, well backed by Lowen — not content with his century, he added 3 for 28 and six maidens for good measure — and Mike Stephens chipping in with 1 for 12. Hartley subsided to 101 all out, P Higgins's battling 45 and R Stubbs's 22 the only real resistance, with two more ducks falling our way. Richard Ashby had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes leaking through, but no matter.

Ninety-eight runs the margin, two points banked, and Andrew Moss and Mike Stephens both climbing the season's charts. A thoroughly satisfactory Sunday.

Sat 20 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · HomeformTLWLL

It was Hythe CC at home on Saturday 20th June, and the toss went their way — Hythe elected to bat, which on reflection was the last good decision either side made all afternoon, mostly because ours were worse.

They ground their way to 179 for 9 off 48.3 overs, Paul Goddard top-scoring with 40, well supported by G Willsher's 39 and Bob Chappell's 22. B Dowle came and went without so much as a scoreboard flicker — a golden duck to remember him by. The story of the innings, though, was Graham Mountford, who bowled like a man with somewhere better to be, taking 5 for 68 with five maidens thrown in for good measure. Brian Fuller (2-44) and Mike Stephens (2-53) tidied up round the edges.

Chasing 180, we mustered 115 all out in 31.2 overs — not our finest hour with the willow. Basil Sears carried the innings with 40, and in doing so brought up 7,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that deserved a rather better supporting cast than he got. Benny Bell and Keith Walker both made the long walk back for nought, which rather summed up our afternoon.

Beaten by 64 runs in the end, and fair to say Hythe had the better of every department bar Mountford's right arm. Still, John Thirkell sits second in the season's run charts and Mountford now leads the wickets table — plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Thu 18 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformWTLWL

Beaten by 7 runs at Aylesford Paper Mills, but not before we gave them a proper fright. Lost the toss, put in to field, and watched the openers strut in like they owned the place — 75 all out from 16 overs soon put paid to that. John Thirkell was magnificent, prising out five for 33, with Benny Bell chipping away nicely for three and Ron Hickman tidying up the tail with one. A total of 75 looked eminently gettable, and for a while it was.

Chasing it, we made a right old muddle of the top order — Benny Bell, Alan Cradduck and Ron Hickman all walked back without troubling the scorer, three ducks in a single innings being rather more than any captain wants to explain in the tea hut afterwards. Thankfully John Thirkell, clearly not one to let a five-for go to waste, stuck around for an unbeaten 32 and I found some form of my own with 32 alongside him. All out for 68 in 15 overs, seven runs shy of the target — heartbreakingly close for a side that had done the hard work with the ball.

I'll confess the bowling figures pleased me rather more than the batting — five wickets for the skipper is not a bad way to spend an afternoon, even in a losing cause. Andrew Moss continues to purr along at the top of the run charts, Ron Hickman sits handsomely in the wickets table, and we leave Aylesford with more encouragement than the scoreline suggests. A defeat, yes — but a defeat we can build on.

Wed 17 Jun 1970 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLDDLL

Wednesday 17 June saw us welcome the visitors for what turned out to be a proper old-fashioned tussle, honours shared at the close.

Put into the field, we watched them build steadily to 194/9 from their 45 overs, R. Easton leading the charge with a fine 47, well supported by R. Grayland's 40 and D. Hatt's 31. Credit to the bowling unit for keeping them honest throughout — Ron Hickman was the pick with 3-45 and two tidy maidens thrown in for good measure, while B. Sunnucks (3-50) and John Thirkell (2-45) chipped away at the other end. Not a total to be sniffed at, but far from out of reach.

In reply we crawled and sprinted our way to 172/8 from 46 overs, never quite getting the sums to add up but never quite letting them slip away either. John Thirkell anchored the innings beautifully with an unbeaten 39, well backed by Basil Sears (31) and Cliff Anscombe (30), and I was pleased enough with my own 39 in the middle. Poor Jim Hall's duck was the one blot on an otherwise respectable card.

The real story of the day, though, was John Thirkell reaching 15,000 career runs for the club — a landmark that rather puts the rest of us to shame and deserved every bit of the applause it got. With Cliff Anscombe and Ron Hickman both sitting proudly atop the season's charts, the club's in rude health. A draw, then, and a fair one — nobody quite deserved to lose this.

Tue 16 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWTLW

It was a perfect afternoon for a captain who'd rather bowl second and bat first, and when I won the toss on Tuesday there was no debate — we batted.

The lads gave the home crowd plenty to enjoy. Our openers set the tone, carrying us to 82 before the first wicket fell — a proper platform-laying stand — and from there Andrew Moss took charge with a fine 47, well backed up by David T Lowen's 32 and John Ames's 26. I managed a tidy 26 myself. Poor Cliff Anscombe will want to forget his afternoon, ducking out without troubling the scorers, but 164/5 from our fourteen overs was a total to be proud of.

Then came the fun part. The opposition never got going — 6-1 early doors told its own story, and we simply ran riot from there, 16-2 collapsing to 17-5 in a blur, with Blunden, Sheehan and Etherington all departing without scoring. David T Lowen was magnificent with the ball, following his runs with 2-5 and two maidens for good measure, Ron Hickman chipped in with 2-8 and Keith Walker took 1-0. All out for 27 in 12.1 overs — victory by 137 runs.

Beyond the result, there was real cause for celebration: Andrew Moss brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, while Robert Chance's 14 eased him past Robert Wood to 22nd on our all-time run-scorers' list. Moss now leads our 1970 run charts with 303, and Hickman sits second in the wickets with 19. A thoroughly satisfying day all round — more of the same next week, please.

Sun 14 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformWDWTL

As it stood in the pavilion beforehand, I had rather fancied our chances on winning the toss, and calling correctly on that Sunday in June I never once considered the alternative — we would bat, and let Bobbing Court chase leather in the sunshine.

Chase leather they duly did, though not without incident, as 200 all out from 46.5 overs is a total we'll happily sign for. Brian Humphries set the tone with a splendid 66, Andrew Moss followed him in with an equally handsome 63, and Mike Stephens chipped in a brisk 39 to give the innings its backbone. Mick Filmer and Alan Wilkes, it must be said, contributed nothing of note whatsoever — golden ducks both, and I shall say no more about it out of Christian charity.

With 200 on the board, our attack set about its work with real purpose. Bobbing Court battled to 156 all out in 47.2 overs, John McLeod alone giving them any real hope with a fine 71, ably supported by C Robinson's 26 and T Gabbadon's 21 — but support is all it was. Poor Paul Bedelle departed for a golden duck of his own. The bowling honours belonged to Mike Stephens, quite unplayable with 5 for 33, backed superbly by David T Lowen's 4 for 68 — four maidens among them, not a run given away lightly — and Alan Wilkes's 1 for 33.

A 44-run victory, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved. With Moss now topping the season's run charts and Stephens third among the wickets, this was Linton Park cricket at its most complete — bat, ball, and the odd humbling duck all playing their part.

Sat 13 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWDWT

Saturday 13 June 1970, and we welcomed the visitors to Linton Park in what the scorebook will remember as one of those afternoons.

Put in the field, we found ourselves rather enjoying it. The opposition were shot out for 106 in 33.5 overs, undone chiefly by Graham Mountford, who tore through them like a man possessed to finish with a remarkable 7 for 51 — L. White's defiant 48 aside, nobody else laid a glove on him. John Thirkell chipped in tidily with 2 for 1, and Brian Fuller bowled a spell of pure parsimony, 1 for 34 with seven maidens, the sort of over-after-over meanness that makes a captain's job easy. R. Wickens, D. White and John Archer all trudged off for ducks, which is always a pleasure to watch from the boundary rather than the crease.

Batting, alas, we made rather harder work of a modest target, scraping to 109 for 6 off 29.3. Keith Walker's 30 was the innings' backbone, with Basil Sears (22) and an unbeaten Alan Cradduck (20) offering support, but too many of us found our own way into the Duck Club ledger — John Thirkell among them, and I regret to report I fell for nought myself, a horror best left undiscussed. Richard Ashby, meanwhile, endured a torrid time behind the stumps, 17 byes escaping his gloves.

We lost by four wickets in the end. Not our day, but Mountford now leads the season's wicket charts with 25 — some consolation as we trudge back to the nets.

Mon 08 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton Monchelsea CC · HomeformWLWDW

Boughton Monchelsea CC came to Linton Park on Monday and, having called correctly, wasted no time in putting us into the field — which suited nobody's plans but our own, so we can't say we minded terribly. They laboured to 76/6 from their sixteen overs, with Mike Sendles the one man to really get hold of things, top-scoring with a stubborn 32. The rest found Ron Hickman in irresistible mood — 3-15, including the wickets of both J Kember and Trevor Back, the latter departing without troubling the scorers, poor fellow. Alan Wilkes chipped in loyally at the other end with 1-39, doing the unglamorous work that never makes the highlights but always makes the difference.

Requiring 77 to win, we somehow contrived to make precisely 76 all out from our sixteen overs — a masterclass in getting agonisingly, almost artistically close. Benny Bell was the mainstay with 22, batting with the quiet dignity of a man who knew someone had to. Ron Hickman, so magnificent with the ball, returned the favour with the bat by bagging a duck of his own — the walk of shame indeed, and a fine illustration of cricket's gift for humbling a man twice in one afternoon.

So it finished level, dead level, not a run between the sides after a full day's honest toil — as fair a result as the game can offer, even if it satisfies absolutely no one. Mike Iliffe continues to lead our run charts on 212 for the season, and Hickman's day with the ball nudges him up to second in the wicket-takers with 17. A tie, then: cricket's way of telling both captains to stop squabbling and go home for their tea.

Sun 07 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformDWLWD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 07 June 1970, away to Harrietsham CC.

Won the toss, and with the sun out and the tea urn presumably already on, there was only one decision to be made: I put us in. It proved a shrewd one, or possibly just a lucky one — the same thing, in my experience, nine times out of ten. Graham Abel led the way with a lovely unbeaten 74, Mike Iliffe kept him company with an equally polished 61 not out, and Robert Chance chipped in with 59 of his own. Between them they hauled us to 223 for 4 off our 41, a total that had a satisfying heft to it as we trooped off for tea.

Defending it, we set about Harrietsham with real purpose. Jon Harris was the pick of the attack with 3-17, David Lowen weighed in with 3-33, and Brian Humphries' 2-0 was about as economical as bowling gets. Dick Langridge, meanwhile, bowled as if overs cost him money personally — five maidens and barely a run to show for the opposition. Anthony Moss battled hard for his fifty and Ray Tong supported him with 22, but three of their number departed without troubling the scorers, and the innings folded for 124 in the 50th over. I'll confess my own 61 gave me no small satisfaction, and poor Fred Greenfield had a torrid time behind the stumps — ten byes is not a number he'll thank me for mentioning.

Two points, won by 99 runs, and thoroughly deserved. A grand day at the office.

Sat 06 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformLDWLW

Saturday 6th June saw Rumwood CC pay us a visit, and having called correctly at the toss I had few qualms about batting first — the right call, I felt, and I'm not just saying that with the benefit of hindsight.

Mike Stephens set about proving me right with a well-crafted 73, the innings' cornerstone, while Andrew Moss chipped in handsomely with 49 and Alan Cradduck saw us home unbeaten on 24 to leave us a very respectable 220 for 8 from our 47 overs. Less gloriously, the Duck Club welcomed three new members on the day — Frank Brattle, Benny Bell and David Piper all completed that lonely walk back for nought, a trio of ducks that will no doubt be mentioned in the bar for weeks to come.

With the ball, Mike Stephens continued his fine afternoon's work, following his runs with 3 for 66, and found willing support from Gordon Fenner and Brian Fuller with a wicket apiece. Rumwood battled hard through T Stevens' 39, R Galgey's 35 and D Burrows' 29 to close on 184 for 6 — close enough to deny us, not quite close enough to beat us. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes escaping his grasp, though I shan't hold it against him.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Mike Stephens was undoubtedly our man of the match, and with Andrew Moss and Brian Fuller both prospering in the season's charts, there's plenty for us to build on. A fair result, all told, and the tea was better than the batting.

Thu 04 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDLDWL

It was West Farleigh CC at home on the 4th of June, and true to form the coin let me down again — they had first use of a rather green-looking track and elected to bat, leaving us to toil in the field before we'd so much as had a proper look at it.

Toil we did not, as it turned out. West Farleigh subsided to 81 all out in a shade over fifteen overs, with only Roger Gedney (25) showing any real appetite for the crease, and poor John Underdown marched back for a duck before he'd troubled the scorers or, indeed, the scorebook. The destroyer-in-chief was Ron Hickman, turning it square for a magnificent 5-20, with Alan Wilkes (3-15) and John Thirkell (1-13) mopping up whatever Ron left behind — which, in truth, wasn't much.

Chasing 82 ought to have been a formality, and so it very nearly wasn't, the lads contriving to make hard work of it before scrambling home at 84-6 from 14.1 overs. Andrew Moss held his nerve beautifully for an unbeaten 31 and saw us over the line with what I can only describe as commendable calm amid the general panic on the boundary.

Elsewhere, John Thirkell continues to top the 1st XI run charts with 180 for the season, and Ron Hickman's latest haul lifts him to second in the wicket-takers with 14.

A four-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's work — even if we did our best to make it interesting.

Mon 01 Jun 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDLDW

Down by 14 runs at Linton Park on a warm Monday, in which I won the toss, elected to bat, and immediately began wondering whether I'd made the right call — though 30 not out from Graham Abel and 30 from John Thirkell steadied things nicely, taking us to a respectable 102/4 from our 16 overs. Andrew Moss's contribution was, shall we say, a golden nothing — the sort of duck that draws sympathetic applause and not much else. I chipped in with 30 myself, mostly by accident.

Defending 102 in 16 overs always feels like asking a garden fence to hold back the tide, and for a while it looked like the fence might just about do it. B Aiston's 34 threatened to spoil the afternoon, well supported by T- Stevens's unbeaten 22, but Ron Hickman had other ideas — a magnificent 5-18 that pegged them back time and again, with Jon Harris chipping in a tidy 2-24 alongside him. D- Gale and R- Simmonds departed without scoring, and we sent them back to 88/8, agonisingly short of the win.

A word on the milestones, mind: Ron Hickman brought up 100 career wickets today, which is no small thing and rather takes the sting out of the defeat. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts this season with 173, and Ron now sits third among the wicket-takers with 9.

Not our day, then — down by 14 runs, heads up, and back to the nets. But with landmarks like Ron's falling, the season still has plenty to smile about.

Sun 31 May 1970 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · AwayformWDDLD

Sunday 31st May found us on the road to Hythe, and having called correctly at the toss, I took one look at the strip and decided we'd bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever certain members of the committee may say afterwards over a pint. Dick Langridge (36) and John Thirkell (35) set about the bowling with real purpose, and between them dragged us to a respectable 147 for 9 off our 52 overs. Not everyone's afternoon went to plan, mind — poor Frank Brattle and Percy Brattle both contrived to bag golden ducks, though I'm assured the tea urn was a great comfort to them both.

Out in the field, though, we were a different proposition entirely. Mike Stephens produced a spell of real quality — 4 for 28, with a miserly eleven maidens that left the Hythe batsmen with precious little to work with — and found willing accomplices in Alan Wilkes (3 for 39) and Dick Langridge, who somehow contrived figures of 1 for 0. Both M Jackson and B Blackman departed for ducks of their own, which felt like rather fitting justice. Hythe folded for 73 off 46 overs, and I even managed to get among the runs myself with 35, more by luck than judgement.

A win by 74 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts for the season with 143, and Dick Langridge now sits third in the wicket-taking table with 9 — the lad's clearly saving his best deliveries for when it matters least, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Onwards.

Sat 30 May 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWDDL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 30 May 1970

Fine weather, a good tea in prospect, and the toss won meant we had first use of the ball — always a comfort when the sandwiches are still being cut. Our visitors settled in and made themselves rather at home, J- Branchett compiling a fluent 52, with Jim Archer's 43 and L- White's 31 giving the innings a sturdy middle. D- White, mercifully, did not linger — a golden duck to our credit. It was Graham Mountford who did the real damage, prising out four for a miserly 27, with Jon Harris and Benny Bell chipping in a wicket apiece, and Brian Fuller bowling five maidens with the quiet menace of a man who simply would not be scored off. 190/8 from their 46 overs felt a target with some teeth in it.

Our reply never quite found its rhythm. Mike Iliffe led the way with a busy 33, I managed 33 myself, and Jon Harris finished unbeaten on 24 with Graham Mountford weighing in with 23 — but wickets fell at the wrong moments, Tim Thirkell among the ducks, and 132/8 from 43 overs told its own story. Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes escaping his gloves like they had trains to catch.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody quite deserving to lose, and the beer tasted no worse for it.

Wed 27 May 1970 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sennocke CC · HomeformWLDDL

Wednesday 27 May 1970, and Sennocke CC rolled up to Linton Park under skies that, for once, gave us no excuse to bowl first. I won the toss and, in a fit of optimism I'd like on record, sent us in to bat.

It was not a day for fireworks, but for grit. Terry Whittaker anchored things beautifully with a patient 50 not out, Cliff Anscombe chipped in a handsome 44, John Thirkell 25, and your captain scratched around for 25 of his own. At the other end of the ledger, poor Mike Stephens made his way back for a duck — the walk of shame performed, as ever, with dignity. We closed on 165 for 7 from our 52 overs, a total that felt defendable rather than daunting.

So it proved not quite enough. Peter Tapper simply had too many gears for us, cantering to 87, with R Johnson unbeaten on 47 in support, as Sennocke reeled in 167 for 3 in 38.4 overs. Ron Hickman toiled nobly — 2 for 58 with three tidy maidens, nothing given away lightly — while eight byes off Cliff Anscombe's gloves told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps. R Howgill, at least, departed without troubling the scorers.

One shaft of sunshine: Frank Brattle brought up 5,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth toasting whatever the result. But the result was a seven-wicket defeat, and there's no dressing that up. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Mon 25 May 1970 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLWWDD

Beaten by six wickets against Bearsted, but hardly a day of shame.

Captain's Log, Monday 25th May. Won the toss and, in a fit of optimism I may live to regret, stuck us in. What followed was 53.1 overs of honest English toil, all out for 157 — a total that felt about forty runs light by the time we'd finished sweating over it. Terry Whittaker led the way with a fine 45, Brian Humphries chipped in a useful 39, and Dick Langridge added 22 with the sort of application the rest of us could have borrowed. Elsewhere the top order rather fell on its sword — Frank Brattle and Richard Ashby both collected ducks and can expect to find their names inscribed, none too gently, in the club ledger.

In the field we scrapped hard for what we had. Paul Bowles was the pick of the attack with 2-54, well backed by Dick Langridge's 1-29 and Terry Whittaker's 1-36 — the latter also sending down three maidens, tight as a Sunday collar. But Colin Fleetwood had other ideas, striking a composed 77 to anchor the chase, with Gordon Hawkins (29) and Richard Tree (28) lending sturdy support as Bearsted eased home on 158-4.

So, beaten by six wickets, and no arguing with the scorebook. John Thirkell continues to top our 1970 run charts with 108, and Dick Langridge sits third in the wickets with 8 — small mercies to cling to on the drive home. We'll regroup, dust off the pads, and be better for it next week.

Sun 24 May 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLLWWD

Sunday 24 May 1970, and the road brought us to a pitch that would test both patience and patience alone, for this was cricket in its most stubborn, honourable form — a draw earned by two sides who simply refused to blink.

Put into the field first, we watched B. Shaw play the innings of the day, an unbeaten 78 that carried their total, with K. Talbot's fifty and Ron McCormick's 39 giving it good company. John Thirkell was our chief tormentor with 2 for 32, Paul Bowles and Jon Harris chipping in for one apiece, Harris tying things down with a pair of maidens as their innings closed on 224 for 5.

Chasing that down in 49 overs was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved, though not without honour. Paul Bowles batted beautifully for his 56, well supported by John Thirkell's 22, and I managed to scratch together 22 of my own. Poor Nigel O'Toole, however, had an afternoon to forget twice over — a golden duck with the bat, and 22 byes gifted behind the stumps, the sort of day that makes a man wish the ground would simply swallow him whole.

There was, at least, something for the club historians: Bowles's 56 nudges him to 13th on our all-time run charts, and Thirkell's wickets lift him to 5th among our leading wicket-takers.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly, given the way the day went, we'll take it gladly.

Sat 23 May 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLLWW

Mike Stephens won us the toss, and in the sort of moment of clarity that eludes me most Saturdays, I had absolutely no hesitation in sticking us in. We batted our way to a handsome 211/6 from the 47, with Stephens playing the sheet-anchor role beautifully for a well-made 55, Graham Abel chipping in a brisk 37 and Mike Iliffe 32 — the latter also bringing up 1,000 career runs for the club along the way, which called for rather more applause than my own contribution of 32 ever will. Spare a thought, though, for poor Jim Hall, who completed the full walk of shame for a duck.

Defending 211 is never a formality, and so it proved. The visitors dug in gamely, J. Gunn top-scoring with 47, well supported by Pete Worsnop's 37 and John Golding's 25, and they pushed us all the way to 188/8 before the last over ran out. Graham Mountford was magnificent with the ball — 4 for 74 and six maidens of pure miserliness — while Brian Fuller (3-63) and Paul Bowles (1-32) kept the pressure on, Bowles also accounting for a. Spice cheaply. Bowles did leak 13 byes behind the stumps, which we shall put down to enthusiasm rather than negligence.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to force the issue. A draw, then — not the result the bowling figures deserved, but an honest reflection of a match that gave absolutely nothing away.

Tue 19 May 1970 🧢 1st XIv LC Loose CC · AwayformDDLLW

Tuesday 19 May 1970 saw us on the road to Loose CC, and the coin, as ever, took no notice of my captaincy credentials — they called it right and stuck us in the field.

No complaints, though, because the lads made a real fist of it. Loose lost a wicket with just 8 on the board, and from there we simply wouldn't let them settle — 18-4 arrived before anyone had really got comfortable, G- Crouch trudging off for a duck along the way. They eventually scraped together 46/8 from their fourteen overs, which on a day like this always felt like a total we could chase down over tea rather than fret about. David T Lowen was magnificent with the ball, 3-21 and full value for it, with Ron Hickman (2-8) and Benny Bell (1-2) tidying up the rest between them.

Chasing 47, we made a mockery of it — 50/1 in 12.3 overs, job done well before the urn had gone cold. Andrew Moss played the anchor role to perfection, 23 not out, with David T Lowen giving him fine support on 21 not out. Only Benny Bell's afternoon went slightly awry, out for a duck with the bat to match his earlier struggles — though with 4 wickets to his name this season he can console himself he's contributing plenty elsewhere, even if David T Lowen's 86 runs still lead the way for us in 1970.

Nine wickets, two points, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work — the sort of result that makes the drive home feel a good deal shorter.

Sat 16 May 1970 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLDDLL

We drew Headcorn on a Saturday that felt made for cricket, and winning the toss I had no hesitation putting us in to bat first — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or daft depending entirely on what follows, and I'm pleased to say it was the former. We laboured somewhat to 130 for 9 off our 47 overs, with Andrew Moss the mainstay of the innings at 34, while John Thirkell and Jim Hall both trudged back for ducks — the sort of walk of shame no batsman enjoys, though there's safety in numbers.

A hundred and thirty looked a modest total to defend, but Headcorn never got remotely close to it. J. Vant top-scored with 22 in an otherwise threadbare reply, and R Chapman joined the duck club before he'd so much as troubled the scorers. The real story, though, was with the ball — Graham Mountford was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 5 for 39, with Brian Fuller superb in support, 4 for 19 including seven miserly maidens, and John Thirkell chipping in with 1 for 5. Headcorn were bowled out for 67 in 33.1 overs, and that was that.

As for your captain — a golden blob, out first ball, which rather proves that leading by example doesn't always extend to the batting crease. No matter. A fine win by 63 runs, Mountford now top of our 1970 wicket charts with ten, and Mike Iliffe third among the run-scorers. Onwards indeed.

Sat 09 May 1970 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformLLDDL

Beaten by 26 runs at Rumwood, and if I'm honest, the coin toss set the tone before a ball was bowled — they had first use of a docile pitch and made hay, reaching 151 all out. Full credit to Graham Mountford, whose 5-45 was a spell of real menace and richly earned his five-for, with Benny Bell (3-36) and the ever-frugal Brian Fuller (2-36, four maidens) squeezing the runs out at the other end. T Stevens (32) and R Venner (29) did the early damage, but 151 in 44 overs always felt gettable.

Sadly we didn't get it. Basil Sears played the innings of the day for 41, well supported by Benny Bell's 33, but around them the card told a sorrier tale — David Piper, Richard Ashby and Graham Mountford all back in the hutch without troubling the scorers, and the whole side bowled out for 125 in 33.4 overs. Eighteen byes crept through as well, which won't have done much for Jim Hall's afternoon behind the stumps.

There were individual crumbs of comfort — Basil now sits third in the season's run charts with 55, and Graham second among the wicket-takers with 5 — but crumbs don't win matches. Beaten by 26 runs, fair and square. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word about those byes, and go again next week.

Tue 05 May 1970 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLLDD

Beaten, but not before we made them work a little for the tea.

Tuesday, home fixture, and I won the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might suggest afterwards. We laboured to 86/9 from our sixteen overs, which is the sort of total that has you studying your shoelaces rather rather than the opposition's opening bowler. Mike Iliffe and Alan Cradduck both walked back for ducks, and I shall say no more than that a nought is its own punishment; the lads know where the Duck Club ledger lives.

Eighty-six was never going to trouble anyone with a straight bat, and so it proved — the opposition eased to 87/3 in just thirteen overs, Winchester making the 30 that mattered most, well supported by Maxted's 20. Full credit where it's due: Ron Hickman was our pick of the bowlers with 1-15, tidy and probing throughout, with Alan Wilkes chipping in at 1-21 to at least keep the scoreboard honest for a while.

Amid the gloom, one genuine moment for the mantelpiece — John Ames brought up 6,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that rather puts our modest 86 in perspective and reminded us all why we keep turning up. John Thirkell continues to lead the season's run charts, Hickman now sits fourth among the wickets, and there's plenty of summer left to put things right.

Seven wickets the margin, and fair enough. We batted like men late for their tea, bowled like men trying to make amends, and were beaten by the better side on the day. We'll be better for it next week — we usually are, eventually.

Sun 03 May 1970 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformLDLLD

Sunday the 3rd of May found us on the road to Bobbing Court, where the toss went against us and we were shown straight into the field — never the sunniest of starts to a skipper's day, but the lads set about it with good cheer regardless. Bobbing Court ground their way to 160 for 5 off their fifty-five, D Hookway the chief architect with a well-made 55 not out, T Ades and A Wallace lending a hand with 27 and 20. It was Graham Abel who did the real damage, tearing through with 2 for 9, while Dick Langridge bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the family silver — 2 for 70 but five maidens to show for it — and Alan Cradduck chipped in with 1 for 14.

Our reply of 134 for 5 from forty-three overs never quite had chasing written all over it, but David T Lowen batted with real substance for his 65, well supported by Dick Langridge's unbeaten 20. Poor Andrew Moss will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, though mention it I must, and Jim Hall had an afternoon of it behind the stumps, twelve byes going begging.

So honours were shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow — David T Lowen now tops our run charts for the season and Dick Langridge our wickets, which is more than can be said for my captaincy, but a draw earned in good company is no bad way to spend a Sunday.

Sat 02 May 1970 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformDLDLL

The lads are chasing at Folkestone this week, all right — let me draft that report.

We lost the toss at Folkestone and were put into the field, which on a Saturday in May usually means one thing: a long afternoon and a short tea. So it proved, more or less, as they ground their way to 161 for 7 off their 46 overs. Peter Godden led the charge with a fluent 46, Roy Downey chipped in a handy 38, and Keith Riddalls saw them home unbeaten on 23 — competent stuff, and no more than we deserved to concede. Only poor David Bourne's involvement went entirely unrewarded, back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. The shining light was Dick Langridge, whose 5 for 48 was a proper five-for, thoroughly earned and warmly received; Mike Stephens did his bit too, 2 for 44 with four maidens showing just how tight he kept things.

With the bat, we replied in kind — 161 for 5 off 42 overs, John Thirkell the mainstay with a fine 64, well supported by Brian Humphries' 38 and Mike Iliffe's 24. I'll confess a personal satisfaction in that innings of mine, and it was nice to see the scoreboard tick over so serenely for once.

Neither side could force it, so honours were shared and we motored home with a draw. Small mercies: Dick's five-for nudges him up to 9th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, past Frank Taylor, and he now leads our 1970 bowling charts as John does the batting. A fair result, fairly earned — Folkestone will do nicely as an away fixture to remember.