🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 02 Oct 1977 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformWDDDW

There are days when winning the toss feels like the easy bit, and Sunday was one of them. I called correctly, saw no earthly reason to do anything but bat first, and the lads set about proving me right in fits and starts. Paul Bowles was the man of the innings, ghosting past his fifty and on to a thoroughly composed 74, while Tim Thirkell stood at the other end lending quiet, sensible support with a well-made 52 of his own. Between them they did most of the heavy lifting.

The rest of the card, if I'm honest, made for less cheerful reading. Colin Dicker, Martin Mears and Keith Miller all trooped back for ducks, and I shall draw a merciful veil over the details rather than dwell on them here. Still, 161 for 9 from our 41 overs was a total with enough substance to work with, and work with it we duly did.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger there is quiet satisfaction to be had: I'm sitting fifth in the 1st XI run charts with 316 to my name, Paul leads the Married averages with his 74, and Brian Woodcock tops the Singles pile on 50. Plenty still to play for on all fronts.

As for the chase, we strolled home by 9 wickets, barely breaking stride. All in all, a thoroughly good day for the club, ducks and all.

Sat 01 Oct 1977 🧢 1st XIv Lordswood CC · HomeformWWDLD

The toss went against us — as it so often does — and Lordswood CC, our visitors, wasted no time electing to bat. Not that I minded overly; there's an honest pleasure in taking the new ball on a morning that still smelled of dew and quiet optimism.

They ground their way to 130 for 6 from their 53 overs, a couple of watchful contributions of 25 and 22 doing most of the damage down the order, with Keith Miller chipping in a brisk 20 alongside them. I was fortunate enough to find some rhythm with the ball, leading the attack with three for 42 — seven of those overs going for nothing at all, which felt rather like the one thing I did properly all afternoon — while Keith Miller picked up two for 18 and John Bloomfield one for 25 to keep things admirably tight.

In reply we mustered a modest 95 for 6 from our 40 overs. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, a watchful, well-made 68 not out that single-handedly kept us respectable, while Ian Webb, Tim Thirkell and Brian Woodcock each contributed the same golden nothing to proceedings — there is safety in numbers, if not in scorebooks.

Paul continues to lead our run charts for the season with 1,581, and I'll modestly note I'm topping the wicket column with 83. In the end honours were shared — a draw that flattered nobody and disappointed nobody either, which, on reflection, is exactly the sort of result Saturday cricket was invented for.

Wed 28 Sep 1977 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWLDWD

Here's the match report:

I'll confess I lost the toss at The Mote, which meant we were shown straight out into the field – hardly the afternoon I'd have chosen, but there's a certain honesty to bowling first that appeals to the traditionalist in me. Allan Cooper proved the difference, spinning his way to a magnificent 5-39 with eight maidens thrown in for good measure – miserly barely covers it. Trevor Back weighed in with 3-44, and I managed to prise out a couple myself for 25, with Eddie Page and David Sayer both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. J. Shepherd's 22 and David Twiddy's 21 were the best The Mote could muster, and for all their effort they were bowled out for 113 in the 43rd over – a total that never felt quite substantial enough.

Chasing 117 is never entirely comfortable, whatever the scoreboard suggests, but Nigel Thirkell's 34 and Paul Bowles's 33 saw us home in good order, and we closed on 117/4 with overs and wickets to spare. A word too for Allan, whose five-for today lifts him past Frank Taylor and into 15th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list – no small achievement, and thoroughly deserved.

With Nigel still leading our 1977 run charts and yours truly out in front with the ball, it's shaping into rather a fine season. A six-wicket win, then, earned with bat, ball, and a good deal of Kentish sunshine. Onwards indeed.

Sat 24 Sep 1977 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWWWDL

Saturday 24th September and West Farleigh rolled up for what turned out to be our last hurrah of the 1977 season. I lost the toss again — some things never change — and we were put into the field.

West Farleigh made a solid fist of it, 154 for 7 off their 42.3 overs, built around a fine fifty from Roger Crooks, with Reg Oldfield and Don Fermor chipping in handsomely either side of him. Credit to Terry Donovan, whose 2 for 53 kept things honest, and I managed to prise out a couple myself for 58. But the real story with the ball was Nigel Thirkell, three maidens of parsimonious, teeth-gritting accuracy that must have driven their middle order to distraction.

Chasing 155, we never quite got the rhythm going, subsiding to 114 for 9 off our 32 overs. I got my head down for 49 and did most of the scoring, though I'd have swapped every one of those runs for a touch more support from the other end. Jim Hall and Martin Mears both trudged back for ducks, and the Duck Club ledger grows fatter still — 🦆🦆 for the collection.

Not a bad way to add to the run tally for the year, mind — 1,513 now and counting. In the end, honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. On reflection, a fair result: we bowled with more discipline than we batted, and a draw against a side who made 154 probably flatters us more than it should. Still, cricket's a funny old game, and there's always next season.

Thu 22 Sep 1977 🧢 Midweek XIv WC West Kent Wanderers CC · HomeformWWLDW

Wednesday nights are usually when I do the arithmetic on the season, and this one gave me plenty to chew over. Winning the toss on a fine September evening, I had no hesitation putting West Kent Wanderers into the field — a decision that looked rather clever once Paul Brattle got stuck in for a fine fifty, well supported by Nigel Thirkell's 41 and Micky Back's 27. We closed on a handy 167/9 from our 38.3 overs, though poor John Thirkell will want the scorebook burned rather than filed — a golden duck to nurse through the tea interval.

Chasing 168, the Wanderers never quite got away from us. Brian Piper was magnificent with the ball, 3-12 and three maidens besides — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen playing for their guard rather than their shots. I chipped in with 2-42, Paul Bowles picked up 1-3, and between us we kept the visitors pinned to 119/9 off their 45, M. Brown's 22 the top score amid the rubble. A draw was the fair result when neither side could quite land the killer blow.

Small mercies for the club ledger, mind: Nigel's 41 nudges him past Frank Brattle into 7th on our all-time run-scorers list, he sits 2nd in this year's Midweek XI charts on 196, and I find myself leading the wicket-takers with 19. Honours shared on the field, then, but rather a good night for the record books.

Sun 18 Sep 1977 🧢 1st XIv MH Mersham Hatch · AwayformWWWWD

Sunday last took us down to Mersham Hatch, and having won the toss I fancied our chances first up on a pitch that looked, in the words of every optimistic skipper before me, "there for the taking." We were bowled out for 131 in 44.4 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Paul Bowles, whose 38 held the innings together, and Paul Brattle, who chipped in a handy 20. As for my own part in proceedings, the less said the better — a golden duck, out without troubling the scorers, which is not the example a captain likes to set when he's just insisted on batting first.

In the field, though, we were rather more like it. Nigel Thirkell was in unplayable form, turning it square for 5-58, and Allan Cooper backed him up nicely with 2-39 and three maidens that gave the batsmen nothing to work with. We had them in some bother early on, seeing off J. Copeland and S. Marshall cheaply, but F.H. Ames had other ideas, cruising to 74 not out, ably assisted by D. Bromley's unbeaten 28, and between them they steered Mersham Hatch home by three wickets in 30.5 overs.

Not our day, then, though Bowles continues to lead the 1st XI run charts handsomely and Thirkell sits second among the wicket-takers — reassurance enough that the season isn't lost. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 17 Sep 1977 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformLWWWW

I put us in to bat when the coin ran kindly, and by the close I couldn't have wished for a fairer send-off from the summer. Nigel Thirkell batted like a man with all afternoon and nothing else on his mind, motoring to a majestic 106 not out, while brother Tim kept him honest company with a classy unbeaten 66 — the sort of stand that has opposition captains checking their watch and their bowling changes in equal despair. Paul Brattle chipped in a useful 24, and we declared, or rather ran out of overs, on a handsome 200 for 2 from our 38. Poor Paul Bowles, meanwhile, was back in the pavilion before he'd troubled the scorers — a duck to file alongside the good stuff, as club cricket insists we always must.

Defending it, Southborough gave us a proper afternoon's work. Phil Hobbs led their reply with 36, Gordon Baldwin and David Thorpe both weighing in with 26 apiece — the latter seeing them home unbeaten — while Martin Thomas departed for nought at the other end. Paul Bowles atoned handsomely with the ball, 3 for 49, and I found some rhythm of my own to finish with 3 for 59, four of those overs maidens, which on this pitch felt like small victories in themselves. Nigel added a wicket too, for good measure.

In the end neither side could quite land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but a thoroughly entertaining one, and with Tim's 66 easing him past Ray Howard into 12th on the club's all-time run list, there was plenty to raise a glass to in the bar afterwards.

Wed 14 Sep 1977 🧢 Midweek XIv TT Tonbridge Trade · HomeformDWWLD

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 14 September 1977. Tonbridge Trade at home, and a fine one to have on the card.

Winning the toss, I put Tonbridge Trade in, and it proved the right call. They battled to 131 all out from 45.3 overs, P. Styles top-scoring with 31 and J. Hunt chipping in with 24, but our bowlers never let them settle. John Thirkell was magnificent, tearing through with 4-30, while R King and Martin Mears offered splendid support, taking 3-23 and 2-13 respectively, and King's two maidens spoke to a spell where not a run came easily.

Chasing 132, we made light work of it, reaching 137/3 in 30.3 overs. Nigel Thirkell was simply imperious, striding to 91 not out and carrying the innings almost single-handedly, with Martin Mears adding a tidy 21 alongside him. I contributed my own small share along the way, though the day belonged to Nigel, who in passing his fifty also brought up 5,000 career runs for the club — a milestone worth raising a glass to, and one that had the boundary applauding for rather longer than usual. Eight byes did rather give the game away for poor Jim Hall behind the stumps, a lesson for another day.

Nigel now sits second in the Midweek XI run charts with 155, and John second in the wicket charts with 9 — form both will want to carry forward. Seven wickets to spare, two points banked, and a genuinely handsome afternoon's work all round.

Sun 11 Sep 1977 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformDWWWW

Sunday 11th September saw us venture down to Beacon CC in Cornwall, a long enough drive that by the toss I'd half forgotten what I was calling. Not that it mattered — I lost it anyway, and Beacon chose to bat, leaving us to toil first under the Cornish sky.

Toil we did, and not without reward. Beacon were shot out for 135 in 41.4 overs, John Hutchins top-scoring with a stubborn 22, but the day belonged to Ron Hickman, whose 4-32 (four maidens to boot — the man barely let the ball off the leash) did the real damage. Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2-22 and Martin Mears took 1-6, and between them they never let Beacon settle.

Chasing 136, we made harder work of the simpler task, losing our first wicket for just 1 run before Gary Marshall and Nigel Thirkell restored order with a fine 77-run stand for the third wicket. Marshall finished unbeaten on a well-crafted 57, Thirkell chipping in 41 of his own, and we eventually strolled home at 139/3 in 40.5 overs. Poor David Buck contributed his customary duck 🦆, and Allan Cooper will want a word with himself after conceding 12 byes among a generous 31 extras.

Seven wickets to the good, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon by the sea. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our wicket charts and sit handsomely second among the run-scorers — the man is having quite a summer. A good day for the club.

Sat 10 Sep 1977 🧢 Tour XIv PC Perranarworthal CC · AwayformDWWW

The road to Perranarworthal is a long one, and I confess I spent much of it wondering whether the sandwiches would outlast the journey. They didn't, quite, but no matter — the coin fell kindly and I had no hesitation in putting us in, a decision that for once looked sound rather than merely stubborn. We rattled along nicely to 176 for 6 from our 45, Paul Bowles the architect with a fine 60, well supported by John Copplestone's 24 and Andrew Moss's 22, the pair adding a crucial 60 for the third wicket while I did my best impression of a supportive spectator at the non-striker's end.

Defending it was another matter entirely, as it usually is at Perranarworthal. John Hall gave us a proper fright with 64, and when he and Walter Brotherton (32) put on 79 for the second wicket, I began mentally rehearsing my excuses for the clubhouse. Mercifully A Gilbert departed for a golden duck, and Paul Bowles turned magician with 4 for 30 to drag us back into it. I chipped in with 1 for 27, and Allan Cooper bowled with real discipline — four maidens and 1 for 65 — to help squeeze the last breath from them.

A word, too, for Bowles, who with those four wickets slipped past Gordon Fenner into fifth on the club's all-time list, and continues to lead our run and wicket charts this season as if the rest of us were mere extras.

A nervy, gutsy, thoroughly satisfying win by 9 runs. Onwards.

Fri 09 Sep 1977 🧢 Tour XIv CC Cornwall Crusaders · AwayformDWW

I put us in against Cornwall Crusaders on a Friday that started well when the coin obliged and I sent them out to field. We stumbled to 8-1 before finding our feet, and it was Paul Brattle who steadied things with a fine 41, well backed by Nigel Thirkell's 24 and Gary Marshall's 21, taking us to a respectable 147/9 off our 45. Spare a thought, as ever, for Andrew Moss, whose golden duck earns him this week's spot in the Duck Club ledger — the walk of shame never gets any shorter.

Defending totals is where matches are won or lost, and for a while it looked ominous as the Crusaders' openers put on 67 before the first wicket fell, G Edwards eventually top-scoring with 43 and G Husband chipping in 32. But once that stand broke, we turned the screw ruthlessly, ripping through the order from 67-1 to 84-4 in a blur, with T Angove and M Bryant both back in the hutch without scoring. Jon Harris was simply unplayable, spinning his way to 5-29, while Nigel Thirkell bowled with real discipline for 4-41 and three maidens. I managed a useful 17 with the bat earlier in proceedings, which I'll happily take.

A nod too to Jon Harris, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club — a proper landmark on a good afternoon. With Paul Bowles leading the 1977 Tour XI run charts on 236 and Nigel Thirkell topping the wickets with 11, the season is shaping up nicely. We got home by 32 runs, and on a day like this, there's no arguing with the scoreboard — a thoroughly good day for the club.

Thu 08 Sep 1977 🧢 Tour XIv GC Grampound Road CC · AwayformDW

Called it right at the toss last Thursday down at Grampound Road, and there was never much doubt I'd have first use of a wicket that looked made for batting. So it proved: Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, an assured 88, while Andrew Moss ground out a fine 58 alongside him, the pair putting on 139 for the first wicket before either so much as looked troubled. Gary Marshall chipped in with 21 to push us to a handsome 201 for 6 off our 42 overs. Poor Trevor Back, meanwhile, has a nought to his name and the long walk back to the pavilion for his trouble.

Defending it, we never quite let Grampound Road settle. J Warne battled to 36, well supported by A Saunders (34) and M Ford (26), and their third-wicket pair threatened to make a match of it with 58 together, but the innings unravelled beautifully from our end — 110 for 3 became 112 for 6 in the blink of an eye, with P Coombe and M Brewer both back in the hutch without scoring. Paul Bowles, not content with his runs, took the ball and ran through them with 5 for 11, a spell to savour. I weighed in with 2 for 26 and a useful 18 with the bat, Keith Miller took one, and Ron Hickman bowled three tidy maidens. Nine byes gave Jim Hall an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, but no matter.

A satisfying 51-run win, and two points banked. Bowles now tops both the run charts on 219 and, well, everything else this season — I'll happily settle for leading the wickets on 7.

Wed 07 Sep 1977 🧢 Tour XIv SC St Just CC · AwayformD

Wednesday 07 September saw us on the road to St Just, and with the coin falling kindly I had no hesitation in putting us in to bat — a decision I would spend the rest of the afternoon quietly reassessing. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, a fine 71 that dragged us to 165 all out from 46.3 overs, while your captain's contribution was rather less illustrious: a golden duck, out first ball, the walk of shame performed in full view of the tea hut.

In the field, though, we found our mettle. St Just fought hard through M May (43), well supported by J Rowe (31) and P Pearce (27), but once the innings turned it turned quickly — 134-6 became 142-9 in a hurry, with B Williams, A Lawry and K Byrne all sent back without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris led the line superbly with 4-45, Nigel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 3-38, and Trevor Back took 1-37, while Allan Cooper strangled the middle overs with four maidens of pure discipline. St Just were all out for 146 from 47.4 overs, leaving us victors by 19 runs.

As for the season's charts, Paul Bowles continues to lead the Tour XI run-scorers on 131, with Nigel Thirkell top of the wicket pile on five. A captain, they say, must lead by example — on this occasion I led rather more by cautionary tale. Still, a golden blob and a golden result: I'll take that trade every time.

Tue 06 Sep 1977 🧢 Tour XIv PC Paul CC · Awayform—

Skipper's Log — Tuesday 6th September 1977. Away to Paul CC, I lost the toss and duly found us stuck in the field, which on a warm afternoon is never quite the news you want. Paul CC ground their way to 182 for 8 from their 54 overs, Steve Snell the chief architect with a patient 38, well supported by L Hicks (35) and Geoff Osborne (34), the pair adding a stubborn 53 for the sixth wicket just when we thought we had them. Ron Hickman was superb throughout, 3 for 44 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, while Nigel Thirkell (2-49) and Paul Bowles (1-34) chipped away either end.

Set 183 to win, we replied with 125 for 7 from our 42, and for a while it looked rather promising. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, 60 well earned, with Nigel Thirkell (33) alongside him in an excellent 88-run stand for the second wicket. Then, as so often happens at this level, the wheels came off spectacularly — 103 for 2 became 105 for 5 in the blink of an eye, with Jim Hall and Keith Miller both departing for ducks. I confess I joined them in the quacking department myself; the less said, the better. Eight byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Jim Hall.

There was, happily, real cause for celebration: Paul Bowles brought up 9,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved. Honours were shared in the end — a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed nobody, which is perhaps the most English result of all.

Sun 04 Sep 1977 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformLLWWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 4th September 1977, and the road took us out to Staplehurst. Winning the toss, I had few doubts about batting first, and it proved the right call as we posted a very respectable 179 for 8 from our 45 overs. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day, 88 well-crafted runs, with sterling support from Paul Brattle's 59. Not every man had his name in lights, mind — Gary Marshall, Jim Hall and Martin Mears all trooped back for ducks, but the platform was set regardless.

Defending it, we bowled and fielded like a side who fancied their afternoon. Staplehurst were shot out for 129 in 46.4 overs, Bev Taylor's 26 and C Rogers's 21 the only real resistance, while I Pullen and B. Streatfield joined the pavilion's growing duck collection. Martin Thompson was rampant with 3 for 6, and I was glad to chip in with 2 for 28 and five maidens, Tony Gauna weighing in with 2 for 39 alongside. Jim Hall had a trickier time behind the stumps, 11 byes leaking through, but no one begrudged him that on a day when the ball was doing plenty.

With the season ledger now showing me atop the 1st XI run charts on 1426, and Martin Thompson fourth in the wickets with 33, there's a pleasing sense of things clicking into place. A fine win by 50 runs, and a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sat 03 Sep 1977 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformLLLWW

Saturday the 3rd of September found us on the road to Folkestone, where I lost the toss and watched Folkestone elect to bat — no great surprise on a morning that looked made for batting first, though we had other ideas once the ball was in our hands. They compiled 150 all out from their 46 overs, Jim Howgego batting with real authority for his 52, well supported by Andrew Miles's 31, while David Curran and David Bourne both departed without troubling the scorers. Malcolm Pay was the pick of a disciplined attack with 3-16, and I was pleased enough with my own afternoon's work, finishing with 3-18 and six maidens — not a run given away lightly — while Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 1-43.

Chasing 151, we wobbled our way to 151/6 from 36.1 overs, which sounds tidier on paper than it felt in the deckchairs. Nigel Thirkell, having already done his bit with the ball, turned in a fine 61 to lead the chase, Jim Hall saw us home unbeaten on 36, and Paul Brattle's 28 kept the middle order honest.

Two milestones worth raising a glass to: Jim Hall brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, and Mike Iliffe's unassuming 7 nudged him past Maurice Fenner into 17th on our all-time run list. A scrappy, hard-fought afternoon, but four wickets and two points is two points nonetheless — and we'll take it gladly on the drive home.

Wed 31 Aug 1977 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformWDWWL

Wednesday, and the toss fell kindly - I had no hesitation in asking Gravesend to have a bowl first, a decision that looks either shrewd or daft by close of play, and thankfully today it was the former.

Brian Piper played beautifully for 45, David Buck's 35 gave the innings real backbone, and Paul Bowles finished unbeaten on 23 to see us to a healthy 144/4 from our 35 overs. Less happily, poor Paul Brattle endured the walk of shame for nought - these things happen to the best of us, usually when we're least expecting it.

With the ball, Nigel Thirkell was quite magnificent, 4-13 from eight remarkable maidens, the sort of spell that makes the rest of us look faintly ornamental by comparison. I chipped in with 4-30 myself, Trevor Back picked up one, and between us we reduced Gravesend to 115/9. Stuart Waterton's gutsy 61 and Simon Hinks's 22 were the only real resistance, while M David, C Biddlecombe and R Card all trooped off without so much as a run to their name.

A word too for Jim Hall, whose 21 nudged him past me into 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list - onwards and upwards, Jim. As for the season, Paul Bowles sits second in our 1977 midweek run charts with 109, and I'm rather proud to find myself leading the wickets column with 17.

In the end honours were shared, neither side able to force it home - a fair reflection, I'd say, of two sides giving as good as they got.

Mon 29 Aug 1977 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWLLLW

Lost the toss at Bearsted on Monday and were sent out to field first, which on a warm August afternoon is not always the captain's preferred script, but the lads set about it with good cheer. Bearsted ground their way to 163 all out from 51 overs, Anthony Cornwell threatening to bat all day with a well-made 62, nudged along by Colin Fleetwood and Mick Filmer with 21 apiece. We did our bit too, though — Robin Cunningham and Bryan Elswood both departed for ducks at our hands, which always raises a cheer from the boundary. The day, though, belonged to Martin Thompson, whose 5-46 was a five-for richly deserved and the sort of spell that makes a captain's job easy. Tony Gauna toiled away superbly for 3-55, six maidens testament to a line that gave nothing away, with Nigel Thirkell chipping in a tidy 1-22.

With 164 to chase, Paul Brattle played the innings of the day, 86 not out and still there at the close, while Paul Bowles gave him fine company with a brisk 51 past his own fifty. We strolled home by 8 wickets with overs to spare. Bowles continues to lead our 1977 run charts in some style, and I'm pleased to say I still lead the wicket-takers — though on this evidence the bowling attack hardly needs my help. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 28 Aug 1977 🧢 1st XIv HC Hempstead CC · HomeformDWLLL

Sunday 28th August, and we welcomed Hempstead CC to Linton Park under grey skies and greyer prospects, having lost the toss and been invited to field first — never my favourite instruction, but there we are.

It turned out rather well. Hempstead were bowled out for a modest 90 in 39.2 overs, C Smith's 23 the only real resistance, while P Benham and G Cooper trudged back without so much as a scoring stroke to their names. The star of the show was Nigel Thirkell, spinning a web few could escape for a magnificent 5-26, with Allan Cooper strangling the life out of the innings with five miserly maidens and Trevor Back chipping in with one. I managed 3-18 myself, which I'm rather chuffed to report nudged me past Gordon Fenner into 4th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — the sort of milestone one tries to mention only once, lest it become insufferable.

Chasing 91 should have been a formality, and in the loosest sense of the word it was — though not before poor Keith Miller endured the walk of shame for a duck, and the innings wobbled to 91/8 in 48.1 overs before we scraped home by two wickets. Nigel continues to purr along nicely too, sitting 2nd in the season's run charts with 993, while I find myself leading the wicket column with 73.

Two points banked, nerves thoroughly shredded, and the tea urn never more welcome. A win's a win — we'll take it and say no more.

Sun 21 Aug 1977 🧢 1st XIv Lordswood CC · HomeformWDWLL

Sunday 21st, and Lordswood came calling on a day that promised more than it delivered — for us, at any rate. I won the toss and, in a fit of what I can only call misplaced optimism, put us in. Thirty-one overs and four balls later we were all out for 54, a total that flattered to deceive largely thanks to Tim Thirkell's stout 28. Elsewhere the innings had the structural integrity of a wet paper bag, with David Buck, Trevor Back and Jim Hall all completing the walk of shame for ducks. Three in one innings takes some doing, lads.

To the bowling crease, then, where the afternoon at least regained some dignity. Trevor Back, evidently saving his best for after his blob with the bat, tore through them with 4-21, ably backed by Allan Cooper's miserly 2-6 off six maidens and Nigel Thirkell's 2-20. Henderson Carrington and N. Carter both departed without troubling the scorers, and Lordswood were made to sweat for their 58-8 in 34.2 overs — though sweat, in the end, was all it cost them.

Amid the wreckage, honours: Trevor Back brought up his 50th career wicket, and Jon Harris's unassuming 8 nudged him past Jim Hall into 24th on the club's all-time run list. Nigel Thirkell, meanwhile, continues his imperious season, sitting second in both the 1977 run and wicket charts.

Not our day, beaten by two wickets with runs to spare in the tank we never filled. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 20 Aug 1977 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformDWDWL

1977 season, unbeaten spirit, all that — here's the report.

Saturday last, and Bobbing Court CC made the trip to Linton Park, which was more than the coin managed for them — I called correctly and, with a wicket that looked full of runs, had no hesitation in putting us in. What followed was less a batting innings than a cautionary tale. We shuffled to 85 all out from 46.5 overs, saved from complete embarrassment only by Paul Brattle's spirited 47. Elsewhere the scorebook made grim reading, with Tim Thirkell, Jim Hall and Keith Miller all departing without troubling the scorers. As for your captain, I can report a golden blob — out first ball, which is one way of leading from the front, though not the way I'd recommend.

With the ball, at least, we showed some fight. Nigel Thirkell set the tone with the wickets of the day, finishing with 1-37, but Bobbing Court's Richard Witts (37 not out) and J Gorf (36) had other ideas, and the visitors eased home at 86/3 in 27 overs, wrapping things up with seven wickets and plenty of overs to spare.

Not our finest afternoon, then — though Nigel Thirkell continues to be the one bright thread running through our season, sitting second in both the run and wicket charts with 984 runs and 39 wickets to his name. As for the rest of us: beaten by seven wickets, humbled by a duck of ducks, and thoroughly reminded that cricket is a great leveller. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 14 Aug 1977 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · HomeformWDWDW

Sunday last, we welcomed Sibton Park CC to Linton Park, and having won the toss I did what any captain riddled with misplaced optimism does on a good-looking morning — stuck us in to bat. Whether that decision will feature in my memoirs remains to be seen. We laboured to 111 all out in 43.4 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Paul Brattle's watchful 29 and Nigel Thirkell's 28, the pair doing the sort of unglamorous graft that keeps a scorebook ticking. Elsewhere the effort was rather more decorative than productive — Jim Hall, Trevor Back and Tony Gauna each contributed a golden duck, proof that cricket has a cruel sense of humour and a fondness for threes.

Defending 111 always demanded discipline, and for a long while we got it. Nigel Thirkell was superb with the ball, seven maidens and 1-10 of positively miserly economy, while Allan Cooper and Trevor Back chipped in a wicket apiece to keep the visitors honest. I managed 1-something myself among the bowling figures, and with the bat added a watchful 16 — which I'm reliably informed has nudged me past Jim Hall into 24th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, a statistic I shall treasure quietly and mention often. Paul Woodward, though, played the innings that mattered, an unbeaten-in-spirit 28 steering Sibton home to 113/5 in 41.2 overs.

Beaten by five wickets, then, but not disgraced. There was enough good cricket in there — Thirkell's bowling especially — to suggest we'll be better for the experience next week.

Sat 13 Aug 1977 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLWDWD

Saturday 13 August 1977, and Headcorn CC rolled up to Linton Park with the sun out and, thanks to a lost toss, the bat in their hands. Not the start I'd have chosen, but the lads set about it with good cheer. Headcorn crept to 156/7 from their 42 overs, John Phipps digging in for an unbeaten 43 and getting handy support from G Wickens (36) and D Excell (27), while poor Richard Chapman never troubled the scorers, back in the hutch for a duck. Martin Thompson did the heavy lifting with the ball, 3-66, John Bloomfield chipped in with 2-13, I managed 1-17 myself, and Nigel Thirkell bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the church collection plate — four maidens and not a run given away lightly.

Chasing 157, we got there in some style, five wickets down with eight overs unused. Tim Thirkell was the man of the match by some distance, cruising to 63 not out and making the winning of it look altogether too easy, with Jim Hall's 30 a fine second act. Jim's afternoon behind the stumps was rather less serene — 11 byes conceded suggests our bowlers were finding some awkward lines — but he'll not mind, as those very runs nudged him past me into 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a small piece of history I'm happy to have been elbowed aside for.

A thoroughly earned two points and a five-wicket win. Not a classic for the ages, but exactly the kind of afternoon that keeps a captain believing in this funny old game.

Fri 12 Aug 1977 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sennocke CC · AwayformWWDWW

Friday the twelfth of August found us on the road to Sennocke, and for once the coin did as it was told — down came the right side, and in we went to bat.

It was not a vintage top order, but Steve Gower made sure the scorebook looked respectable, batting right through for a superb 93 not out, well past his fifty and unbeaten at the close of our innings. Dick Langridge chipped in with 23 and Paul Bowles with 22, steady support while wickets fell around them, and we limped rather than sprinted to 160 for 7 off our 49.1 overs. Special mention, as tradition demands, for Mike Iliffe, who contributed a golden duck to the club ledger and will be buying the teas for some weeks yet.

Defending 160 always felt a stretch, and so it proved, though not without a fight. S. Fry led their reply with 36, well supported by N. Boardman's 34 and Steve Ledsham's 30, while M. Taylor at least had the decency to depart without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 4 for 52, Trevor Back chipped in with 1 for 33, and David Buck was miserly in the extreme, sending down four maidens. Sennocke got there with 161 for 6 off 38.5 overs.

Four wickets the difference, then — no disgrace, but no cigars either. Gower continues to bat like a man on a mission atop the season's run charts, and Back's among the wickets too, so the engine room is purring even if the chassis rattles. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sun 07 Aug 1977 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformDLWDW

It was Staplehurst who made the trip to Linton Park on a Sunday in August, and having called correctly I did what any captain does on winning the toss with no earthly idea what the pitch would do — I stuck us in. Paul Bowles set about repairing my potential misjudgement with a splendid 62, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 52 of his own, the pair of them doing most of the heavy lifting while Tim Thirkell's 20 rounded things off nicely. We closed on 172/6 from our 46.2 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, perhaps, but a platform all the same.

Defending it, we set about Staplehurst with what I like to think was quiet menace. Paul Bowles, evidently not content with his runs, turned his arm over to devastating effect and returned 3-29, with Keith Miller (2-19) and Ron Hickman (1-18) chipping away either side of him — Hickman in particular bowling with the meanness of a man who begrudges every run, four maidens to his name. But B- Streatfield had other ideas, farming the strike beautifully for an unbeaten 50, ably assisted by B- Wibberley's 30, and between them they steered Staplehurst to a watchful 149/7 from their 51 overs.

So honours shared, and on reflection a fair result — neither side could quite land the killer blow. Paul Bowles continues his extraordinary season, now sitting on 1361 runs for the year, with Tony Gauna's 23 wickets keeping him handily placed in the bowling charts. A draw, then, but an honest one, and I'll happily take that over a defeat any Sunday.

Sun 31 Jul 1977 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWDLWD

Sunday brought us out to The Mote, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they won the toss, chose to bat, and left us chasing shadows in the field for fifty-five overs. David Twiddy settled in and made hay with a fine 58, Mike Foster stayed unbeaten on 45, and a Shepherd chipped in 26, the pair of them dragging the total to a stiff-looking 183/7. Mind you, we did manage to send the other Shepherd packing without so much as a run to his name — the kind of duck that livens up a Sunday afternoon. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 3-38, well backed up by Allan Cooper's 2-52 and Nigel Thirkell's tidy 1-24, the latter positively parsimonious with five maidens to his name.

Chasing 184, we could have folded meekly, but Paul Bowles had other ideas, playing the anchor role beautifully for 74, with Paul Brattle right alongside him striking a handsome 66 and Nigel Thirkell chipping in 20 for good measure. Between them they saw us home to 187/5 in 44.1 overs — five wickets and a fair bit of relief to spare.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, capped off by the season charts: Bowles now sits atop the runs table with 1299 for the year, and I'm rather chuffed to lead the wickets column with 68. Onwards indeed.

Sat 30 Jul 1977 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · AwayformDWDLW

Skipper's Log, Saturday 30 July 1977 — away at Sibton Park CC

Lost the toss again — I'm starting to think that coin has it in for me — and we were put into the field. Sibton batted with a good deal more patience than manners, grinding out 192 for 5 from their 54.4 overs, with Gordon Webb the chief tormentor on 90 not out and Geoff Kirk (38) and Colin Clark (30) offering him steady company. Martin Thompson was superb, 3 for 35 with four maidens that strangled the scoring better than any of us managed with the bat, and I chipped in with 2 for 62 — more graft than glamour, but wickets are wickets.

Our reply never quite had the legs to chase it down, closing on 163 for 7 from 43 overs. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day for a well-made fifty, with Paul Brattle (39) and Nigel Thirkell (23) lending good support, while poor Jim Hall departed for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he took the ribbing at tea with his usual good grace.

There was real cause for celebration, though: Tim Thirkell brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth far more than any single afternoon's result. So a draw it was — honours shared, nobody quite satisfied, but on a day like this, I'll happily take it.

Sun 24 Jul 1977 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · AwayformDDWDL

Sunday 24 July found us on the road to Sevenoaks Vine, and my luck with the coin remained resolutely absent — they called correctly and had no hesitation in batting first. It looked, for a while, like it might be a long afternoon in the field, but we stuck to our task manfully. Hugh Williams and company set about building something respectable, Williams unbeaten on 33, T Smith chipping in with 27 and Graham Sagar 26, while at the other end Steve Beaumont and Andrew Darry both trudged off for ducks. Nigel Thirkell was magnificent with the ball, four wickets for 34 and four maidens that strangled the life out of their innings, and I was pleased enough with my own contribution of three for 25 as we bowled them out for 140 in the 53rd over.

Chasing 141, we made a rare old fist of it. Nigel Thirkell, not content with his heroics in the field, carried on where he'd left off with a superb unbeaten 80, well supported by Paul Bowles's fine 53 — poor Paul Brattle's duck the only blemish on an otherwise handsome scorecard. We cantered home for the loss of just three wickets in the 33rd over.

A word for myself, if I may, just the once: those three wickets nudged me up to fifth on the club's all-time list, past Bowles himself, which felt a rather nice piece of symmetry given his runs that day.

A comfortable seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying day's cricket. Onwards we go.

Sat 23 Jul 1977 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformDDDWD

Won the toss on Saturday and, with the sort of misplaced confidence that has undone better captains than me, I sent Old Anchorians out to field. It didn't entirely repay the faith. We were bowled out for 96 in 44.2 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Jim Hall's gritty 23 and rather less to my own laboured 22 alongside him. Poor Giles Daubeny will want the scorebook burned — a duck to nurse all week — but between us we just about gave the bowlers something to defend.

And defend it we did, heroically if not quite successfully. Old Anchorians crept to 97 for 7 in 34.5 overs, a chase that should have been a formality against our total but somehow wasn't. P. Francis played the innings of the day, a polished half-century that did most of the damage, while Nick Kirkpatrick toiled magnificently for 3 for 40 to keep us in it. Paul Bowles and Martin Thompson chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Nigel Thirkell bowled with the miserliness of a man who resents every run scored off him, three maidens to his name.

Amid the near-miss, one thing to raise a glass to: this was my 200th appearance in Linton colours, and I'm rather touched the lads let me hobble to it in a losing cause. Paul Bowles continues to top the run charts with 1122 for the season, and I'll modestly note I still lead the wickets with 60. Beaten by three wickets in the end — no disgrace, but we'll be sharper next week.

Wed 20 Jul 1977 🧢 Midweek XIv MP Maidstone Police · HomeformDWWDW

Called correctly at the toss on Wednesday 20th July, and against Maidstone Police there was never much doubt about what I'd do with it — into the middle we went. Paul Brattle set the tone with a well-made 67, and he was handsomely supported by Malcolm Pay, unbeaten on 53, and Nigel Thirkell, who chipped in a tidy 51 of his own. Between the three of them we motored to 226 for 2 from our 38.5 overs, the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew his nails over it.

Defending it, the Police batted with more application than success. Hodgkinson did the honest bulk of the scoring with 44, Griffin lent a hand with 21, while Bates and Steve Bigg both trudged off for ducks. James Skinner bowled with real discipline, four maidens that gave nothing away, and I found the sort of rhythm every bowler dreams of and rarely gets, finishing with 9 for 42 as they were bowled out for 124. It also happened to be the over in which I brought up 500 career wickets — one for the mantelpiece, and not a bad afternoon to do it. As things stand this season, Malcolm sits second in the Midweek XI's run charts with 90, and I lead the wicket-takers with 13.

We ran out winners by 102 runs. A very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 17 Jul 1977 🧢 1st XIv SC Sennocke CC · HomeformWDDDW

Sunday last, we welcomed Sennocke CC to Linton Park under skies kind enough not to interfere with proceedings. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I stand by, whatever the umpires' union might say about a captain being biased in his own favour. Paul Brattle then proceeded to bat as though the rest of us were merely there to keep him company, carving out a magnificent 123 not out, while Tim Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 42 to help us to a healthy 203 for 3 off our 42 overs.

Sennocke came out fighting in reply, and N. Boardman's well-crafted 74 kept us honest, ably backed by A. Cooper's 52. T. Marsh, less fortunately, departed without troubling the scorers — a duck greeted, as tradition demands, with rather more sympathy from me than from the rest of the field. I got among the wickets myself with 3 for 91, while Tony Gauna bowled beautifully for 2 for 19 including three maidens, and Nigel Thirkell weighed in with 2 for 30. Sennocke closed on 200 for 9 off 53, agonisingly short.

A word for the history books: Tim's 42 nudged him past Terry Whittaker into 13th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — quiet immortality earned on a Sunday afternoon.

So, honours shared, and rightly so — a draw that flattered neither side nor shamed either. A proper afternoon of village cricket, and we'll take it.

Sat 16 Jul 1977 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformLWDDD

Saturday, 16 July 1977, and the road took us to Bowaters CC — a fixture I always relish, if only because I've never quite worked out how to bat well after two hours in a coach.

The toss went against us, and Bowaters, sensibly enough given the conditions, chose to have first knock. John Perkins gave us a proper going-over with a fine 72, well supported by Peter Sivyer (42) and Bob Bourne (22), and their 185/6 off 43.2 overs looked, at various points, considerably more menacing than it turned out to be. Martin Thompson bowled beautifully in a tight, miserly spell — 2-13 with three maidens, not a run given away lightly — while I found some rhythm of my own to finish with 3-55, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in for one.

Chasing 186, Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, a superb 85 that set the tempo and never let it drop, backed up handsomely by Paul Brattle (36) and Nigel Thirkell (34). We cantered home on 189/3 from 36 overs, seven wickets in hand and time to spare — and I even managed to pick up 3 wickets myself earlier in the day, which I shall mention only the once before someone accuses me of showing off.

The real story of the afternoon, though, was Paul Brattle bringing up 4,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth far more than any single afternoon's arithmetic, and one raised warmly in the bar. A good day for the club, all told: comfortable, characterful, and won by the bat as much as the ball.

Sun 10 Jul 1977 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformWLWDD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 10 July 1977

Winning the toss on a Sunday always feels like the easy part of captaincy; what you do with it is another matter. I fancied batting, and for a while it looked the right call — Allan Cooper played the innings of the day, 70 well beyond his fifty, with Ian Webb chipping in a tidy 31. Between them they dragged us to 153 all out from 43.3 overs, though the tail told a rather different story. Jim Hall, Alan Cradduck and I all trooped back for ducks, and I'll admit mine was the golden variety — first ball, no fuss, straight back to the pavilion to contemplate my sins. A captain is meant to lead by example; on this occasion the example was purely cautionary.

With the ball, happily, redemption was close at hand. Defending 153 is never comfortable, but Aylesford Paper Mills never quite got away from us. X Noel made a fighting 43, with useful support from N Willan and Michael Beeney (20 apiece), but Longley, Price and Humphries all departed without scoring, and the middle order simply couldn't build. I managed 3-17, Tony Gauna bowled beautifully for 2-23 with five miserly maidens, and Allan Cooper backed up his batting with 1-7. In the end they closed on 108/8 from their 48 overs, short of us but not shut out.

A draw it was, then — honours shared, and probably a fair reflection of a day where bat and ball each had their say. I'll take the wickets and try to forget the blob.

Sat 09 Jul 1977 🧢 1st XIv MV Medway Valley · HomeformLWLWD

Saturday the ninth of July, and Medway Valley rolled up looking rather too pleased with themselves. I won the toss — for once the coin behaved — and with not a cloud worth troubling a top-order batsman, I had no hesitation in taking first knock.

Paul Brattle then proceeded to bat as though he owned the ground, ambling to a magnificent hundred while the rest of us admired the view. Tim Thirkell chipped in with a brisk 36 and Ken Webb saw us safely along, unbeaten on 27, the pair shepherding us to 201 for 4 off our 46 overs — a total with a bit of go about it. Poor Malcolm Pay, alas, was undone for a duck, a blot on an otherwise handsome scorecard.

Defending it, we toiled honestly enough. Weir dug in for an unbeaten century of his own — the cheek of the man — with Pettitt keeping him company on 54 not out, and between them they steered Medway Valley to 169 for 3 off 57 overs, just enough to deny us. W. Taylor at least fell to our name, for nought. I managed 2 for 74 with the ball, doing my captain's duty if not covering myself in glory, while Terry Donovan picked up one for 34 and Paul Bowles bowled beautifully mean, six maidens and barely a run to show for it. Bowles continues to top our run charts this season with 1017, and I'll modestly note I still lead the wicket-takers on 50.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and the tea rather better than the cricket.

Sun 03 Jul 1977 🧢 1st XIv W Wanderers · HomeformWLWLW

Sunday brought Wanderers to Linton Park, and for once the coin actually favoured me — I called correctly and, with barely a cloud to worry us, had no hesitation in sending us in to bat. It proved a shrewd call, or possibly just a lucky one, as Paul Brattle set about compiling a truly superb hundred, finishing unbeaten on 119 and carrying the innings almost single-handedly. Brian Piper chipped in with a tidy 29 not out and Nigel Thirkell weighed in with 26, and by the time the shine had gone off both ball and bowlers we'd posted a handsome 209 for 2 from our forty overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than gnaw at it.

Defending it proved a longer afternoon. Wanderers batted with real application, Sudworth leading the way with 39, well supported by Thomas (38) and Bugg (34), and they chased the game hard across their full fifty overs. I had the pleasure of picking up 3 for 71 myself, with Nigel Thirkell again useful (2-36) and Trevor Back grabbing one, while Tony Gauna bowled beautifully in the shadows, four maidens and barely a boundary conceded off his bat.

In the end Wanderers closed on 171 for 6, and neither side could quite force matters home. Honours shared, then — a fair result on a good day's cricket, and I'll happily take a draw with a century and a decent bowling return in my back pocket.

Sat 02 Jul 1977 🧢 1st XIv Rainham (Kent) CC · HomeformDWLWL

I'm the acting captain and I've clearly overslept my alarm on the 2nd of July, since I need to write this bat report — but no time for that. Here's the match report:

There are days when the toss feels like a formality, and Saturday was one of them. Calling correctly against Rainham (Kent), I never seriously considered fielding first — not with a home strip and a side full of willing bats. What followed was a proper afternoon's batting, built almost entirely around Nigel Thirkell, who simply refused to get out, ending unbeaten on a magnificent 124. Paul Bowles chipped in with a tidy 21 and Allan Cooper with 20, while the Rainham bowlers were generous enough to gift us 25 in extras. Whether that was hospitality or wildness I shall leave for the tea-hut jury to decide. 213 for 5 from our 49 overs felt like a total with some substance to it.

With ball in hand, we were relentless. Rainham never got comfortable, losing Morris, Webb and Chambers without so much as a run between them — three ducks in an innings is not something you see every week, and I did feel a pang of sympathy watching it unfold. MacFarland's 45 and Glazier's 40 threatened briefly to make a match of it, but I found some rhythm of my own, taking 5 for 52 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — a performance I'm rather proud to report, though I'll allow myself only the one mention of it. Thirkell and Bloomfield mopped up the rest.

All out for 119, and we'd won by 94 runs. A splendid day all round — made sweeter still by Paul Bowles turning out for his 300th appearance in Linton colours. Tea has never tasted better.

Thu 30 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWDWLW

Thursday 30th June saw West Farleigh CC visit for what I like to remember as a "character-building" afternoon. I won the toss and elected to bat, a decision I still maintain was correct, even if the scorebook rather disagreed with me. We limped to 75/9 from our 16 overs, with only Brian Woodcock showing any real backbone, finishing unbeaten on 24 while wickets fell around him like autumn leaves. Jim Hall and Malcolm Pay both made the long walk back for ducks, and I shall say no more about that, in the spirit of club charity.

Seventy-five was never going to intimidate anyone, but we dug in in the field and made West Farleigh work for it. Tony Gauna was the pick of the attack, 2 for 16 of genuinely hostile probing, well supported by Allan Cooper (2-29) and Nigel Thirkell (1-25), and we even managed to send Trevor Back back without so much as a run to his name. But Roger Crooks had other ideas, top-scoring with 31, and West Farleigh eventually got home on 76/5 with two overs to spare.

Elsewhere in the ledger, Paul Bowles continues to lead our 1st XI run charts for the season with 955, and Allan Cooper sits second in the wicket-takers with 28 — both reminders that not everything about our summer has gone begging.

Five wickets down, then, and not our day. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Wed 29 Jun 1977 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformDDWWD

Under an English sky that couldn't quite make its mind up, we welcomed Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC to Linton Park, and I duly lost the toss — which, regular readers will know, is roughly my season's most reliable statistic. They chose to bat, and we set about the business of chasing leather round the outfield for 58 overs.

To our credit, we stuck at it nicely. Trevor Back was the pick of the attack with a fine 3-19, Nigel Thirkell weighed in with 3-25 and a positively parsimonious 7 maidens, and I managed to prise out a couple myself for 2-42 — figures I shall not be repeating twice in this report, however tempting. Sevenoaks were bowled out for 163, D. Walker top-scoring with 39, well supported by Peter Day (24) and S. Taylor (23), while R. Johnston and C. Hatt both departed without troubling the scorers.

A gettable target, then, and so it proved. Steve Gower played the innings of the day, a well-crafted 54, with Brian Piper and David Tolhurst each chipping in 29 apiece as we motored to 166/6 in 40 overs for a four-wicket win. Gower now sits proudly atop the season's run charts with 120, and I find myself, rather flatteringly, second in the wicket-takers' list on 4.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, capped with tea and the usual quota of dropped catches politely unmentioned. Onwards to the next one.

Sun 26 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv DC Dimanchians CC · HomeformWWDWL

We got over the line by 150 runs, and I'll admit that toss decision looks a lot more clever in hindsight than it felt at the time. Winning it and electing to bat was the right call, and Paul Bowles made it look positively simple with an unbeaten 122 — a proper captain's innings, even if I wasn't the one playing it. Nigel Thirkell chipped in nicely with 35 and Paul Brattle with 32, and between them we cruised to 229/3 from our fifty overs, the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

Then came the fun part. Dimanchians CC's reply never got going — B Kitchingham departed for a duck early doors, and it rather set the tone for what followed. I found some rhythm with the ball and spun through them for 6-14, with eight maidens thrown in for good measure, which I'll confess felt rather special. Nigel Thirkell and Allan Cooper mopped up a wicket apiece, and the opposition were bowled out for a modest 79 in 44.3 overs, never remotely troubling our total.

With Paul Bowles now sitting proudly atop the 1977 run charts on 950 and my own wicket tally climbing to 40 for the season, the form lines are pointing in the right direction. All told, a thumping 150-run win, a century, a six-for, and home for tea with time to spare — you don't get many better Sundays than that.

Sat 25 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · AwayformLWWDW

Since we won the toss and chose to bat — a decision I'll happily take credit for — the top order set about building something respectable on a fine Saturday down at Hythe. Nigel Thirkell was in imperious touch, sailing past his fifty to finish on 64, while I chipped in with 26 and Ken Webb held things together nicely with an unbeaten 26 of his own. Poor Paul Brattle wasn't so fortunate, back in the pavilion for a golden duck before he'd had time to admire the scenery. We closed on 157/5 from our fifty overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but enough, I hoped, to give the bowlers something to work with.

And work with it they did. Ian Brattle led from the front with an excellent 3-55, Nigel Thirkell followed his runs with the ball too, miserly as ever with five maidens on his way to 2-55, and Terry Donovan chipped in with 1-21. P Elston departed without troubling the scorers, which felt like justice of a sort. But P Cugley had other ideas, compiling a fine 74 and, ably supported by B Moseley's unbeaten 24, dragging Hythe home by three wickets from 161/7.

There was, at least, cause for genuine celebration amid the defeat: Ken Webb brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Terry Donovan passed 300 career wickets — milestones worth savouring long after the scoreline is forgotten. A frustrating afternoon, then, but one with real silver linings. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 21 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv LC Leybourne CC · HomeformWLWWD

Splendid game against Leybourne CC on Tuesday 21st June, and I'll admit the coin let me down before a ball was bowled — they won the toss and stuck us in the field. No matter; there's a particular joy in bowling first on a fresh Tuesday evening, and the lads made merry of it. Leybourne were bowled out for a modest 70 in just 16 overs, with three of their number departing without so much as a nibble at the scorebook — R. Hickmott, R. Joliffe and David Edmonds all back in the pavilion for ducks. Allan Cooper was the chief tormentor with a splendid 4-20, ably backed up by Martin Thompson (2-8) and John Bloomfield (2-10), the sort of tidy support bowling that makes a captain's job look almost easy.

Chasing 71 was never going to trouble us unduly, and so it proved. Nigel Thirkell batted with the calm assurance of a man who currently sits second in the club's season run charts (471 to his name), finishing unbeaten on 24, with Martin Mears chipping in a handy 21. We cantered home in 13.5 overs for the loss of just two wickets.

Worth noting, too, that Allan Cooper's efforts leave him second in the 1st XI's wicket charts with 25 for the summer — a fine return, and one that shows no sign of slowing.

An eight-wicket win, wrapped up with time to spare for tea and a modicum of self-congratulation. A thoroughly good day for the club, and precisely the sort of Tuesday that makes all the rained-off ones worthwhile.

Sun 19 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformWWLWW

Sunday the 19th of June found us trundling down to Bobbing Court, sun more or less behaving itself, and I called correctly at the toss — a rare enough event that I didn't hesitate to have a bat while the going was good.

Good it proved. Nigel Thirkell simply refused to get out, compiling a majestic 103 not out, the sort of innings that has the tea urn talked about for weeks, with Brian Piper ticking along nicely for an unbeaten 30 in support. We declared our efforts at 177 for 3 off the fifty, a total with a bit of substance to it.

Defending it, Ian Brattle was the pick of us, wonderfully mean with five maidens on his way to 2 for 17, while I chipped in with 1 for 13 and Piper doubled up with bat and ball for 1 for 20. Poor Paul Bowles had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes going begging, but Bobbing Court's Robinson (28 not out), Webb (27) and Best (20 not out) dug in gamely, and they closed on 105 for 5 — honours shared, neither side quite able to force it.

Two proud footnotes: Paul Brattle brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, and Nigel capped his century by passing 4,000 career runs for the club. With Bowles leading our season's run charts on 802 and yours truly topping the wicket pile on 34, the old firm remains in fine fettle. A draw, then, but a thoroughly satisfying one — the sort you drive home from still smiling.

Sat 18 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv YM YMCA Maidstone · AwayformDWWLW

I put us in after winning the toss, and for once the decision looked like genius rather than guesswork. Paul Bowles played the innings of the summer, a majestic 108, while Nigel Thirkell's 47 and Paul Brattle's 36 gave it real backbone as we cantered to 230/4 from our 42 overs. Tea was a happy affair.

Whatever YMCA Maidstone made of that target, they never looked like reaching it. S. Wyles battled to 20, but around him our attack simply ran riot — J. Golding, Dave Goodyer and R. Diamond all trudged back without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 6-17, including six maidens, which I'll confess to enjoying rather more than is strictly becoming in a captain. Nigel Thirkell chipped in handsomely too with 3-29, and between us we had them bowled out for a paltry 68 from 35 overs.

A win by 162 runs, then, and not a nervous moment in it. Paul Bowles continues to top the season's run charts in some style, and I find myself leading the wicket column, which is either a testament to hard graft or simply the law of averages catching up with me at last. Either way, a thoroughly good day for the club, and the tea urn will need refilling before we do it all again.

Thu 16 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv HK Hanwell (Kent) · HomeformWDWWL

Thursday the sixteenth of June, and Hanwell of Kent rolled up to Linton Park under skies that, for once, behaved themselves. I won the toss and had few doubts about our course of action — into the field we went, and a fine job the lads made of it. Sixteen overs brought the visitors just 85 for 7, P Norris alone standing firm for 28 not out while the rest came and went with more haste than composure, R Humphrey memorably departing without troubling the scorers. Allan Cooper was in irresistible form, tearing through with 4 for 35, and Martin Thompson chipped in handsomely with 3 for 10 — between them they left Hanwell's innings looking rather threadbare.

Chasing 86 to win, we made light work of it. Paul Brattle led from the front with a brisk 27, Tim Thirkell matched him stroke for stroke with 25, and Paul Bowles saw us home in style with an unbeaten 25 — 88 for 2 off just 11 overs told its own story. Bowles continues to sit proudly atop the season's run charts with 680 to his name, while Cooper's four-for nudges him further up the wicket table to second with 21.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved ones at that — an eight-wicket victory achieved with time to spare for the tea urn. A cracking afternoon's cricket, and precisely the sort of result that makes captaincy feel like the easiest job in the world.

Tue 14 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformWWDWW

Tuesday 14th June, 1977, and Aylesford Paper Mills CC rolled up to Linton Park under skies that promised more than they delivered. Won the toss and, in a fit of what I told the lads was tactical boldness, stuck us in — though "boldness" may have been overstating it once we subsided to 58 for 7 off our sixteen overs. Not our finest hour with the willow, and I daresay a few players will be having quiet words with their bats this week.

Still, cricket is a game of two innings, and there was hope yet with the ball in hand. Allan Cooper set about proceedings with real purpose, snaring 1 for 30 and looking every inch the man currently sat second in our 1977 wicket-takers' list — form, evidently, is temporary, but class is permanent. Alas, one X Noel had other ideas, compiling an unbeaten 29 and steering the Mill men home to 61 for 2 in just 10.5 overs. Briskly done, and rather more briskly than we'd have liked.

Beaten by four wickets, then, and no arguing with the arithmetic. Paul Bowles continues to lead our run charts with 655 to his name this summer, a reminder that not everything is doom and gloom in the Linton Park order. As for the rest of us — we'll dust ourselves off, have a pint, and be better for it next week. That's club cricket for you: humbling on a Tuesday, hopeful by Thursday.

Sun 12 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence & Highland Court CC · HomeformLWWDW

Sunday saw St Lawrence & Highland Court roll up, and my luck at the coin was, as ever, non-existent — they had first use and chose to bat. Fifty-two overs later they'd made 151 all out, built around a handsome fifty from J Hopkins (59), with useful support from Anthony Tremelling (27) and S. Edge (20). We took early wickets cheaply — Dixey and Arnold gone without scoring — and Allan Cooper ran through them with a superb 4-27, backed up nicely by Trevor Back (2-29) and Tony Gauna, who bowled four maidens on his way to 2-30 and didn't give a run away lightly.

Chasing 152, we got there with three wickets in hand from 51.4 overs, Trevor Back again the mainstay with 39, well supported by Jim Hall (34) and Paul Brattle (30). I chipped in where I could, though the top order did the heavy lifting.

Plenty to celebrate off the field too. Allan Cooper passed 200 career wickets — one for the mantelpiece indeed — and his four here also moved him past George Champion into 17th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Jim Hall's 34 nudged him past Bob Arnold into 25th on the run-scorers' roll of honour. And in the season's charts, Paul Bowles continues to lead the 1st XI with 641 runs, while I find myself, somewhat improbably, out in front with 27 wickets.

A fine win by three wickets, then, and one to enjoy on the drive home. Onwards.

Sat 11 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWLWWD

Saturday saw Rumwood CC visit us, and for once I lost the toss with something approaching optimism — short-lived, as they promptly elected to bat. Still, first use of the ball is no bad consolation prize, and the lads made the most of it in style. R- Moore departed without so much as a scratch on the scoreboard, and from there Rumwood never really got going. Terry Donovan was magnificent, tearing through with 4-34, while I chipped in with 3-18 and Martin Thompson bowled with real miserliness — 2-13 and three maidens to show for it. All out for 72 in 40.1 overs; a proper collective effort with the ball.

Chasing such a modest total ought to have been a formality, and in fairness we never looked like losing it, even if we made rather harder work of it than the scorebook suggests. Paul Brattle led the way with a tidy 21, Tim Thirkell weighed in with 20, and poor Jim Hall was undone for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us. I found some rhythm with the ball earlier and, not content with that, picked up a few useful runs too as we wobbled to 74/5 from 27.4 overs.

Five wickets to spare, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. Paul Bowles continues to plunder runs at the top of the season's charts, and I'll confess to a quiet pride in leading the wicket-takers — though I shall try to remain insufferable about it for as short a time as possible. All told: professional, unflashy, and exactly the sort of win a captain sleeps well on.

Mon 06 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWWLWW

Skipper's Log, Monday 6 June 1977: Bearsted CC the visitors, sun more or less on our side, and I won the toss and elected to bat — a decision I'm delighted to say vindicated itself, for once.

We posted 235/6 from our 57 overs, the innings built almost entirely around a magnificent unbeaten 122 from Paul Bowles, who batted with the serenity of a man entirely unbothered by the rest of us fretting in the pavilion. Paul Brattle chipped in a handy 24 and Tim Thirkell 23, but this was Bowles's day twice over — his century also brought up 8,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that had the tea urn working overtime in celebration.

Defending the total, we toiled hard as Bearsted crept to 168/8 from their 65 overs, Anthony Cornwell (36), C. Davies (32) and Brian Burnett (30 not out) doing their best to spoil the party. But Tony Gauna simply ran riot, 5-53 with seven maidens thrown in for good measure — bowling of a miserliness I can only admire from a safe distance at mid-off. I picked up 2-40 myself, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 1-39, but the day belonged to Gauna's arm.

In the end neither side could force it home, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but with Bowles reaching 8,000 runs and topping our run charts on 635, and Gauna's spell the stuff of legend, I'd call it a highly satisfactory stalemate.

Sun 05 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Stacians CC · HomeformWWWLW

Off strike he wondered why he'd bothered turning up, and by close of play he wondered why anyone else had bothered at all. Winning the toss on a fine Sunday, I had no hesitation putting Old Stacians in the field, and how the lads repaid that faith. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the summer, a truly magnificent 110, while his brother Tim chipped in an unbeaten 43 and Paul Brattle a tidy 38 to haul us up to 222 for 6 off our 42.2 overs. Only poor Alan Cradduck left the middle empty-handed, though I'm told he took it with his usual good grace and a duck's worth of ribbing from the boys.

With 222 on the board I fancied our chances, but even I couldn't have predicted quite how thoroughly Old Stacians would fold. J. Wise's 22 was the only real resistance, while Patten, Jordan and Wittwer all trooped back without so much as a run to their name. Brian Piper bowled beautifully for 4 for 10, Tony Gauna strangled the life out of the innings with four maidens, and I found some rare rhythm of my own, turning it prodigiously to finish with 5 for 24 as we bowled them out for a paltry 69 in 28.1 overs. Nine byes did rather suggest poor Jim Hall behind the stumps had a torrid afternoon of his own.

A word too for Paul Brattle, whose 38 nudges him past Cliff Anscombe into ninth on the club's all-time run charts — quietly, no fuss, exactly as he does everything.

A 153-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for Linton Park.

Sat 04 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv BK Beverley CC, Kent · HomeformWWWWL

Lost the toss again on Saturday and duly found ourselves asked to bowl first against Beverley CC of Kent — no bad thing, as it turned out, since it meant thirty-seven-odd overs of watching their innings fold apart at the seams. They limped to 99 all out, Furminger top-scoring with 29 and Collins chipping in 28, but precious little else. I can't pretend I wasn't rather pleased with how it went with the ball — four for 24, with four maidens thrown in for good measure — and I had sterling company in Martin Thompson, whose 4 for 43 did just as much of the damage, while Nigel Thirkell mopped up with 2 for 21. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes going begging, though nobody's grumbling too loudly with a result like this in the bag.

Chasing 100 should never be described as a formality in this game, and we didn't entirely make it look like one, losing Gowling and Garrett without either troubling the scorers. But Nigel Thirkell, having already done fine work with the ball, batted us home with an unbeaten 44, well supported by Paul Bowles's 31, and we cruised to 100 for 2 off 32 overs.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a comfortable eight-wicket win. With Bowles still leading our run charts on 506 for the season and yours truly out in front with the ball on 16 wickets, this was Linton Park in very good order indeed.

Tue 31 May 1977 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Tuesday 31 May 1977. Down to The Mote we went, sun more or less out, spirits higher than the wicket deserved.

Winning the toss, I put us in the field first, which in hindsight may say more about my confidence than my cricketing acumen. The Mote piled up a brisk 158/5 from their sixteen overs, with Richard Slee cruising serenely past his fifty and Eddie Page (41 not out) and Bruce Nissen (37 not out) refusing to be parted at the other end — the sort of stand that has opposing captains muttering into their tea. Credit where due, though: Allan Cooper was superb, snaring 2-29, with Nigel Thirkell (2-58) and Tony Gauna (1-62) chipping in gamely against opponents who clearly fancied a net.

Chasing 159 was always going to be a tall order in our own sixteen overs, and so it proved. Paul Bowles played the innings of a man determined to make a fight of it, cracking 39, with Tim Thirkell lending fine support with 22 — runs that, incidentally, nudged him past Maurice Fenner into 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a footnote worth raising a glass to even in defeat. We closed on 121/6, five wickets shy of an unlikely heist.

Beaten by five wickets, then, but not disgraced. Bowles continues to lead our 1977 run charts in some style, and Thirkell's wicket-taking form keeps him handily placed too. A losing scorecard, but plenty to build on — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 29 May 1977 🧢 1st XIv BC Borough Green CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday last, and Borough Green were the visitors — a fine May afternoon, and I confess I didn't trouble myself long at the toss before electing to bat.

What a decision that turned out to be. Paul Bowles played an innings for the ages, 123 of the finest, while Ian Webb ticked along unbeaten on 39 in support, and between them we posted a commanding 199/3 from our 51 overs. Tea was taken in rather better spirits than usual, I don't mind admitting.

Defending it, Borough Green never really got going. X McGregor, E Johnson and T Pinder all trooped back without so much as troubling the scorers, and only D Jones, with 21, offered any real resistance. I found some rhythm with the ball myself and finished with 4 for 5, with Allan Cooper (2-4) and Colin Dicker (2-6) mopping up either end — the whole innings folding for 81 in just 20.2 overs. Thirteen byes did rather tell their own tale, and poor Jim Hall behind the stumps will sleep on it tonight.

A word too for Paul Bowles, whose 123 sees him leapfrog Basil Sears into second on the club's all-time run-scorers list — no small feat, and thoroughly deserved. He now leads our 1977 charts with 421 runs, and I'll take the modest consolation of topping the wicket column with a dozen.

A fine win by 118 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket. Onwards we go.

Sat 28 May 1977 🧢 1st XIv YM YMCA Maidstone · HomeformLWWWW

Lost the toss again — I really must learn to call something other than heads — and duly found myself leading the lads out into the field. It didn't take long to feel rather better about it. Ymca Maidstone were rolled for 109 in 46.2 overs, P Husband their best with 27, J Adams and R Mercer chipping in either side of twenty. I had one of those afternoons where everything simply landed right, finishing with 5-36, while Martin Thompson bowled with real venom for his 3-4 and Nigel Thirkell mopped up two more. Terry Donovan, meanwhile, was miserliness personified, sending down three maidens and barely allowing a boundary in.

With 110 needed, Paul Bowles and Jim Hall made the whole business look faintly ridiculous, cantering to the target for the loss of no wickets in just 19.4 overs. Bowles was in imperious form for his 57 not out, well past his fifty, with Hall a fine foil on 40 not out — the pair barely troubled, let alone separated.

A thoroughly satisfying day all round, and a happy one with the ball for your captain too. Bowles continues to lead the 1st XI run charts with 298 for the season, and I find myself sitting third in the wicket-takers with 8. Two points, ten wickets to spare, and not a blemish in sight — you don't get many days like this in club cricket, so we shall enjoy it while it lasts.

Tue 24 May 1977 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDLWWW

Tuesday 24 May 1977, and off we trundled to West Farleigh, where the coin let us down as usual and we were put into the field. Ninety-three for three off their sixteen overs looked a tidy enough total, with Don Fermor unbeaten on 40 giving us grief throughout, but Nigel Thirkell kept plugging away for 2-36 and Tony Gauna chipped in handsomely with 1-26 to keep the damage within reason.

Chasing 94, we made surprisingly serene work of it — 96 for 3 in just 15.2 overs, Paul Bowles the architect with an unbeaten 47, well backed up by Tim Thirkell's 25. Seven wickets to spare and home in time for tea, more or less.

Two footnotes worth putting in the book. Nigel Thirkell sailed past 400 career wickets, a number that still sounds faintly ridiculous written down, and Paul Bowles's 47 eased him past John Ames into third on the club's all-time run-scoring list — no mean feat when you consider whose company that puts him in. He now leads our 1977 run charts with 241 to his name, while Tony Gauna sits third among the wicket-takers with 7.

All told, a thoroughly good day for the club: bowled with discipline, chased with composure, and came away with a couple of names etched a little more firmly into the record books. We'll take that every Tuesday going.

Sun 22 May 1977 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformWDLWW

Sunday 22 May 1977, and Shipbourne CC rolled up on a day that promised much and, for once, delivered. I lost the toss – no great surprise there, my coin-calling remains as reliable as an English summer – and we were sent into the field.

Shipbourne battled to 162/9 off their 53.2 overs, with David Mills the chief architect of that total, a handsome 63 that had the rest of us grinding our teeth just a little. Peter Buss (23) and Peter Phillips (21) chipped in dutifully. But it was Tony Gauna who did the real damage with the ball, 3-36 of it, while Nigel Thirkell (2-25) and Allan Cooper (2-45) took care of the rest between them – Cooper in particular locking things down with six maidens, the sort of miserly spell that makes batsmen question their life choices.

Chasing 163, we made light work of it, cantering home in 40.4 overs for the loss of just two wickets. Paul Bowles produced the innings of the day, an unbeaten 78, with Nigel Thirkell following his morning's bowling with a fine 63 of his own – a proper captain's dream, wickets and runs from the same men in the same afternoon.

Bowles now sits atop our 1977 run charts with 194, and Gauna third among the wicket-takers with six. An eight-wicket win, tea was good, and the drive home felt shorter than usual. A very good day for the club indeed.

Sat 21 May 1977 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWWDLW

Saturday 21 May 1977 saw us set off for Headcorn CC in reasonably good spirits, and rather better spirits once I'd won the toss. I had, I confess, no hesitation whatsoever in choosing to bat — a decision that looked increasingly questionable as our innings subsided to 93 all out from 35 overs. Brian Woodcock battled manfully for his 29 and deserves every credit for it, while Paul Brattle and Paul Bowles both contributed golden ducks to the cause, which is one way of describing a pair of noughts, though not the way either of them would choose.

Ninety-three seemed a modest total to defend, and I'll admit to some quiet anxiety at tea. I needn't have worried. Ian Brattle simply took the game away from Headcorn, spinning through their order for a magnificent 6-37 that will surely take some beating on our season charts. Terry Donovan (2-23) and Nigel Thirkell (1-14, with five miserly maidens to his name) tightened the screws beautifully, and R Hubble's defiant 23 was about the only resistance on offer — Thomason, Cooper and Phipps all departing for ducks of their own. Headcorn were bowled out for 75 from 36 overs, leaving us victors by 18 runs.

Tim Thirkell continues his quiet accumulation, now fourth in the 1st XI run charts with 79, while Ian Brattle sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 11. A dreadful batting performance rescued by a bowling display of real class — the sort of afternoon that reminds you why we bother. Two well-earned points, and the tea urn has rarely tasted so sweet.

Thu 19 May 1977 🧢 Midweek XIv BD Barclays Bank Norwich District · HomeformWDDWW

Skipper's Log — Thursday 19 May 1977. Barclays Bank Norwich District were the visitors, and with the coin falling kindly for once I did the sporting thing and stuck us in, largely on the grounds that I fancied watching from a deckchair with a cup of tea for the first hour rather than padding up.

The lads made a fair fist of it, closing on 156 for 8 from our 46 overs. Steve Gower played the innings of the day, a handsome 66, and found a willing ally in Malcolm Pay, unbeaten on 37 and clearly saving his best for when it mattered. Less gloriously, J. McDonald and John Thirkell both took the long walk back for ducks — the sort of pair that gets you a mention in the club ledger whether you like it or not.

With the ball, Paul Bowles was simply not to be denied, tearing through them for 7 for 42 and, in the process, bringing up 500 career wickets — a landmark that deserves rather more than a line in a village gazette, but it'll have to do for now. I chipped in with 2 for 56 and six maidens, which I'll happily take given the bowling figures around me made mine look positively pedestrian. Barclays battled to 111 for 9 off their fifty, T. Ferley top-scoring with 34, and M. Hammond joining the ducks' club for good measure.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody quite able to land the killer blow. On this evidence, I'll take it and be grateful.

Wed 18 May 1977 🧢 1st XIv LC Leybourne CC · HomeformWWWDL

Here's the match report:

The toss went against us on a fine Wednesday evening, and Leybourne CC elected to bat, which meant an early trot into the field rather than the customary cup of tea first. It proved a wise move on our part regardless, as the lads bowled with real discipline to restrict the visitors to 80/7 from their sixteen overs. Hall's 25 and Knell's 21 gave their innings some shape, but there was little else to trouble the scorers, with young Randall departing without troubling the scorers at all. Ian Brattle was the pick of the attack by some distance, ripping through with 3-10, while I chipped in with 2-17 and Martin Thompson took a well-earned 2-32 to keep the squeeze on throughout.

Chasing 81 was never going to be a formality on a used pitch, but Tim Thirkell had other ideas, striking a composed unbeaten 48 to see us home in just 13 overs for the loss of two wickets. It was, by any measure, the innings of the day, and one that quietly rewrote a small piece of club history — those runs carried Tim past Mike Iliffe and into 17th on our all-time run-scorers list, a achievement worth raising a glass to in the bar afterwards.

All in all, a thoroughly satisfying evening's work: tight in the field, calm in the chase, and an eight-wicket win to show for it. Leybourne will go home wondering how 80 wasn't nearly enough — we shall simply enjoy the drive home.

Tue 17 May 1977 🧢 1st XIv MT Maidstone Teachers · HomeformDWWWD

Tuesday last, under skies that threatened more than they delivered, we welcomed Dummy Site to Linton Park and I won the toss. I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'm sticking to that story regardless of what follows.

What followed was 71 for 7 from our sixteen overs, which is the sort of total that has you studying your bootlaces rather than the scoreboard. Paul Bowles top-scored with a battling 25, doing the bulk of the graft while others came and went with rather less ceremony. Brian Woodcock, Martin Mears and Martin Thompson all contributed a golden duck apiece to the cause — a hat-trick of nought that I shall generously call "solidarity" rather than a collapse.

In the field we scrapped hard. P. Jackson made a fine 28 for the visitors, well supported by R. McCormick's 23, as they reached 72 for 5 from their sixteen. Paul Bowles, having shouldered the bat, then shouldered the ball too, returning 2 for 16, with Tony Gauna chipping in usefully at 1 for 26.

So it's Bowles who leads both our run and wicket charts this season — 110 runs, 8 wickets, and rather too much of the workload resting on one pair of shoulders. We fell by five wickets in the end. Not our day, lads. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sun 15 May 1977 🧢 1st XIv ME Medway Electricity · HomeformWDWWW

Sunday last saw us welcome Medway Electricity, and with the coin landing kindly I had no hesitation in sending us in – always a captain's prerogative to look decisive, even when it's really just a guess.

We batted with real purpose, closing on a handsome 173/4 from our 43 overs. Brian Piper was the chief architect, cruising past fifty to make 54, while Paul Bowles chipped in a fine 49 and Jim Hall added a brisk 40. A total to be proud of, and one that gave us something to bowl at.

In the field it was Bowles again who caught the eye, following his runs with 3-53 to thoroughly justify his taxi fare. I managed to get among the wickets myself with 2-34, Trevor Back chipped in with 1-11, and Tony Gauna bowled three tidy maidens to keep things honest. We even had the pleasure of seeing D. Dougall depart for a duck. Medway's Lewis, though, was not to be shifted, carrying his bat to an unbeaten 50, well supported by Phillips (45) and Peachment (20), as they closed on 151/6. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes escaping his gloves like they had trains to catch.

So honours were shared – a draw, when neither side had quite enough overs or nerve left to force the issue. With Bowles now leading both our run and wicket charts for the season, he is fast becoming a man we simply cannot leave out. A fair result, all told, and tea was, as ever, the highlight of the day.

Sun 01 May 1977 🧢 1st XIv Castle Hill CC, Kent · HomeformWWDWW

Sunday the first of May found us hosting Castle Hill CC of Kent, and I won the toss and elected to bat — a decision I shall claim full credit for, whatever the lads privately thought at the time. We built a solid 171 for 8 off 42.1 overs, Jim Hall the anchor with a fine 45, Paul Bowles chipping in a brisk 36 and Brian Piper adding a useful 31. Not every innings was one for the scrapbook, mind — poor Allan Cooper endured the walk of shame for a duck, though he'd more than make amends before the day was out.

Defending 171, we set about Castle Hill with real purpose, and they were bowled out for a modest 97 in 32.3 overs, Don Fermor's battling 29 the only real resistance. Paul Bowles was simply magnificent, ripping through with 3 for 2, while Ian Brattle (2-21) and Tony Gauna (2-25) tidied up either end. Allan Cooper, still nursing his golden duck, restored his pride with four miserly maidens. Two batsmen departed for nought at our hands, and Tony Gauna's brace nudged him past Ron Hickman into 12th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a quiet piece of history amid the celebrations.

A 74-run victory, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Jim Hall now leads our season's run charts and Paul Bowles the wickets — early days, but promising ones. Onwards.

Sun 24 Apr 1977 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Castle Hill CC, Kent · AwayformLLWLL

Sunday 24 April 1977, and the road took us down to Castle Hill CC, Kent, on a day that had promised rather more than it delivered.

I called correctly at the toss — a rare enough triumph in itself — and, in a fit of optimism I shall not soon repeat, chose to bat. It did not go well. We were bowled out for 89 off 27 overs, the sort of total that has you studying your boots rather than the scorebook. Still, one bright note amid the rubble: Tim Thirkell's tidy 15 saw him leapfrog Andrew Moss into 18th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the kind of thing a captain clings to on a difficult afternoon.

With the ball, we scrapped hard. Castle Hill were made to work for their 90/7 from 36.2 overs, Don Fermor's 36 the backbone of their reply with useful support from Mike Wheeler's 32. Elsewhere it was a procession — Simon Day, Richard Beale and D. Hewer all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Tony Gauna was the pick of the attack with 3-16, Paul Bowles chipped in handsomely with 3-23 and four maidens of positively monastic discipline, and Trevor Back took 1-24. Bowles now leads our 1977 Sunday NVKC run charts with 19, and Gauna tops the wicket charts with 3 — early season bragging rights, at least.

But three wickets was the margin, and no amount of colour changes that. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.