🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 02 Oct 1977 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformLDDDL

Sunday 2 October brought us to enemy territory as visitors, and for once the coin obliged — I called correctly and never seriously considered fielding first. Batting looked the sensible road to a result, and so it proved, up to a point.

Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, striding to 74 with the kind of assurance that makes a captain feel unreasonably clever for winning a toss. Tim Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 52, and between them they hauled us to a respectable 161 for 9 from our 41 overs. Less happily, Colin Dicker, Martin Mears and Keith Miller all trooped back for ducks — a trio of blobs that rather took the shine off an otherwise cheerful scorecard, and no doubt the source of some ribbing in the clubhouse this week.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Jim Hall continues his steady climb up the 1st XI run charts, now 5th with 316 to his name, Paul Bowles heads the Married averages on the strength of today's 74, and Brian Woodcock leads the Singles with a tidy 50.

As for the match itself, our bowlers and fielders were given too much to defend and too little margin for error, and we were duly seen off by 9 wickets. Not our finest afternoon, but no cause for gloom — the runs are there, the form is coming, and we'll be considerably better for it next week.

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

A Saturday in October, and the toss went against us as tosses so often do when there's a hint of chill in the air — Lordswood CC elected to bat, and we settled for first use of the ball instead of the willow. They ground their way to 130 for 6 from their 53 overs, Jon Harris top-scoring with 25, then chipping in again with 22, and Keith Miller weighing in with 20 of his own. With the ball, though, we were tidy enough to keep the visitors honest: Jon Harris led the line with 3 for 42 and seven maidens to his name — not a run given away lightly — while Keith Miller (2 for 18) and John Bloomfield (1 for 25) mopped up either end. I even found a bit of rhythm myself, picking up three wickets, which for a captain of my vintage counts as a minor miracle.

Chasing 130 proved rather trickier than it looked on paper, and we limped to 95 for 6 from our 40 overs. Paul Bowles was the shining light, unbeaten on 68 with a thoroughly well-made fifty, carrying the innings almost single-handedly while Ian Webb, Tim Thirkell and Brian Woodcock each contributed a golden duck to the cause 🦆.

Up the season's ledger Paul Bowles now leads our 1977 run charts with 1,581, and Jon Harris tops the wickets with 83 — the two pillars of our summer once again holding firm. In the end, honours were shared: a draw when neither side could quite force the issue, and on this evidence, a fair result.

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

Wednesday 28th September, and off we trundled to The Mote, losing the toss and asked to field first – hardly the tonic for a September afternoon, but the lads set about it with good cheer.

The Mote were bowled out for 113 in 42.4 overs, and the innings had our fingerprints all over it. J. Shepherd top-scored with 22, David Twiddy chipping in 21, but at the other end it was carnage: Eddie Page and David Sayer both walked back without troubling the scorers. Allan Cooper was the chief tormentor, spinning his way to a magnificent 5-39 with eight miserly maidens thrown in for good measure – not a man to get careless against on a slow one. Trevor Back (3-44) and Jon Harris (2-25) mopped up admirably around him.

Chasing 114, we made harder work of it than the arithmetic suggested we might, but got home on 117/4 from 38 overs. Nigel Thirkell led the way with a composed 34, well supported by Paul Bowles's 33, and between them they saw us safely across the line.

A word for the record books: Allan Cooper's five-for sees him leapfrog Frank Taylor into 15th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list – onwards and upwards. Thirkell, meanwhile, continues to top the Midweek XI run charts with 230 for the season, while Harris leads the wickets with 21.

A fine win by six wickets, then, and a satisfying one to bank before the nights draw in. Onwards.

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

Saturday last saw West Farleigh roll up the drive, and true to Linton Park tradition, I lost the toss without so much as a fight. They took first knock, and for a while looked set to make a real afternoon of it — Roger Crooks eased past his fifty with the minimum of fuss, Reg Oldfield and Don Fermor chipping in with 39 and 33 respectively, and 154/7 off their 42.3 overs felt like a total with teeth. Credit where due: Terry Donovan worked hard for his 2-53, Paul Bowles picked up a couple as well (2-58), and Nigel Thirkell bowled with the kind of miserly discipline — three maidens — that makes batsmen mutter into their gloves.

Our reply was, shall we say, an education in the art of the collapse. Paul Bowles carried the bat brilliantly for 49, and I managed to potter along to a fifty-shy 49 myself, but around us the innings rather fell apart — 114/9 off 32 overs tells its own story. Special mention to Jim Hall and Martin Mears, who both contrived to walk back for ducks and thereby made handsome donations to the club's ledger of shame.

Still, a draw was the fair result — neither side could quite land the killing blow, and honours were shared over tea. Paul Bowles continues to top our 1977 run charts with 1513 for the season, and long may his bat keep the rest of us honest. A hard-fought stalemate, then, and no shame in that.

Thu 22 Sep 1977 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformWWLDL

Wednesday 22 September 1977, and a fine one for the home faithful, if I say so myself. The coin obliged me for once, so I sent us in — a decision I like to think of as bold rather than merely lucky. Paul Brattle set about proving me right with a fine 50, well backed by Nigel Thirkell's 41 and Micky Back's 27, and we came to rest at a respectable 167/9 from our 38.3 overs. Not everyone had a day to remember, mind — poor John Thirkell's blob will earn him the traditional walk of shame to the Duck Club ledger, a fate I shall not let him forget in a hurry.

With the ball, we set about defending it with real discipline. The visitors laboured to 119/9 from their 45, with M. Brown's 22 the best of a limited bunch. Brian Piper was magnificent — 3 for 12, three maidens among them, not a run given away lightly — with Jon Harris (2-42) and Paul Bowles (1-3) chipping in handsomely.

A word for the records: Nigel Thirkell's 41 nudges him past Frank Brattle into 7th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while he sits 2nd in this season's Midweek XI charts on 196, with Jon Harris still out in front on 19 wickets.

In the end neither side could force the door open, and honours were shared. A draw, but an honest one — and on this evidence, the lads have plenty more in the tank.

Sun 18 Sep 1977 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWWWWD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 18 September 1977. We travelled away with the sun out and hopes, as ever, considerably higher than they had any right to be.

Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, though the scorecard rather took the shine off my judgement. We were bowled out for 131 in 44.4 overs, a total that flattered to deceive. Paul Bowles top-scored with a gritty 38, and Paul Brattle chipped in nicely with 20, but the middle order rather went missing, and poor Jon Harris departed for a duck without so much as troubling the groundsman.

In the field we fought hard, and for a while it looked like we might just nick it. The opposition crept to 133 for 7 off 30.5 overs, with F-H- Ames the chief tormentor — 74 not out, well past his fifty — ably assisted by D- Bromley's unbeaten 28. We did claim scalps: Copeland and Marshall both back in the hutch without scoring. Nigel Thirkell was magnificent, spinning his way to 5 for 58, with Allan Cooper a fine foil, 2 for 39 including three tight maidens. Not a run given away lightly by either.

As for the skipper, the less said the better — a golden blob. A captain must lead by example; today, sadly, that example was in how not to bat.

A losing effort by three wickets, but with Bowles leading the run charts and Thirkell second among the wickets, the season's silver lining remains firmly intact. Heads up, back to the nets.

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

Saturday last, we welcomed Southborough CC to Linton Park, and won the toss — a decision I've come to trust more than my own batting technique, so naturally I sent us in.

What followed was, without wishing to overstate it, rather a treat. Nigel Thirkell batted as though the bowling attack owed him money, compiling a majestic unbeaten 106, while brother Tim purred along to 66 not out at the other end — the Thirkell double act carrying us serenely to 200 for 2 off our 38 overs. Paul Brattle chipped in with a handy 24. Less serenely, poor Paul Bowles departed for a duck, waddling back to the pavilion to the usual sympathetic silence such occasions demand.

In the field we set about defending the total with more application than our fielding average generally suggests. Southborough replied with 163 for 7 from 51 overs, Phil Hobbs top-scoring with 36, well supported by Gordon Baldwin (26) and an unbeaten 26 from David Thorpe — though we did at least send Martin Thomas packing without so much as a run to his name. Paul Bowles, redeeming his morning nicely, led the attack with 3 for 49, Jon Harris chipped in 3 for 59 with four tidy maidens besides, Nigel Thirkell took 1 for 18, and I even managed three of my own, finding some unexpected rhythm.

Honours shared, then — a draw earned rather than avoided, and a day on which Tim Thirkell's 66 quietly nudged him past Ray Howard into 12th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. We'll take that, and the sandwiches, gladly.

Wed 14 Sep 1977 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDWWLD

Wednesday 14th September 1977, and we welcomed the visitors to Linton Park with the bat still smelling of linseed and hopes reasonably high. Winning the toss, I sent them in, and for a while it looked a shrewd call as John Thirkell steamed through their order — 4 for 30 of the tidiest bowling you'll see on a Wednesday — with R King (3-23, two maidens to boot, not a run given away lightly) and Martin Mears (2-13) squeezing from the other end. Styles (31) and Hunt (24) did their best to give the innings some backbone, but 131 all out in 45.3 overs felt, at tea, like a total we ought to chase down without too much bother.

Ought to being the operative word. We rattled along nicely enough at 137 for 3 from 30.3 overs, and it should have been a canter — except it was, rather too literally, the Nigel Thirkell show. Ninety-one not out, sailing past his fifty and, more significantly, past 5,000 career runs for the club along the way — a landmark that had the tea urn nearly forgotten in the applause. Martin Mears chipped in with a useful 21, though eight byes did rather suggest Jim Hall was having one of those testing afternoons behind the stumps.

And yet — seven wickets down the other way. Quite how we contrived to lose from there is a question for the clubhouse rather than this column. Heads up, back to the nets: there's a story in there of milestones reached and matches spurned, and this week the ledger read more of the latter than the former.

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

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 · AwayformDWWL

Saturday last saw us bowl a merry road down to Perranarworthal, and for once the coin obliged me, so I had no hesitation in putting us in.

It proved a shrewd call, or at least the lads made it look one. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, a fine 60, while John Copplestone (24) and Andrew Moss (22) filled in around him — the pair sharing in a third-wicket stand of 60 that was really the making of our 176/6 from the allotted 45. Tea was taken in good heart.

Defending it was another matter. John Hall gave us a proper fright with 64, well backed by Walter Brotherton's 32, and their second-wicket pair put on a distinctly unwelcome 79 before we got a grip. Credit where due, though — poor A Gilbert departed for a blob without so much as troubling the scorers, and it was Paul Bowles again who did for them, snaring 4-30 to go with his runs. Trevor Back and Allan Cooper chipped in with a wicket apiece, Cooper bowling four maidens of the tightest, meanest sort. In the end Perranarworthal fell 9 runs short at 167/8.

A word for Paul, whose four wickets nudged him past Gordon Fenner into 5th on the club's all-time list — and who now leads our 1977 Tour XI run charts with 296 and sits 3rd in the wickets with 10. The man is having quite a season, and quite frankly so are we. A fine win, and onwards we go.

Fri 09 Sep 1977 🧢 Tour XIv ? · AwayformDWW

Friday the ninth of September found us in fine voice, and the coin obliged me too — down it went our way, and instinct said bat. We laboured to 147 for 9 off our 45, an innings that never quite found its rhythm after slipping to 8 for 1 in the opening overs. Paul Brattle held things together nicely with 41, Nigel Thirkell chipped in a useful 24 and Gary Marshall 21, while poor Andrew Moss endured that loneliest of walks back for nought — the pond awaits him, as tradition demands.

Defending 147 always asks questions of a side, and for a while our opponents answered them handsomely, their openers laying a platform of 67 for the first wicket before we found a way through. From 67 for 1 to 84 for 4 in the blink of an eye — T Angove and M Bryant both departing without troubling the scorers — and from there the innings unravelled around us. Jon Harris was quite unplayable, turning the ball square for 5 for 29, with Nigel Thirkell miserly and menacing in equal measure, 4 for 41 including three maidens. I even found time to chip in with 17 myself, more by luck than design.

A word too for Jon Harris, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly deserved. Paul Bowles continues to lead our 1977 run charts with 236, and Nigel Thirkell tops the wickets with 11.

In the end they got home by 32 runs, and fair enough — they held their nerve better than we held ours. We'll be better for it next week.

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

Skipper's Log — Thursday 08 September 1977, away to Grampound Road CC.

Won the toss and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first — some decisions make themselves. The lads set about it in fine style, Paul Bowles and Andrew Moss putting on 139 for the first wicket before either could be shifted, which is the sort of platform a captain dreams about and rarely gets. Bowles went on to 88, Moss to a handsome 58, Gary Marshall chipped in 21, and we closed on a healthy 201/6 from our 42 overs. Poor Trevor Back, meanwhile, made his way back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers — the ceremonial duck, quacked at accordingly.

Defending it, Grampound Road threatened for a while through J Warne (36) and A Saunders (34), with M Ford's 26 helping a third-wicket stand of 58 that was the closest thing to a wobble we suffered. But once that pair went, 110-3 became 112-6 in the blink of an eye, P Coombe and M Brewer both departing without scoring, and the innings folded for 150 in 37.4 overs. Paul Bowles, not content with his runs, turned it on with the ball too — 5-11, a thing of real beauty — well backed by Nigel Thirkell (2-26), Keith Miller (1-22) and three tidy maidens from Ron Hickman. I managed 18 with the bat and tried not to get in Bowles's way with everything else. Nine byes gave Jim Hall a day to forget behind the stumps, but nothing was going to spoil this one.

A 51-run win, two points banked, and Bowles now sits proudly atop both the season's run and — nearly — the wicket charts. A proper team performance, and thoroughly earned.

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

I put us in first, and 165 all out from 46.3 overs felt about right on a day when the outfield owed us nothing. Paul Bowles carried the innings with a well-crafted 71, and if the tail wagged it was only to confirm the Duck Club ledger needs updating — Tim Thirkell's nought a walk of shame he'll not thank me for mentioning.

Defending it, St Just made us work: M May's 43, backed by J Rowe's 31 and P Pearce's 27, had them motoring nicely before the floodgates opened and 134-6 became 142-9 in a hurry we scarcely dared believe. Jon Harris was the chief architect with 4-45, Nigel Thirkell chipping in handsomely with 3-38, Trevor Back picking up one, and Allan Cooper bowling with a miser's discipline — four maidens that strangled the life out of the chase. Williams, Lawry and Byrne all departed without a run to their names, which tells its own story.

As for the skipper, a golden blob — proof, if any were needed, that leading by example is easier preached than practised. Bowles now tops our Tour XI run charts with 131, and Thirkell the wickets with 5, both thoroughly earned.

We got home by 19 runs. A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly enjoyable afternoon — and, all told, a very good day for the club.

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

Tuesday the 6th of September found us on the road at Paul CC, where I lost the toss — a coin I have never had much luck with — and we were asked to bowl. No great hardship, as it turned out. They ground their way to 182 for 8 from 54 overs, Steve Snell top-scoring with 38, well supported by L Hicks (35) and Geoff Osborne (34), the pair adding 53 for the sixth wicket to give the innings its spine. Ron Hickman was the pick of us with the ball, 3 for 44 including two maidens that must have felt like penance to face, with Nigel Thirkell (2-49) and Paul Bowles (1-34) chipping in dutifully.

Chasing 183, we mustered 125 for 7 from our 42 overs — a reply that promised more than it delivered. Paul Bowles played beautifully for 60, adding 88 for the second wicket with Nigel Thirkell (33), before the innings folded like a deckchair in a gust, tumbling from 103 for 2 to 105 for 5. Jim Hall and Keith Miller both departed for ducks, and I must confess to keeping them company with one of my own — the less said, the better. Eight byes told their own tale of a trying day behind the stumps for Jim.

There was, happily, cause for cheer: Paul Bowles brought up 9,000 career runs for the club, a milestone thoroughly deserved and now leading our season's run charts, with Ron Hickman topping the wickets. Honours, in the end, shared — a draw that flattered no one but satisfied all.

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

Off we went to Staplehurst on the 4th of September, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and, with the sort of confidence that usually precedes a collapse, sent us in to bat. We rattled along to 179 for 8 from our 45 overs, the innings really carried by Nigel Thirkell's fine 88 and Paul Brattle's solid 59, both well past their fifties and both thoroughly deserving of the tea-interval applause. Elsewhere the lower order rather fell on its sword — Gary Marshall, Jim Hall and Martin Mears all contributed a golden nothing between them, which is one way of keeping the scorebook interesting.

With the ball, we set about Staplehurst's 129 all out in 46.4 overs like men with a train to catch. Bev Taylor's 26 and C Rogers's 21 were the only real resistance, while I Pullen and B Streatfield departed for ducks of their own at our hands — turnabout being fair play. Martin Thompson was the chief tormentor with a superb 3 for 6, backed up handsomely by Paul Bowles (2 for 28, five miserly maidens in there too) and Tony Gauna (2 for 39). Jim Hall had a lively afternoon behind the stumps, leaking 11 byes for his trouble — the only blemish on an otherwise tidy display.

A win by 50 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Bowles continues to top our 1977 run charts with 1426, and Thompson now sits fourth in the wicket-takers with 33 — the sort of season that makes the drive home feel a good deal shorter.

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

Saturday 3rd September 1977, and off we trundled to Folkestone with the coin refusing to cooperate — they called correctly and had no hesitation stuffing us into the field. Not the worst thing in the world, mind, and the lads set about it with real purpose. Malcolm Pay was the pick, a tidy 3-16, while Jon Harris toiled away for 3-18 with six maidens to his name — the sort of miserly spell that has batsmen muttering into their gloves. Nigel Thirkell chipped in with one for 43. Even so, Jim Howgego made merry with 52 and Andrew Miles added a solid 31, and Folkestone were all out for 150 in 46 overs — a touch more than we'd have liked, but nothing insurmountable. David Curran and David Bourne did at least oblige us with ducks apiece, which always raises a cheer from the boundary.

Chasing 151, it was Nigel Thirkell who took the game by the scruff of the neck with a fine 61, well backed up by Jim Hall's unbeaten 36 and Paul Brattle's 28, seeing us home to 151/6 in 36.1 overs. I even found a spot of rhythm with the ball myself, picking up three — though I shan't get carried away. A nice footnote too: Jim Hall's 36 eased him past Frank Taylor into 23rd on the club's all-time run charts, which will please him more than he lets on.

Four wickets, two points, and a thoroughly deserved away win. We'll take that all day.

Wed 31 Aug 1977 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLDWWL

Thirty-first of August, Gravesend CC, and for once the toss actually favoured me — a rare enough event that I nearly forgot what to do with it. I put us in, and the lads did me proud: 144/4 from our 35 overs, built around a handsome 45 from Brian Piper, with David Buck's 35 and an unbeaten 23 from Paul Bowles keeping the scoreboard honest. Special mention, as ever, for poor Paul Brattle, whose duck has now taken up permanent residence in the club ledger — the walk of shame performed with his usual flair.

Out in the field, Gravesend fought back gamely, Stuart Waterton compiling a fine 61 with support from Simon Hinks's 22, but our bowling had teeth. Nigel Thirkell was simply magnificent — 4-13 with eight maidens, miserly to the point of cruelty — while Jon Harris chipped in with 4-30 and Trevor Back 1-27. Three of their batsmen departed without so much as troubling the scorers, and I even found some rhythm myself with four wickets, restricting them to 115/9.

Amid the runs and wickets, a proper milestone: Jim Hall brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, his 21 sailing him past Jon Harris on the all-time run charts, while Jon's four wickets lifted him past Gordon Fenner into 4th on the all-time list. History being made quietly, as it so often is at Gravesend.

In the end, honours shared — a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody, which is, I suppose, cricket's way of telling us to come back next week.

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

We were pinged to bowl first at Bearsted on a warm Bank Holiday Monday, and thanks to Martin Thompson we barely regretted losing the toss. His 5-46 was the spell of the season on this evidence — probing, relentless, and richly deserved when Bearsted were finally shepherded out for 163 off 51 overs. Anthony Cornwell gave us a proper working-over with a well-made 62, and got handy support from Colin Fleetwood and Mick Filmer, both 21, but at the other end Robin Cunningham and Bryan Elswood departed without troubling the scorers 🦆. Tony Gauna toiled away for 3-55 with six maidens that gave nothing away, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 1-22. All told, a total we fancied chasing over tea.

And chase it we did, with time to spare and minimal fuss. Paul Brattle played the innings of the day, unbeaten on 86, calm and correct while everyone around him fretted about the required rate that never really materialised. Paul Bowles, still top of our 1977 run charts and showing exactly why, cruised past his own fifty to 51 before departing, and between the two of them the target was more formality than fight — 164/2 in 36.2 overs, eight wickets in hand.

So: a good day for the club, and not one I shall be modest about. Bowling won it, batting sealed it, and Jon Harris can keep leading the wicket charts from the pavilion — he wasn't even needed. Home for tea with the win in the bag; you don't get many afternoons at Bearsted as comfortable as that.

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

Sunday 28 August 1977, and Hempstead CC rolled up to find us in generous mood, losing the toss and being put in the field — which, as any village cricketer knows, is the closest thing our game has to a mixed blessing.

The lads bowled beautifully. Hempstead were shot out for 90 in 39.2 overs, C Smith's 23 the only real resistance to a spell of pure witchcraft from Nigel Thirkell, who span his way to 5-26 and left the Hempstead middle order looking like men who'd wandered into the wrong sort of Sunday. Jon Harris (3-18) and Trevor Back (1-12) tidied up what was left, while Allan Cooper bowled five maidens of such miserliness he ought to be reported to the Charity Commission. And your captain, I'm delighted to report, chipped in with 3 wickets himself — a rare day when the whites stayed clean and the figures did the talking.

Chasing 91 should have been a formality, and in the loosest possible sense it was — though not before we'd made a proper meal of it. P Benham and G Cooper departed without troubling the scorers, and poor Keith Miller endured the walk of shame for a duck, but we scrambled home at 91/8 after 48.1 overs, hearts in mouths rather more than the target deserved.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a two-wicket win to file under "narrower than it needed to be." Nigel Thirkell continues his quietly magnificent season, now 2nd in the club's 1977 run charts, with Jon Harris leading the wickets column — the pair of them carrying the rest of us, as ever, with good humour intact.

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 SC Sibton Park CC · HomeformWDWDW

Sunday 14 August 1977 saw Sibton Park CC visit Linton Park, and the coin, for once, smiled kindly on me. I put us in, which in hindsight was either a masterstroke or the first domino — you decide. We were bowled out for 111 in 43.4 overs, with Paul Brattle top-scoring on 29 and Nigel Thirkell chipping in with 28. Jim Hall, Trevor Back and Tony Gauna, meanwhile, all contributed a golden duck apiece, which is one way of saying the middle order collapsed like a poorly pitched marquee.

Defending 111 was always going to require something special, and Nigel Thirkell duly provided it, bowling with real discipline for figures of 1-10 from seven miserly maidens — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their tea. Allan Cooper and Trevor Back backed him up nicely with a wicket apiece, and I even managed a modest 16 with the bat when my turn came round. But Paul Woodward played the innings of the day for the visitors, guiding them to 113/5 in 41.2 overs and denying us at the death.

Down by five wickets, then — not our day, but no disgrace either, especially with Nigel Thirkell now sitting second in the season's run charts and Jon Harris leading the way with 70 wickets. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

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

As we lost the toss and were asked to field first, Headcorn settled in for what looked like a proper working over of Linton Park. John Phipps, unbeaten on 43, and G Wickens, with a tidy 36, put together the kind of stand that has opposing captains muttering into their tea, while D Excell chipped in 27 more for good measure. But it wasn't all one-way traffic — Richard Chapman departed without troubling the scorers, and Martin Thompson bowled with real heart to finish with 3-66, backed up nicely by John Bloomfield's 2-13 and Jon Harris's 1-17. Special mention, too, for Nigel Thirkell, who sent down four maidens and gave absolutely nothing away. Headcorn closed on 156/7 from their 42 overs — a target that felt gettable, if we kept our heads.

And keep our heads we did, more or less. Tim Thirkell was the man of the hour, striding past his fifty to finish 63 not out, with Jim Hall lending sturdy support on 30. I'll admit the wicketkeeping had its moments of comedy rather than craft — 11 byes conceded is not a figure Jim will be framing for the clubhouse wall — but nobody seemed to mind once we'd got over the line at 157/5 with overs to spare.

Worth noting Jim's 30 also nudged him up to 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of quietly pleasing statistic that makes club cricket what it is. Paul Bowles and Jon Harris continue to lead the season's batting and bowling charts respectively, and long may that continue.

Five wickets, two points, and a job thoroughly well done.

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

Friday 12th August 1977, and off we trundled to Sennocke CC with the sun more or less on our side. Won the toss, and — never one to overthink these things — I stuck us in.

It wasn't the tidiest of innings, truth be told: 160 for 7 off 49.1 overs, with poor Mike Iliffe departing for a duck before he'd had time to get comfortable at the crease. But Steve Gower batted with real substance, 93 not out and unlucky not to see it through to three figures, while Dick Langridge (23) and Paul Bowles (22) chipped in handsomely around him. A par score, perhaps, on a good day.

It wasn't quite a good enough day. Sennocke chased it down with something to spare, 161 for 6 off 38.5 overs, S- Fry (36), N- Boardman (34) and Steve Ledsham (30) doing the bulk of the damage between them. We didn't go down without a fight — John Thirkell bowled beautifully for 4-52, I managed to find some rhythm of my own with 4 wickets, Trevor Back chipped in with 1-33, and David Buck was positively miserly with 4 maidens. M- Taylor at least departed for nought, which was some small consolation.

Not our day, in the end — beaten by 4 wickets. Steve Gower continues to lead the run charts with 213 for the season, and Trevor Back sits third among the wicket-takers, so all is not lost. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 07 Aug 1977 🧢 1st XIv SC 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 last took us down the road to The Mote, and I lost the toss with my usual aplomb — call it heads, get tails, some things never change. They elected to bat, and duly ground out 183 for 7 from their fifty-five overs, built chiefly around David Twiddy's fifty-eight and a watchful 45 not out from Mike Foster, with J- Shepherd chipping in 26. Small mercies: we did at least see off J-N- Shepherd without him troubling the scorers, which felt like a minor triumph amid the toil. The bowling honours went to Jon Harris, relentless for his 3 for 38, with Allan Cooper (2-52) doing the donkey work at the other end and Nigel Thirkell keeping things admirably tight — 1 for 24 and five maidens, the sort of miserliness the club treasurer would approve of.

Chasing 184, we made altogether brisker work of it, reaching 187 for 5 in 44.1 overs. Paul Bowles led from the front with a classy 74, Paul Brattle gave it fine support with 66, and Nigel Thirkell weighed in with 20 — clearly not content merely to bowl the opposition into submission. I even found some rhythm of my own, picking up three wickets, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for the rest of the season.

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

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

The coin, as is so often its custom against us, landed the wrong way up at Sibton Park, and we were sent into the field on a Saturday that felt made for batting. Gordon Webb made us pay for it in full, ambling to 90 not out with the unhurried menace of a man who knows the bowling changes aren't coming quick enough, well supported by Geoff Kirk's 38 and Colin Clark's 30 as the total climbed to 192 for 5 off 54.4 overs. Martin Thompson was the one bright thread through it all, wheeling away for 3 for 35 with four maidens that must have felt like shouting into the wind, and Jon Harris chipped in with 2 for 62 for good measure.

A gettable target, on paper, and Paul Bowles set about it in the manner we've all come to expect this summer, compiling a composed fifty, with Paul Brattle's 39 and Nigel Thirkell's 23 keeping the innings ticking. Jim Hall, alas, contributed the traditional golden duck 🦆, though he bore it with the good grace the occasion demands. We closed on 163 for 7 from 43 overs, short of the mark but never disgraced.

There was, at least, a footnote worth raising a teacup to: Tim Thirkell's 15 runs eased him past Terry Whittaker into 13th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. And with Paul Bowles now on 1225 runs and Jon Harris on 65 wickets for the season, the top of both charts remains very much in-house.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride mostly intact, and the tea, I'm reliably informed, was excellent.

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

Hard-luck with the toss again, and Sevenoaks Vine took full advantage by asking us to field first — the lads gamely trotting out to see what damage could be limited. Fifty-two overs of honest toil later, we'd restricted them to 140, no small feat given Hugh Williams's unbeaten 33 and useful contributions from T Smith and Graham Sagar. Nigel Thirkell was the chief tormentor with the ball, 4 for 34 and four maidens besides — the sort of miserly spell that has batsmen playing shots in their sleep — well supported by Jon Harris's 3 for 25 and Trevor Back's solitary but welcome wicket. Steve Beaumont and Andrew Darry both departed for ducks, which I shan't dwell on out of professional courtesy.

With 141 to chase, it was Nigel Thirkell again who did the heavy lifting, this time with the bat — 80 not out, a fine fifty and then some — ably assisted by Paul Bowles's own half-century of 53. Poor Paul Brattle bagged a pair of sorts for the day, falling without troubling the scorers, but with two men in such form it barely registered. We cantered home for the loss of three wickets in just 32.2 overs.

A word for the history books: Jon Harris's three wickets today nudged him past Paul Bowles and into 5th on the club's all-time wicket-taking list — Bowles still leads the season's run charts, Harris the season's wickets, and long may that friendly rivalry continue.

A fine win by seven wickets, and a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's work. Onwards.

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

Saturday last brought Dummy Site to Linton Park, and for once the coin obliged me, so I had few qualms about batting first — a decision I spent the rest of the afternoon quietly reassessing. Ninety-six all out in 44.2 overs is not the stuff of legend, though Jim Hall's 23 and Jon Harris's 22 gave the innings a shape it scarcely deserved, and poor Giles Daubeny's duck was mourned with the usual sympathetic groans from the boundary.

Defending such a modest total always asks the bowlers to do the diplomatic work batting had left undone, and to their enormous credit they very nearly managed it. P. Francis's fifty was the innings that did for us in the end, but Nick Kirkpatrick's 3-40 kept us in the fight, well supported by Paul Bowles and Martin Thompson with a wicket apiece, while Nigel Thirkell's three maidens were as mean as the club teas are generous. I contributed 22 of my own with the bat, for what little good it did us.

The day wasn't without its garlands, mind: Jon Harris turned out for the 200th time in Linton colours, and his 22 runs eased him past Jim Hall into 24th on our all-time run-scorers list — a fine, quiet milestone amid the toil. Season-long, Paul Bowles continues to bat like a man with somewhere to be, and Jon Harris keeps taking wickets as though bowling were the easy part of cricket.

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

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

Wednesday 20 July 1977, and Dummy Site arrived to find your captain in an uncharacteristically decisive mood at the toss — heads it was, and bat we would, with barely a flicker of hesitation from a man who usually deliberates over such things like it's a wine list.

The lads made handsome work of it. Paul Brattle led from the front with a well-made 67, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with a tidy 51, and Malcolm Pay saw us home unbeaten on 53 — three half-centuries in the book and 226 for the loss of just two wickets from our 38.5 overs. Batting like that rather takes the pressure off the tea urn.

With the ball, it was rather more one-sided still. Jon Harris was simply not to be denied, running through Dummy Site's order with a staggering 9 for 42 — and, in doing so, brought up 500 career wickets, which is very much one for the mantelpiece and, frankly, several rounds at the bar. James Skinner bowled with the meanness of a man guarding his own vegetable patch, four maidens and barely a run conceded, while your own captain managed to find some rhythm and claimed nine wickets of his own into the bargain. Hodgkinson's defiant 44 and Griffin's 21 were the only real resistance; the rest, Bates and poor Steve Bigg among them, departed without troubling the scorers.

Dummy Site were bowled out for 124, and we ran out winners by 102 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and — with Malcolm second and Jon top of the season's charts — a rather promising one too.

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

Sunday 17 July found us welcoming Sennocke CC in what turned out to be a fine, generous day for cricket, and I confess that winning the toss and opting to bat was one of the easier decisions I've made as skipper. Paul Brattle then made it look positively simple, compiling an unbeaten 123 that anyone would sell a kidney for, with Tim Thirkell playing the perfect foil with a brisk 42. Between them we cantered to 203 for 3 from our 42 overs, and I allowed myself a rare moment of captain's contentment at tea.

Sennocke, to their credit, did not go quietly. N. Boardman's 74 and A. Cooper's well-made 52 gave them the bones of a proper chase, though T. Marsh's duck reminded us the game still has its cruelties for both sides. Jon Harris toiled manfully for 3-91, Tony Gauna was miserly as ever with 2-19 and three maidens to show for his discipline, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2-30, and I permitted myself three wickets of my own — proof that even a captain past his best can occasionally trouble a batsman. They closed on 200 for 9 from 53 overs, agonisingly short.

A word too for Tim Thirkell, who brought up 3,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth more than any single afternoon's arithmetic. Paul Bowles continues to lead our season's run charts with 1118, and Jon Harris the wickets with 59.

In the end, honours were shared and nobody quite had the stomach to force a result — a draw, then, but an honest and thoroughly entertaining one.

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

We won the toss? No — the toss went against us, and Bowaters elected to bat, leaving us to make early inroads with the new ball.

They ground their way to 185 for 6 off 43.2 overs, John Perkins the chief architect with a well-crafted 72, given sturdy support by Peter Sivyer (42) and Bob Bourne (22). It could have been worse — Jon Harris bowled beautifully for 3-55, Martin Thompson was miserly as ever with 2-13 and three maidens to boot, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 1-75 for good measure.

Chasing 186, we made light work of it. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, an assured 85 that put the result beyond doubt, with Paul Brattle (36) and Nigel Thirkell (34) both playing their part in a stand that never let Bowaters back into it. I even managed to find a bit of rhythm with the ball myself, picking up three wickets earlier in the day — not that anyone will remember that once Bowles's innings is retold at the bar.

The real story of the afternoon, though, was Paul Brattle quietly reaching 4,000 career runs for the club — a landmark achieved with typical understatement, and thoroughly deserving of the extra round it commanded. With Bowles now sitting proudly atop the 1st XI's season run charts on 1,108, and Harris leading the wickets column with 56, the old firm continue to do the heavy lifting.

We got home by seven wickets in 36 overs. A thoroughly good day out, and one for the scrapbook.

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

As the sun climbed over Linton Park that Sunday, spirits were high and the toss fell kindly — I had no hesitation putting Aylesford Paper Mills into the field. What followed was a mixed bag with the bat: 153 all out in 43.3 overs, rescued from the brink of embarrassment by Allan Cooper's fine 70 and steady support from Ian Webb's 31. Alas, the Duck Club did brisk trade — Jim Hall, Alan Cradduck and Jon Harris all took the walk of shame without troubling the scorers. A top order to make a vicar wince.

With the ball, though, we were a different side entirely. Aylesford limped to 108 for 8 from their 48 overs, never quite getting away from us. X Noel's 43 was the innings' backbone, with N Willan and Michael Beeney chipping in 20 apiece, but three more visitors — Longley, Price and Humphries — joined our Duck Club register. Jon Harris was magnificent, 3 for 17, backed superbly by Tony Gauna's miserly 2 for 23 (five maidens — not a run given away lightly) and Allan Cooper's 1 for 7.

As for your skipper: a golden blob with the bat, proof that leading by example doesn't always extend to the crease, though I did make amends with 3 wickets in the field. With Paul Bowles still ruling the run charts and Jon Harris the wickets, the engine room remains in fine order. A draw, then — honours shared, and on this evidence, entirely fair.

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

Saturday 9 July 1977, and Dummy Site rolled up as our visitors on what turned out to be a proper day for cricket. I won the toss and didn't so much as blink before opting to bat — sometimes the decision makes itself.

And how the lads repaid that confidence. Paul Brattle played the innings of the season, ambling to a magnificent 100, with Tim Thirkell chipping in a handy 36 and Ken Webb unbeaten on 27 to help us to a healthy 201 for 4 off our 46 overs. Only poor Malcolm Pay had a day to forget, back in the pavilion for a duck before he'd had time to get comfortable — these things happen to the best of us.

Defending 201 is never as simple as the scorebook suggests, and so it proved. Weir set about us with a century of his own, unbeaten no less, well supported by R Pettitt's fifty-plus knock, and between them the visitors ground their way to 169 for 3 off 57 overs. We did have our moments — W Taylor departed for a duck, some small consolation — and Jon Harris toiled manfully for 2 for 74, with Terry Donovan chipping in a wicket, while Paul Bowles bowled like a man auditioning for a testimonial, six maidens and barely a run to his name.

In the end, honours shared. A draw, then — no shame in that, and rather fitting given the effort on both sides.

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

From the captain's chair — Sunday 03 July 1977. It was Dummy Site at home, and for once the coin did us a favour; I had no hesitation putting us in.

What followed was as fine an afternoon with the bat as I can remember. Paul Brattle simply refused to get out, compiling a magnificent 119 not out and carrying the innings almost single-handed, while Brian Piper (29 not out) and Nigel Thirkell (26) provided just enough support to let him get on with it. Forty overs brought us 209 for the loss of only two — the kind of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than gnaw at the biscuits.

In the field we set about defending it, and the visitors made a fair fist of the chase, reaching 171 for 6 off their fifty — Sudworth (39), Thomas (38) and Bugg (34) all threatening to make a match of it before the bowlers reined things in. Jon Harris was the pick with 3 for 71, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2 for 36, Trevor Back took one, and Tony Gauna bowled four maidens without so much as a thank-you to the batsmen. I even managed three wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for weeks to come.

In the end neither side could quite force it home, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but with Brattle's hundred to dine out on, nobody left Linton Park feeling short-changed.

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

Cricket at Linton Park last Saturday, and for once the toss favoured me — I called it right and, with a wicket that looked fit for runs, there was never really a decision to make. In we went to bat, and what a canter it proved: 213 for 5 off our 49 overs, with Nigel Thirkell playing the innings of the summer, 124 not out and utterly untroubled by anything Rainham could offer. Paul Bowles chipped in a tidy 21 and Allan Cooper 20, while the Rainham bowlers were kind enough to gift us 25 in extras — not quite an extra player, but not far off.

Rainham's reply never got out of second gear. They were bowled out for 119 in 38.4 overs, with MacFarland (45) and Glazier (40) doing what scoring there was and precious little else besides — Morris, Webb and Chambers all walked back without so much as troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was quite magnificent, 5 for 52 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, and I permitted myself a rare moment of captain's vanity with 5 wickets of my own, ably backed up by John Bloomfield's 1 for 5.

A landmark day all round: Paul Bowles brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, while Bowles and Harris continue to lead the 1st XI's run and wicket charts respectively this season. We ran out winners by 94 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one for the scrapbook.

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

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 · HomeformDDWLD

Wednesday 29th June, and Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC came calling. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains a work in progress — and duly found myself leading the lads out into the field rather than padding up in the shade.

They batted their full 58 overs for 163 all out, which felt about right for the surface. D. Walker top-scored with a watchful 39, with Peter Day (24) and S. Taylor (23) chipping in, but our bowlers never let them settle. Trevor Back was superb, 3-19 and full of menace, while Nigel Thirkell bowled with the sort of miserly discipline that makes tea taste sweeter — 3-25 including seven maidens, enough to have their middle order playing for survival rather than runs. Jon Harris weighed in with 2-42, and R. Johnston and C. Hatt both departed without troubling the scorers, ducks apiece.

Chasing 164, we got there in some comfort, 166/6 off 40 overs. Steve Gower played the innings of the day, a classy 54 that continues his fine season, well supported by Brian Piper (29) and David Tolhurst (29) either side of him.

Gower now leads our 1977 run charts with 120 for the summer, and Harris sits second in the wickets with four — both men very much on song. A fine win by four wickets, and a thoroughly enjoyable Wednesday evening's cricket. Onwards we go.

Sun 26 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWDWL

Beat by 150 runs, we hosted on Sunday 26th June and I called correctly at the toss, choosing to bat first — a decision I'm still rather pleased with myself about, whatever the scorebook says came after. Paul Bowles then proceeded to play the innings of the summer, 122 not out of pure quality, the sort of knock that makes a captain look wiser than he is. Nigel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 35 and Paul Brattle with 32, and between them we posted a healthy 229 for 3 from our fifty overs — the kind of total that has you allowing yourself a small, private smile at tea.

What followed with the ball, frankly, deserved its own chapter. Jon Harris turned in a spell of pure witchcraft, 6 for 14 with eight maidens, spinning the opposition into knots and barely letting a run past. Nigel Thirkell and Allan Cooper picked up a wicket apiece, B Kitchingham went for a duck, and I even managed to rediscover some rhythm of my own with six wickets — though I suspect the ball was doing rather more work than I was. The visitors were bowled out for 79 in 44.3 overs, a scoreline that flattered nobody but us.

And yet — beaten by 150 runs. Cricket has a sense of humour all its own, and ours, it seems, chose this particular Sunday to laugh loudest. We'll dust ourselves down, raise a glass to Bowles and Harris, and be better for it next week.

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

Beaten by three wickets at Hythe on Saturday, but not before we gave the old place a proper test. Winning the toss, I fancied batting first, and while nobody could accuse us of fireworks, 157/5 from our fifty overs was a tidy platform. Nigel Thirkell was in fine touch, ploughing on to 64, with Paul Bowles (26) and an unbeaten 26 from Ken Webb keeping the innings honest. Poor Paul Brattle, however, will want the scorebook burned — a golden duck to remember him by.

Defending 157 was always going to want some discipline, and for long stretches we had it. P Cugley played the innings of the day for Hythe, a classy 74 well supported by B Moseley's unbeaten 24, while at the other end P Elston departed without so much as a nudge to leg. Ian Brattle bowled his heart out for 3-55, Nigel Thirkell backed him up nobly with 2-55 and five miserly maidens, and Terry Donovan chipped in with 1-21 — reaching the small matter of 300 career wickets along the way, a landmark that rather puts my own contribution of 26 in the shade.

In the end Hythe got home by three wickets with 42 overs gone, and there's no dressing that up. Still, Paul Bowles continues to lead our run charts handsomely this season, and Nigel had himself quite an afternoon all told. We were competitive, we were unlucky in patches, and we'll be better for it next week.

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

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 · AwayformWWLLW

Sunday the nineteenth of June found the side on the road to Bobbing Court, and I'll admit the toss was the easiest decision I made all afternoon — won it, and never once considered doing anything but batting. As it turned out, that instinct was vindicated in spectacular fashion. Nigel Thirkell simply refused to get out, compiling a magnificent 103 not out, with Brian Piper playing the perfect foil for 30 not out as we closed on a handsome 177/3 from our fifty overs. Better still, Nigel's innings brought up 4,000 career runs for the club and marked his 200th appearance in Linton colours — the sort of landmark that rather puts one's own contribution in perspective.

Defending it, Bobbing Court dug in stubbornly. C Robinson held firm for 28 not out, with W Webb (27) and Brian Best (20 not out) chipping away at the target, and they crept to 105/5 from their 47. Ian Brattle bowled beautifully throughout — 2-17 with five overs given away for nothing — well supported by Jon Harris and Brian Piper with a wicket apiece. Poor Paul Bowles had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes leaking through, though he can console himself that he still leads our 1st XI run charts this summer, with Jon Harris top of the wicket pile.

In the end neither side could force the door open, and honours were shared. Given the milestones on the day, a draw felt like rather the diplomatic result.

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

Saturday 18th June, and the fixtures gods sent us off to Dummy Site — a name that promised little and delivered plenty. I won the toss, which around here counts as half a season's luck spent in one go, and had no hesitation in batting first.

What followed was as handsome an innings as I've had the pleasure of captaining alongside. Paul Bowles made a magnificent 108, the sort of century that has you forgetting your tea and just watching, with Nigel Thirkell (47) and Paul Brattle (36) building nobly around him as we closed on a formidable 230/4 from our 42 overs.

With that total in the bank, all that remained was to bowl them out, which we did with rather indecent haste — 68 all out in 35 overs, S. Wyles top-scoring with 20 in an otherwise threadbare reply. J. Golding, Dave Goodyer and R. Diamond all departed without so much as a run to their names, which I mention only because a duck deserves recording. Jon Harris was quite magnificent, 6-17 with six maidens thrown in for good measure, and I managed to chip in with 6 wickets myself, with Nigel Thirkell (3-29) rounding out the demolition.

A special mention, too, for Paul Brattle, who brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours — a milestone earned the hard way, over many a season. Bowles now leads our run charts with 788 for the year, Harris the wickets with 33, and neither shows any sign of slowing.

A win by 162 runs. Onwards indeed.

Thu 16 Jun 1977 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDWWL

Thursday 16 June 1977, and we welcomed the visitors to Linton Park in conditions that promised more than they delivered — for the opposition, at least. Winning what passed for a toss of temperament, we put ourselves in the field, and for once the plan held together. The lads bowled with real discipline: Allan Cooper, whose season just keeps ticking along nicely, ran through the order for 4-35, with Martin Thompson chipping in a tidy 3-10 alongside him. R Humphrey didn't trouble the scorers at all, back in the pavilion for a duck, while only P Norris, unbeaten on 28, showed any real defiance. Restricting them to 85/7 from their sixteen overs felt, at the time, like a job well done.

Which made what followed all the more sobering. Chasing 86, we were fluent enough — Paul Brattle led the way with a breezy 27, Paul Bowles (still ominously top of the season's run pile) unbeaten on 25, and Tim Thirkell matching him run for run. Eighty-eight came at a fair old lick, just eleven overs required. Trouble was, we'd contrived to lose eight wickets doing it, and the opposition strolled home regardless, needing barely a fraction of their overs to finish us off.

So: a curious sort of defeat, one where almost everyone had a hand in something positive and yet the scoreboard still reads as a beating. Not our day. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

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 brought St Lawrence & Highland Court to Linton Park, and I lost the toss for my troubles — they wasted no time electing to bat, leaving us to make do with the ball. We settled for a while as J Hopkins compiled a handsome fifty, 59 in all, with Anthony Tremelling (27) and S. Edge (20) offering steady support. They were eventually all out for 151 from 52 overs, and I'll confess it looked a stiffer total at tea than it does in print. Credit where due: Allan Cooper was in inspired form, ripping through them for 4-27, with Trevor Back (2-29) and Tony Gauna (2-30, four maidens and not a run given away cheaply) doing the tidying up. J Dixey and J Arnold, for their part, never troubled the scorers — sent back for ducks before they'd got comfortable.

Chasing 152, we wobbled our way to 152/7 from 51.4 overs — never quite serene, but never quite panicked either. Trevor Back led from the front with 39, well supported by Jim Hall (34) and Paul Brattle (30), and somehow we crept over the line with three wickets to spare.

A day for the record books besides: Allan Cooper sailed past 200 career wickets and, with his four scalps, leapfrogged George Champion into 17th on the club's all-time list. Paul Bowles continues to top the season's run charts with 641, and Jon Harris leads the wickets with 27.

A scrappy, nerve-jangling, thoroughly satisfying win by three wickets. Onwards.

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

Saturday 11th June saw Rumwood CC pay us a visit, and though I lost the toss and duly volunteered us into the field first, it turned out to be no bad thing at all. The lads settled early — R- Moore departed without so much as a squeak from the scorebook, and from there Terry Donovan simply ran through them, a superb 4-34 backing up figures that would flatter far grander occasions than a Saturday at Linton Park. Jon Harris (3-18) and Martin Thompson (2-13, three tidy maidens to his name) tightened the screws until Rumwood were bowled out for 72 in the 41st over. A proper morning's work.

Our reply, it must be said, was rather more of a stroll than a canter. Paul Brattle top-scored with a composed 21, well supported by Tim Thirkell's 20, while poor Jim Hall contributed nothing at all to proceedings beyond his presence at the crease. I even found some rhythm of my own with the ball earlier — three wickets, since you ask, though I shan't dwell on it lest this read as self-congratulation. We stumbled and nudged our way to 74 for 5 in 27.4 overs, five wickets to spare and, if I'm honest, rather more alarms along the way than the target strictly warranted.

Elsewhere in the season, Paul Bowles continues to plunder runs at the top of the averages with 639 for the year, and Jon Harris now boasts 26 wickets to lead the attack. A fine team performance today, though — bowlers doing the heavy lifting, batters just about finishing the job. Two points, and a happy drive home.

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

Bank holiday sunshine, a full square, and Bearsted rolling up expecting a result — well, they didn't get one, but by Jove they had to work for it.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and the pitch repaid our faith handsomely. Paul Bowles played the innings of the summer — an unbeaten 122 that also brought up 8,000 career runs for the club, a landmark achieved with the same unhurried elegance he's shown all season. Paul Brattle (24) and Tim Thirkell (23) chipped in nicely around him as we posted a healthy 235/6 from our 57 overs, and I don't mind admitting there was a spring in my step at tea.

Defending it, though, proved rather harder than the arithmetic suggested. Bearsted dug in, with Anthony Cornwell (36), C. Davies (32) and an unbeaten 30 from Brian Burnett dragging them to 168/8 from their 65 — but they never quite got within sight of the line, and credit for that belongs squarely to Tony Gauna, who bowled like a man possessed for 5-53 with seven maidens thrown in for good measure. Jon Harris (2-40) and Nigel Thirkell (1-39) did their bit too, the latter's solitary wicket nudging him past John Thirkell into 7th on the club's all-time list. Ken Webb, meanwhile, quietly brought up 1,000 career runs — the sort of milestone that deserves rather more fuss than a Monday fixture allows.

A draw, then — honours shared, and on a day of individual landmarks, perhaps the fairest result of all.

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

Well now. Sunday the 5th of June, and Old Stacians came to visit us with the sun out and, for once, the square rolling true.

I won the toss — a rare enough event to merit its own line in the scorebook — and had no hesitation in sticking us in. It was the right call. Nigel Thirkell played an innings of real substance, 110 of the finest, and found willing company in his brother Tim, unbeaten on 43, and Paul Brattle, whose 38 also nudged him past Cliff Anscombe and into 9th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — not bad for an afternoon's work. Alan Cradduck, meanwhile, made his contribution in the form of a duck, and bore it with the good grace such things demand. We closed on a handsome 222/6 from 42.2 overs.

Defending it, we barely broke sweat. Jon Harris span a web through their order for 5-24, Brian Piper chipped in with 4-10, and Tony Gauna bowled with the sort of miserly discipline that makes opening batsmen weep, four maidens to his name. Only J. Wise, with 22, offered any real resistance, while Patten, Jordan and Wittwer all departed without troubling the scorers. I even found some rhythm myself, picking up five wickets — though I shan't dwell on it. Nine byes did rather suggest Jim Hall was having one of those days behind the stumps.

Old Stacians were bowled out for 69, and we ran out winners by 153 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club.

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

Skipper's Log, Saturday 4th June 1977: we welcomed Beverley CC of Kent, lost the toss, and were sent out to bowl on a pitch that plainly had ideas of its own.

We can't have complained, mind, because our new-ball pairing made the decision look rather generous. Jon Harris was in imperious form, four wickets for 24 and four maidens to boot, the sort of miserly spell that makes a captain's job look easy from the slips. Martin Thompson chipped in with four of his own for 43, and Nigel Thirkell picked up a couple for 21, and between the three of them Beverley never really got going, bundled out for 99 in the 38th over. J Furminger's 29 and G Collins's 28 were the only real resistance, while at the other end J Gowling and D Garrett departed for ducks without so much as troubling the scorers. Jim Hall had one of those afternoons behind the stumps — ten byes is the kind of thing that gets mentioned at the bar for weeks — but no matter, since I rather selfishly helped myself to four wickets to round things off nicely.

Chasing 100 was never going to trouble us, and so it proved. Nigel Thirkell, clearly not content with just bowling well, carried his bat for an unbeaten 44, ably supported by Paul Bowles's 31, and we cantered home by eight wickets with overs to spare. Bowles remains our leading run-scorer this season and Harris our leading wicket-taker, and on this evidence neither habit shows any sign of breaking. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a thoroughly happy skipper.

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 29 May 1977, and Borough Green were the visitors on a day I shall remember rather fondly. Winning the toss, there was never any question in my mind — we batted. And bat we did: 199 for 3 from our 51 overs, the innings anchored by a truly magnificent century from Paul Bowles, 123 of the finest, with Ian Webb playing the perfect foil on 39 not out. A word too for Bowles's effort in the wider context — those runs carried him past Basil Sears and into second on the club's all-time run charts, which is no small thing to have happen on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Defending 199 always felt a healthy proposition, and so it proved. Borough Green's reply folded for 81 in just 20.2 overs, D Jones the only man to trouble the scoreboard in any meaningful way with 21. Three of their number — McGregor, Johnson and Pinder — departed without so much as a run to show for it. Jon Harris was quite magnificent with the ball, 4 for 5, well supported by Allan Cooper (2-4) and Colin Dicker (2-6), while I rather enjoyed myself picking up four wickets of my own. Thirteen byes did rather suggest poor Jim Hall was having one of those days behind the stumps, though I shan't hold it against him.

A win by 118 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Onwards we go.

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

Saturday 28th May, 1977. I lost the toss again — I really must start practising that particular skill — and the opposition, sensing weakness, elected to bat first. No matter. The lads took the field with purpose and had them back in the shed for 109 off 46.2 overs, a total that flattered them more than it troubled us. P. Husband (27), J. Adams (24) and R. Mercer (23) all threatened to build something, but Jon Harris had other ideas, ripping through with 5-36 like a man late for his tea. Martin Thompson (3-4) and Nigel Thirkell (2-24) mopped up the rest, while Terry Donovan bowled three maidens of such stubborn accuracy that the batsmen must have wondered if he'd brought a packed lunch and intended to stay all day.

With 110 to chase, Paul Bowles and Jim Hall simply strolled to the boundary and set about redecorating the scoreboard. Bowles cruised to 57 not out, Hall content in support with an unbeaten 40, and the whole business was wrapped up inside 20 overs without the loss of a single wicket — the sort of chase that makes captaincy look easy, even when it isn't.

And as if the day needed more gilding, I helped myself to five wickets with the ball for good measure — not that I'm one to mention it twice. Bowles now sits proudly atop the season's run charts with 298, and Harris climbs to third among the wicket-takers with 8. Two points, a ten-wicket win, and a very contented drive home.

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 ? · HomeformWDDWL

Thursday the 19th of May found us facing an unnamed but no doubt worthy set of visitors, and when the coin obliged me I had no hesitation in sending us in — a decision I stood by rather more comfortably than usual. We closed on 156 for 8 from our 46 overs, the innings built almost entirely around Steve Gower's fine 66, a proper captain's-innings fifty if ever I saw one, with Malcolm Pay providing sturdy support at the other end, 37 not out and unmoved by the chaos around him. Less gloriously, J McDonald and John Thirkell both made the long walk back for nought, and I shall say no more about that except to note the ducks are noted, as tradition demands.

With ball in hand we set about restricting the opposition to 111 for 9 from their fifty, T Ferley's 34 the chief obstacle, with R Innes (24 not out) and N Cook (22) chipping away either side of him, while M Hammond departed without so much as troubling the scorers. The bowling honours belonged emphatically to Paul Bowles, whose 7 for 42 — six maidens' worth of miserly support arriving courtesy of Jon Harris's 2 for 56 — brought up, almost incidentally, his 500th career wicket. A landmark worth more champagne than our clubhouse fridge could muster.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but one earned by grit at both ends, and Bowles's milestone alone made the day a triumph.

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

Wednesday 18 May 1977, and Leybourne CC came calling on a day that felt, for the first hour at least, like it might end in tears for the home side.

Losing the toss and being asked to field is never how I'd choose to start proceedings, but the lads set about it with real purpose. Ian Brattle was in inspired form, cutting through the middle order for 3-10, while Paul Bowles (2-17) and Martin Thompson (2-32) tidied up around him. Hall's 25 and Knell's 21 kept Leybourne afloat, and there was a moment of quiet comedy when J. Randall trudged off for a duck, but restricting them to 80/7 from their sixteen overs was exactly the platform we needed.

Chasing 81 should never feel like drama, and to the side's great credit it wasn't. Tim Thirkell played the anchor role to perfection, ushering us home unbeaten on 48 as we cruised in at 81/2 with overs to spare. A word for the record books too — those 48 runs nudge Tim past Mike Iliffe and up to 17th on the club's all-time run charts, which is the sort of thing that will earn him an extra pint at the bar tonight, whether he likes it or not. Paul Bowles, meanwhile, continues to lead the way in both departments this summer, top of the run-scorers and the wicket-takers alike.

An eight-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. If every Wednesday could go this smoothly, I'd never complain about losing another toss again.

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 ? · HomeformWDWWW

Sunday 15th May found us at home, and the coin — for once — smiled kindly on me, so I had no hesitation shoving us in first.

We batted through 43 overs for a very respectable 173/4, the innings built on the sort of top-order solidity that makes a captain's job easy for a change. Brian Piper was in fine touch, cruising past his fifty to 54, while Paul Bowles chipped in with a tidy 49 and Jim Hall kept the scoreboard honest with 40. Nothing flashy, just good honest runs banked in the bank.

With the ball, our visitors made us work hard for it. B. Lewis anchored their reply superbly, unbeaten on 50, with useful support from J. Phillips (45) and D. Peachment (20) — though D. Dougall will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, courtesy of our attack. Paul Bowles was the pick of the bowlers with 3-53, backed up by Jon Harris (2-34) and Trevor Back (1-11), while Tony Gauna bowled with real discipline, sending down three maidens. They closed on 151/6 from their 47 overs — a fine effort, but not quite enough to chase us down. I'll confess our man behind the stumps had an afternoon to forget, with 8 byes escaping his gloves, and no doubt he'll hear about it in the bar.

Paul Bowles continues to lead the way this season, top of both the run charts on 85 and the wicket charts with 6 — a rare season of doing the double at the top.

In the end, honours were shared: a draw, and on this occasion a fair one all round.

Sun 01 May 1977 🧢 1st XIv CK 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 CK 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.