🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 29 Sep 1973 🧢 1st XIv BC Bexhill CC · HomeformDLLLD

Beaten by the toss and then, twelve runs later, beaten in the middle - Saturday's visit from Bexhill CC was one of those games where you feel the result was decided before a ball was bowled. Put in the field, we did our bit: Bexhill limped to 117/9 off their 48.3 overs, with P Shrubb's 24 the top score and honest support from Andy King (21) and Dave Cowley (20). John Thirkell was the pick of the attack with 2-8, Andrew Moss and Tony Gauna chipped in with two apiece, and Nigel Thirkell bowled five maidens of the sort that make batsmen question their life choices.

A gettable 118 to win, we thought - and so it should have been. Andrew Moss batted with real purpose for 30, Ken Webb supported nicely with 23, but the rest of us rather lost the plot and we folded for 105 in 32 overs. Nigel Thirkell, having bowled like a dream, matched it with a golden duck at the other end - the game does love its little ironies.

There was, at least, cause for a raised glass: Tony Gauna's two wickets edged him past Stan Wratten into 20th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, while Paul Brattle (2nd in this year's run charts) and Nigel Thirkell (2nd in the wickets) continue to fly the flag for 1973.

Twelve runs the margin, and no complaints - we simply didn't do enough with the bat. We'll regroup, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 23 Sep 1973 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLDLLL

Sunday's fixture against Anchorians CC was billed as a battle, and it very nearly delivered one — except I lost the toss again, which by now is less bad luck than a personality trait. They chose to bat, and set about their 44 overs with quiet purpose, posting 136/6. E. Cherry led the way with a tidy 34, well supported by Derek Ufton (23) and Alan Dixon (22), while our attack chipped away throughout. Nigel Thirkell was the pick of the bowlers by some distance — 4-34 with five maidens thrown in for good measure, proof that not a run was given away lightly. Tony Gauna and Allan Cooper each took a wicket apiece to keep the visitors honest.

Chasing 137, we made light work of it in the end. Paul Brattle and Paul Bowles simply refused to be parted, carrying us to 78/1 from 19 overs with unbeaten knocks of 35 and 32 respectively — the sort of composed batting that makes a captain's job look easy, even when it wasn't him doing any of the composing.

A nod, too, to the record books: Tony Gauna's solitary wicket nudged him past Len Conway into 21st on the club's all-time list, while Paul Brattle continues to sit 2nd in this season's run charts on 555, and Nigel Thirkell holds 2nd in the wicket charts with 51.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to force the issue. A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and entirely fitting for a Sunday when both attack and bat had their say.

Sat 22 Sep 1973 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLLDLL

I called correctly at the toss on Saturday and, with a nod that surprised absolutely nobody who's seen West Farleigh's opening bowlers, decided we'd bat first.

It was not, in truth, a vintage effort with the willow. We laboured to 131 all out from 46 overs, saved from real embarrassment by Mike Iliffe, who played the anchor beautifully for 45, with Nigel Thirkell chipping in a handy 36 alongside him. A total that felt, at tea, a touch light for the ground.

So it proved. West Farleigh chased it down to 133/8 from 39.5 overs, with Peter Cooper the chief tormentor on 38, well supported by J Archer's 34 and Simon Day's 22. We did give them one moment of pure theatre when Norman Underdown departed for a golden duck — small mercies. And what a spell from Terry Donovan, who simply ran riot: 6 for 57, with four maidens thrown in for good measure, not a run given away lightly. Jon Harris (1-8) and Nigel Thirkell (1-34) mopped up admirably around him, but six wickets from one man wasn't quite enough to defend our modest total.

One genuine cause for celebration amid the gloom: Mike Iliffe brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our 1973 run charts with 599, and Jon Harris tops the wicket-takers with 61 — the season's still very much alive even if Saturday wasn't.

Not our day, then — down by two wickets in a match we really ought to have batted better in. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 16 Sep 1973 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLDL

Sunday 16th September, and a fine one for it at home. I won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain — and then watched us undo all that good judgement with the bat in hand. Seventy-eight all out in 37.1 overs is not a total to frighten anyone, and though Ken Webb battled hard for his 31, the rest of us rather let the side down. Allan Cooper and Ron Hickman both departed for ducks, which is never a comfortable sight from the pavilion, and I confess I spent much of the innings studying my boots.

Seventy-eight was always going to want a minor miracle in the field, and while we gave it a proper go, the opposition were simply too good on the day. F-H- Ames anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 31, well supported by C- Smith's 30, and they eased to 79/2 in 29.3 overs without ever looking especially troubled. Allan Cooper was the pick of our attack — 1-15 with two tidy maidens, making amends of a sort for his golden duck — and Paul Bowles chipped in with 1-20. Small mercies, but mercies nonetheless.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and no arguing with the scoreboard. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our season's run charts regardless, and Allan Cooper's 30 wickets keep him third among the bowlers — so the campaign motors on even as Sunday's contribution rather stalled. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sat 15 Sep 1973 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformLLLLD

Here's the match report for the gazette:

Saturday 15 September 1973 saw us venture forth to Southborough CC, and if you're looking for a tidy little tale of triumph, you'd best turn the page now. Sent into the field, we watched Southborough compile a stout 214/6 from their 48 overs, Peter Young top-scoring with a fine 54, well supported by Martin "Baz" Bailey (39) and Richard Russell (29). Paul Bowles did the heavy lifting with the ball, 3-71, while Brian Fuller and Nigel Thirkell chipped in a wicket apiece — the latter also bowling five miserly maidens, tight enough to make a bank manager weep with joy.

Chasing 215, we mustered 142 all out in 43.3 overs, John Ames leading the way with 42 (yours truly matched him stroke for stroke, also with 42), Paul Bowles and Tim Thirkell adding 25 apiece. Mike Iliffe and Colin Dicker both endured that familiar walk of shame for ducks, while poor Gordon Dent had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 18 byes finding their way past him like water through a colander.

There was, at least, a footnote of pride: Jon Harris's solitary wicket nudged him past Michael Morton into 16th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a small flag planted on an otherwise bruising day, and he continues to lead our 1973 wicket charts handsomely, with Nigel Thirkell topping the run-scoring alongside him.

Beaten by four wickets in the end. Character-building stuff, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 09 Sep 1973 🧢 1st XIv BC Bexhill CC · AwayformLLLLL

Sunday saw us make the trip to Bexhill, and the coin, as is tradition, let us down. They chose to bat, and we chose to console ourselves with the thought that at least it wasn't raining.

Andy King gave us a proper going-over with a classy 72, R Bennett chipped in with 43 and Dave Cowley finished unbeaten on 41 as Bexhill posted 202/4 from their 48 overs. Jon Harris was our pick of the attack with 1-48, John Ames weighed in with 1-52, and Nigel Thirkell bowled two tidy maidens to at least slow the flow.

Chasing 203, we never quite got going. Benny Bell battled hard for 25, but wickets tumbled around him and we subsided to 99/8 from our 45 overs. John Ames and Nigel Thirkell both departed for ducks, and yours truly can offer little defence for his own contribution of nought — we shall draw a veil over that, as agreed. Nine byes rather summed up Benny Bell's afternoon behind the stumps, though he'd doubtless say the same about the rest of us in front of them.

So it finished honours even, a draw that flattered nobody. Paul Brattle continues to hold up the middle order of our season's run charts in second place, and Jon Harris leads the wickets column handsomely — small mercies on an afternoon when the rest of us gave rather a good impression of a village side enjoying its tea more than its cricket.

Sat 08 Sep 1973 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLLL

Saturday 8th September saw us at home, and having won the toss we sent Their Lot in to have a bat first — a decision that, for once, looked rather clever. J-Raffael departed without so much as a scoreboard blemish to his name, a proper golden duck to open proceedings, and it rather set the tone. Nigel Thirkell was in miserly, metronomic form, five maidens among his 3-29, ably backed up by Paul Bowles (3-30) and Terry Donovan (2-28), and between the three of them the visitors were bowled out for a modest 97/9 off 38.3 overs. Bowling like that on a Saturday afternoon is the sort of thing that makes an ageing captain feel young again.

Chasing 98, however, we contrived to make hard work of the easy sums. We crawled — there is no kinder word — to 101/3 in 29.4 overs, losing three wickets along the way in what I can only describe as a masterclass in unnecessary drama. Paul Bowles, having already done his bit with the ball, then top-scored with a handsome, well-made fifty, and frankly carried the rest of us over the line on his shoulders.

And yet, somehow, we contrived to lose by seven wickets — don't ask me to explain the arithmetic of that one, the scorebook is the scorebook. Elsewhere in the club, Paul Brattle continues to purr along nicely, second in the season's run charts with 478, while Jon Harris leads the wicket-takers with 58 — some comfort on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Not our day, lads. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 02 Sep 1973 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformDLLLL

With a golden duck to open proceedings and a five-wicket defeat to close them, this wasn't our finest Sunday — but there was honest cricket in between worth setting down for the record.

Sunday last saw us make the trip to Staplehurst, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the pitch looked one to bat on, and I still think I was right. Paul Bowles led the way with a tidy 29, and had good company from Ken Webb (24) and Robert Chance (23) as we ground our way to 154/9 from the full fifty. Your captain chipped in with 29 of his own, for what that's worth. Poor Jon Harris, meanwhile, will not thank me for recording that he departed for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, Jon, and no doubt will again.

With ball in hand we gave a good account of ourselves without quite landing the killer blow. Allan Cooper was superb, 3-30 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, and Tony Gauna backed him up nicely with 2-33 — a spell that, we're told, nudges Tony up to 22nd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and keeps him third in this season's charts behind the imperious Nigel Thirkell. But P Holland made merry to the tune of 88, well supported by J Munn's 27, and Staplehurst got home by five wickets with overs to spare, T Pullen the solitary blank among their batsmen.

A losing afternoon, then, but not a lifeless one. We'll dust ourselves down, raise a glass to Tony's milestone, and go again next week — better, I hope, for the lesson.

Sat 01 Sep 1973 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · AwayformLDLLL

Here's the match report.

We travelled to Whitstable on a Saturday that promised much and delivered, in the end, a thorough lesson. Losing the toss set the tone rather neatly, and we were straight into the field to watch the home side compile a stately 187 for 4 off their 49 overs. Jim Long was the chief architect of our discomfort, ploughing on to 68 not out, with Mike Tritton (33) and S. Tritton (28) offering cheerful support. To our credit, Nigel Thirkell bowled tidily for 2-45, and Brian Fuller ran him close with 2-56 and a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure — not that either could stem the tide entirely.

Chasing 188 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and rather too many of them went unanswered. Paul Brattle battled to 32, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 30 and John Thirkell with 20, but around them the innings had all the structural integrity of a garden shed in a gale — Tim Thirkell, Alan Cradduck and Terry Donovan all departed for ducks, and 110 all out from 38 overs was the sorry sum of it.

Nigel Thirkell continues to carry the side on his shoulders, now top of the 1973 run charts with 514 and second in the wickets with 42 — a one-man cottage industry holding the rest of us up.

In short: beaten by 77 runs, heads bowed, and it's back to the nets for a long, hard look at ourselves.

Wed 29 Aug 1973 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformLDLLW

Wednesday brought Gravesend CC to Linton Park, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and, with the sky looking settled, had no hesitation in asking us to bat. It proved a sound enough decision, if not quite sound enough in execution: 178 for 9 off our 49 overs was a competitive total rather than a commanding one, built almost entirely on the back of Richard Watters, who cruised past his fifty to finish on a splendid 82. Paul Brattle chipped in usefully with 29, while poor Mike Iliffe was undone for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he remains in good company, for I myself fell for nought and shall say no more about it than that a veil has been drawn.

Defending 178 is never a comfortable afternoon's work, and so it proved. Gravesend's Barry Diplock played the innings of the day, a fine 92, well supported by D Clark (23) and Kevin Wilson (20), and they eventually got home at 181 for 8 with a full over to spare, winning by two wickets. It wasn't for want of trying with the ball — David Tolhurst was excellent, 3 for 26, Allan Cooper miserly with four maidens en route to 2 for 40, and Tony Gauna picked up one for 22, while at least we had the satisfaction of sending Roger Barrett back without troubling the scorers. Steve Gower had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes leaking away, though nobody begrudges him that on such a pitch.

Paul Brattle now leads our season's run charts with 109, Tony Gauna the wickets with 11 — proof there's genuine class in this side, even on days like this. Beaten, not disgraced. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 27 Aug 1973 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDLDLL

The road to Bearsted on a fine August Monday, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — theirs to bat, ours to toil. Toil we did, though not without reward: Allan Cooper bowled with real heart for 3-64, Jon Harris chipped away with 2-14, and Nigel Thirkell was miserliness personified, 2-23 with three maidens to his name. We even had them 7-1 at one point, before Colin Fleetwood (44), Brian Burnett (31) and an unbeaten 25 from Chris Collett steadied things and carried Bearsted to 184/9 from their 47 overs — a total that felt just about gettable over the teas.

It wasn't to be. Eight on the board and we'd already lost a man, which is no way to settle the nerves, though Benny Bell (39) and Nigel Thirkell (25) put together a fifth-wicket stand of 63 that briefly had us dreaming. Jon Harris chipped in unbeaten on 24, and I'll modestly note my own 24 among the runs, but Paul Brattle and Colin Dicker both departed for golden ducks and we folded for 148 in 48.5 overs. Benny Bell's afternoon behind the stumps was a workout too — 20 byes tells its own story.

A silver lining: Allan Cooper's three wickets nudge him past Jack Fryer into 23rd on the club's all-time list, and Nigel Thirkell and Jon Harris continue to lead the season's run and wicket charts respectively. But 36 runs is 36 runs — not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 26 Aug 1973 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLDLDL

Sunday last took us out on the road again, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scoreboard eventually said. Nigel Thirkell led the way with a fine 36, Benny Bell chipping in an equally handsome 31, while the extras column did its bit with 26 — practically an opening partnership in itself. Poor Paul Brattle endured the long walk back for nought, the sort of afternoon best forgotten over a pint, and we were all out for 155 in 44.2 overs — respectable, if not quite the fortress we'd hoped for.

In the field we set about defending it with real purpose. Jon Harris was magnificent, 4 for 30 with five maidens thrown in for good measure, ably backed up by Tony Gauna's 3 for 62 and Dick Langridge's tidy 2 for 1. F-H- Ames top-scored with 26 for the opposition, well supported by J- Smith and C- Breed, while W- Jeanes joined Brattle in the duck club. I managed four wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for weeks to come, though poor Cliff Anscombe had a torrid time behind the stumps, 16 byes conceded.

There was real cause for celebration too: Benny Bell brought up 1,000 runs for the club, and Jon Harris's four wickets carried him past Ray Howard and into 17th on our all-time list. Nigel Thirkell still leads the 1973 run charts on 459, Jon the wickets on 55. But the opposition held on for a 23-run win. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 25 Aug 1973 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLDLD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 25 August 1973. We had the visitors round for what turned out to be a rather lopsided affair, though not, alas, in the direction we'd have liked.

Winning the toss, I sent us out with the ball first, and for a while it looked rather promising — Nigel Thirkell was in exceptional form, scything through the top order for 4-22, well backed up by Jon Harris with 4-32 and John Thirkell chipping in with 1-10. Terry Donovan, meanwhile, bowled with the sort of miserly discipline that has opposing batsmen muttering into their tea, four maidens and barely a run to be had. J. Beesley, R. Moon and W. Summerfield all went back to the pavilion without so much as a whisper on the scoreboard, and only B. Mitchell's 29 kept the total respectable. All out for 96 in 39.5 overs — a fine morning's work with the ball, and a spot of housekeeping too, as Jon Harris's four scalps eased him past Herbert Rayner into 18th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list.

Chasing 97 should have been a formality, and to be fair it very nearly was — Tim Thirkell batted with real assurance for an unbeaten 52, ushered along by Ken Webb's unbeaten 25, and we reached 97/2 in 20.4 overs. And yet somehow, gallingly, we contrived to lose by 8 wickets — the sort of scoreline that makes you check the maths twice before accepting the arithmetic isn't on our side today. Heads up, lads. Back to the nets.

Wed 22 Aug 1973 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLLDLL

Wednesday 22 August 1973, and off we trundled to Gravesend, where the coin did us the courtesy of landing right side up. I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and it proved a shrewd if unspectacular piece of captaincy — the sort even I can't take too much credit for.

Rutherford was the man of the moment, compiling a handsome 59 while the rest of us fussed about at the other end. Trevor Back chipped in with a solid 38 and R. Philips added a tidy 28, the innings rolling on to a thoroughly respectable 201 for 6 off our 46 overs. Not fireworks, but enough runs to make Gravesend's afternoon distinctly uncomfortable.

And uncomfortable it duly became. Whatever fielding restrictions we'd suffered with the bat, we more than made up for with the ball, bowling them out for a scarcely believable 70 in just 27.1 overs. S. Studd departed without troubling the scorers, and from there it was largely one man's afternoon — Michael Chambers, bowling with the miserly discipline of a man counting his own pennies, sent down six maidens on his way to a staggering 7 for 30. Allan Cooper mopped up with 2 for 31 and Mick Brown got in on the act with 1 for 0, presumably before anyone else could get near the ball.

A win by 131 runs, then — two points banked, and Chambers now up to fourth in the season's wicket-takers with seven scalps, chasing Brattle's 80 runs at the top of the tree. Gravesend, I suspect, will not be requesting a rematch any time soon.

Sun 19 Aug 1973 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformDLLDL

Sunday 19 August 1973. The Mote CC visited Linton Park, I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my record with the coin remains a national disgrace — and we were sent into the field.

The Mote batted through their 48 overs to close on 179/8, built chiefly around B. Lewis's well-made 71 and a fine half-century from J.N. Shepherd (64), the pair putting bat to ball with a fluency the rest of us could only admire from a respectful distance. Credit to the lads for hauling things back: Allan Cooper bowled beautifully for 4-41, four maidens included — not a run given away lightly — with Tony Gauna chipping in a lively 3-36 alongside him. Between them they kept a strong total from becoming an alarming one.

Chasing 180, we mustered 121/8 from our 50, never quite finding the rhythm. Benny Bell's unbeaten 23 was the innings' backbone, well supported by Paul Brattle's 20, while poor Mike Iliffe and, earlier, Ron McCormick and Nigel Bett all trudged back without troubling the scorers — a hard afternoon for the top order. Eleven byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Cliff Anscombe, bless him.

One bright footnote: Tony Gauna's three wickets carried him past Jack Fryer into 22nd on the club's all-time list, and he now sits third in this season's wicket charts with 24, while Nigel Thirkell continues to lead the run-scoring with 423.

Honours shared, then — a draw that flattered nobody and offended nobody, which in village cricket terms is really rather diplomatic.

Sat 18 Aug 1973 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformLDLLD

Saturday 18 August 1973 saw Bobbing Court CC visit us, and having called correctly at the toss I opted to bat — sound thinking at the time, less sound by close of play. Seventy-one all out in 35.1 overs is not the stuff of legend, and the Duck Club ledger did brisk business: Paul Brattle, Nigel Thirkell and Colin Dicker all took that long, lonely walk back for nought, quacks ringing in their ears. A modest total, and we knew it.

Still, cricket is a funny old game, and for a while it looked as though we might defend even that. It wasn't to be. Denis Fowle played the innings of the afternoon, 39 not out of watchful, unhurried batting, with Damien Hudson doing the supporting work in style for 32 not out, and between them they saw Bobbing Court home to 74/1 in just 22.4 overs. Terry Donovan was the one bright spark with the ball — 1-34 and two maidens, giving away nothing he didn't have to, a lone voice of resistance in an otherwise one-sided afternoon.

Beaten by nine wickets, then, and no dressing it up as anything else. Tim Thirkell's 354 runs keep him third in the season's charts, which is some consolation on a day when the rest of us contributed rather less to the cause. We'll regroup, we'll bat with a bit more conviction next week, and we'll be better for it.

Wed 15 Aug 1973 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDLLDL

It was a gentle summer's evening for it – Wednesday the fifteenth of August, and having won the toss I saw no earthly reason not to have first use of the wicket. It was, in hindsight, a decision I stand by more firmly than our batting merited it.

We limped to 128 for 9 off 39.4 overs, a total that flattered to deceive. Phil Hickman's 33 and Cliff Anscombe's 31 gave the innings some backbone, with Paul Brattle chipping in a handy 21, but the scorebook makes for grim reading elsewhere – three ducks, courtesy of Paul Bowles, Brian Piper and Trevor Back, rather undid the good work.

With the ball we fought harder than the target suggested we might. Trevor Back was magnificent, 3 for 33 with four maidens to boot, ably backed up by John Thirkell and Paul Bowles with a wicket apiece, and we did at least have the satisfaction of seeing off D- Drysdale without troubling the scorers. But D- Tolhurst had other ideas, compiling a chanceless 62 not out, well supported by Steve Gower's 25, and they eased home on 130 for 5 with overs to spare. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes leaking away like the light on a August evening.

One bright note amid the gloom: Paul Bowles brought up 300 career wickets, a landmark worth raising a glass to even in defeat.

A five-wicket loss, then, and no arguing with it. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sun 12 Aug 1973 🧢 1st XIv SC Sibton Park CC · HomeformWLDLL

Sunday 12th August 1973, Sibton Park at home, and for once the coin obliged me — I called it right and had no hesitation in batting first, a decision I'm rather pleased to take credit for. The lads set about their work steadily rather than spectacularly, closing on 158 for 8 from our 47 overs. Nigel Thirkell led the way with a fine 39, Paul Brattle chipped in handsomely with 38, and brother Tim Thirkell added a useful 23 — a proper family effort, if I may say so.

Out in the field, we set about defending that total with more discipline than our batting had perhaps suggested we owned. Sibton Park battled to 104 for 7 from their 42 overs, R. Arnold the chief resistance with 37 and Geoff Kirk lending support with 20, but it was Allan Cooper who did the real damage — 3 for 15, four of his overs maidens, bowling with the kind of miserliness that has visiting batsmen muttering into their tea. Tony Gauna (2-19) and Jon Harris (1-16) tidied up admirably around him. Worth noting, too, that Cooper's three scalps carried him past Graham Mountford and into 25th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a small piece of history quietly made on a Sunday afternoon.

In the end neither side could quite force the issue, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the crowning glory some might have hoped for, but with Cooper's parsimony and the Thirkell family industry on show, a thoroughly creditable afternoon's cricket all the same.

Sat 11 Aug 1973 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDWLDL

As the toss-losing chasers who then batted first — wait, no, let me just write the report using the facts as given.

Given at Headcorn CC on our home strip, we lost the toss and were asked to bowl first, which at least spared me the walk out to bat before lunch had gone down properly.

Headcorn made themselves thoroughly at home, closing on 192 all out from 46.3 overs. G Wickens played the innings of the day with a well-crafted 58, and got no shortage of company from R. Groombridge (31) and John Phipps (31) — the sort of middle-order graft that turns a decent score into a daunting one. There was a crumb of comfort when Robert Westrop walked back for a duck at our hands, and the bowling had genuine bright spots: Nigel Thirkell was pick of the attack with 3-52, Jon Harris chipped in admirably with 3-63, and Paul Croucher tidied things up with 1-10. I even managed three wickets myself, which felt rather marvellous at the time.

What followed with the bat, I shall describe charitably as brief. Thirty-eight all out in 20.1 overs is not a total one dwells on with any fondness, and the Duck Club ledger swelled nicely — Nigel Thirkell, Colin Dicker and Paul Croucher all making that grim walk for nought. Ten byes besides told their own story of a testing afternoon behind the stumps.

Beaten by 154 runs, then — a proper walloping, no dressing it up. Paul Brattle continues to hold his own in second in the season's run charts, and Jon Harris leads the wicket-takers, so not all is bleak. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 08 Aug 1973 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sennocke CC · AwayformWDLLD

Beaten before we started, some might say – the coin let us down again on Wednesday, and Sennocke elected to bat on what looked a good, flat one at their place. Whalton settled in for 38, Tapper chipped in with 24 and Brant with 23, and for a while it threatened to run away from us. But Trevor Back had other ideas, steaming in for five wickets – five maidens too, not a run given away lightly – with Tony Gauna chiming in with three of his own to peg them back to 155 for 8 off their 46.5 overs.

Sadly we couldn't do it justice with the bat. Ninety all out in 39 overs is not the stuff of gazette legend, though Alan Cradduck's 31 was a lone flag planted on an otherwise bare card. Brian Piper and Tony Gauna both fell without troubling the scorers – two ducks for the price of one, which even by our modest standards takes some doing.

There was, at least, a footnote worth raising a teacup to: Tony Gauna's three wickets nudged him past Robert Wood into 23rd on the club's all-time list, and he continues to lead our 1973 Midweek XI wicket charts with ten, while Trevor Back sits proudly fifth in the run charts. Small mercies, in a 65-run defeat. We'll dust ourselves off and be better for it next week.

Sat 04 Aug 1973 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLDWLD

1973 was a different Saturday altogether, at a ground the notebook has since forgotten the name of, but the cricket I remember well enough.

Put into the field first, we watched the opposition build a total with more patience than we'd have liked: 189 for 7 off their 48 overs, built on the back of two well-made fifties from P. Gardner (55) and A. Stuckey (54), with J. Golding chipping in 32. Marston, mercifully for us, went for a duck. The bowling had its moments of real class — Jon Harris toiled away for a fine 3-65, Colin Dicker was tidy and incisive with 2-10, and Terry Donovan picked up 1-42. I even found a bit of rhythm myself, snaring three, which at my age counts as a personal triumph.

Chasing 190, we gave it a proper go. Gordon Dent batted beautifully for an unbeaten 47, Nigel Thirkell matched him almost run for run with 46, and John Ames weighed in with 29. We finished on 190 for 7 from 36.4 overs — heartbreakingly, agonisingly three wickets short of getting there ourselves.

There was, at least, one moment to raise a warm cup of tea to: Tim Thirkell brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth far more than the result. Nigel continues to lead our 1973 run charts with 371, and Jon Harris tops the wicket pile with 43 — the engine room of the side, both of them.

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

Sun 29 Jul 1973 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDLDWL

Sunday 29th July, and the road took us to The Mote CC in cautiously optimistic spirits. Winning the toss, I had few doubts about our course of action, and asked the lads to bat first — a decision that paid off handsomely thanks to Paul Brattle, whose 83 was the innings of the day and dragged us to a highly respectable 171/6 off 46.4 overs. Robert Chance (26) and Paul Bowles (23) played their supporting roles nicely, though poor Tim Thirkell will want to forget his golden duck in a hurry.

With the ball, we set about defending the total, and for long stretches looked the likelier winners. Tony Gauna was magnificent, prising out three for 22 with four maidens that strangled any momentum The Mote tried to build, while Nigel Thirkell (2-29) and Paul Bowles (2-57) chipped in handsomely — Bowles enjoying a fine all-round day. M Austin departed for nought at our hands, but K Emmett (46), C Ash (28) and John Reader (26) steadied their ship enough to see them home to 148/7 and a share of the spoils.

Honourable mention to the record books: Robert Chance's runs nudged him past Tony Levick into 17th on the club's all-time run charts, while Tony Gauna's wickets took him past Graham Mountford into 24th among our leading wicket-takers — both quietly climbing the pantheon while the rest of us just try to hold our catches.

A draw, then — honest toil rewarded with honours shared, and nobody quite able to land the killer blow. Frustrating, perhaps, but there are worse ways to spend a Sunday than watching Brattle bat and Gauna bowl.

Sat 28 Jul 1973 🧢 1st XIv SC Sibton Park CC · AwayformDDLDW

Saturday 28 July 1973 saw us make the trip to Sibton Park CC, and having called correctly for once in my captaincy, I decided we should have first use of a pitch that looked, in hindsight, rather friendlier to the bowlers than I'd bargained for.

We were bowled out for 106 in 39.5 overs, which tells its own sorry tale. Tim Thirkell batted beautifully for an unbeaten 42, and Mike Iliffe chipped in with a handy 21, but around them the innings rather fell away, with Colin Dicker and Charlie Le Milliere both departing for golden ducks. It was, in short, the kind of batting effort that leaves a captain studying his tea very intently.

With the ball, though, we at least gave a good account of ourselves. Nigel Thirkell was the pick of the attack, snaring 2-25, while Ron Hickman toiled away superbly for 1-39, including four maidens that gave nothing away cheaply. We did have Eric Impett back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, but Sibton's Colin Clark had other ideas, sailing to an unbeaten 65 with sound support from D. Keeler's unbeaten 24, and they reeled in 107/3 in just 27.5 overs to see the game out in some comfort.

For the record, Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our 1973 run charts with 325 and sits second in the wicket-takers with 28 — a rare bright spot on an otherwise chastening afternoon.

Not our day, then — beaten by seven wickets, and it's heads up and back to the nets for the lot of us.

Wed 25 Jul 1973 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformLDDLD

Wednesday 25th July found us on the road to Hollingbourne, a fixture I always relish for reasons that have as much to do with their tea urn as their bowling attack. I won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever certain members of the committee muttered from the boundary.

Runs proved hard-won on a pitch with a mind of its own, and 79/3 from our sixteen overs was scrapped for rather than strolled to, Sam Simmonds leading the way with a tidy 20. It never looked like a match-winning total, and I confess I spent the tea interval doing sums that didn't add up in our favour.

Hollingbourne set about the chase with Ian Hammond doing the damage — 22 priceless runs — but the rest of their order found the going stickier than they'd have liked. Alan Cradduck was magnificent, 3-15 of pure discipline, backed superbly by Ron Hickman's 3-20 and a wicket apiece for Jon Harris. A duck for Andrew Hales, credited to X Giles, was one of several small mercies that kept us in it to the last.

In the end we squeaked home by three runs — the sort of win that ages a captain but delights him in equal measure. Two points, thoroughly earned, and proof once again that in this game it's not the runs you have, but the nerve you keep.

Tue 24 Jul 1973 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLWDLL

It was a stalemate at Linton Park, but by heavens it was a well-earned one.

Winning the toss on a fine Tuesday, I had no hesitation in sending us in — and the lads didn't let me down. We posted a healthy 176 for 8 off our 40 overs, built around a lovely fifty from Steve Gower (56), who continues to bat like a man with something to prove, and sturdy support from Paul Brattle (45). Between them they did most of the heavy lifting while the rest of us contributed the odd useful nudge and, doubtless, one or two rash swishes best left undiscussed.

In the field we started like men possessed. John Lambert steamed in for a splendid 3 for 25, Trevor Back chipped away with 2 for 16, and Tony Gauna bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding his allotment — 2 for 23 including three maidens, not a run given away lightly. Caldow and Gamwell departed without troubling the scorers, and for a while it looked like the game was ours. But T. Tottey (35) and D. Kiley, unbeaten on 33, dug in wonderfully and steered the opposition to 102 for 7, just enough to deny us.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact. Small consolation on the mantelpiece: Tony Gauna's efforts nudged him past Brian Fuller into 25th on the club's all-time wicket list, and he now sits second in our season's bowling charts behind only Steve Gower's bat. Not victory, but no disgrace either — a proper afternoon of cricket, and we'll take it.

Sun 22 Jul 1973 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · AwayformDLDDL

The road to Sevenoaks Vine on a Sunday in July, and the coin let us down as usual — put in to bat, they set about building something respectable while we made do with leather in hand. 176 for 9 from their 49 overs told the story fairly: Rodney Crang batted beautifully for 96, well past his fifty, with Phil Dew chipping in 24, while at the other end Valentine, Ian Haffenden and Paul Bowles all trudged off for ducks at our hands. Tony Gauna was the chief tormentor with 4 for 35, Jon Harris (2-17) and Paul Bowles (2-52) lending fine support, and Allan Cooper, five maidens to his name, bowled as if the boundary rope had personally offended him.

Chasing 177, we never quite got the legs under us, closing on 119 for 8 from our 46 — Robert Chance's 35 the innings' backbone, Ken Webb's 26 useful company alongside him. Poor Cliff Anscombe had a Sunday to forget, a duck with the bat and fifteen byes conceded behind the stumps, though I daresay he'll laugh about it by Wednesday nets.

Happier news amid the toil: Paul Brattle brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Allan Cooper's solitary wicket eased him past Brian Fuller into 25th on our all-time list. Nigel Thirkell (320) and Jon Harris (39) continue to lead the season's run and wicket charts respectively.

Honours shared, then — a draw that flattered nobody and disappointed nobody. We live to fight another Sunday.

Sat 21 Jul 1973 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLDLDD

Saturday 21 July 1973

Winning the toss on a day that felt made for batting, there was never really a decision to make — we were bowling nowhere near it, and in we went to bat.

What followed was as good an afternoon as this diary is likely to record. Gordon Dent, playing with the sort of unhurried authority that makes the rest of us look faintly ridiculous, cruised to 89 not out, while Paul Brattle matched him stroke for sensible stroke with an unbeaten 65. Basil Sears chipped in with 22, and by the time we declared our efforts closed at 206/2 from 39 overs, the tea urn was the only thing under more pressure than the opposition.

If batting was the easy part, what came with the ball was the stuff of daydreams. Nigel Thirkell was simply relentless — 4-21 with six maidens, bowling as if the boundary rope had personally offended him — while Jon Harris matched him wicket for wicket with 4-23, and Colin Dicker mopped up with 2-15. Even the skipper found some form, snaffling four for good measure. B. Woodcock's defiant 32 was about the only resistance offered before the innings folded for 89 in 39.3 overs.

A thumping 117-run win, then, and precious little to fault. Thirkell continues to top our season's run charts and Harris the wickets — form the rest of us can only admire from a respectful distance. A thoroughly happy day at the office; more of the same, please.

Sun 15 Jul 1973 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLLDLD

Sunday 15 July found us hosting Folkestone CC, and the coin, as is so often the case, did not smile on your captain — they won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock. Not that I'd have fancied our chances of subtlety in the field for long, but off we went regardless. Kirby set about us for a brisk 43, with Sumpter (38) and McMillan (30) keeping the scoreboard ticking, and by the close of their 55 overs they'd posted a healthy-looking 192 for 6. Credit where it's due: Brian Fuller was superb, tying up 3 for 44, Dick Langridge chipped in with 2 for 41, and Jon Harris bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the tea urn — six maidens and 1 for 96 tell only half the tale of how hard he made them work for every run.

With 193 to chase, our reply never quite found its rhythm. Tim Thirkell battled hard for a fine 30, ably supported by Dick Langridge's unbeaten 20, but wickets fell around them and we limped to 86 for 7 from our 48 overs. Poor Stan Wratten and Paul Brattle will be keener than most to forget their contributions, both departing for ducks.

So a draw it was — honours shared, pride largely intact, and the tea, I'm reliably informed, was rather good. Given the position we found ourselves in, I'll happily take it.

Wed 11 Jul 1973 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformDLWDL

Wednesday 11 July 1973, and Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC rolled up as our guests. I lost the toss – some things never change – and duly found myself and the lads out in the field while the visitors padded up in the sunshine.

They batted with a good deal more application than we'd have liked, closing on 154/6 from their 45 overs. G. Durdant-Hollamby led the charge with a fluent 36, well supported by P. Baxter's 33 and Taylor's 28. Credit where it's due: Tony Gauna bowled beautifully for 3-46, A. Day chipped in with 2-31, and John Lambert was maddeningly economical, 1-27 with six maidens to his name – the sort of spell that has batsmen muttering into their gloves. Poor E. Fleming departed without so much as a run to console himself with.

Chasing 155, we never quite got going, bundled out for 98 in 34.2 overs. Brian Piper battled hard for his top score of 28, but wickets fell around him with grim regularity. Jim Hall, meanwhile, had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, shipping eight byes – the sort of thing that gives a keeper nightmares involving flying bails.

Piper's knock keeps him third in the season's run charts, and Gauna's effort nudges him to second among the wicket-takers, so all is not entirely gloomy on the horizon. But there's no dressing up a 56-run defeat. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets – Sevenoaks had the better of us fair and square.

Sun 08 Jul 1973 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLLLDL

Sunday 08 July 1973, and we welcomed Aylesford Paper Mills CC to Linton Park under skies that, for once, cooperated. Lost the toss, asked to field first — never the news you want over breakfast, but the lads shrugged and got on with it. Aylesford ground their way to 174/9 from 48 overs, John Atkins the chief architect with 41, Geoff Crane (28) and Terry Parker (26) lending sturdy support. We did claim a couple of cheap consolations, with Bobby Brigden and Richard Wood both departing for ducks at our hands. But the story with the ball belonged to Jon Harris, who turned it square all afternoon for a magnificent 5-69, while Tony Gauna (1-19, four maidens of pure parsimony) and Nigel Thirkell (1-25) chipped away dutifully at the other end.

Chasing 175, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite threatening the target, closing on 100/7 from our 46 overs. Paul Bowles top-scored handsomely with 37, Paul Brattle chipped in with 21, though poor Cliff Anscombe's golden duck rather summed up the top order's luck on the day.

And a word for your captain, who managed 5 wickets with the ball — the sort of afternoon one dines out on for weeks, whatever the modesty demands.

With honours shared and neither side able to force the issue, it was a draw that flattered no one and disappointed no one — Jon Harris's wickets and Nigel Thirkell's runs keep ticking along nicely for the season, and Linton Park lives to fight another Sunday.

Sat 07 Jul 1973 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLLD

Saturday 7th July, and Linton Park welcomed visitors under skies that promised more than the pitch delivered. I called correctly and, ever the optimist, stuck us in — a decision I was already reconsidering by the tenth over.

Thirty-six all out in 21 overs is not a total you build a chapter around, though Mike Iliffe's 22 at least gave the scorebook something to smile about, standing rather lonely amid the wreckage. Paul Brattle, Basil Sears and Benny Bell all fell without troubling the scorers — three ducks in one innings being the sort of hat-trick no club wants, and I include myself in the tale of woe, having contributed a duck of my own with the bat that I'd rather not dwell on further.

With 36 to defend, we knew it was a night for miracles rather than magic, and none arrived. Jon Harris toiled manfully for 1-20, but the visitors cruised to 37/1 in a mere eight overs, P. Dixon unbeaten on 21, and that, as they say, was that — beaten by nine wickets with barely a bead of sweat raised on their brow.

Small mercies: Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our season's run charts with 294, and Jon Harris tops the wicket-takers with 27, so all is not lost for 1973. As for Saturday — a chastening afternoon, honestly reported, and one from which we can only improve.

Thu 05 Jul 1973 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformLLLLL

Thursday 05 July 1973 — Captain's Log, Linton Park CC away at Hollingbourne.

Won the toss, elected to bat, and I'll stand by that decision even now with the kettle on and the pads off. Eight overs is a brisk innings by anyone's standards, and 53/5 felt about right for the conditions — M. Pullen led the way with a well-crafted 23, Sam Simmonds chipping in gamely with 22 alongside him. Not every man's afternoon went to plan, mind: Allan Cooper's walk back to the pavilion for a duck was met with the traditional sympathetic silence and, I suspect, one or two suppressed grins.

In the field we set about defending our modest total, and the lads did us proud — Hollingbourne's innings simply never got going, closing on none all out. Quite how one accounts for that in the scorebook I'm not entirely sure, but I shan't be the one to question a good day's bowling. As for your correspondent's own contribution with the bat, the less said the better — a duck to match Cooper's, and a long, quiet walk of my own.

Elsewhere in the season's affairs, Tim Thirkell continues his fine form, sitting third in the 1st XI run charts with 194 to his name — a beacon of competence amid the general chaos.

In the end honours were shared, neither side able to force the issue. A draw, then — and on a day like this, perhaps the fairest result of all.

Wed 04 Jul 1973 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDDLWD

Beaten by 8 wickets on 4 July, but we shan't dwell on it.

I won the toss and, in a rare fit of confidence, chose to bat — a decision I stand by, even if the scorebook now reads a slightly modest 123 all out from 36.5 overs. Jon Harris led the way with a fine 33, well supported by Gordon Dent's 30, while poor Cliff Anscombe walked back for a golden duck, the sort of dismissal that earns you a sympathetic pint rather than a round of applause.

Defending 123 was always going to ask a lot, and so it proved. The visitors reached 124 for 2 in 25.4 overs, B Fairall the chief architect with a composed 47, K Stapley (35 not out) and T Smith (33 not out) seeing them home in some comfort. It wasn't for want of trying with the ball — Tony Gauna toiled hard for his 2-38, and Nigel Thirkell was positively parsimonious, sending down two maidens without conceding a run to speak of. I chipped in with 33 of my own, for what little consolation that offered.

There was, at least, one moment worth raising a glass to: Tony Gauna brought up his 100th career wicket, a landmark that deserves rather more fanfare than the result allowed. He now sits second in our 1973 Midweek XI wicket charts, with Nigel Thirkell topping the run charts on 57.

All told, a chastening afternoon, but the lads competed honestly and there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 01 Jul 1973 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformLLLLL

It was Sevenoaks Vine CC at home on Sunday, and I lost the toss again — a run now stretching long enough that I'm starting to suspect the coin. They chose to bat, and on a fair pitch they ground their way to 175/8 from 51 overs, John Odell anchoring things with a handsome 57, well supported by Paul Downton's 29 and George Downton's 27. Allan Cooper was the pick of the attack, tidy and probing for 3-31 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — a spell miserly enough to make the batsmen visibly wish they'd stayed in the pavilion. Tony Gauna (2-44) and Nigel Thirkell (1-20) chipped in nicely alongside him.

Chasing 176, we never quite found our rhythm. Tim Thirkell battled to 38, Paul Bowles added a useful 29 and Robert Chance 25, but wickets fell at the other end with alarming regularity — Dick Langridge and Colin Dicker both departed for golden ducks, which is never a pleasant sight from the pavilion. I did what I could with 22, but we folded for 161 in 40.4 overs, fourteen runs shy of the target.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: Allan Cooper's three wickets nudged him past Brian Fuller into 25th on the club's all-time list, a landmark worth raising a glass to even in defeat. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our run charts this summer with 291, and Jon Harris tops the wicket-takers with 26.

Not our day, then — beaten by fourteen runs and left to reflect on chances not taken. Back to the nets it is.

Sat 30 Jun 1973 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLLLL

From the captain's chair, Saturday 30 June 1973 — they were the visitors, and I called correctly at the toss. Batting looked the sensible option, and so it proved, up to a point: 192 all out from 41.2 overs was a fair total, built handsomely around Nigel Thirkell's well-made 84, with Jim Hall (37) and Charlie Le Milliere (31) chipping in nicely. Less gloriously, Paul Brattle, Mike Iliffe and Gordon Dent all took that lonely walk back for nought — the Duck Club ledger swelling by three in one afternoon. 🦆

With the ball, the lads were magnificent. They were bowled out for 101 in 41.2 overs, D- Pound (33) and B- Seager (26) offering the only real resistance. Nigel Thirkell was quite unplayable, turning his arm over for 5-5 with six maidens to boot, while Jon Harris (4-44) and Brian Fuller (1-31) mopped up the rest. As for the skipper — a golden blob with the bat, out without troubling the scorers, though I redeemed myself somewhat with four wickets. A captain ought to lead from the front; on this occasion I merely led from somewhere near the back, but got there in the end.

A word too for Tim Thirkell, who brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours 🧢 — a fine landmark on any day. Nigel Thirkell now sits atop the season's run charts with 281, and Jon Harris leads the wickets with 25.

For all that, it wasn't our day — down by 91 runs. Heads up, lads; back to the nets.

Sun 24 Jun 1973 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWLLL

Sunday 24th June, 1973, and we welcomed the visitors to Linton Park with the sun out and, briefly, our confidence intact. Winning what passed for a toss decision, we put them in, and watched Gregor Hiscock compile a watchful 25 as the anchor of their innings. Credit where due — our attack scrapped hard throughout, Paul Bowles the pick with a fine 4-27, Allan Cooper matching him almost wicket for wicket with 4-31 and eight miserly maidens, and Tony Gauna chipping in with 2-21. R Barret departed without so much as a wobble on the scoreboard, and for all that discipline we had them back in the hutch for 116 off 47.2 overs — a total that, on paper, looked eminently gettable.

Paper, as ever, proved a poor substitute for application. Dick Langridge held things together with a gutsy 21, but around him the innings had the structural integrity of a garden shed in a gale — Bowles, Cooper and Colin Dicker all back for ducks, and the whole lot bundled out for 99 in 44.3 overs. Cliff Anscombe, meanwhile, had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, conceding 16 byes for his trouble.

There was a silver lining amid the wreckage: Allan Cooper's four wickets carried him past Brian Fuller into 25th on the club's all-time list, a fine personal landmark on an otherwise chastening day. Seventeen runs short in the end. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 23 Jun 1973 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · HomeformLDWLL

I hosted the touring side at Linton Park on Saturday, and I ought to have known it wasn't our day the moment the coin let me down — Hythe won the toss, chose to bat, and set about making themselves very much at home. R Apps compiled a splendid 97, with G-W- Cloke's 47 and P Sherington's 20 filling in the rest of a total that swelled to 208/7 from 48.4 overs. Jon Harris toiled magnificently for his 4-72, and Brian Fuller was the picture of parsimony, 2-47 with two maidens to show for his afternoon's honest labour — though poor Gordon Dent had a torrid time behind the stumps, 10 byes going begging past him like the Kent countryside slipping past a train window.

Our reply, I'm sorry to report, was over almost before the tea urn had boiled — 58 all out in 26.3 overs, with Basil Sears, Mike Iliffe and Paul Croucher all contributing that most humiliating of cricketing currencies, the golden duck. Three ducks in one innings is the sort of thing one doesn't so much bowl through as endure.

There was, at least, a silver lining for the skipper, who took 4 wickets of his own, and a proud footnote for Jon Harris, whose four scalps eased him past Stan Wratten into 19th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — he now leads our 1973 wicket charts with 21, with Tim Thirkell 4th among the run-scorers on 136.

Beaten by 150 runs, then — a proper hiding, no dressing it up. But these things sharpen the appetite, and we'll be considerably better for it next week.

Sun 17 Jun 1973 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformDLDWL

Beaten before we'd left the changing room, some might say, once Bobbing Court called correctly and stuck us in the field for the afternoon. We toiled honestly enough, and while Damien Hudson made merry with a fine 63 — well supported by John McLeod's 34 and C Robinson's 24 — we kept plugging away. Dick Langridge was the pick of the attack with 3-19, Allan Cooper chipped in 3-35 and bowled with a miser's discipline, five maidens and not a run given away lightly, and we even had Brian Best back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. All told, 157/6 from 47.4 overs felt like a total we could chase.

Reader, we could not. Ken Webb batted beautifully for his 63, and Allan Cooper (26) and Gordon Dent (20) did their bit to keep the innings afloat, but wickets fell around them with a regularity that would test the patience of a saint. Alan Cradduck and Tony Gauna both departed for golden ducks, and 127 all out in 43.4 overs was the sorry sum of our labours — thirty runs short in the end.

Ken Webb continues to bat like a man with somewhere else to be, and now leads our 1973 run charts with 271; Allan Cooper's all-round afternoon nudges him to fourth in the wicket-takers with eight for the season. As for the rest of us, we'll put it down to a testing pitch, a hot afternoon, and the general unreliability of the English top order. Beaten by thirty runs, chins up — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 16 Jun 1973 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWDLDW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 16 June 1973.

Won the toss, elected to bat — and I'll say it again for those at the back, because it was the right call. We rattled up 209 all out in 39.3 overs, with Nigel Thirkell playing the innings of the day, a fine 65, well supported by Paul Brattle and Tim Thirkell, 26 apiece. A total to be proud of, and one I felt gave us licence to enjoy ourselves in the field.

And enjoy ourselves we did. They folded for 97 in 39.4 overs, X Wright's 22 the only real resistance, while X Gardner, X Ginor and K Banfield all trudged off for ducks. Jon Harris was magnificent, 4-24, with Nigel Thirkell following his fifty with the ball too — 3-14 and five miserly maidens — and Brian Fuller chipping in with 2-15. Twenty byes, mind, told their own tale of a trying afternoon behind the stumps for poor Benny Bell, though I doubt he'll remember much else, having brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours. A landmark worth more than any scorebook entry.

I managed 23 with the bat and, rather pleased with myself, four wickets with the ball. A nod too to Mike Iliffe, whose 15 runs eased him past Bob Arnold into 20th on the club's all-time run charts — the ledgers of Linton cricket quietly rewritten while the tea urn boiled.

Final margin: 112 runs. A thoroughly satisfying day's work, and the nets can wait until Tuesday.

Sun 10 Jun 1973 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformLWDLD

It's a great day for the diary. Winning the toss on a Sunday like this, choosing to bat felt right, though 101 all out in 44.1 overs told its own story of graft rather than glory. Tim Thirkell held things together with a fighting 43, the sort of innings that papers over a good many cracks, while poor Jim Hall and Alan Cradduck will be quietly editing the scorebook in their memories — both back in the pavilion without troubling the arithmetic.

A hundred and one never looks like enough over the garden fence, but Sheldwich clearly hadn't read the script. Jon Harris was magnificent with the ball, 4 for 33 and full of menace, while Dick Langridge's miserly 2 for 1 suggested he'd simply decided nobody was scoring off him today. Tony Gauna toiled away for 2 for 38 but bowled six maidens in the process — not a run given away lightly, as they say, and I don't doubt a few Sheldwich batsmen left the crease more confused than dismissed. I managed four wickets myself, more by application than menace, and a- Mitchell, M- Sainsbury and J- White all departed for ducks of their own to help the cause. Sheldwich were bowled out for 88.

Nice, too, to see Jon Harris climb past Jack Fryer into 21st on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — the sort of milestone that only means anything to those of us who keep count, which is most of us.

Thirteen runs the margin, and not a run to spare. A proper club cricket victory: scrappy, hard-earned, and all the sweeter for it.

Sat 09 Jun 1973 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWLWDL

Saturday last saw Rumwood CC roll up to Linton Park under skies that, for once, behaved themselves, and I did the decent thing and had a look at the coin before electing to bat — the right call, as it turned out, and I'll take credit where it's due.

Ken Webb was in imperious touch, sailing past his fifty and on to 78, the sort of innings that makes the tea urn taste sweeter. Tim Thirkell chipped in a tidy 22 and Jim Hall 21, while poor Mike Iliffe was reminded that cricket is a cruel game, departing for a golden duck without so much as troubling the scorer. All told, 182/9 from our 49 overs — a total with enough about it to make the afternoon interesting.

And interesting it was. Rumwood battled hard, Keith Filmer unbeaten on 36 and Don Clayton chipping in 27, but they never quite got away from us. Jon Harris was magnificent, 4-41 with six maidens of pure miserliness, and in doing so crept past Robert Wood into 22nd on the club's all-time wicket list — a nice bit of history alongside the day's toil. Brian Fuller (2-31) and Terry Donovan (1-40) kept the pressure on, and I rather enjoyed helping myself to four wickets, which the captain's notebook will record with some satisfaction.

In the end 117/7 from their 48 overs left honours shared. A draw, then — no losers, but with Webb and Fuller both flying at the top of this season's charts, I'd call us the moral victors.

Tue 05 Jun 1973 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDDDLW

Tuesday last, and Linton Park welcomed our visitors in fine early-summer spirit, with the toss handing us first use of the ball — a decision that, for once, looked shrewd rather than lucky. The lads bowled with real discipline, none more so than Jon Harris, who simply ran riot, tearing through the order for 8-49 off a miserly spell studded with seven maidens — the sort of figures that get whispered about in the bar for weeks. Nigel Thirkell (1-14) and P. Hatt (1-47) chipped in dutifully around him, and the visitors were shot out for 134, with R. Walters, N. Drewett and J. Adams all departing without so much as a nudge to the scorers, B. Hoppe's 45 the lone real resistance.

Our reply was rather more nervy business, 129/9 from our 39 overs, and while Nigel Thirkell (41) and Ken Webb (29) built the innings with some care, the rest of us rather queued up to get out, Terry Donovan contributing his golden nothing to a collection that's becoming a fine little club tradition. So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could force it home — though with Harris's eight wickets now nudging him past Graham Mountford and into 23rd on the club's all-time list, there's rather more to celebrate than the result suggests.

A draw, then, but a proud one — bowled to the very edge of victory by a young man in irresistible form, and denied only by our own bat. We'll take it, and raise a glass to Harris on the way to the bar.

Mon 04 Jun 1973 🧢 1st XIv PC Primrose & Len CC · AwayformWWLWD

Down at Primrose & Len on a Bank Holiday afternoon in name only – Monday, 4th June, and not a bank holiday in sight, just eleven of us and a coin that let us down before a ball was bowled. They called it right, chose to bat, and duly set about reminding us why.

Fourteen brisk overs brought them 108 for 3, which on our small ground felt like a fair old total. X Morgan compiled a watchful 35 not out, with A Wright (28 not out) and J Allin (23) making sure the scoreboard never slept. Credit where due, though – Nigel Thirkell bowled beautifully for 1-26 and continues to lead our 1973 wicket charts with 10 to his name, while Terry Donovan chipped in with 1-43. M Marks and R Cross both departed without troubling the scorers, so it wasn't all one-way traffic.

Chasing 109, we never quite got out of second gear, bowled out for 72 in 13 overs. Alan Cradduck and Ron Hickman both fell for ducks, and nine byes crept through Gordon Dent's gloves – the sort of statistic that tells its own quiet, damp story. Ken Webb, sitting second in the season's run charts on 124, at least kept the top order respectable, but 36 runs short is 36 runs short.

Not our day, then. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets – there's work to be done before we're troubling anyone's coin toss again.

Sun 03 Jun 1973 🧢 Sunday NVKCv CC Crockham Hill CC · HomeformWWLWW

Sunday 3rd June, and we welcomed Crockham Hill CC to Linton Park under skies that promised more than they delivered — much like our batting, as it turned out. I won the toss and elected to bat, a decision I still stand by, whatever the scorebook might suggest to the contrary.

Eighty-one all out from thirty-five overs was, frankly, a modest effort, rescued from outright embarrassment only by Paul Brattle's gutsy 33. Beyond that, the Duck Club held its termly meeting in style — John Thirkell, Nigel Thirkell and Tim Thirkell all walked the plank for nought, a hat-trick of ducks that must be some sort of family record, and not the good kind. Your correspondent, in a show of solidarity, also made a duck. We shan't dwell on it.

In the field we scrapped hard without ever quite scrapping enough, Crockham Hill cruising to 86/4 in 27.1 overs. Nigel Thirkell led the attack manfully with 1-11, well supported by Jon Harris and Tony Gauna with a wicket apiece, while Ron Hickman bowled five miserly maidens for precious little reward. Poor Cliff Anscombe had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes finding their way past him. There was proper cause for cheer, though — Allan Cooper brought up his 100th career wicket, a landmark worth more than the result.

So, beaten by six wickets, heads bowed, back to the nets. Not our finest hour, but the Duck Club never lacks for new members.

Mon 28 May 1973 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLWWLW

Here is the report.

It was Bearsted CC at home on Monday, and having lost the toss for what feels like the umpteenth time this season, I once again handed them first use of a pitch that offered precious little to console us. They ground their way to 177/7 from their sixty overs, Derek Morgan the chief architect with an unbeaten 53, well supported by Colin Fleetwood's 45 and Anthony Newport's 29 — that fifth-wicket stand of 58 doing most of the damage. Credit to Nigel Thirkell, whose 3-43 kept us in the contest, with Tony Gauna and Paul Bowles chipping in two apiece; Bowles in particular bowled with real discipline, four maidens testament to a spell nobody fancied facing. S Byford, at least, departed for a golden duck, which counts as a small mercy on days like these.

Chasing 177 in our 46 overs, we lost John Thirkell cheaply at 8-1 and I confess the mood on the boundary turned distinctly nervous. But a second-wicket stand of 82 steadied the ship, and I'm rather pleased to say I found some form myself, carrying my bat for 89 not out — ably supported by Ken Webb's 43 and Cliff Anscombe's 34. Wickets tumbled in a rush from 159 to 177, with Jon Harris and Dick Langridge joining John Thirkell in the Duck Club, but we'd already done enough.

A proud day off the field too: Cliff Anscombe brought up 3,000 career runs and leapt past Terry Whittaker into tenth on the all-time list, while Nigel Thirkell reached his 50th career wicket. A draw, then — honours shared, and on the balance of milestones, a thoroughly satisfactory one.

Sun 27 May 1973 🧢 1st XIv PC Paddock Wood CC · HomeformDLWWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 27 May 1973, and Paddock Wood CC were our visitors on a day I shall be dining out on for weeks.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than merely stubborn. Ken Webb led the way with a fine 47, Nigel Thirkell played the sheet-anchor to perfection with 35 not out, and Paul Bowles chipped in a brisk 23 as we compiled a handsome 172 for 5 from our 41 overs. I even found my way to the crease long enough to scratch together 23 of my own, more by luck than technique.

Whatever total we'd set, I don't think any of us foresaw quite what followed. Tony Gauna, bowling like a man possessed, took 3 for 5 and was miserly enough to send down four maidens, while Colin Dicker (2-4) and Allan Cooper (2-8) tightened the noose from the other end. P. Crouch and K. Butler departed without troubling the scorers, and Paddock Wood were bowled out for a barely believable 53 in 29.2 overs.

Nigel continues to top our run charts for the season with 105, and Allan sits fourth among the wicket-takers with 5 — both thoroughly deserved.

A victory by 119 runs, then, and one to savour. A very good day for the club indeed.

Sat 26 May 1973 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDLWW

We were the visitors' hosts and had first use of the ball, and Brian Fuller made sure it was a leather-hunting afternoon well spent — 4-59 with three maidens thrown in, ably backed up by Terry Donovan (2-34) and Gordon Fenner (2-43). Even so, John Golding's well-crafted 71 kept them ticking along nicely, and 182 all out from 41.5 overs felt, at the time, like a target we might have a crack at.

We did not have a crack at it. Gordon Dent battled manfully for 25 — top score, and by some distance our only real resistance — while Gordon Fenner, Benny Bell and Terry Donovan each contributed a golden nothing to proceedings. As for the skipper, I can report a golden blob of my own; a captain is meant to lead by example, and on this occasion I led the retreat back to the pavilion rather smartly. Sixty-one all out in 31.3 overs was, in the cold light of day, simply not enough.

There was, at least, one item for the mantelpiece amid the wreckage: Brian Fuller's four wickets carried him past a hundred for his career, and past Allan Cooper into 25th on the club's all-time list — a fine achievement, even if his teammates rather let him down with the bat. He also leads our 1973 wicket charts with 8, while Gordon Dent tops the run charts with 73.

Beaten by 121 runs, then, and no way of dressing that up. But these things happen in club cricket, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 20 May 1973 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Addington Village CC · HomeformWWWLW

We won the toss on Sunday 20 May, and with the sun doing its best village-green impression, I had no hesitation putting Addington Village CC in the field. It proved the right call. Paul Brattle set about them with a fine 63, and once he'd done the heavy lifting, Jon Harris (45 not out) and Tim Thirkell (36 not out) steered us serenely to 188/6 from our 40 overs. Not every Thirkell had a day to remember, mind — John Thirkell's contribution was a duck, and he took the long walk back to a chorus of sympathetic silence.

My own innings lasted rather less time than it takes to describe it: nought, and the least said the better. A veil, as promised, shall be drawn.

With the ball, though, we were rampant. Addington subsided to 82 all out in 39 overs, with three of their number — J Mills, Peter Robinson and Richard Raye — failing to trouble the scorers at all. Ron Hickman was quite magnificent, 4 for 7 with three overs of pure miserliness thrown in for good measure, ably backed up by Jon Harris (3-20) and Benny Bell (1-5). It was also, incidentally, a landmark spell for Ron, who climbed past Michael Morton to 15th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — quietly building a season to remember, as he now leads our 1973 Sunday wicket charts with 8, while Paul Brattle tops the run charts with 105.

A 106-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — even if my own knock added nothing but comic relief.

Sat 19 May 1973 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLWDLW

Saturday 19 May 1973, and the road took us down to Headcorn CC — never an easy fixture, but a fine afternoon for it, and I'd like to say the toss-winning stroke was skill rather than the usual coin-based luck. Either way, I called it right, and with barely a flicker of thought I sent us in to bat.

It wasn't a day for fireworks, but it was a day for graft, and 147/8 off our 47 overs owed everything to Mike Iliffe, whose 42 was the innings' backbone, with Paul Bowles chipping in a tidy 29 alongside him. Not a total to have Headcorn quaking in their boots, admittedly, but enough, as it turned out, to be going on with.

And so to the bowling, where the lads were rather marvellous. Headcorn were bowled out for 135 in 34.4 overs, R. Young's watchful 29 and R. Hipkiss's 23 the only real resistance. Jon Harris was magnificent, tearing through with 4-33, Brian Fuller chipped away for 3-49, and Paul Bowles, not content with his runs, took 2-27 for good measure. I'll confess to a quiet satisfaction at bagging four wickets myself — the sort of day a captain dreams about and rarely gets.

Mike sits second in the season's run charts, Jon second among the wickets, and we ran out winners by 12 runs. A tight finish, a good toss, and a very good day indeed for Linton Park.

Mon 14 May 1973 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton Malherbe CC · HomeformDLWDL

A gloriously one-sided afternoon at home to Boughton Malherbe, and for once the toss actually went my way — I had no hesitation in putting the visitors in the field. Nigel Thirkell set about the bowling with real purpose, cruising past his fifty to finish on 59, with Paul Brattle chipping in a handy 35 alongside him as we posted a formidable 147/6 from our sixteen overs. Not everyone enjoyed the sunshine, mind — Ken Webb and Allan Cooper both made the long walk back for ducks, and I daresay there'll be quacking about it in the clubhouse for weeks.

Defending that sort of total is the kind of problem I don't mind having. Boughton Malherbe never got close, subsiding to 47/9 in their fifteen overs as Allan Cooper, clearly with something to prove after his own golden duck, tore through them with 3-12. John Thirkell and Nigel Thirkell mopped up further with 1-4 and 1-5 respectively, and X Morley, X Davidson and X Shersby all departed without troubling the scorers. I even contributed a watchful 18 with the bat, which for me passes as a triumph.

The real headline, though, was Jon Harris quietly bringing up his hundredth career wicket — a landmark worth far more applause than it got in the moment. With Nigel Thirkell now topping both our run and wicket charts for the season, and the side winning by a thumping 100 runs, this was as complete a two points as we're likely to bank all summer.

Sun 13 May 1973 🧢 Sunday NVKCv HC Harvel CC · HomeformWWWWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 13 May 1973. We hosted Harvel CC on what turned into one of those afternoons that reminds you why this game is worth the bother. The toss went against us, they chose to bat, and for a while it looked ominous only in the sense that batting first always looks ominous to a nervous fielding side. It didn't last. Hanks and Boorman were sent back without troubling the scorers, and Ron Hickman simply took the day by the scruff of the neck: 4-15, five of those overs maidens, not a run given away lightly. Nigel Thirkell (2-6) and Allan Cooper (2-9) tidied up what little was left, and Harvel were bowled out for 75 from 28.1 overs.

Chasing 76, we made harder work of it than the bowling perhaps deserved. Paul Brattle played the innings of the day, 42 well-made runs, while John Thirkell and your correspondent both fell for ducks of our own — I shall draw a discreet veil over mine. Cliff Anscombe had a trying afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes going astray, and 78/8 from 31.2 overs was nervier than the scoreline suggests. But we got there, by two wickets.

A note for the records: Ron Hickman's four wickets carried him past Ray Howard and into 16th on the club's all-time list, and he now leads our 1973 Sunday wicket charts as Paul Brattle leads the run charts. A scratchy chase, a golden spell of bowling, and two points banked. A good day for the club.

Sat 12 May 1973 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformLDLWD

Saturday the twelfth of May found us on the road to Rumwood CC, and having won the toss I opted to put them in — a decision that looked shrewder in the car park than it did three hours later. Terry Stevens gave us an object lesson in unhurried batting, ambling to a well-made 96, with Robin Venner's 46 and S. Simmonds' 21 filling in the gaps rather too comfortably for our liking. We did at least have Royston Moore's number, sending him back for a golden duck, and Nigel Thirkell was magnificent, plundering 5-40 to keep the total to a chaseable 186/6 off their 43.2 overs. Brian Fuller toiled away nobly for 1-34, including two maidens that the batsmen will not remember fondly.

Our reply had all the hallmarks of a proper Linton Park effort — promising, then wobbly, then promising again. Jon Harris led the way with 33, well supported by Alan Cradduck's 30 and Ken Webb's 24, while I contributed 33 of my own before doing something regrettable, as captains often do. Poor Brian Fuller, having bowled his heart out, fell for a duck with the bat — cricket's little cruelty. We were bowled out for 182 in 47.4 overs, four wickets and a fair few of our nerves short of the target.

Not our day, then, but not without its silver linings: Fuller's solitary wicket nudged him past Allan Cooper into 25th on the club's all-time list, Cradduck sits proudly atop the season's run charts, and Thirkell leads the wickets. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets.