🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 22 Sep 1974 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLLDDD

Sunday last saw Anchorians come to Linton Park, and for once the coin let me down before a ball was bowled — they won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first. It looked, for a good while, like being the sort of afternoon where the tea urn gets more of a workout than the scoreboard, as Ward (36) and Durbridge (35) put together the kind of watchful partnership that tests a captain's patience and his field placings in equal measure. Croker chipped in with 20, and between them they nudged Anchorians to 124 for 8 off their 44 overs — respectable, but not, I felt, insurmountable.

Credit where it's due: Tony Gauna was the pick of the attack with 2 for 23, Ron Hickman weighed in with 2 for 48, and my brother Nigel picked up a wicket too. Allan Cooper, meanwhile, bowled with the miserly discipline of a man who begrudges every run as if it were coming out of his own pocket — five maidens, not a boundary in sight.

With the target in view, Cliff Anscombe played the anchor role beautifully for 48, and Nigel rounded things off in style with an unbeaten 40 as we cruised home at 128 for 3 with overs to spare — I chipped in modestly along the way, happy enough just to see us over the line. A word too for Tony, whose two wickets nudged him up to 17th on the club's all-time list — quietly, deservedly earned.

All told: a solid team performance, seven wickets in hand, and a very pleasant walk back to the pavilion. A good day for the club.

Sun 15 Sep 1974 🧢 1st XIv MH Mersham Hatch · HomeformWLLDD

Sunday 15 September 1974, and Dummy Site were our visitors for what turned into one of those honourably indecisive afternoons club cricket does so well. I lost the toss — no shock there, my coin-calling remains a weakness rivalled only by my off-side driving — and we were put into the field.

They ground their way to 128 for 8 off 39 overs, built chiefly around A. Gosling's unbeaten 45 and useful support from F-H. Ames with 37. Nigel Thirkell was magnificent with the ball, 3 for 32 including five maidens that must have driven their middle order to distraction, while Paul Bowles chipped in with 3 for 44 and Terry Donovan took 2 for 4. I. Cloke and D. Bromley both departed without troubling the scorers.

With 128 to chase, we settled for 60 for 2 off our 23 overs, Paul Bowles top-scoring with 23 and Cliff Anscombe unbeaten on 21 — no great urgency in it, but no alarms either.

Two milestones worth raising a glass to: Cliff Anscombe brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a proper landmark of loyal service, and Terry Donovan's brace nudged him past Dick Langridge into 8th on the club's all-time wicket-taking list. Meanwhile Paul Brattle continues to lead our 1974 run charts on 612, with Nigel Thirkell now second among the season's wicket-takers on 66.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly, about right.

Sat 14 Sep 1974 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformDWLLD

Saturday 14th September saw us head to Southborough with the sun, remarkably, still cooperating. I won the toss and, against all instinct for a captain who usually can't call heads from tails, opted to bat first.

It proved the right call, up to a point. Gordon Dent played the innings of the day, a thoroughly well-made 68 that gave the rest of us something to hide behind, and I chipped in with 39 to keep the scoreboard honest, with Paul Brattle's 21 rounding things off nicely. We closed on 175/6 from our fifty overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but enough, we hoped, to make Southborough work for their tea.

And work they did, largely thanks to Gordon Baldwin, whose 82 was the innings of the match and rather more than we'd bargained for, ably assisted by Peter Young's 25. Ron Hickman was magnificent with the ball, four wickets for 37 and nine — nine! — maidens, bowling with the kind of miserly discipline that makes batsmen question their life choices, while Brian Fuller and Nigel Thirkell chipped in either side of him. Ron Kingsmill, mercifully for him, was gone before he could trouble the scorers.

In the end Southborough fell short at 140/7 from 44, and honours were shared. A draw, then — neither side quite able to land the killer blow, which felt about right for an afternoon of good cricket and better company.

Sat 31 Aug 1974 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · AwayformDDWLL

Saturday 31st August 1974 saw us take the road to Whitstable, and if you're after a tale of glorious conquest, best turn the page now — this one's a story of honest toil and a hard-earned handshake.

Lost the toss, put ourselves into the field, and watched Whitstable settle in for the long haul. Chris Nutt gave us a proper working-over with a well-crafted 60, and he had willing accomplices in S. Tritton (48) and Mike Tritton (31), the three of them steering the innings to 204 for 7 off their 51 overs. Small mercies came our way when Jim Long and Andy Parker both departed without troubling the scorers. With the ball, Nigel Thirkell was the pick of us by some distance — 3 for 86, four maidens to his name, proof that discipline can coexist with a bit of expense — and Jon Harris chipped in nicely with 2 for 70, Terry Donovan grafting away for his one.

Chasing 205 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved as we crawled to 120 for 6 from our 48 overs. Thirkell topped the order with 35, well supported by Robert Chance's 27, though poor Mike Iliffe's duck was a blot nobody needed on the card.

So, honours shared — a draw when neither side could force the issue. Not a classic for the scrapbook, but with Thirkell now second in our season's run charts and Harris leading the wickets, the engine room is clearly purring nicely. Onwards.

Wed 28 Aug 1974 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformDWWDD

As I stepped out for the toss on a fine Wednesday against Gravesend, fortune smiled and I had no hesitation in asking us to bat first — a decision that, for once, didn't come back to haunt me.

We laboured a touch for our 134 all out in 38 overs, though John Ames played the innings of the day with a handsome 54, ably supported by Cliff Anscombe's brisk 32. There was, it must be said, a rather unfortunate brace of ducks from Roland Parr and Jim Hall, the sort of thing best filed under "these things happen" and never spoken of again.

Whatever anxieties lingered over tea were swiftly dispelled once we took the field. Gravesend simply had no answer, subsiding to 59 all out in 38.3 overs, with M David, Mukul Lall and S Knott all shown the door without so much as a run to their names. Paul Bowles was quite magnificent, tearing through the order with 7 for 29, while Ron Hickman offered superb support, 3 for 20 built on nine miserly maidens — not a boundary given away lightly. Cliff Anscombe had a trickier time of it behind the stumps, ten byes going astray, though nobody was much minded to dwell on it given the scoreline. For my own part, I chipped in enough with bat and ball to keep the runs in the family, now sitting second in our Midweek XI charts, with Bowles rightly out in front with the ball.

A thumping 75-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards we go.

Mon 26 Aug 1974 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDDDWL

From the captain's chair — Monday 26 August 1974. We were away at Bearsted CC, and having lost the toss I was duly told to go and field, which at least spared my knees the early exertion of batting.

With ball in hand we made a decent fist of it. Bearsted crawled and occasionally galloped to 179/8 from their 48 overs, Colin Fleetwood the chief architect of our discomfort with a fine 59, well supported by Mick Filmer's 42 and Chris Collett's 41. We did claw back credit where we could — Anthony Hunt, Duncan Andrews and Mike Burton all trooped off for ducks, victims of an attack in fine fettle. Nigel Thirkell was the pick of the lot, 4-40 with six miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, and Tony Gauna chipped in with 4-74. Between them they did the damage that kept the total within reach.

Reach it we did not. Set 180 to win, we subsided to 123 all out in 37.5 overs, never quite finding the fluency the target demanded. Stan Wratten and Tim Thirkell both made useful 30s, and Jon Harris weighed in with 27, but wickets fell too steadily around them for the chase to gather any real momentum.

There was a personal footnote worth a mention over the tea urn: Nigel's four wickets nudged him past Herbert Rayner into 20th on the club's all-time list, a nice piece of history amid the gloom. But history butters no parsnips. Beaten by 56 runs. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Sun 25 Aug 1974 🧢 1st XIv MH Mersham Hatch · AwayformTDDDW

Sunday 25th August, and we made the trip out to Mersham Hatch with the sun on our side and, for once, a plan that actually worked. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'll happily take credit for — and the lads repaid the faith with a solid 206/9 from our fifty overs. Mike Iliffe was the architect, a fine 56 that anchored the innings, with Tim Thirkell weighing in with 38 and yours truly contributing a tidy 24. Not every name will want reminding of it, mind — a couple of ducks crept onto the card, the sort of thing best mentioned briefly and moved swiftly past.

In the field we gave a good account of ourselves without quite landing the killer blow. Terry Donovan bowled beautifully for his 4-54, well backed up by Jon Harris with 3-62, while young Nigel Thirkell kept things admirably tight with a couple of maidens. But 13 byes is a number that rather speaks for itself — a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Jim Hall, and one that, in a match decided by three wickets, we could ill afford. Mersham Hatch got themselves home at 207/7, C. Smith's 48 and C. Breed's unbeaten 42 doing the heavy lifting.

So, beaten by three wickets — the narrowest and most infuriating of margins. Plenty to be proud of, plenty to tidy up, and, as ever with this game, we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 24 Aug 1974 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformDTDDD

Saturday the 24th of August found Dummy Site as our visitors, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation in taking first use of the pitch — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or foolish by teatime, and I'm delighted to report it was the former. We laboured our way to 149 for 9 off 40.5 overs, Nigel Thirkell top-scoring with a fine 31, Paul Brattle chipping in 28, and Colin Dicker seeing us home unbeaten on 20. Less gloriously, both Benny Bell and Alan Cradduck contributed ducks to the scorebook, proof that even honorary reporters must record the bad with the good.

In the field we found our range early. The visitors were bowled out for 123 in 39.5 overs, M- Beckwith the chief resistance with 35, well supported by J- Kanagasingahm's 30, while B- Mitchell and Cusworth departed without troubling the scorers. The day, though, belonged unmistakably to Ron Hickman, whose 5 for 31 — seven miserly maidens included — was a spell of real quality, ably backed by Nigel Thirkell's 4 for 34 and a wicket for Jon Harris.

A word too for John Ames, whose 12 runs eased him past Stan Wratten into third on the club's all-time run-scorers list — history quietly made while the rest of us were watching the scoreboard. Brattle and Harris continue to lead our season's charts with bat and ball respectively.

Twenty-six runs the margin, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved.

Wed 21 Aug 1974 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformDDWWD

Wednesday, 21 August 1974, and the road took us to Gravesend. Winning the toss and electing to bat felt right at the time, and by the end of the day I'd stand by it — though the scorebook has a couple of blemishes I'd sooner not dwell on.

Jon Harris led the way with 36, and William Buck saw us home unbeaten on 26, but the middle order rather let the side down — Jim Hall and Ron Hickman both back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. Thank heavens for 29 extras, without which 174 all out from 42.4 overs would have looked considerably thinner.

With ball in hand, though, we were a different proposition. Ron Hickman was magnificent, 4 for 21, with Jon Harris (3-36, and four maidens of positively miserly intent) and William Buck (1-3) doing the tidying up around him. Only a fine, defiant 66 from D Azall kept Gravesend afloat, and 136 for 8 from their 43 overs meant honours finished shared.

Rather more than a match, in the end. Ron Hickman brought up 200 career wickets and leapfrogged George Champion into 14th on the club's all-time list — no small thing on a Wednesday in Kent. Jon Harris, meanwhile, continues to top both our run and wicket charts for the season, and doesn't look inclined to relinquish either.

A draw, then — but with Ron's milestone in the bag, I'd call it a highly satisfactory afternoon's work.

Sat 17 Aug 1974 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformLDTDD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 17 August 1974. We hosted Bobbing Court CC, and the coin did us the courtesy of landing my way; I had no hesitation in taking first knock, more in hope than strategy as it turned out.

It was not, I confess, a batting masterclass. We shuffled to 111 all out from 42.2 overs, rescued from something rather more embarrassing by Jim Hall's unbeaten 35 and Benny Bell's steady 27. Elsewhere the story was less flattering — Alan Cradduck, Ian Brattle and Ron Hickman all took that lonely walk back for nought, and I dare say the Duck Club ledger did rather well out of us this week. 🦆

Whatever we lacked with the willow, we more than made up for with the ball. Bobbing Court, needing only to bat sensibly, instead found themselves 4 for 1 after just 6.2 overs, T Ades falling for a duck of his own to open proceedings. 🦆 Ron Hickman was sharp with 1 for 4, while Jon Harris strangled the life out of the innings with three maidens — bowling of real discipline. With the game evidently beyond salvage for both sides, honours were shared in a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody either.

A word of cheer amid the modest scores: Paul Brattle's brisk 3 runs eased him past Frank Taylor into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he continues to lead our 1974 charts with 535 for the season. Verdict: a scrappy, low-scoring affair, saved by our bowlers and a touch of history in the making.

Wed 14 Aug 1974 🧢 Midweek XIv WC West Kent Wanderers CC · HomeformLDDWW

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 14 August 1974. West Kent Wanderers CC were our visitors, and having lost the toss, or won it, or however these things get decided when I've mislaid the coin again, we found ourselves out in the field first.

They ground their way to 160 for 6 off 48 overs, Steve Gower playing the anchor role rather well for his 38, with C. Hull (36) and B. Milns (34) chipping in to make sure our afternoon tea was thoroughly earned. Small mercies came in the shape of R. Grayland, back in the pavilion for a duck almost before he'd got his gloves on. Jon Harris was the pick of us with a fine 3 for 44, Roland Parr and B. Bowers took one apiece, and Ron Hickman bowled with such miserly intent — four maidens — that I suspect the batsmen were relieved to see the back of him.

Chasing 161, we laboured to 115 for 7 from our 46 overs, never quite finding the fluency the total demanded. I did manage to find some form myself, a personal 65 that at least gave the innings a spine, even if support around me proved harder to come by.

There was a happy footnote regardless: Harris's three wickets carried him past Tony Snell into 10th on the club's all-time list, while the season charts have me leading the runs with 94 and Harris sitting second among the wicket-takers on 11.

In the end, honours were shared — a draw that flattered neither side, but on a day when the runs came hard, I'll happily settle for not losing.

Sun 11 Aug 1974 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · HomeformWLDTD

Sunday the eleventh of August, and Sibton Park came to Linton Park with the sun out and my top lip stiff enough to call it right at the toss. Batting looked the sensible option, though "sensible" is doing some heavy lifting once you've watched us make 125 all out in 56.4 overs. Tim Thirkell held things together nicely with 47, a genuinely fine effort in company that otherwise came and went, and poor Jon Harris will want no reminder that he departed for a duck — though as it turned out, that was merely the prelude to his afternoon.

Defending 125 against a side with time and overs to spare is the sort of task that tests a captain's optimism, and mine wavered more than once as Colin Clarke (31), David Rawlings (23) and Geoff Kirk (20) all got their side moving nicely. But this is where Jon Harris made his amends and then some — six for 46, including six maidens, a five-for bowled with real hostility and thoroughly deserved after his morning with the bat. Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 1-13 and Ron Hickman with 1-20, and I was pleased to get through my own overs and contribute a hand in the middle order besides. L Woods fell for a duck of his own among the wickets. Sibton Park closed on 102 for 9 — just short of us, and just short of themselves.

A draw, then, honours shared, and on this occasion entirely fair — we couldn't quite defend it, they couldn't quite chase it. With Paul Brattle still ploughing on at the top of the run charts and Jon Harris now surely out on his own with the ball, the season's shaping up nicely even if my toss-calling confidence took a small dent.

Wed 07 Aug 1974 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sennocke CC · AwayformWLDDW

We batted last, needed 134, and got there with just one wicket to spare — Sennocke will point out we couldn't chase 138, but 137/9 off 29 with a wicket in hand is a win, and I'll take it.

Sennocke won the toss, elected to bat, and duly ground out 134 all out in 49.1 overs — S. Fry's 45 the backbone, with Ian Fordham (27) and Christopher Stock (21) chipping in round him. We had our moments too: T. Marsh, A. Hall and Leonard Taylor all walked back for ducks, and Ron Hickman was in irresistible form, nine maidens on the way to 5-32 — the sort of spell that wins matches on its own. Jon Harris (3-30) and S. Leppard (1-26) tidied up the rest, and 134 always felt a touch light on a day like this.

Chasing it, though, we did our level best to make a match of it anyway. Allan Cooper batted with real composure for his unbeaten 45, and when the middle order wobbled it was Hickman again — evidently not content with mere bowling heroics — who saw us home with 23 not out. Steve Gower and Jon Harris both departed for ducks of their own, proof that no one, however sharp with the ball, is spared cricket's little cruelties with the bat. Nine down, nerves shredded, but home.

A fine win by one wicket, then — scrappy, nervy, thoroughly Linton Park. Onwards.

Sat 03 Aug 1974 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformDWLDT

Saturday 03 August 1974. We welcomed Bidborough CC, lost the toss for our trouble, and were put into the field — which on a ground as flat as ours felt less like a decision and more like a small act of mischief on their part.

They batted with real purpose. R. Tippen played the innings of the day, 68 that carried their total along nicely, with B. Milns (39) and N. Irvine (24) chipping in like good lieutenants. Only A. Dakin failed to trouble the scorers, undone for a duck. But it was Jon Harris who made the afternoon his own — 5-71, a thoroughly deserved five-for, with Nigel Thirkell picking up one for 51 and Brian Fuller bowling with the discipline of a man who'd rather bore batsmen out than blast them, four maidens to his name. They closed on 177/6 from their 56 overs — a total, but not an unreachable one.

Our reply never quite found its rhythm. Wickets fell steadily and we subsided to 105/8 from 45 overs, rescued from further embarrassment by Nigel Thirkell's unbeaten 39, a lone beacon of sense amid the rubble. Poor Benny Bell will not want reminding of his contribution — a duck to match Dakin's.

So honours shared, a draw, neither side quite able to land the decisive blow. With Paul Brattle still leading our season's run charts and Jon Harris now surely out on his own with the ball, I'll call it: a fair result, honestly earned, and one we can drink to without wincing too much.

Tue 30 Jul 1974 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformDDWLD

From the captain's chair — Tuesday 30 July 1974. We travelled out to Hollingbourne, and true to form the coin let me down before a ball was bowled; they won the toss and chose to bat, leaving us to make do with what the ball would give us.

Give us it did, up to a point. Hollingbourne laboured to 66 for 7 from their fourteen overs, C Brewer top-scoring with a watchful 23 while poor J Dewey trudged back without so much as a nibble at the scorebook. Brian Fuller was the pick of the attack with a tidy 3-17, well supported by Jon Harris's 3-26, and I even managed to sneak among the wickets myself with 1-8, which I shall be mentioning at the bar rather more than once.

Chasing 67, we replied in kind rather than in comfort, reaching 66 for 6 from our own fourteen — Robert Chance leading the way with 24, the rest of us offering support of varying conviction. Fittingly, the day carried a touch of ceremony too: Nigel Thirkell brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth rather more than any scoreline.

And what a scoreline it proved not to be — level after fourteen overs apiece, honours share, not a run between us. You could search all season and not manufacture a tie so exact. A verdict, then: nobody lost, nobody quite won, and frankly Hollingbourne got the better end of the tea.

Sun 28 Jul 1974 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWDDWL

Sunday 28 July 1974, and The Mote CC came to Linton Park with the sun out and, thanks to a coin that flatly refused to cooperate, the choice of first use taken out of my hands entirely. They batted. We bowled. Fair enough, I thought — we'd see how the wicket behaved soon enough.

And behave it did, up to a point. The Mote ground their way to 146 all out in 53.3 overs, built on a solid top order — Ken Emmett's 39, Brian Shaw's 35 and 33 from M Austin the platform — while Des High and Trevor Teer both walked back for ducks at our hands. Tony Gauna was the chief tormentor with a fine 4-29, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2-14, and I had one of those days where everything landed where I wanted it, taking 4-57 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly, even if my figures suggest otherwise.

With the bat we were altogether more sheepish, limping to 86/7 from our 46 overs. Paul Brattle held things together with a top score of 40, while Nigel Thirkell and Dick Langridge both offered golden ducks of their own. Still, there was cause for celebration amid the wreckage — Paul brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, and my four wickets nudged me past Frank Taylor into 11th on the all-time list.

A draw, then, honours shared, and on this evidence entirely fair — we bowled like champions and batted like men who'd left their nerve in the pavilion.

Sat 27 Jul 1974 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · AwayformWWDDW

We were beaten by 7 wickets on the road at Sibton Park CC, but not before a few things went right along the way.

Winning the toss on a fine Saturday, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — and for a while it looked the shrewder call. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day, a well-crafted 52, with Mike Iliffe (46) and Benny Bell (25) lending sturdy support around him. Alas, the tail told a rather different story — Paul Brattle and Gordon Dent both suffered the ignominious duck, and 138 all out from 49.2 overs was, in truth, a par score at best on a good pitch.

In the field we toiled honestly without ever quite landing the decisive blow. Brian Fuller was the pick of the attack, miserly as ever with four maidens and figures of 1-18, while Nigel Thirkell and Jon Harris chipped in with a wicket apiece. But Gordon Webb (53) and Geoff Kirk (37) saw Sibton home comfortably to 139/3, and our ten byes conceded behind the stumps did little to help our cause.

Amid the defeat, a little cheer for the ledger: Mike Iliffe's 46 nudges him up to 18th on the all-time run-scorers list, and Brian Fuller's solitary wicket lifts him to 23rd among the club's wicket-takers — while Nigel Thirkell continues to purr along in 2nd on this season's run charts and Jon Harris sits proudly top of the wickets table.

A chastening afternoon, then, but no cause for despair — we'll dust ourselves down and come again next week.

Tue 23 Jul 1974 🧢 Midweek XIv WW West Wirral · HomeformLWLDD

Tuesday 23 July, and West Wirral were the visitors. Winning the toss felt like the easy part of the afternoon's decisions; electing to bat looked a good deal cleverer once the lads had put 164 for 8 on the board from our 38 overs. Ray Grayland was the mainstay with a fine 40, and he had willing company from Jon Harris (34) and Paul Brattle (24), the sort of middle-order graft that turns a modest total into a defendable one. Not every entry in the ledger was so flattering — Mick Brown's duck earns him the walk of shame and, no doubt, a word or two in the pavilion.

Defending it meant asking our attack to do the heavy lifting, and they obliged handsomely. West Wirral were bowled out for 132 in 39.1 overs, P. Deeks top-scoring with 30, McGonigle (25) and Everest (22) offering support, while A. Forte departed for a duck at our hands. The day, though, belonged to Paul Bowles, whose 7 for 62 — five maidens included — was a spell of real quality and a thoroughly deserved five-for. Jon Harris chipped in nicely with 3 for 43 to round off the damage.

With Trevor Back leading our 1974 run charts on 83 and Bowles now top of the wicket pile with 13, the season's shape is becoming clear, and this was another sturdy brick in it. A 32-run win, fairly earned and thoroughly enjoyed — a good day for the club, and no mistake.

Sun 21 Jul 1974 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · AwayformWWWDD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 21 July 1974. Sevenoaks Vine CC, and a fine one to be involved in, even if my own contribution to proceedings was rather less than fine.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat — and for once the decision looked a shrewd one as we compiled 163 for 9 from our 45 overs. Paul Brattle led the way with a handsome 44, well supported by Allan Cooper's 32 and Jon Harris's 28. As for me, I contributed a golden duck to the cause — a captain ought to lead by example, and on this occasion I led it entirely in the wrong direction.

In the field, though, we were a different proposition altogether. Sevenoaks Vine were bowled out for 113 in 40 overs, John Odell's well-made 52 and Phil Dew's 20 the only real resistance, while Phil Francis, Ian Haffenden and David Stevens all departed without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 6 for 28, with Allan Cooper (2 for 8, five miserly maidens) and Dick Langridge (2 for 18) chipping in handsomely. Poor Cliff Anscombe had a tricky afternoon behind the stumps, eleven byes slipping through his gloves.

Special mention, too, for Jon Harris, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly deserved given his efforts with bat and ball alike.

We ran out winners by 50 runs. A golden blob for the skipper, but a golden day for the club.

Sun 14 Jul 1974 🧢 1st XIv SC Sennocke CC · HomeformWWWWD

We hosted Sennocke CC on Sunday 14th July, and having called correctly, I had no hesitation in putting us in — a decision I stand by, even if 72/6 from our 27 overs was hardly a declaration of intent. Runs came in dribs and drabs, and spare a thought for poor Jon Harris, who departed for a golden duck — first ball faced, first ball gone, and back in the pavilion before his tea had gone cold. Elsewhere Paul Bowles continues his quietly excellent season, now sat second in the 1974 1st XI run charts with 333 to his name, though even his class couldn't lift us much beyond the seventies on the day.

Still, 72 is 72, and it was ours to defend. What followed was one of those afternoons that reminds you why this game refuses to be predictable: we bowled, we chased, we harried, and Sennocke simply could not get the runs — dismissed for none at all. Quite how a side fails to trouble the scorers is a mystery I shall leave for wiser heads than mine, but the lads defended that modest total as though it were Everest, and Sennocke never found a way up it.

In the end, honours were shared — a draw, with neither side able to force the door open. Not a classic for the purists, perhaps, but a match that proved once again that in this game, runs on the board mean nothing until the last ball is bowled.

Wed 10 Jul 1974 🧢 Midweek XIv Westerham CC · AwayformLLWLD

Wednesday the tenth of July found us on the road to Westerham, sandwiches packed and expectations modest as ever. Winning the toss felt like the easy part of the day, and with a fair stretch of Kent sunshine on offer I had no hesitation in asking the lads to bat first.

We limped rather than strode to 129 for 7 off our 45, rescued from real embarrassment by Trevor Back, whose unbeaten 59 was the innings' one moment of genuine class, with Jon Harris chipping in a tidy 20. Elsewhere the scorebook made grim reading — Nigel Thirkell, B. Bowers and Phil Hickman all departed for ducks, three noughts that rather summed up our afternoon with the willow.

Defending 129 looked a stretch, but Westerham never quite got away from us, closing on 86 for 8 from their 41 overs with M. Hill's watchful 23 the only real resistance offered. C. Lee and Sanders both fell without scoring, and the day belonged emphatically to Nigel, whose 5 for 32 was a five-for richly earned, backed superbly by Brian Fuller's miserly 3 for 28 from six maidens — figures that, we later discovered, carried him past Stan Wratten to 23rd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Trevor and Nigel, meanwhile, sit proudly atop this season's run and wicket charts respectively, which is one way of saying the rest of us have some catching up to do.

So honours shared, a draw wrung from a modest total by some very fine bowling. Not a classic, but a day that did the job — and on a Wednesday in Kent, that will do nicely.

Sun 07 Jul 1974 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformLWWWW

I won the toss on a warm Sunday at Aylesford Paper Mills and had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'll happily take credit for, given how the day unfolded. Robert Chance set about the bowling with real purpose, cruising past his fifty on the way to 78, while Paul Bowles matched him stride for stride with a fluent 71. Nigel Thirkell came in and simply refused to get out, finishing unbeaten on 43, and between the three of them we motored to a handsome 249 for 2 off our 43 overs. Declarations weren't needed — the scoreboard did the talking.

Defending a total like that should have been the easy part, and for long stretches it was. Don Lemoine gave the home side something to build around with a well-made fifty, and Brian Clark (27) and Austin Parsons (24) chipped in gamely, but Paul Bowles was in inspired form with the ball, following his runs with 4 for 57 and five maddening maidens that strangled any momentum. Nigel Thirkell chimed in with 2 for 15, and I managed to get among the wickets myself with 1 for 29. For all that, 179 for 8 off 55 overs left them short of parity but out of our reach too.

So it finished all square — honours shared, bragging rights postponed. With Bowles now up to 326 runs and second in the club's run charts, and young Nigel sitting proudly atop the wicket-takers with 43, there's plenty for Linton Park to be cheerful about, even on a day when neither side could quite land the killer blow. A draw, then, but a thoroughly entertaining one.

Sat 06 Jul 1974 🧢 1st XIv MV Medway Valley · HomeformDLWWW

From the captain's chair, Saturday the sixth of July, and Medway Valley came to us at Linton Park in agreeable sunshine. I won the toss and had few qualms about asking them to bat, a decision that looked rather clever by close of their innings: 76 all out in 37.5 overs, with only Payne offering serious resistance, 20 not out and unbeaten at the death. Barnes departed for a golden duck at our hands, and Brian Fuller was simply unplayable, tearing through them for 6-23 with seven maidens to his name, mean as a Kent hedgerow. I picked up 2-17 for my troubles, with Nigel Thirkell chipping in at 2-28.

Chasing 77 should have been a formality, and so it proved, though not without the usual club-cricket wobbles, four wickets down along the way. I saw us home with 32 not out, well supported by Gordon Dent's 23, while poor Nigel Thirkell contributed a golden duck of his own with the bat, having done quite enough with the ball to be forgiven. We reached the target in 19.4 overs for the loss of four.

Up in the season's reckoning I sit second in the 1974 run charts with 294, and Nigel leads the wicket-takers with 41, so between us we are doing our modest bit. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a six-wicket win to send everyone home for their tea in good spirits.

Mon 01 Jul 1974 🧢 1st XIv MP Maidstone Police · HomeformLDLWW

From the captain's chair, Monday 01 July 1974: we welcomed Maidstone Police to Linton Park, and I rather fancied our chances of restricting them once I put them in to bat first. That decision repaid us handsomely. The Police were bowled out for a modest 59 for 7 from just 15.2 overs, with poor Boorman trudging back for a duck almost before he'd got his eye in. Allan Cooper was magnificent with the ball, ripping through their order for figures of 3 for 14, and he had fine support from Ron Hickman, tidy and probing for 2 for 6, and Tony Gauna, who chipped in with 2 for 22.

Chasing a target that ought to have been straightforward, we made somewhat harder work of it than the scorebook suggests we needed to, stumbling home to 60 for 6 in 15.1 overs. Benny Bell had a torrid time behind the stumps, conceding 11 byes that will no doubt earn him some gentle ribbing in the clubhouse this week.

There was a personal landmark buried in the scorecard too: Tony Gauna's two wickets carried him past Herbert Rayner and into 19th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, a fine achievement in a season where he already sits third in our 1974 wicket charts with 28, behind Paul Brattle's league-leading 391 runs.

Untidy in places, occasionally hair-raising, but two points is two points. Won by 4 wickets, and thoroughly earned.

Sun 30 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv WC West Kent Wanderers CC · HomeformWLDLW

I chipped in with 19 with the bat, but I'd rather talk about Sunday because it did us proud from start to finish. West Kent Wanderers rolled up and made themselves at home to the tune of 144 for 7 off their 51.2 overs, R. Tippey playing the anchor role with a tidy fifty while Ball and Milns chipped in either side of twenty. M. Tolhurst won't remember his visit fondly, back in the pavilion for a duck, and credit for that belongs with an attack that simply would not let up. Paul Bowles was the pick of them by some distance, four for 50 and full of running, with Phil Hickman chipping away for three, and Nigel Thirkell bowling as though the boundary rope were an affront to him personally, five maidens and barely a run to be had.

With the target set, Paul Bowles carried on exactly where he'd left off with the ball, cracking a fine 72 to lead the reply, and Robert Chance kept him honest with a brisk 45 alongside. Cliff Anscombe had a trickier afternoon behind the stumps, eleven byes a reminder that not every contribution makes the scorebook look kind, though nobody was counting once we'd got home. We eased over the line by five wickets in the 41st over, and with Paul Brattle still purring along at the top of the season's run charts and Bowles now up to 15 wickets for the summer, the engine room looks in fine order.

A thoroughly good day for the club, and one the teapot back at the pavilion thoroughly deserved.

Sat 29 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · HomeformWWLDL

Won the toss against Tilling Steven at home on Saturday, and I had no hesitation electing to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the lads muttered under their breath as pads went on. We laboured a touch to 140 for 8 off our full 44.5 overs, saved from mediocrity by a really fine half-century from Nigel Thirkell, 56 of good, sound hitting, with Ken Webb chipping in a useful 30 alongside him. Not a total to have the opposition trembling in their boots, perhaps, but enough to work with, we felt.

And work with it we did. Jon Harris was magnificent with the ball, ripping through Tilling Steven for figures of 4 for 12, while Brian Fuller kept up admirable pressure at the other end with 2 for 21. Nigel Thirkell, not content with his runs, came back to add 2 for 35 and five maidens for good measure — a genuinely miserly spell that strangled any hope of a chase. All out for 72 in 33 overs, and the game was ours by 68 runs.

A word for Brian Fuller too, who with those two wickets has nudged past Jack Fryer into 25th on the club's all-time list — a quiet little piece of history amid the chaos. Paul Brattle and Nigel Thirkell continue to lead our season's charts with bat and ball respectively, and long may that continue. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine afternoon's cricket all round.

Mon 24 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformDWWLD

Monday 24th June saw us make the pilgrimage to Aylesford Paper Mills, and I did the traditional thing on winning the toss: put us in, and duly watched us make rather hard work of it. Sixty-six for eight from our sixteen overs is not a total to frighten anyone, and the Duck Club had a busy afternoon — Allan Cooper, Benny Bell and Alan Cradduck all took that long, lonely walk back for nought, three quacks for the price of one. Tea, such as it was, tasted a little of humility.

Still, cricket has a way of not being over until it's over, and with ball in hand we gave a rather better account of ourselves. Aylesford wobbled early, losing Bobby Brigden and John Atkins without either troubling the scorers, and for a while there was genuine hope of an unlikely heist. Allan Cooper, redeeming his golden duck in some style, bowled beautifully for 3-27, with Tony Gauna chipping in a fine 1-26 alongside him. But Fred Baker had other ideas, batting through for an unbeaten 24 and finding a willing ally in Richard Wood's 21, and between them they eased Aylesford home with four balls to spare, sealing it by three wickets.

Elsewhere in the ledger, Paul Brattle continues to lead our 1974 run charts on 379, and Tony Gauna's afternoon nudges him to third in the wicket standings on 26 — small consolations on a day when the bat let us down before the ball nearly bailed us out. Chastening, honest, and no worse for it: we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 23 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv DC Dimanchians CC · HomeformWDWWL

Dimanchians CC rolled up on a fine Sunday and, having lost the toss decision to bowl first, we set about them with the new ball. It didn't quite go our way with the bat-off-the-pitch stuff at first — R Barret dug in for an unbeaten 38, with J Harris (31) and P Barton (29) chipping in to see them to 160/6 from their 53 overs. Credit where it's due: Jon Harris was superb with the ball, 4-53 to lead the attack, with Allan Cooper (1-26) and Tony Gauna (1-32) offering fine support — Gauna in particular bowling three tidy maidens to keep things honest.

Chasing 161, we never quite got the wheels turning. Jon Harris, evidently not content with doing all the bowling too, top-scored again with an unbeaten 39, and I was pleased to chip in with 29 of my own alongside a solid 25 from Ken Webb. Sadly Andrew Moss, Allan Cooper and Colin Dicker all fell for golden ducks, and with the required rate creeping up we settled for 133/8 from our 46, the tail wisely deciding discretion was the better part of valour.

So honours shared, and on reflection a fair result — Dimanchians probably shaded the batting stakes, we shaded the bowling, and cricket, as ever, split the difference. Jon Harris continues his splendid season, now second in both the club's run and wicket charts. A draw is no one's idea of glory, but on a good pitch with two decent sides, I'll happily take it and the tea that came with it.

Sat 22 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · HomeformWWDWW

Beaten seven wickets we may have been, but a captain's optimism is a stubborn thing, and I'll take the lessons where I find them.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat felt like the right call at the time — and I stand by it still, even if the scorebook rather disagrees. Fifty-three all out in 27 overs is not the stuff of legend, and with Benny Bell, Alan Cradduck and Ron Hickman all contributing golden ducks, it read at times like a collective vow of silence at the crease. Ken Webb, at least, showed the others how it was meant to be done, top-scoring with a gutsy 30 that kept the innings from complete embarrassment. I chipped in with a few runs myself, though nothing to trouble the scorers unduly.

Defending 53 against Hythe was always going to be a tall order, rather like asking a spaniel to guard the Sunday roast. Nigel Thirkell did his level best to make a match of it, bowling with real discipline — three maidens and the solitary wicket for 24 — and for a while it felt like containment might just be enough. But P Sherington settled in with an unbeaten 23 and eased the visitors home in 20.4 overs, losing just the one wicket along the way.

So, seven-wicket defeat, and no dressing it up as anything else. Nigel continues to lead our wicket-takers this season with 37, and I'm content enough sitting third in the run charts on 189 — small consolations on an afternoon that belonged, thoroughly, to Hythe. We'll be better for it next week.

Thu 20 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv W Willows · HomeformLWWDW

John Ames here, still buzzing about it if I'm honest, because a five-wicket win over Willows on a lovely Thursday evening is precisely the tonic this old captain needed. Put in to bowl first, we made light work of a Willows top order that never quite got going — Jenner and Vidgen both trooping back for ducks inside the first few overs, which is always a cruel way to start an innings, and by the time Pike had compiled his watchful 25 the writing was on the wall. Nigel Thirkell was magnificent, tearing through with 4-19, ably backed up by Allan Cooper's 4-25, and Willows subsided to 87/9 from their sixteen overs.

Chasing 88 was never going to be straightforward on a used pitch and against tired legs, but Paul Bowles played the anchor role beautifully with 34, and I chipped in with a small hand of my own as we got over the line at 88/5 with two balls to spare, 15.5 overs on the board.

The real story of the evening, though, belongs to Nigel, whose four wickets nudged him past Stan Wratten and up into 22nd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a landmark thoroughly deserved and no more than a fitting reward for a season in which he already leads the 1st XI wicket charts with 36, while Paul Brattle continues to top the run charts with 362.

A fine win, a proud milestone, and the lads deserve every pint of it. Onwards.

Tue 18 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformLLWWD

Tuesday 18 June 1974 saw Hollingbourne CC pitch up at Linton Park, and for once the coin had a sense of humour entirely at our expense — they called correctly, elected to bat, and left us to make the best of a slightly damp-feeling toss. Fifteen overs later they'd rattled up 88 all out, Ian Hammond doing the heavy lifting with 33 and Andrew Hales chipping in a useful 20, while at the other end J Dewey, C Brewer and John Steer all trudged off for ducks. Credit where it's due: Nigel Thirkell was in imperious form with 4-12, ripping through the middle order like a man late for his tea, with Allan Cooper (3-34) and Ron Hickman (1-33) mopping up the rest.

Chasing 89, we barely broke sweat. Paul Brattle set about the bowling with real intent for 31, ably assisted by Allan Cooper's 21, and between them they had the job done in a breezy 9.1 overs for the loss of just two wickets. Eight-wicket win, home before the pub shut — can't ask for much more than that.

With the season charts now showing Brattle out in front on 359 runs and Thirkell leading the wickets column with 32, the pair of them are fast becoming the engine room of this side. All told, a thoroughly good day for the club — Hollingbourne came, saw, and were sent home wondering what happened.

Sun 16 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformLLLWW

Sunday last took us down to Bobbing Court, and after losing the toss I discovered we'd be leathering it about in the field first — never my preferred start to a Sunday, but there we are. Bobbing ground out 162 for 8 from their 48 overs, built mainly around J Gorf's watchful 42, with Brian Best (31) and Richard Witts (23) chipping in either side of him. T Gabbadon didn't trouble the scorers at all, bagging a duck at our hands. With the ball, Jon Harris was the pick of us by some margin, 3 for 45, while I managed to get among the wickets myself with 3 for 46, John Thirkell picked up one, and Tony Gauna bowled with such miserly intent that four of his overs yielded nothing whatsoever.

Chasing 163, we never quite got going, closing on 135 for 9 from our 46. Cliff Anscombe led the way with a fighting 35, well supported by Paul Brattle's 33, though poor Colin Dicker joined the duck club alongside Gabbadon. Anscombe's afternoon behind the stumps was rather more eventful than in front of them — nine byes leaked will have him wincing at Monday's practice. I contributed a workmanlike 16 down the order.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the door open — with Brattle still topping our run charts and Harris our wickets for the season, the engine room remains in rude health even when the scoreboard stays becalmed.

Sat 15 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv YM YMCA Maidstone · AwayformDLLLW

A Perfect Day at Maidstone

Saturday saw us make the trip to Ymca Maidstone in fine spirits, and by close of play we had every reason to stay that way. Winning the toss and electing to bowl, we watched the hosts build a useful 175/8 from their 49 overs, with Dave Goodyer the chief architect of that total, cruising nicely past his fifty to 63, and getting good support from Stuckey (38) and Bassett (22). Credit to the lads with the ball, mind — Brian Fuller was in miserly form, snaring 4-46 with six maidens to show for his afternoon's graft, while Nigel Thirkell (2-47) and Jon Harris (1-53) chipped in nicely, and poor J Adams departed for a golden duck at our hands.

A target of 176 looked eminently gettable, and so it proved. I was fortunate enough to find some form and lead from the front with 86, while Ken Webb played a lovely unbeaten knock of 58 at the other end to see us home in some comfort, wrapping things up in 33.3 overs for the loss of just four wickets. There was a personal landmark in there too — that innings brought up 7,000 career runs for the club and eased me past Stan Wratten into third on the all-time run-scorers list, while Jon Harris's solitary wicket nudged him past George Champion into thirteenth on the wicket-takers' roll of honour.

All told, a thoroughly good day out — comprehensive with bat and ball, a six-wicket win, and a bit of history made along the way. We'll take that every Saturday going.

Tue 11 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv MT Maidstone Teachers · HomeformWDLLL

I called correctly at the toss on a fine June evening and, with Maidstone Teachers visiting, took no time at all deciding we'd bat. Nigel Thirkell led the charge with a splendid 47, well supported by Paul Bowles's 33, as we posted a competitive 137/6 from our 16 overs. Not every ledger entry made pleasant reading, mind — Allan Cooper's walk of shame for a nought will no doubt follow him round the clubhouse for weeks yet.

Defending 137 is never a formality, but Ron Hickman had other ideas, spinning his way to a magnificent 5-34 and simply unplayable throughout. I chipped in with 2-16 myself, with Allan Cooper making amends for his earlier duck with 2-37 of his own. P. Jackson's 32 and A. Bryan's 23 were the only real resistance the Teachers could muster, while Barnard, Hughes and D. Todd all departed without troubling the scorers. Their innings folded for 98 in 14.2 overs.

A fine win by 39 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying evening's work all round. With Paul Brattle still topping our 1974 run charts and Nigel Thirkell now up to 26 wickets for the season, the side looks in good heart. Onwards we go, teacups and all.

Sun 09 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformLWDLL

Sunday last found us on the road to Sheldwich, and if there's one thing crueller than losing the toss, it's losing it and being put in to field on a warm afternoon with sandwiches calling. Still, the lads set about their work with a will, and Allan Cooper in particular decided he rather fancied bowling all day — five for 22 and ten maidens is the sort of spell that makes a captain wonder why he ever bothers setting a field at all. Tony Gauna chipped in gamely with four for 50, and between the pair of them, three Sheldwich batsmen trudged off without troubling the scorer. Brian Newman's 29 and I. Scott's 20 kept us honest, and Sheldwich were all out for 85 — not a total to lose sleep over, or so we thought.

Chasing 86, we contrived to make hard work of easy work, as is the club's way. Cliff Anscombe's 24 was the innings' one shaft of sunlight, but three more ducks joined the collection and we were bowled out for 82. Nine byes past the gloves didn't help matters either — a tricky afternoon behind the stumps, to put it kindly.

Three runs. Three wretched runs separated triumph from tea and sympathy, and it's hard to begrudge Sheldwich their win when we handed them nine of them ourselves. Cooper's five-for deserved better support with the bat, but that's village cricket for you. We'll dust ourselves down, keep Gauna's wickets column ticking nicely, and fancy our chances of putting this one right next week.

Sat 08 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWLWDL

Skipper's log rarely opens well when you lose the toss, and Saturday didn't break the pattern — Rumwood won the call and sent us out to field, which in hindsight might have been the kinder half of the day.

We stuck to our task well enough. Tony Gauna was in inspired form, sending down nine maidens on his way to 7-36 — a five-for and then some, the kind of spell that has the tea urn talking before the players are even off. Nigel Thirkell chipped in with useful support, 3-41, and between them they had Rumwood shot out for 85 in 36.3 overs. Walking in at tea, I confess we all fancied our chances.

What followed was less becoming. Gordon Dent held things together with a battling 22, but around him the innings rather crumbled, and we were bowled out for 71 in 41.4 overs. The Duck Club welcomed three new members on the day — I went for nought myself (the least said of that particular dismissal, the better), with Alan Cradduck and, somewhat cruelly given his heroics with the ball, Tony Gauna also making the long walk back without troubling the scorers.

There was a silver lining amid the wreckage: Nigel Thirkell's three wickets carried him past Jack Fryer and up to 24th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and he now sits second in this season's charts with 24 wickets, behind only Paul Brattle's 268 runs at the top of the run-scoring table.

Beaten by 14 runs in the end — a game we bowled well enough to win and batted just badly enough to lose. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 02 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv NC Nonington CC · AwayformLWLWD

Won the toss on a fine Sunday down at Nonington and I had no hesitation electing to bat first — the sort of firm, decisive captaincy that looks either shrewd or reckless depending entirely on what follows. What followed was 129 all out from 46.2 overs, which is the cricketing equivalent of a polite cough rather than a shout. I got stuck in for 47, and Paul Brattle gave sturdy support with 44, the two of us doing most of the heavy lifting while the rest of the order came and went with rather less ceremony. Special mention, in the grand old Duck Club tradition, to Allan Cooper and Tony Gauna, both of whom completed the walk of shame for nought — commiserations, gentlemen, the quacking will pass.

With the ball we made a proper fight of it. Nonington reached 132/7 in 45.1 overs, M. Smith top-scoring with 41 and R. Brown unbeaten on 22, but Nigel Thirkell bowled beautifully for 3-34, backed up by Jon Harris (2-18) and Allan Cooper, whose miserly 7 maidens in his 1-34 suggested he'd rather bowl a hedge than a run.

There was real cause for cheer amid the defeat: Jon Harris sailed past 200 career wickets and climbed to 14th on the club's all-time list, while Paul Brattle and Jon Harris continue to lead our season's run and wicket charts respectively.

Beaten by three wickets, then — a match we should have made more of with the bat. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sat 01 Jun 1974 🧢 1st XIv DC Davington Priory CC · HomeformDLWLW

Saturday 1 June 1974, and Davington Priory came calling on a fine day for cricket. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation putting us in — a decision that looked shrewd once Stan Wratten and Jon Harris got going. Stan played beautifully for 59, Jon wasn't far behind with 52, and Benny Bell chipped in an unbeaten 37 to help us to a healthy 188 for 7 off our 43 overs. Not everything gleamed, mind — poor Paul Brattle and Mike Iliffe both departed for ducks, the sort of thing that gets mentioned rather too often in the clubhouse afterwards.

Defending the total, we toiled hard but couldn't quite prise out the win. Alan Carter dug in for an unbeaten 42, with useful support from D. W. Branson and Peter White, and Davington crawled home to 166 for 6 off their fifty. Nigel Thirkell was the pick of our bowlers with 3 for 69, while Brian Fuller bowled with real discipline — four maidens and 2 for 26 — and I was pleased with my own contribution with the ball too, though it wasn't quite enough to force the breakthrough we needed.

There was a good deal to celebrate regardless: Stan brought up 7,000 career runs for the club and climbed to third on the all-time run-scorers' list, while Brian's two wickets nudged him up to twenty-fifth on the all-time wicket-takers' roll. A draw, then — honours even, and honestly, on a day with that much history made, nobody was too downhearted about it.

Tue 28 May 1974 🧢 Midweek XIv NC Newport Fugitives CC · HomeformDLLWL

Tuesday last, and I called correctly at the toss - which, given how our season's been going, felt like the first victory of the day already. I had no hesitation in choosing to bat, and for once the decision looked a thoroughly sound one, as we posted a respectable 161/6 from our 42.4 overs. Steve Gower led the way with a fine 46, well supported by Paul Brattle (33) and Nigel Thirkell (20) - enough runs, I felt, to give us something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did. Newport Fugitives were dismissed for 117/9 from their 48 overs, R Walters battling gamely to 41 not out, with G Barns (23) and Norman Drewett (20) offering support that ultimately wasn't enough. Three of their number - Davis, Went and John - departed for ducks, and I confess I had rather a purple patch myself, spinning through them for 6-45 with nine maidens thrown in for good measure - not a run given away lightly, and easily the happiest I've felt with the ball all season. Jon Harris (2-36) and Nigel Thirkell (1-27) chipped in admirably alongside.

There was more to celebrate than the cricket alone: Jon Harris brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, Nigel Thirkell passed 1,000 career runs for the club, and Paul Brattle's 33 nudged him past Roy Clarke to 22nd on our all-time run-scorers list. Three landmarks in one afternoon is not bad going.

In the end neither side could force the win, and honours were shared. A draw, then - but with milestones like these, nobody left Linton Park feeling short-changed.

Mon 27 May 1974 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLDLWL

Monday 27th brought Bearsted to Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss I fancied a bat first — no hesitation, no cunning plan, just the old-fashioned conviction that runs on the board beat runs chased. It didn't quite come off as smoothly as I'd hoped: 112 all out in 51.3 overs is the sort of total that has you studying your bootlaces rather than the scorebook. I managed 39 to anchor things, Ken Webb chipped in nicely with 22, but three ducks on the card — Thirkell, Bell and Cradduck all back for nought — meant we were grateful for what we had rather than proud of it.

Out in the field, though, this side does love a defended total, and Nigel Thirkell turned in a spell to make the whole village sit up: 6 for 24, four of those overs maidens, bowling that frankly bordered on the impolite for a Bank Holiday. I found some rhythm myself with 4 for 51, and between us Bearsted never settled, Colin Fleetwood's 28 and Michael Livingstone's 27 the only real resistance before they folded for 97 in 40.4 overs — Filmer, Morgan and Burnett all departing without troubling the scorers themselves.

Fifteen runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly earned. A word too for Paul Brattle, who brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark worth more than any score in the book, and a reminder of what this club is really about.

Sun 26 May 1974 🧢 1st XIv Lordswood CC · HomeformDLDLW

Beaten by three runs — I still can't quite bring myself to say it out loud, but there it is. Lordswood won the toss on a Sunday that promised more than it delivered, and put us in. We toiled honestly enough: Henderson Carrington's 41 was the backbone of their 160 all out, with Colin Gardener (30) and David Twiddy (25) chipping in dutifully. But the day belonged to Paul Bowles, who bowled like a man possessed — 7 for 43, two maidens, the kind of spell you dine out on for weeks. I managed 3 for 54 myself, happy enough to play second fiddle to that.

Chasing 161, we never quite got the rhythm right. L. Lewis, S. Puttock and W. Wells went without troubling the scorers, and I can't claim any better — bowled for a duck, for which we shall, as agreed, draw a veil. Tim Thirkell and Phil Hickman kept me company in the pavilion on nought apiece. Thank heavens, then, for Paul Brattle's unbeaten 69 and Bowles's own 55 with the bat, the pair of them dragging us to 157 all out. Fifteen byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Hickman.

There were milestones amid the misery — Brattle now 24th on the club's all-time run charts, Bowles up to 6th among the wicket-takers, proof that even a losing day can plant a flag or two. Three runs is nothing and everything. We were the better side for large parts of it, and we'll be the better side again next week.

Sat 25 May 1974 🧢 1st XIv YM YMCA Maidstone · HomeformDDLDL

Saturday last brought Ymca Maidstone to our ground, and for once the toss fell kindly enough to see us bowling first, which on a morning like that felt rather like Christmas coming early. They were bowled out for a modest 105 in 39.3 overs, M. Butler doing most of the damage with a well-made 23, though our openers to their innings, a. Stuckey and P. Mitchell, departed for ducks that will not trouble the scorebook fondly. The real story, though, was Jon Harris, who bowled quite beautifully for 6-64, a five-for and thoroughly deserved, with Nigel Thirkell chipping in a tidy 4-37 and eight maidens that suggested the batsmen simply gave up asking him for runs.

Chasing 106 ought to have been a formality, and cricket, being cricket, made quite sure it was not. We limped and nudged our way to 106/8 in 41.2 overs, Stan Wratten the mainstay with 35, while poor Jim Hall contributed nothing but a golden duck for his troubles. Nerves jangled rather more than the target deserved, but we scrambled home by two wickets in the end.

Season-wise, the runs keep flowing for Paul Brattle, now up to 150 for the year, and Jon Harris continues to lead the wicket charts with 18 to his name. All told, a scratchy chase but two points in the bag and honour, just about, intact. A good day for the club.

Sun 19 May 1974 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformWDDLD

Sunday 19 May, and Aylesford Paper Mills CC rolled up as our visitors. I lost the toss, they had a look at the pitch and sent us out to field first, which on a warm afternoon is never quite the tonic you're after before tea.

They battled to 143 all out in 37.2 overs, Tony Maddox playing the innings of the day with a tidy 57, well supported by Don Lemoine's 32. We had our moments too, though, sending Ian Milner back and catching Brian Fridd out for a duck. Paul Bowles was the pick of the attack with 4-46, and I found some rhythm of my own, finishing with 4-63, while Tony Gauna chipped in with 1-26.

Our reply never quite got going. Jim Hall's 29 and Robert Chance's 28 were the mainstays, but wickets tumbled around them and we were bowled out for 106 in 36.4 overs, Paul Bowles and Colin Dicker both departing without troubling the scorers. Thirty-seven runs the wrong side of the ledger by the close.

There was a spot of quiet cheer amid the gloom: those four wickets nudged me past Ron Hickman into fifteenth on the club's all-time list, and I now lead the 1974 1st XI bowling with twelve for the season, with Paul Brattle setting the pace at the top of the order on 136 runs. Small consolations on a day the batting let us down. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 18 May 1974 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLWDDL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 18 May 1974, Headcorn CC at home

Won the toss, and there really was only ever one decision to make on a Linton Park morning: bat first and hope the tea urn stayed warmer than our top order. It didn't disappoint entirely — 140 all out from 43.3 overs is the kind of total that makes you check your scorebook twice, buoyed chiefly by Paul Brattle's 45, with John Ames chipping in a tidy 33. Elsewhere the card made for grimmer reading, not least poor Paul Croucher's duck, which I'm reliably informed is character-building.

With the ball, however, we found something to be proud of. Headcorn were made to work for every one of their 108 for 9 in 49 overs, and it was Terry Donovan who did the real damage — 4 for 29, with six maidens thrown in for good measure, the sort of spell that has batsmen playing for the close rather than the runs. Jon Harris weighed in with 4 for 63, and I managed to get among the wickets myself with 1 for 12, which I shall modestly file under "did my bit." John Phipps stood firm for their side with an unbeaten 39, well supported by R. Chapman's 20, and between them they saw their side to safety.

So honours shared, and a draw to show for a long afternoon's toil. Brattle continues to lead our run charts for the season, Harris now second among the wicket-takers, and Linton Park left the field with pride intact, if not quite the win our bowling deserved.

Tue 14 May 1974 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformDLWDD

Tuesday, 14 May, and Aylesford Paper Mills CC came calling on a fine afternoon that promised more than it delivered. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling this season has been about as reliable as an English summer — and we were sent out to bowl.

Credit where it's due: Paul Bowles gave us a proper chasing, 72 not out of pure, unhurried quality, with Austin Parsons chipping in a handsome 33 alongside him. Between them they steered the visitors to 125 for 2 off their sixteen overs, and there wasn't a great deal the rest of us could do about it. Ron Hickman toiled nobly for his solitary wicket at a cost of 30, and Allan Cooper matched him for effort if not quite for economy, 1 for 36. The lads never stopped trying; the Bowles innings simply refused to be stopped.

Our reply never got out of first gear. Sixty-three for five off our sixteen overs told its own sad story — starts made, none of them built upon, and the required rate creeping away from us like the last bus home. Elsewhere in the season's ledger there were small consolations: Paul Brattle continues to lead our run charts with 86, and Allan Cooper sits fourth among the wicket-takers.

Not our day, then — beaten by 62 runs, heads bowed but not bloodied. Back to the nets it is.

Sat 11 May 1974 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformLDLWD

Saturday found us on the road to Rumwood, and the coin fell entirely the wrong way, as it so often does when I'm the one calling it. They took first use of a docile pitch and made themselves thoroughly at home, Brian Aiston cruising to 61 while John Pearson's fine fifty of 55 and Dennis Winstanley's twenty kept the innings ticking along nicely for their comfort rather than ours. Keith Lane at least gave us something to cheer, back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Tony Gauna was the chief tormentor with 4-45 and five miserly maidens besides, Jon Harris chipped in with 3-57, and I managed a couple for 28 as we had them all out for 184/9 from their 45 overs.

Chasing it down, we never quite found the fluency to match it. Jon Harris again led from the front with 47, Gordon Dent anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 47, and I added 28 with the bat too, enough, I'm quietly pleased to note, to nudge me past Stan Wratten into third on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Ken Webb, Jim Hall and Colin Dicker all fell without scoring, and 154/7 was where the overs ran out on us.

A draw, then, honours shared and neither side quite able to force the issue. Jon Harris now sits second in this season's run charts, Tony Gauna leads the wickets with ten, and we headed home with pride mostly intact and the tea urn thoroughly earned.

Sun 05 May 1974 🧢 Sunday NVKCv LB leeds and broomfield · AwayformWLWWL

Won the toss on a bright Sunday and fancied our chances with the bat first against Leeds and Broomfield — a decision I stand by, even if the scorebook tells a rather different story. Ninety-four all out in 37.5 overs was never going to trouble anyone, propped up gamely by Ken Webb's 25 and Tim Thirkell's unbeaten 20. Beyond that, the innings rather fell into a hole: Paul Brattle and Allan Cooper joined me in contributing nothing whatsoever, and I'll own mine plainly — a golden blob, first ball, the very model of leading from the front when it comes to setting a bad example.

Defending 94 was always going to be backs-to-the-wall stuff, and so it proved. Tony Gauna bowled beautifully in a losing cause, miserly with three maidens and picking up 1-13 for his trouble, but there's only so much containment can do when the total is what it is. W. Cummins made hay with a fine unbeaten fifty, well supported by J. Dunk's 33 not out, and the game was done and dusted in 18.2 overs.

Ken Webb tops our Sunday run charts and Tony Gauna leads the wickets — small mercies, and something to build on. Beaten by nine wickets in the end, no arguing with that scoreline. We were second best all day, but there was enough in Webb's and Thirkell's application, and in Gauna's bowling, to suggest we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 28 Apr 1974 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformLLDLW

Sunday 28 April took us to Aylesford Paper Mills, and my call at the toss landed as it usually does — heads their way — so we took the field first. Austin Parsons made handsome use of the outfield with a well-made 63, and found a willing partner in Graham Pollack (39), the pair adding a crucial 78 for the second wicket while the rest of us toiled patiently. Don Lemoine chipped in with 21 as their innings closed on 159/4 from 53.4 overs. Tony Gauna bowled beautifully for 1-34, Allan Cooper mixed two maidens into his 1-41, and I managed 1-55 for my troubles — honest toil, but no breakthrough to shout about.

Our reply was, in the finest traditions of the club, a touch scratchy. Paul Brattle held firm for a battling 27, but wickets fell steadily around him and we closed on 90/9 from 44 overs, with poor Alan Cradduck contributing a golden duck he'd rather forget.

Still, plenty to raise a glass to: John Thirkell brought up 16,000 career runs for the club, and Cliff Anscombe's single run nudged him past Ray Howard into 9th on our all-time list. Brattle now leads this season's run charts with 72, Gauna the wickets with six.

A draw, then — honours shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. Given the state of my bowling figures, I'll take it gladly and drive home content.

Sat 27 Apr 1974 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLLLDL

As a straight bat home from West Farleigh, we won the toss on a Saturday that felt made for cricket and I didn't dither over the decision — batting first it was, and for a while it looked the sound call, largely on the back of Paul Brattle's 45, an innings that did rather more work than the rest of the order combined. Elsewhere the effort was, let's say, patchy: poor Gordon Dent trudged back for a duck, and 98 all out from 40.1 overs was scarcely a total to make West Farleigh's openers lose sleep.

But cricket, mercifully, is rarely won on paper. Tony Gauna was quite magnificent with the ball, tearing through the innings for 5-25, while Nigel Thirkell matched him wicket for wicket with 5-43 and eight parsimonious maidens that strangled any hope of a chase — J Archer, Don Fermor and Ken Baines all departed without troubling the scorer. Gordon Dent had rather a torrid time of it behind the stumps, 12 byes going begging, but redeemed himself handsomely with the bat's absence forgiven by his gloves' generosity being overlooked entirely. West Farleigh fell for 83.

A day of milestones too — Paul Bowles brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, and Nigel Thirkell passed 100 career wickets, both achievements that rather put our modest total in the shade.

Fifteen runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved: a triumph of bowling over batting, and none the less sweet for it.