🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 25 Sep 1971 🧢 1st XIv RX Roy Clarke XI · HomeformWWDDW

Sitting here on the veranda with a cup of tea, I can report that it was a proper cricketing afternoon at Linton Park, and rarely have seven wickets felt so thoroughly deserved. We put Roy Clarke XI in, and they laboured to 135 all out in 39.5 overs, M Waghorn the pick of them with 31 and A Pooley chipping in with 20. J Stevens, bless him, went back to the pavilion without so much as troubling the scorers. The real story, though, was Paul Bowles, who bowled like a man possessed to return 6-36 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen checking the fixture list for next year. Nigel Thirkell and David T Lowen chipped in with a wicket apiece to tidy up the rest.

With that platform, chasing 136 should have been a formality, and so it proved, though not without the odd wobble, as we reached 138/3 in 42 overs for the win. Paul Bowles was again the story, following his bowling heroics with an unbeaten 71 to see us home, well supported by David T Lowen's 31. I chipped in with a small contribution of my own along the way, for what it was worth alongside such company. Fourteen byes did rather suggest poor Cliff Anscombe had a testing afternoon behind the stumps, and no doubt he'll hear about it in the bar.

A word for the history books: Bowles's 71 sees him leapfrog Robert Murray into 7th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he now leads both the 1971 run and wicket charts for the 1st XI — 612 runs and 56 wickets and counting. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a thoroughly good day to be captain.

Sun 19 Sep 1971 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformWWWDD

I called correctly on Sunday and had no hesitation putting Harrietsham in the field first — a decision that, for once, didn't come back to haunt me. We posted a tidy 176/7 from our 51 overs, with Cliff Anscombe leading the charge on 39, myself chipping in with 37, and Paul Bowles adding a brisk 29. Not every innings was a thing of beauty, mind — poor Benny Bell endured the walk of shame for a golden duck, and I dare say he'll be hearing about it in the bar for weeks yet.

If our batting was solid, our bowling that afternoon was something closer to demolition. Harrietsham never remotely settled, subsiding to 49 all out in just 20.5 overs. Paul Bowles, fresh from his runs, turned his arm over to devastating effect, spinning through their order for 5-28, while Allan Cooper strangled the innings from the other end with a miserly 4-7 and five maidens to his name. Jon Harris weighed in with 1-11, and Dennis Stones, Micky Tong and Keith Chaney all trooped back without so much as a run to show for their troubles — three ducks in one innings is not something you see every Sunday.

A win by 127 runs, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. With Andrew Moss now sitting proudly atop the 1971 run charts and Paul Bowles leading the wickets by some distance, the season has a pleasingly settled look to it. Harrietsham, I fear, will not remember this fixture fondly.

Sat 18 Sep 1971 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLWWWD

Lost the toss on a fine September Saturday and duly found myself leading the troops into the field rather than out to bat — the story of my captaincy career in one sentence. West Farleigh made themselves at home, R Woolley top-scoring with a polished 48, well supported by Colin Clark's 36 and Peter Cooper's unbeaten 35, the openers putting on 66 for the first wicket before we finally prised one out. They closed on 201/6 from their 45 overs, a total that felt distinctly optimistic from the boundary rope. Paul Bowles was superb, 4-62 and now up to 10th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, past Frank Taylor — a fine piece of company to keep. Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2-42, and Ron Hickman, all miserly discipline, sent down three maidens.

Chasing 202, we made a fair fist of it without ever threatening to get there, closing on 136/6 from our 46. Tim Thirkell was the rock, 47 not out, while I managed 28 and Andrew Moss a tidy 21 of his own — enough, remarkably, to vault him past Frank Taylor into 17th on the run-scorers' list, and he now sits proudly atop this season's charts with 544. We wobbled from 19-1 to 38-4 in a hurry, but a stubborn sixth-wicket stand and a defiant tail wag of 48 saw us home to safety. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 12 byes escaping his grasp. Honours shared, then — a draw that flattered us more than we deserved, but I'll take it.

Sun 12 Sep 1971 🧢 1st XIv MH Mersham Hatch · HomeformDLWWW

I toed the line at Mersham Hatch on Sunday 12th September with the toss going our way, and I opted to have first use of the ball — a decision that, in classic form, I'd spend the rest of the afternoon second-guessing.

Our hosts settled in nicely, racing to 196/6 from their 54 overs. W. Jeanes led the charge with a fine 62, and rather awkwardly I found myself contributing 56 to their total rather than ours — quite how that arrangement came about I still can't fully explain, though C. Smith's 32 rounded off a solid top order regardless of whose side benefited. Thankfully Jon Harris was in devastating form with the ball, spinning his way to 5-92 including five maidens, giving absolutely nothing away and dragging us back into the contest when it mattered most.

Our reply of 128/9 from 51 overs never quite got the fluency the total demanded. Paul Bowles top-scored with a gutsy 29, well supported by Paul Brattle's 21, though poor Mike Iliffe will want to forget his duck as quickly as possible.

There was real cause for celebration off the field, mind: Andrew Moss brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark achievement, while Jon Harris's five-for nudged him past Graham Mountford into 23rd on our all-time wicket-takers' list. Moss now leads our 1971 run charts with 523, and Harris sits fourth among the bowlers with 33 wickets.

A draw, then — honours shared, and perhaps fitting that neither side could quite land the decisive blow.

Sat 11 Sep 1971 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformWDLWW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 11 September 1971. Charles Arkcoll at home.

Lost the toss, asked to bowl first, which on a day like this always feels like being handed the washing-up before you've had your tea. Still, we made merry with the ball. Charles Arkcoll were skittled for 115 in 43.5 overs, and while Brian Aiston gave us all a fright with a fine 80, the rest of their order rather crumbled around him — three ducks in there, poor devils. Allan Cooper was in irresistible form, tearing through with 5 for 47 off a miserly seven maidens, the sort of spell that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy. Jon Harris chipped in with 2 for 3 and David T Lowen 2 for 28, and by the time we came off the boundary rope had earned its keep.

Chasing 116 was never going to trouble us unduly, and so it proved. David T Lowen, having already done his bit with the ball, then set about the bowling with a composed 55 not out, while Tim Thirkell played the perfect foil with an unbeaten 33. I contributed my own small mite along the way, more spectator than hero as we cruised home on 116 for 3 in 41.5 overs.

A red-letter day all round — Allan Cooper reached 50 career wickets, and continues to lead the season's bowling charts with 43, while Andrew Moss sits proudly atop the run charts with 505. Seven-wicket win, two points banked, and tea tasted all the sweeter for it.

Tue 07 Sep 1971 🧢 Midweek XIv KP Kent Police · AwayformLLDDL

I write for the club gazette, not the security report — nothing here calls for those tools. Here's the match report.

Tuesday evening at Kent Police, and for once the toss favoured us with first use of the ball, which on a night like that felt rather like being handed the good end of the stick. Dunk gave us a proper working over with 45, and got fair assistance from Longfield's 29 and Bright's 27, dragging the hosts to 152/7 off their 40.5 overs. Rogers, mercifully, went cheaply enough to spare our figures. The bowling did its job in fine style: Jon Harris ran through them with 3-38, while Tony Gauna's 2-27, complete with two tidy maidens, and Allan Cooper's 2-31 kept the scoreboard honest throughout.

Chasing 153, Paul Bowles played the innings of the night, sailing past his fifty to finish on 59 and giving the rest of us the luxury of simply tidying up after him. Paul Brattle chipped in an unbeaten 31 and Allan Cooper a brisk 20, and I was glad to get a hand in myself as we brought it home at 154/4 with overs to spare, six wickets in the bank.

A word for Jon Harris, whose three wickets nudged him past Ernest Cruttenden into 24th on the club's all-time list, a quiet but proper piece of history. Bowles continues to lead our run charts and Cooper the wickets as the season rolls on. All told, a thoroughly satisfying evening's work, and a fine win by six wickets. Onwards.

Sun 05 Sep 1971 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDWDLW

Sunday 5 September 1971 saw Anchorians CC visit us on a day when the toss betrayed us and left us in the field. They ground their way to 171 for 5 off 44 overs, propped up chiefly by L. Neate's chanceless 82, with T. Futter (37) and an unbeaten 28 from John Prodger filling out the innings nicely. J. Lock and Jim Fish, to their credit, at least kept our bowlers honest by not troubling the scorers at all. Paul Bowles was the pick of the attack with 2 for 47, Tony Gauna and Allan Cooper chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Ron Hickman bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the church collection plate — three maidens and not a run given away lightly.

Chasing 172, we made rather lighter work of it than the shine on the ball suggested we might. Cliff Anscombe played the innings of the afternoon, 71 not out of real substance, with Paul Bowles (40) and Robert Chance (29) lending sturdy support as we cantered home on 172 for 3 with over two overs unused. Anscombe's afternoon behind the stumps was less serene, it must be said — twelve byes went through that he'd doubtless rather forget, though nobody begrudged him after that innings.

A seven-wicket win, two points banked, and Bowles once again at the heart of everything — now second in the season's run charts and top of the wicket-takers. All told, a thoroughly earned victory, and a fine one to write home about.

Sat 04 Sep 1971 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformDDWDL

Saturday last saw A.Trembeths make the trip to Linton Park, and I confess I did what every captain does when the sun's out and the square looks true — won the toss and stuck us in, more hope than science.

We were bowled out for 161 in the 42nd over, which felt a touch light on a good deck, but there was substance to it. Nigel Thirkell led the way with a fine 42, and I chipped in with 26 of my own, while Tony Gauna's unbeaten 23 gave the tail some much-needed backbone. Not a total to bowl the changing room over, but enough, as it turned out, to work with.

And work with it we did. The Trembeths reply never quite got going, undone in no small part by Jon Harris, who bowled beautifully for figures of 7-37 — a five-for and then some, thoroughly deserved. I managed 2-40 and three maidens to go with it, and between us we had them shot out for 110 in the 38th over, R- Friend and a- Fell departing without so much as a run to their names.

Fifty-one runs the right side of the ledger by the close. A proper team performance, the sort where everyone's fingerprints are on the scorecard, and exactly the kind of Saturday that makes the long winter feel worth the wait.

Mon 30 Aug 1971 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWDDWD

Skipper's Log — Monday 30 August 1971. The road took us to Bearsted, and with the coin landing kindly I did what any captain with a firm belief in fresh pitches and thin evidence does: stuck us in.

It did not, on this occasion, repay the faith. We were bowled out for 117 in 43.2 overs, a total that flattered to deceive largely because David T Lowen batted like the sensible adult in the room, making 39 while the rest of us treated the crease as something to be visited briefly and left without fuss. Richard Ashby and Alan Wilkes joined me in that peculiar fraternity of the golden duck — three ninepence, no tuppence, and I can only apologise for setting such a poor example from the top.

With the ball, though, we scrapped. Bearsted crept to 120 for 8 off 51.4 overs, losing an early wicket at 7 and wobbling agreeably from 87 for 3 to 96 for 6 — Michael Livingstone and R. Parsons both back in the pavilion without a run to show for it. Colin Fleetwood's 43 and Denis Cleggett's unbeaten 36 were the difference in the end. Alan Wilkes was superb, 4 for 49 with three tight maidens, backed up by Jon Harris (3 for 31) and Paul Bowles (1 for 28).

Beaten by two wickets, then — desperately close, and no complaints. A captain who blobs after asking the openers to do the hard work has few grounds for grievance. We'll regroup, remember how to hold a bat, and come back stronger next week.

Sun 29 Aug 1971 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformDWDDW

Sunday last took us across to Staplehurst, and I'll confess I felt reasonably content losing the toss — a good, true pitch and a decent day for bowling first, or so I told myself as they padded up. Nigel Thirkell set the tone with a fine spell, 3 for 34, while Paul Bowles chipped in with 2 for 54 and Ron Hickman, miserly as ever with four maidens to his name, took 2 for 55. Staplehurst crept to 161 for 8 off their 47, anchored by a. Thirkell's watchful 52, with B Pudney (30) and R Parr (26) offering support, while C Rogers and G Feltham departed without troubling the scorers.

With 162 to chase, Robert Chance played the innings of the day — a superb 77 — well backed by Stan Wratten's own fifty, 56 in fact. I can't claim the same distinction myself: I came, I saw, I departed for a duck, and the less said about that the better. We closed on 153 for 4 from 41 overs, agonisingly short.

Off the field there was rather more to celebrate. Andrew Moss brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that puts the rest of us to shame, and Robert Chance's 77 today edged him past Bob Arnold into 19th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Moss also leads our 1971 run charts with 475, with Bowles topping the wickets on 38.

A draw, then — honours even, and honestly, after my own contribution, I'll happily take it.

Sat 28 Aug 1971 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · HomeformDDWDD

Saturday 28 August 1971, and Whitstable CC rolled into Linton Park with the sun out and my luck apparently packed away somewhere else, because the coin did its usual trick of landing wrong and we were put into the field.

It could have been grim. It nearly was. Tipper settled in for 39 and Waters chipped in 32, and between them, plus a watchful 35 not out from Tritton, the visitors ground their way to 145 all out from 51.4 overs — enough overs for the tea urn to run properly dry. But young Larking never troubled the scorers, and that was rather the theme of the innings, because Jon Harris turned his arm over and simply took the thing apart, 5 for 55 of pure mischief, while Brian Fuller bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the last biscuit in the tin — 4 for 49 including five maidens — and Nigel Thirkell mopped up with 1 for 29. 145 felt like a fair target, not a mountain.

Chasing it, Andrew Moss played the innings of the day, 48 full of proper strokes, with Basil Sears keeping him company for 28. I managed to bank 23 of my own down the order, more relief than style, and between us we shepherded the side home at 146 for 5 in 36.5 overs.

Five wickets, and a rare afternoon where the toss didn't matter a jot. Moss now sits proudly atop the season's run charts with 474, and the rest of us shuffle along in his shadow, quite happily. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 25 Aug 1971 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformWLLDD

Wednesday the twenty-fifth of August, and Gravesend CC arrived at Linton Park with the sun out and my luck apparently left at home — I lost the toss and duly found myself leading the side into the field. They made hay to the tune of 181 for 5 off their 44 overs, Gaynor Kingston the chief architect with a fine 61, Nick Jones chipping in a useful 38 and Ian Farthing 25 alongside him. It wasn't all bad news, mind: John Lambert bowled beautifully for 3 for 36, six of his overs maidens into the bargain, with honest support from Alf Thorne (1-54) and David Tolhurst (1-59) keeping things respectable.

Batting second with 182 to chase, we contrived to make an absolute pig's ear of it. Sixty-nine all out in 32.2 overs is not the stuff of legend, and only Steve Gower, with a battling 23, seemed to have read the same script as me. David Tolhurst, Nigel Thirkell and I all took the walk of shame for nought apiece — I shall say no more about my own contribution than that, except that a veil is being drawn over it with some enthusiasm. Twenty-one byes, meanwhile, told their own sorry tale of a trying afternoon behind the stumps for poor Percy Brattle.

Beaten by 112 runs, then, and no dressing that up. Steve Gower remains our leading run-scorer this season with 78, and John Lambert now sits fourth in the wicket-takers' charts with three — small crumbs of comfort from an otherwise chastening day. We'll regroup, we'll rotate the strike a little better, and we'll be back next week considerably improved, if not necessarily any more talented.

Sun 22 Aug 1971 🧢 1st XIv MH Mersham Hatch · AwayformWDDWD

Sunday the twenty-second of August took us out to Mersham Hatch, and having won the toss I didn't dither for a moment — we were batting, whatever the wisdom of that turned out to be. It proved a scratchy sort of afternoon with the willow: 146 all out from 58.2 overs, held together by Stan Wratten's determined 35, with Paul Brattle (33) and Benny Bell (26) chipping in nobly. Less nobly, David T Lowen and Percy Brattle both trudged back for ducks, the sort of pair that does nothing for a man's tea-interval conversation.

Out in the field we set about defending it, and Mersham Hatch replied with 137 for 6 from their 45 overs. I managed to find some form of my own, top-scoring with 48, with J. Copeland (36) and B. Campbell, unbeaten on 21, keeping things ticking along nicely. With the ball, Allan Cooper did the real damage — three for 48, including five maidens that must have tested the patience of everyone at the non-striker's end — with David T Lowen chipping in a wicket for 53. Behind the stumps, poor Percy Brattle had a torrid time of it, ten byes slipping through for the taking.

Elsewhere in the season, Andrew Moss continues to lead our 1971 run charts with 426, while Allan Cooper sits second among the wicket-takers on 35 — form he showed again today.

In the end, honours were shared: a draw, neither side quite able to force the issue, and both, I suspect, glad enough of the tea.

Sun 15 Aug 1971 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformDWDDW

Sunday 15 August 1971, and the visitors arrived at Linton Park to find the coin falling my way at the toss — batting first seemed the only sensible course, so I took it without so much as a moment's hesitation.

We made a tidy 161/7 from our 57 overs, built chiefly on a fine innings from Paul Brattle, unbeaten on 52, well supported by Benny Bell's 44. My own contribution of 17 will not trouble the record books, though I like to think it had a certain nuisance value. Honourable mention, too, for Cliff Anscombe, whose 18 runs quietly nudged him past George Champion and into 13th on the club's all-time run-scoring list — the sort of milestone that passes almost unnoticed in the tea queue but matters enormously to those of us who keep an eye on such things.

With ball in hand we set about the visitors, who replied with 154/8 from their 42 overs. Baker played the innings of the day with a well-made 84, ably assisted by Paul Clifford's 30, while Lawrence departed for a duck at our hands. Allan Cooper was the chief destroyer with 4-57, and Tony Gauna chipped in admirably with 2-37 from seven miserly maidens — not a run given away lightly.

Honours shared in the end, neither side able to force the issue. A draw, then, but a thoroughly good afternoon's cricket, and with Andrew Moss leading our 1971 run charts on 421 and Gauna sitting second among the wicket-takers on 33, the season continues to take a most encouraging shape.

Wed 11 Aug 1971 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformDWLLD

Wednesday the 11th of August found us on the road to Gravesend, and my first act of leadership was losing the toss — a habit I seem to be cultivating. They chose to bat and settled in as though they meant to stay all day, which, at 159 for 9 off 56 overs, they very nearly did. Gaynor Kingston made a fine 61 and N Phelps chipped in with 40, doing most of the damage while the rest of the order fell away — C Mitchell and T Church both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer. Paul Bowles was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 5 for 67, Jon Harris chipped in at 2 for 26 with five maidens that must have felt like penance to face, and I managed 1 for 25, which I shall claim as a captain's contribution rather than a captain's indulgence.

With 160 to chase, we never found our rhythm, subsiding to 139 for 9 from 44 overs. Mike Iliffe's 28 and Steve Gower's 27 held things together without threatening a chase, and ten byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Cliff Anscombe — though he can console himself with 66 runs to lead our Midweek XI charts this season, while Paul Bowles now sits second among the bowlers with five wickets.

Honours were shared in the end, neither side able to force the issue. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but an honest afternoon's cricket, and nobody was complaining too loudly.

Sun 08 Aug 1971 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · HomeformWDWDD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 8th August 1971. Sibton Park CC at home, and having won the toss I elected to bat, which felt, at the time, like a decision of some genius.

Genius is not quite how I'd describe our innings, but 151 for 9 off 52 overs was a serviceable effort in the end, built almost entirely on John Ames's excellent 59, with Paul Bowles (29) and Cliff Anscombe (20) chipping in around him. As for the skipper, I contributed a golden blob — out for a duck, first ball, leading from the front in the worst possible sense. Tim Thirkell kept me company in the pavilion with a duck of his own. A captain is meant to set the tone with the bat; on this occasion the tone was silence.

Redemption, mercifully, arrived with the ball. Sibton Park were bowled out for 79 in 46.1 overs, Geoffrey Kirk's 29 the only real resistance, with I. Laing and M. Perry both back in the hutch without scoring. I finished with 3 for 0, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for the rest of the season, ably backed up by Paul Bowles (3-17) and Tony Gauna (3-18, four maidens, and — worth a line to itself — 50 career wickets in the bag). Fourteen byes did rather suggest poor Cliff Anscombe was having a testing afternoon behind the stumps.

A duck with the bat, three wickets with the ball, and a 72-run win. On balance, I'll take it.

Wed 04 Aug 1971 🧢 Midweek XIv WC West Kent Wanderers CC · HomeformWDWLL

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 04 August 1971. A visit from opposition unlikely to trouble the tea urn overmuch, or so I told myself before a ball was bowled.

Put into the field, we set about them with a purpose that would have startled anyone who'd seen our nets the previous week. Ninety-five all out from 38.5 overs told its own story — a- Scott (26) and J- Rance (24) did what they could to give the total some respectability, but the real business was done with the ball. Allan Cooper was quite magnificent, four for 24 off a spell that included eight maidens — the sort of miserly figures that make a captain look far cleverer than he has any right to. John Carter chipped in handsomely with three for 32, and Alan Wilkes tidied up with two for 23. Between the three of them there was precious little for the batsmen to feed on.

Chasing 96, we made steady if unspectacular work of it, reaching 59 for 2 from our sixteen overs before the clock, rather than the opposition, called a halt to proceedings. Andrew Moss batted with real composure, 34 not out, and looked good for a good deal more had time allowed.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue — though on the bowling alone, and with Allan Cooper's name now sitting proudly atop our season's wicket charts on seven, I fancy we'll take it as a job well started rather than a job left unfinished.

Sun 01 Aug 1971 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformDWDWD

1 August 1971 — Staplehurst CC visit Linton Park.

There are days when winning the toss feels like the hardest part of captaincy is already done, and Sunday was one of them. I called correctly and, with a good drying pitch and no clouds to argue with, didn't hesitate in taking first knock. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, batting right through for an unbeaten 43, with Graham Abel's 28 and Robert Chance's 26 giving the total some proper backbone. Cliff Anscombe and Allan Cooper both contributed the traditional Sunday duck between them, which nobody enjoys but everybody remembers. All told, 164 for 7 off our 46 overs felt like a total with enough about it to make Staplehurst work for their tea.

And work they did. Their reply crawled and surged in equal measure — P. Holland and C. Rogers both got in and made 31 apiece, and J Munn saw them home to 133 for 8 with an unbeaten 22, while poor M. Pullen departed without so much as a nudge. But the day belonged to the ball. I can't pretend otherwise: 4 for 12 is the sort of figure a captain doesn't get to write about himself very often, so I'll allow myself the once. Jon Harris and Alan Wilkes backed it up handsomely, Wilkes' six maidens the very definition of parsimony, though Cliff Anscombe's gloves paid for it with 13 byes.

A word too for Andrew Moss, whose 14 runs eased him past Bob Arnold into 18th on the club's all-time list, and who now sits proudly atop our 1971 run charts with 410. In the end, honours shared — a draw, with neither side quite able to land the killer blow. Can't grumble at that.

Sat 31 Jul 1971 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformWDWDW

Saturday 31 July 1971 — the lads pitched up not entirely sure whether we were meant to be entertaining or being entertained, and by the close honestly nobody was quite sure of the answer to that either.

Put into the field first, we watched the opposition compile a stern-ish 162/7 from their 45 overs, built on a fine 37 from T. Grenfell and steady support from John Golding (36) and R. Vale (25). Credit where it's due, though: Jon Harris ran through the middle order with a splendid 3-35, Benny Bell chipped in with 2-38, Ron Hickman picked up one, and Tony Gauna bowled with such parsimony (three maidens) that the batsmen must have wondered whether he'd brought any actual overs with him. One consolation for the scorebook, if not for a. Spice himself — sent back for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers.

With the bat we replied in kind rather than in excess — 156/7 from our 40, Andrew Moss leading the way with a handsome 43, Gordon Fenner (36) and Basil Sears (26) keeping him honest company. Poor Jim Hall had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, 16 byes going walkabout past him, though nobody mentioned it more than four or five times in the pavilion afterwards.

There was, at least, cause for a small toast: Moss's knock eased him past Robert Chance into 19th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he continues to sit proudly atop our 1971 charts with 396 runs, with Gauna third among the bowlers on 27 wickets. A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely intact, and tea, as ever, the only clear winner of the day.

Sun 25 Jul 1971 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformWWDWD

The road took us to Mote A on a Sunday that promised more than the forecast let on, and for once the omens were kind. Put into the field, we set about the home side with method rather than fireworks: B. Shaw made a watchful 31, K. Emmett chipped in with 23, and between them they dragged the total to a modest 109/8 from their 54 overs. Poor J. Lawrence never got off the mark, back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. But the story of the innings, and arguably of the season so far, was Paul Bowles, who bowled with the sort of relentless discipline that leaves batsmen playing for their Sunday roast rather than their average — nine maidens and a five-for, figures of 5-23 that flatter no one but himself. Alan Wilkes (2-40) and Ron Hickman (1-25) mopped up dutifully in support.

Chasing 110 should never be taken lightly at this level, and Brian Humphries made sure it wasn't a formality, top-scoring with a fine 46. I was glad to get among the runs myself with 28, and together we saw the side home for the loss of five wickets inside 23 overs. Cliff Anscombe had a busy afternoon behind the stumps, 15 byes a reminder that nobody's perfect, least of all when the ball is doing things off the seam.

Andrew Moss continues to lead our run charts with 353 for the season, and Paul Bowles now sits top of the wickets pile with 33 — small wonder, after today. A fine win by five wickets, and one we'll take gladly. Onwards.

Sat 24 Jul 1971 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · AwayformDWWDW

From the captain's chair, Saturday 24th July — we made the trip out to Sibton Park CC with the toss lost and the unenviable job of chasing leather round the ground under a warm sky.

Sibton batted with real purpose, closing on 178 for 6 from their 42.3 overs. C. Wood was the chief architect, cruising past his fifty to 60, with D. Keeler (39) and G. Willis (33) lending sturdy support — though we did at least see off G. Keutenius for a duck, small mercies and all. Brian Fuller was superb with the ball, 3 for 45 and two miserly maidens to show for his efforts, backed up by M. Flint (1-40) and Tony Gauna, whose 1-64 came at some cost but kept the pressure on.

With the bat, we replied with 156 for 9 from our 44, a total built almost single-handedly by Andrew Moss, whose fine 72 was the innings' backbone, ably supported by Basil Sears (28) and Benny Bell (25). Graham Abel fell without scoring, and I must confess my own contribution was rather less than captain's-innings material — a golden duck, first ball, the sort of dismissal that rather undermines any pre-match talk about leading from the front.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: Andrew Moss's 72 eased him past Robert Chance into 19th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he continues to lead our 1971 run charts handsomely.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely intact, and my batting average mercifully unaffected by memory of the day.

Sun 18 Jul 1971 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformDDWWD

Sunday 18 July 1971, and Sevenoaks Vine CC came calling. Batting first, we crawled and occasionally galloped to 154/8 off our fifty, David T Lowen leading the way with a fine 44, Allan Cooper chipping in with 43 and Brian Humphries 28 — though Cliff Anscombe and Jon Harris both departed for the sort of golden duck that makes a captain suddenly very interested in the tea urn.

A hundred and fifty-four looked gettable, and for a while Sevenoaks made it look positively straightforward, with Peter Williams (35), James Graham-Brown (26) and George Downton (25) doing the damage. But cricket has a way of turning on a sixpence, and turn it did. Rodney Crang, Paul Downton and Phil Barnett went back to the pavilion without so much as troubling the scorers, and the innings folded for 110 in 33.3 overs.

The architect of it all was Paul Bowles, whose 6-64 was a spell of real quality — richly deserved, and one that nudges him past George Champion into 12th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Tony Gauna bowled with real discipline for his 2-22 and four maidens, with Jon Harris also chipping in at 2-22.

A two-wicket win, then, scrappy in places but thoroughly deserved in the end. Onwards.

Sat 17 Jul 1971 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · AwayformLDDWW

Saturday, 17 July 1971, and off we went with the sun (mostly) on our side and hope, as ever, springing eternal. Asked to field first, we watched the opposition compile a handsome 225 for 5 off their 48 overs, built chiefly around P. Parkinson's polished 64, with useful support from B. Seager (41) and C. Palmer (36) — the sort of scoreboard-filling stuff that makes a skipper reach rather too often for the sunhat. Credit where due, though: M. Flint bowled beautifully for 3-76, Frank Brattle chipped in with 1-30, and Tony Gauna, miserly as a Yorkshireman with the milk, sent down five maidens on his way to 1-50.

Chasing 226, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite threatening to run away with things, closing on 162 for 5 from our 45. Basil Sears played the innings of the day, a fine 58, while Frank Brattle stayed unbeaten on 40 and Jim Hall weighed in with 35 — enough to keep the tail wagging and the tea urn from going cold with worry.

A word too for Tony Gauna, whose 23 wickets now have him sitting third in the 1971 first-team charts — quietly becoming indispensable while the rest of us admire the view.

In the end honours were shared, neither side able to force it home. A draw, then — the great English compromise, and on this evidence, a fair one.

Sun 11 Jul 1971 🧢 1st XIv CX Colin Eldred's XI · HomeformLLDDW

Sunday brought Colin Eldred's XI down to Linton Park, and with the toss lost I sent us into the field first, wondering whether my bowlers had had their cornflakes. They had, mostly. Cant made merry to the tune of 72 – a proper, well-made fifty and then some – with Poulton (32) and Herd (25) offering polite support, and by the time they declared themselves finished at 190/7 off 45.5 overs it felt a touch stiff. Small mercy: M Jones departed for nought, the sort of dismissal that does wonders for a captain's mood. Jon Harris was the pick with 3-46, Dick Langridge chipped in with 3-56, and Tony Gauna bowled as though runs were rationed, three maidens and barely a boundary to show for it.

Chasing 191, we made surprisingly serene work of it. John Ames played the innings of the day, 79 full of proper strokes, with Brian Humphries (38) keeping him honest company. I contributed 30 not out myself, more by application than artistry, and we cantered home at 191/3 with a full over to spare. Our wicketkeeper had a livelier afternoon than he'd have liked, eight byes leaking through, but nobody was counting too closely by the finish.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a seven-wicket win to send the visitors home pondering where it went wrong. David T Lowen, meanwhile, continues his quiet season, now third in the 1st XI run charts on 209. All in all, a thoroughly satisfactory Sunday.

Sat 10 Jul 1971 🧢 1st XIv HK Hanwell (Kent) · HomeformDLLDD

Winning the toss on a Saturday always feels like the easy bit, and choosing to bat felt right at the time, though 88 all out from 33.3 overs was hardly the declaration of intent I'd hoped for. Credit where it's due to Alan Cradduck, unbeaten on 24 and doing his level best to make the rest of us look worse by comparison, which wasn't difficult given Stan Wratten and Nigel Thirkell both made the long walk back for nought. Not our finest hour with the bat, and the Duck Club secretary will have had his pen out.

Eighty-eight looked like a modest total to defend, and frankly I said as much to nobody in particular while trying to look confident. Hanwell's R Chapman looked ominous with 43, well supported by D Jeffery's 21, but the middle and lower order simply couldn't get going against us — D Winstanley, D Francis and P Breen all back in the pavilion without so much as a run to their name. David T Lowen was magnificent, tearing through them for 5-30, with Graham Mountford matching him wicket for wicket at 5-32, and M- Flint keeping things tight with three maidens when we needed the squeeze. I added 18 with the bat, which felt like a fair contribution to a nervy afternoon.

Hanwell fell for 84, four runs short, and we'll take it. Lowen now sits third in the season's run charts and Mountford second among the wicket-takers, so the engine room is purring even if the top order needs a stern word. A fine win, and onwards we go.

Sun 04 Jul 1971 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformWDLLD

Sunday the fourth of July found us at Aylesford Paper Mills, having lost the toss and, with it, any say in the matter — into the field we trooped. Fred Baker had clearly had his Weetabix, cantering to a chanceless 101 not out, with John Atkins chipping in a handy 26 as their innings rolled on to 185 for 4 off 48 overs. Credit where due: Paul Bowles was miserly and menacing in equal measure to finish with 1-25, well backed by David T Lowen (1-27) and Ron Hickman, who bowled three maidens with the parsimony of a man counting his own tea money and took 1-39 for his trouble.

Set 186 to win, we settled for something altogether more sedate, closing on 128 for 3 from our 47 overs — the sort of chase that suggests both sides had one eye on Sunday lunch. David T Lowen anchored things beautifully with 45 not out, Andrew Moss farmed the strike nicely for an unbeaten 42, and Paul Bowles weighed in with 20.

Two landmarks worth raising a glass to: Bowles brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, and Moss's 42 nudged him past Roy Clarke into 20th on our all-time run list. Bowles now leads the 1971 charts with 328 runs, Allan Cooper the wickets with 28.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody beaten, and frankly nobody in a tearing hurry to be. Not a classic, but a thoroughly pleasant way to spend a Sunday.

Sat 03 Jul 1971 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformDWDLL

Bright and early to Charles Arkcoll's ground, and I lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season — they had few complaints about batting first, and off we trooped into the field. Mick Filmer settled in and gave us a proper working-over, 69 well-crafted runs, with John Abnett tidy alongside him on 21 not out to see them home to 139/9 off their 44. But it wasn't all one-way traffic: David T Lowen was in irrepressible form, ripping through the middle order for 5-53 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, and picked up his 50th career wicket along the way — a landmark not many can boast. Nigel Thirkell (2-26) and Graham Mountford (1-30) tidied up the rest, Ron Parsons, Vic Wellard and B Barratt all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 140, we never quite found the fluency to match the bowling effort. Tim Thirkell top-scored with a determined 29, Graham Mountford chipped in handsomely with 25 — and rather pleasingly moved past Ernest Cruttenden into 23rd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list with that single scalp earlier. I added 18 of my own down the order, though truth be told none of us could quite land the finishing blow, and we closed on 118/6 from our 44.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly a fair reflection of an afternoon where both sides had their say but neither could force the issue. David T Lowen's remarkable haul keeps him fourth in this year's run charts, Mountford fourth among the wicket-takers, and the rest of us left to reflect that a par score with the bat would have made for a very different tea.

Wed 30 Jun 1971 🧢 Midweek XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformDWDWL

Wednesday 30 June found Northend Sunday visiting Linton Park, and having called it right for once, I had no hesitation in putting the visitors into the field. That, in hindsight, may have been the peak of my captaincy for the day.

Runs proved hard to come by. John Lambert led the way with a battling 30, Steve Gower chipped in a useful 28, and I managed 21 to keep things ticking, but too many of the middle order came and went without troubling the scorers — Dick Langridge, Ray Grayland and Ron Hickman all departed for golden ducks, and we were all out for 108 in 38.1 overs, a total that always looked a touch light on a good pitch.

With the ball, Brian Relf set the tone with the wickets of 1 for 9, and Ron Hickman bowled two tidy maidens to keep the scoreboard honest for a while. But D. Lackford had other ideas, playing a fine, chanceless half-century of 70 to bat us out of it, well supported by T Smith's unbeaten 33, and Northend cantered home on 110 for 1 with plenty of overs and wickets to spare.

Nine wickets is a proper hiding by anyone's reckoning, and there's no dressing it up — we were second best with both bat and ball. Still, Cliff Anscombe continues to sit handsomely second in the Midweek XI run charts, and Brian Relf's efforts have him third among the wicket-takers, so all is not lost for the season. We dust ourselves down, have a pint, and fancy we'll be considerably better for it next week.

Sun 27 Jun 1971 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · AwayformDDWDL

Sunday 27th June, and we made the trip to Sevenoaks Vine – the sort of fixture where you know you're in for a proper examination. I won the toss and, in a fit of optimism I'd rather forget, put us in to bat. Seventy-four all out from 36 overs told its own tale, and the innings would have looked considerably worse but for David T Lowen, who dug in for a fine 33 while wickets tumbled around him. Less said the better about the rest of us: John Ames, Alan Cradduck and I all contributed nought, a trio of ducks that had the club ledger quacking with laughter at our expense.

Seventy-four was never going to trouble anyone, but we set about defending it with more heart than the total deserved. Allan Cooper was magnificent, snaring 3-34 with four maidens thrown in for good measure – not a run given away lightly, and the sort of spell that keeps a captain's blushes at bay. Dick Langridge chipped in with 1-7 in good support. Sevenoaks got there in the end, J Graham-Brown top-scoring with 32 and Derek Breed weighing in with 26, closing out on 77/4 from 24.2 overs.

As for the skipper, a golden blob was hardly the example I'd hoped to set. Down by six wickets, then – heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 26 Jun 1971 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · HomeformLDDWD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 26 June 1971

We put them in, as is traditional when the skipper can't decide what else to do, and for a long while it looked the shrewder call. Wickets tumbled at our end with pleasing regularity — three of theirs went for a duck apiece — while Graham Mountford turned his arm over like a man possessed, spinning through them for 5-53 with three maidens thrown in for good measure. Brian Fuller and Tony Gauna chipped in with two apiece, and between us we had them shot out for 135 in the 43rd over. J. Cutbush's unbeaten 45 was the only real resistance, though T. Mitchell and B. Woodcock did their bit to drag the total up to something respectable.

Chasing 135 should, on paper, have been a stroll for a side of our modest pretensions. It was not. Jim Hall batted beautifully for his 48, Paul Brattle stuck around gamely for an unbeaten 22, but three of us — Andrew Moss, Basil Sears and David Stevens — contributed nothing more than a trio of ducks, and the rest of the order simply couldn't fill the gap. We folded for 126 in the 42nd, nine runs short.

A word of cheer amid the gloom: Graham's five-for pushed him past Brian Relf into 24th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and Tony Gauna continues to sit second in this year's averages with 22 scalps. Small mercies, but mercies nonetheless.

Verdict: bowled and fielded like champions, batted like also-rans. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 13 Jun 1971 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformDLDDW

John Thirkell here, and let me set the scene: 13 June, Bobbing Court CC visiting, and I won the toss and elected to bat. I still think it was the right call, whatever the scorebook might suggest by the close.

Cliff Anscombe (31) and Andrew Moss (31) gave us something to build on, with Robert Chance (28) chipping in nicely, but the innings never quite took flight and we were bowled out for 158 off our 55 overs. I contributed nothing whatsoever to that total — a golden duck, gratefully forgotten by all but the scorer — and Graham Abel kept me company in the pavilion with a matching blob.

In the field, though, we scrapped hard. Alan Wilkes was magnificent, four wickets for 36 and seven maidens that strangled the life out of their innings, backed up superbly by Paul Bowles (3-56) and a single wicket of my own for 26 — my one contribution of the day, and I'll take it. John McLeod's fifty (65) threatened to run away from us, but Bobbing Court could only limp to 137/8 from their 52, and honours were shared.

Worth raising a glass to: Paul Bowles passed 200 career wickets and climbed to 13th on the all-time list, while Andrew Moss's runs moved him up to 21st on the run-scorers' roll — and Bowles remains a class apart this season, top of our run charts and second among the wicket-takers.

A draw, then, and a fair one — neither side could force the door, and on a day I gave precisely nothing with the bat, I'll happily settle for that.

Sat 12 Jun 1971 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformWDLDD

Saturday last saw us welcome Tovil to the ground, and, having lost the toss, I led the lads out into the field with the usual mixture of hope and quiet dread. We needn't have worried. Tovil were bowled out for 118 in 40.4 overs, Jim Archer top-scoring with a stubborn 34 and young K. Patey Jnr chipping in with 26, but there was precious little else to trouble our scorers, C. Pattenden and D. White both departing for ducks. The afternoon belonged to Paul Bowles, who ran through the order with a quite magnificent 7-42, while Tony Gauna did his bit too, 3-36 and four maidens that squeezed the life out of the innings from the other end.

With 119 to chase, we made steady if unspectacular work of it, reaching the target for the loss of three wickets in 44 overs. Bowles wasn't finished either, following his bowling heroics with an unbeaten 53 to see us home. I contributed a workmanlike 19 down the order, and poor Cliff Anscombe had a torrid time behind the stumps, 10 byes going begging past him.

Bowles's fifty, incidentally, carries him past Terry Whittaker into 9th on the club's all-time run charts, and he now leads our 1971 run-scoring table with 283 and sits second among the season's wicket-takers with 18. A fine all-round performance from him, and a fine day for the club: seven wickets, and honours very much ours.

Sun 06 Jun 1971 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformWWDLD

Sunday 6th June saw us travel to Harrietsham, and winning the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, though our top order would spend the afternoon quietly disagreeing with me. We limped to 130/9 from our 45 overs, the innings held together by John Ames's 34 and Paul Bowles's typically reliable 29. Beyond that it was a lean day at the crease, with three of us — myself included — walking back for ducks, heads bowed, contributing nothing but company for the scorebook's zeros.

Defending 130 always demands discipline, and the lads found it in spades. Harrietsham were kept to 99/9 from their 43, Anthony Moss's 40 the only real threat, well supported by Micky Tong's 27, but three of their batsmen joined our own duck club and went back without troubling the scorers. Allan Cooper was magnificent, 3-12 and relentless, with Alan Wilkes chipping in 3-45 and Graham Mountford bowling a beautifully mean spell — 1-20 with four maidens, barely a run given away.

As for the skipper, I can report a golden blob — out first ball, which rather rounds off the theme of the day. A captain ought to lead by example; on this occasion I led only by comedy. Still, with Bowles and Cooper both flying at the top of this season's charts, the engine room is purring even when the figurehead isn't.

In the end, honours were shared — a draw, and on this evidence, a fair one. Neither side could quite land the killer blow, and frankly, after that batting display, a draw felt like a result stolen back from the jaws of embarrassment.

Sat 05 Jun 1971 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformDWWDL

As it stands from the captain's chair, Saturday 5th June brought Rumwood CC to Linton Park, and the toss fell kindly enough that I had no hesitation in sending us in to bat.

What followed was rather more than I'd dared hope for. Paul Bowles batted with real purpose to finish 99 not out, agonisingly shy of the century his innings thoroughly deserved, while Cliff Anscombe played his part handsomely with 61 and Andrew Moss chipped in a tidy 30. We closed on 214/3 from 48.3 overs, a total that gave the bowlers something to defend and the rest of us something to talk about at tea.

With the ball, Tony Gauna was the chief tormentor, ripping through with 4-34, well backed by Paul Bowles's 3-75 and a typically economical spell from Graham Mountford, whose 4 maidens in returning 1-26 spoke of a man determined not to leak a run he didn't have to. Don Clayton and James Snr Walker were sent back without troubling the scorers, but D. Burrows dug in for a fine 61 and R. Moore's unbeaten 25 steadied things enough to see Rumwood home to 164/8. Cliff Anscombe had a trickier afternoon behind the stumps, 20 byes finding their way past him, though his runs with the bat nudged him past Gordon Fenner into 14th on our all-time list — no small consolation.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Frustrating, perhaps, but with Bowles and Mountford both flying at the top of this season's charts, I'll happily take a fighting stalemate over a false dawn.

Thu 03 Jun 1971 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sennocke CC · HomeformLDWDW

Sennocke CC arrived at Linton Park on a Thursday evening in June, and for once I won the toss and actually knew what to do with it — batting first, no dithering. Paul Bowles set about proving me right with a fine 47, and Cliff Anscombe chipped in handsomely with 35, the pair of them dragging us to a respectable 140/6 from our 46 overs. A total that looked, over tea, like it might just be enough.

It wasn't, quite. Sennocke chased with a composure that rather spoiled the mood, R Johnson anchoring things with a well-crafted 51 while we toiled away in the field. Tony Gauna was the pick of us by some distance — 3 for 41 and five maidens, not a run given away lightly, the sort of spell that deserved a better fate. Allan Cooper kept him honest with 3 for 49 of his own, and we did at least send a Hall back for a duck without troubling the scorers. But 141/7 came up with overs to spare, and the visitors departed three wickets to the good.

Not our day, then. Bowles and Gauna sit atop the season's charts for runs and wickets respectively, so the ingredients are clearly there — just not quite mixed in the right order on this occasion. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Mon 31 May 1971 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWDWWD

Lost the toss again on Monday – some things never change – and dear Bearsted decided we should have first use of the ball while they had a bat. Off we trudged into a long, warm afternoon, and long it was: 66.5 overs of it, watching Colin Fleetwood cash in with a polished 63, David Andrews chipping in 45 and Dave Bromley 40, the openers setting the tone with a maddening stand of 63 before we prised the first wicket loose. They finished on 212 for 9, a total that felt bigger with every over. Small mercies: Allan Cooper was superb, five wickets for 69 and ten miserly maidens to show for his troubles, and I managed three for 47 myself, which at least gave me something to nod about at tea.

Chasing 213 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered rather badly. Andrew Moss top-scored with a gutsy 24, Tim Thirkell added 20, but 33 for 1 became 39 for 4 in the time it takes to pour a cup of tea, and the innings never recovered. Graham Mountford and I both contributed golden ducks to the cause – mine first ball, captain leading from the front in exactly the wrong direction – and we were bowled out for 88 in 43.4 overs.

Andrew Moss still tops our run charts with 162 for the season, and Allan Cooper's wickets column now reads a handsome 21. As for Monday: beaten by 124 runs, heads deservedly hanging, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 30 May 1971 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · AwayformDWDWW

Sunday last took us down to Hythe, and the coin did me no favours — down it went, and their captain wasted no time electing to bat. No matter; there's a certain grim satisfaction in bowling first on a morning like that. Hythe were shot out for 109 in 39.1 overs, R Chappell top-scoring with 36 but precious little support around him — both C Giles and Dan Smith walked back without troubling the scorers. Alan Wilkes was quite magnificent, 3-14 from five parsimonious maidens, ably backed by Paul Bowles (3-16) and David T Lowen (2-30). Not a run given away lightly, as the saying goes.

Chasing 109 should have been the easy part. It was not. We laboured to 105 for 9 off our fifty overs, saved largely by Paul Bowles and David T Lowen, both making a composed 30 apiece. Elsewhere the Duck Club held its usual well-attended meeting — Nigel Thirkell, Alan Cradduck and, I confess with as much dignity as I can muster, myself, all departed for nought. We shall say no more on that.

There was brighter news: Andrew Moss's watchful 12 eased him past Len Conway into 22nd on the club's all-time run charts, and he continues to lead our 1971 run-scoring with 138, while Tony Gauna sits third among the season's wicket-takers with 8. As for the match itself — honours even, a draw that flattered neither side, but one we'll happily bank given how close we came to making a real mess of it.

Sat 29 May 1971 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · AwayformWDWDW

My name is Andrew Moss. Winning toss, we chose to bowl second at Tovil on a day that would end well for us.

I won the toss and had few doubts about our course of action, putting Tovil in to have a bowl at us first. It didn't entirely go to plan with the bat — 78 all out in 47.1 overs is not a total to frighten anyone, and poor Basil Sears will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck in these pages, though mention it I must. Graham Mountford held the innings together with a fine 36, and without him we'd have been looking at a very short afternoon indeed.

Seventy-eight seemed a modest total to defend, and I said as much to the lads through gritted teeth as we took the field. What followed was as complete a bowling performance as I can remember. Tovil's top order simply had no answer — Jim Archer and both Patey brothers, senior and junior, all walked back for ducks without so much as troubling the scorers. Graham Mountford, having done the job with the bat, then did it all over again with the ball: 5-22 from five overs, five of them maidens, a thoroughly deserved five-for. Allan Cooper backed him up superbly with 4-20, and between them they bowled Tovil out for a paltry 46 in 26.3 overs. I chipped in with the bat myself along the way, for whatever that's worth.

A win by 32 runs, two points banked, and a timely reminder that in this game you can lose the batting and still win the match. Marvellous stuff from the bowlers.

Sun 16 May 1971 🧢 1st XIv PC Paddock Wood CC · HomeformWWDWD

John Thirkell won the toss on a fine Sunday afternoon and, with an eye more on the sky than the science, stuck Paddock Wood into the field. It proved a decision I stood by rather than shouted about, as our innings never quite roared but kept finding a way — 147 for 8 off 46.3 overs, built patiently rather than blazed. Basil Sears led the way with a tidy 29, Andrew Moss chipped in handsomely with 28, and I was glad to get among the runs myself with 27, though none of us will be troubling the groundsman for a plaque just yet.

If the batting was measured, the bowling that followed was a different matter entirely. Paddock Wood simply had no answer — 77 all out in 28.2 overs, R. Fawcett gone for a duck before he'd so much as loosened his straps. Paul Bowles was the pick of a fine attack with 3 for 11, David T Lowen chipped in 3 for 18 with four maidens of positively miserly intent, and Allan Cooper matched them with 3 for 32. Wickets, it seemed, were falling at the mere sight of our boys warming up.

There was a footnote of history too — Paul Bowles's 18 runs eased him past John —'s Taylor into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a fine bit of business on an already fine day.

We ran out winners by 70 runs, and honestly, it never looked in much doubt after tea. A thoroughly good day for Linton Park.

Sat 15 May 1971 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWWWDW

Saturday 15 May 1971, and Headcorn CC came calling at Linton Park with the sun, for once, cooperating. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first strike — the right call, I still maintain, and nobody in the dressing room argued.

We batted with more application than flair, ambling to 160/5 from our 45 overs. Andrew Moss played the innings of the day, a really fine half-century for 70, and I was glad to lend a hand with 46 of my own, while Stan Wratten's unbeaten 21 gave the total a bit of late polish. Not a total to frighten anyone, but enough, we hoped, to give our bowlers something to bowl at.

And bowl at it they did. Headcorn were reduced to a procession of ducks at the top — Gore, Smith and Penny all back in the pavilion without so much as a single to their name — before R. Young dug in for a battling 51, the lone bright spark in a chase that never quite got going. Graham Mountford was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 7 for 41 and thoroughly bamboozling the visitors, while Brian Fuller strangled the other end with five miserly maidens on his way to 2 for 28. Headcorn closed on 105/9 from 33, saved only by the clock.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Small consolation on the personal front: my 46 nudged me past William Buck into 4th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which I shall be insufferable about at the bar for at least a fortnight.

Sun 09 May 1971 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformWWWWD

As match reporter, at the crease at Gore Court on 09 May 1971

I do like it when a plan comes together, and this Sunday it did with rather more ease than I dared expect. Losing the toss and being sent into the field is never how you want to start an away trip, but there's nothing like a shaky opposition top order to lift the spirits, and Gore Court duly obliged, slipping to 0-1 before they'd so much as settled their pads. From there it was a procession of sorts — 35-5 became 54-8 as our attack tightened the screws, and Ken Drury, Peter Holmes and David Laughton all departed for ducks without so much as a wobble on the scoreboard. Tony Gauna was the star of the show with a richly deserved six-for (6-35), while Allan Cooper bowled with the miserliness of a man guarding his last biscuit — 11 maidens and 2-16 — and Paul Bowles chipped in with 2-22. All out for 74 in 37.1 overs, with only John Lance's 33 offering any real resistance.

Chasing 75 should never be taken for granted in this game, but I was in generous mood myself, seeing us home with 29 not out, well supported by Cliff Anscombe's unbeaten 26, as we cruised to 76-2 in just 18.3 overs. Up the season's run charts Paul Bowles now sits third with 54, and Allan Cooper leads the wicket-takers with 9 — form the lad can be rightly proud of.

An eight-wicket win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sun 02 May 1971 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformDWWWW

The road to Bobbing Court on the second of May was a pleasant one, and so, for once, was the toss — I called correctly and elected to bat, a decision I shall claim full credit for regardless of what followed. What followed was 149 for 7 from our 48 overs, built almost entirely on the back of Robert Chance's fine unbeaten 59, with Paul Bowles chipping in a stout 39 alongside him. Poor Cliff Anscombe will not thank me for mentioning his duck, but a captain's report is nothing if not honest, so there it is.

In the field we set about defending our total with more hope than certainty, and were rewarded with a tidy afternoon's work. Gordon Kemsley's unbeaten 37 and John McLeod's 34 kept Bobbing Court ticking, but wickets fell steadily at the other end — C Robinson and B Best both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Allan Cooper was the pick of the attack, miserly and probing with 2 for 17 off eight maidens, David Lowen chimed in with 2 for 19, and I managed to squeeze out 1 for 7 of my own, which I shall mention here and nowhere else. They finished on 92 for 5 from 42, honours shared.

A quiet note for the scrapbook: Paul Bowles's 39 nudges him past Maurice Fenner into 11th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. A draw, then — no losers, and on a sunny Sunday at Bobbing Court, that will do very nicely indeed.

Sat 01 May 1971 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformWDWWW

Saturday 01 May 1971 — Folkestone CC in town, and for once the coin actually cooperated with my thinking, so I put us in without a second thought. Right call, in my view, though the Folkestone lot may disagree.

We laboured a touch to 143/9 off our 45, saved from mediocrity by Brian Humphries's cracking 57 and a tidy 31 from Stan Wratten in support. Poor Alan Cradduck, meanwhile, made his own kind of history with a golden duck — the walk of shame performed with all the dignity he could muster, which is to say none whatsoever.

If our batting was a stroll, our bowling was a procession. Folkestone were bundled out for a paltry 72 in 41.4 overs, with Gerald Jeanes and Ian McMillen dispatched back to the hutch without so much as a run to their names — quackers, both of them. But the day belonged, unarguably, to Allan Cooper, whose 5-12 (ten of those overs maidens, if you please) was as fine a spell as this ground has seen in some while. Dick Langridge chipped in handsomely too, with 4-25, leaving precious little for the rest of us to do but applaud from the boundary.

So it's Humphries top of the run charts and Cooper top of the wickets as the season gets going, and us seventy-one runs to the good. A thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's work — tea was well earned, and so, I daresay, was the nap that followed.