2006 TOUR

Teddy Bear’s Picnic?

 

(For those who can’t be bothered with the reports all the tour averages are at the bottom)

The 2006 tour had looked a promising one in advance, with at least 16 people apparently signed up and spare players available for all the matches. Those with aching senior limbs or youthful hangovers should have been able to rest and still sides of reasonable strength could be put out. Initial problems with the loss of the Tuesday fixture and our normal accommodation seemed to have been overcome and all seemed set fair for a good week.

Then the problems started. For one reason or another players, mostly the better ones, started to drop like flies. Mostly it seemed to be work commitments – late changes, colleagues away, changes of job or it appears in Matt Scanlan’s case (poor boy, he’s only in his first year of work) apparently not realising that booking leave in the school holidays needs to be done well in advance. Still the numbers seemed to be sufficient for all but the final game, and we were hoping to borrow a Temple Cloud ringer or two for that game. Further bad news came the day before we were due to set out when our new Sunday opposition, Alex Payne’s side Strollers, could not raise more than 6 players and had to call off the first game. It gave some of us the chance to rest for an extra day, though, and tourists duly started arriving at our new Bed & Breakfast accommodation at Clifton Hill House on Sunday afternoon.

The provision of a full cooked breakfast made up for the institutional feeling of the rooms, and had the added benefit of generally encouraging early rising so that morning activities could be completed without making us all horrendously late for pub lunches and hence matches. A relaxed first morning for most was compensated for by Matthew Quantrill walking some 7 or 8 miles around Bristol and its environs trying to find a proper sports shop, before, having viewed innumerable replica football shirt and trainer shops, finally finding a cricket equipment specialist just 100 yards from the accommodation. At least he found it in time to provide himself with new boots and set off for Coalpit Heath where the full tour party gathered in the Badminton Arms before the first match.

Monday July 31st 2006

Tour Match - 40 Over Game

Coalpit Heath 135 all out (32.3 overs)
New Ash Green 2-0 (1.3 overs)
Match Abandoned

Having been beaten heavily by a youthful Coalpit Heath side for the last couple of years, and being somewhat short of bowling, New Ash Green declined the opposition skipper’s invitation to bat first, believing that they would have no hope of defending whatever total they got. There were also concerns about the opposition skipper, but he turned out to be the brother of the overseas player who had flayed the New Ash Green attack in the first few overs of the 2005 game and not quite as effective. Alan Cottrell in his fourth and very definitely last retirement game in succession at Coalpit Heath showed there was some life in the old Plum yet with a tidy opening spell, rewarded with a wicket in his fourth over, before retiring to graze the outfield with the respectable figures of 1-15 in 4 overs. At the other end Andy Stuart enjoyed the unusual amount of bounce in the wicket and made an early breakthrough before taking himself off with 1-6 from 5 overs. Thereafter the bowling resources were supposedly rather more sparse, but the two Hoddinotts belied their lack of playing time this year with reasonable spells, Kieran picking up two wickets. They also started the ‘bear’ theme for the week by christening Alan Cottrell ‘Biggy Bear’, a theme that was nobly picked up by our opposition for the next two days. With Kieran having removed the opposition’s two top scorers, including the overseas player, Andy Stuart thought it might be safe to turn to spin and possible declaration bowling. Matt Bushe, though, was also economical and the youngsters of Coalpit Heath didn’t know what to make of James Thorn’s gently lobbed grenades. Thorn struck with his first (and probably worst) ball, a wide leg side long hop which the well set batsman just managed to get enough bat on to scoop gently to Kieran Hoddinott. After that Thorn’s accuracy improved and the batsmen’s technique worsened, and having taken a wicket in each over Thorn was removed from the attack to spare Coalpit Heath further embarrassment with 4-12, a humiliation which almost makes up for all the indignities heaped on New Ash Green’s hapless tourists by the youth of Coalpit Heath in the last few years! Nonetheless there was only time for David ‘Damage’ Howland to bowl one over before Matt Bushe bowled the number 10 and Mad Mike Pritchard, Coalpit Heath’s somewhat eccentric but very charming wicketkeeper mistook John Howland for an umpire and was beaten by his direct hit on a single stump.

Despite two brief rainbreaks New Ash Green had run through the Coalpit Heath batting line up so quickly that tea wasn’t ready, so they agreed to bat a few overs before tea. Darren Phillips played out a maiden, thus failing to score his first run of the season in his second game, and John Howland looked more positive in scoring 2 from the ninth ball of the innings before the rain returned in earnest. Before long the pitch was covered in puddles and the game was clearly over, though this did give everyone the chance to enjoy a superb tea at leisure. It also gave plenty of time for the usual fines, for a John Howland quiz, won comfortably by Jasper Holliday despite the fact that he was up against some teams of up to 8 people, and for Matthew Quantrill to take a seat at the youngster’s poker game and clean up their pocket money. There was still time to return to Bristol in plenty of time for the evening’s debauchery, but shorn of many of the leading lights on this front a long evening in the pub was actually the main occupation, with a small performing dog receiving more attention than the female population of Bristol.

Tuesday morning again saw the full party assembled for breakfast, now joined by Andy Cox, and, with the inclusion of Plum, having enough strength to head for the bowling alley with three lanes of four. No one was able to reach the heights of the departed Dave Harrington, now bowling semi-professionally in Cyprus, but there were a few bright moments, virtually none of them from Matthew Quantrill (yes, I know its me writing it, but I have to try and maintain some pretence of impartiality) who became extremely frustrated by his inability to roll a ball in a straight line. In the end James Thorn probably came out on top, just ahead of John Howland. Two games left plenty of time to find the way to the new opposition, Hinton Charterhouse, time that was needed as the main road between Bristol and Bath, which would have been the natural route, was closed. A variety of possible routes was discussed and an even greater variety was taken, particularly by those (me again) who foolishly let James Thorn do the navigating despite years of experience of his inability to find the best ways around Bristol. Nonetheless everyone arrived in plenty of time for lunch in the pub opposite the ground and a chance to see the opposition’s fixture card and find that they were not quite as high powered as had been feared.

Tuesday 1st August 2006

Tour Match – ‘Proper Cricket’

Hinton Charterhouse 188-6 (44 overs)
New Ash Green 162-9 (39 overs)
Match Drawn

Possibly the strongest squad of the week assembled for the new fixture, to find an opposition more disorganised than us. However the benefit of having a regular mid-week side soon showed as they were able to rustle up eleven players, and the skippers agreed a proper (i.e. declaration) game of cricket. Hinton Charterhouse won the toss and elected to bat, and initially looked as if a declaration was not going to be something they would have to worry about. Richard Newport, a Wilts over 50’s player as it turned out, looked highly unconvincing against Andy Stuart’s initial burst, his first scoring shot being an unconvincing mis-hit just over covers head, and his colleague was soon out giving Stuart a tame return catch. Mind you New ash Green’s opening attack looked unconvincing as well, as Darren Phillips, having told the skipper (James Thorn) that he could bowl a bit of medium pace was summarily removed after one unconvincing over. Chris Hoddinott was a revelation as his replacement however, tying down the batsmen and taking two wickets, including that of the oppositions number three ‘Yogi Bear’ – the reasons for this nickname are unclear but it fitted in well with the week’s theme. Andy Stuart came off after 6 overs with figures of 1-12 and was replaced by Matt Bushe, who also bowled tidily. After 17 overs Hinton were an unconvincing 32-3 and New Ash Green were looking around for bowlers who could give runs away. However Newport and Billy Edwards began to pick up the pace and looked better batsmen as time went on, seeing off Hoddinott and Bushe, and then David Howland and Kieran Hoddinott without further loss. The introduction of Andy Cox and the return of Chris Hoddinott as the batsmen attempted to accelerate towards the end eventually brought more wickets, Newport falling caught and bowled to Cox for 90, and a declaration after 44 overs on 188-6, much to the dismay of Sunday Telegraph cricket writer Scyld Berry who had been on the field for an over without facing a ball. The final assault did have a cost for New Ash Green though as James Thorn unwisely tried to dive for a catch and landed heavily on his side, rendering himself unfit for the remainder of the tour.

Darren Phillips after his short spell of bowling was given the opportunity to open the batting as well, and with a neat symmetry scored as many runs as he had conceded – 3 – although he took rather longer to score them than he had to concede them. Matthew Quantrill and Andy Cox started slowly but steadily picked up the pace. As the last hour was approaching Cox launched a couple of big sixes and the target was brought down to a very manageable 107 from the final 20 overs. The first of the 20 brought the demise of Cox, though, as he tried to repeat his previous big hits in Scyld Berry’s first over and was caught on the boundary by the wicket-keeper, who had just taken off his pads and joined the fielders in preparation for a spell of bowling. Initially Quantrill and Vaughan John carried on undaunted, the ex-wicket-keeper’s pace not causing them any trouble, and when they took 11 from his third over the target looked well in sight and Hinton’s captain was looking round the field in search of another option. At that point, though, Quantrill, having reached his 50, mis-judged a late dab at Berry’s slow looping leg spin and was caught at slip. Not long afterwards John was bowled by the wicket-keeper turned bowler, who then picked up John Howland and, after a brief counter attack, Andy Stuart. After that it was Berry who worked his way through the tail, taking both Hoddinotts and Matt Bushe on his way to a haul of 5-39. The run rate was still gettable, but with James Thorn effectively batting one handed New Ash Green were forced to give up the chase and Thorn and David Howland saw out the last four overs for a draw.

An excellent game of cricket, though, and with sausage and chips provided in the pavilion after the match and the opposition captain joining in the fines Hinton Charterhouse proved themselves to be excellent hosts, who we hope we will be able to see again next year.

Following a good evening at Hinton after a full match, and a fairly long drive back to Bristol, a fairly quiet night was had by most, and most of the squad were awake in time for a full 18 holes of pitching and putting at Ashton Court. The two groups, a 4 and a 5, made their way around the course without any hugely dramatic incidents, Jasper Holliday enjoying a steep learning curve and Matthew Quantrill finding more balls (4) than he lost (3) as well as hitting one onto the (miniature) railway line. Andy Cox could probably claim to be the overall winner, but enjoyment was more the name of the game than scoring, despite the insistence of certain golf snobs that occasional games of pitch ‘n’ putt should be played with full golfing etiquette!

The squad mostly managed to find their way to the Ring o’ Bells at Hinton Blewitt for lunch before the match and arrive at Temple Cloud on time, but Pete Burke was a few minutes late and the Hoddinott/Phillips combination arrived some half hour after the start for reasons that were never very clear.

Wednesday 2nd August 2006

Tour Match - 40 Over Game

Temple Cloud 281 all out (39.4 overs)
New Ash Green 254 all out (38.5 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 27 runs

Following the last few years trend when the team batting first has made a huge score and won comfortably Temple Cloud had no hesitation in choosing to bat upon winning the toss. With New Ash Green a few players short thanks to the lost Phillips/Hodds the President took the field along with two other volunteers, who took the field in shorts and in one case bare feet for a brave half hour before the arrival of the missing carload. They were able to watch as the days bear, Temple Cloud opener Kevin ‘Bear’ Curtis and their imported New Zealand ringer got off to a very positive start, with Pete Burke and Andy Cox vying to see who could be the most expensive bowler. The score was soon rattling along at better than a run a ball, and had already reached 36 in the sixth over when Curtis holed out to Alex Payne off Burke’s bowling. This temporarily slowed the scoring and Cox picked up a wicket, but the rate was soon picking up again. Cloud’s number 4, Davison, made 26 at a run a ball before being well caught in the deep by David Howland off Burke, but the Kiwi Lee was making 6 hitting look easy as he took apart all the bowling. Matt Bushe, replacing Cox, was probably the main victim, conceding 50 in 4 overs as Lee struck 8 sixes and 8 fours on his way to 100 in just 66 balls before running himself out semi-deliberately. By this time the score was 166 in only the 22nd over, and the batting didn’t get much less positive as the innings proceeded. Burke picked up a third wicket, and Chris Hoddinott stemmed the flow of runs marginally as his first 5 overs only went for 22. Those wondering why skipper Alex Payne was keeping Burke on for so long had their question answered when a four in his 14th over was greeted with a big cheer – his 100th run conceded, probably the first New Ash Green bowler ever to achieve the feat.  Kieran Hoddinaott bowled a cameo spell picking up 1-4 but getting himself taken off complaining of injury and with Andy Cox returning he and Chris Hoddinott picked up a couple of wickets each as the tail continued to swing the bat on the way to being all out for 281 in the final over.

 

Chasing such a high score New Ash Green were always behind the asking rate. Darren Phillips played his most positive innings of the tour making 13, and for a while Matthew Quantrill (30) and Kieran Hoddinott (45) looked as if they might make some sort of go at it, but once they were out and Chris Hoddinott and  Andy Cox had been run out cheaply there was little hope left. The Howlands made their top scores of the tour (David 20 and John 17*) and Alex Payne (28 off 19 balls), Matt Bushe (13 off 10) and Pete Burke (21 off 8) all enjoyed themselves against a variety of bowling at the end of the innings. The final score of 254 looked deceptively close, but in truth New Ash Green had never been in the game. A good time was had by almost all, though, and the barbecue after the game was enjoyed by large numbers.

New Ash Green recruited two players to make up for those missing injured and working the following day and were able to head back to Bristol for an evening of Alex Payne inspired drinking games and rowdiness feeling that all was well with the world. However shortly before they left Kieran Hoddinott raised some concerns about the disappearance of his brother and Darren Phillips, and on their return to the accommodation it became apparent that the pair of them had departed, leaving the team two short once again. Desperate negotiations allowed Alex Payne and Pete Burke to make themselves available for most of the day and eventually 11 were available again, but the total lack of any warning and the departure knowing that numbers were tight left a somewhat bitter taste in the mouth of those remaining.

Thursday morning was spent in various forms of relaxation and a fairly early departure for the not too distant pub ensured plenty of time for lunch for those players who weren’t working in the morning. Arrival at the ground, though, revealed another problem – the mysterious absence of one of the Temple Cloud ringers, an absence that was never fully explained. Down to the bare bones (note the bear theme slipping in again!) already New Ash Green recruited a small girl who’s brother and father were playing for the opposition. In fairness to Ellie she does play for Barrow’s colts team so wasn’t a complete novice, and as will be seen she was able to play a useful role. What with this, Pete Burke’s late arrival from work and Alex Payne having to arrive late and then take an extended tea while collecting his daughter from Weston it was a somewhat ramshackle affair, but the spirit of those left to make an effort was excellent, and Alex and Pete are to be congratulated on making the effort to help save the club from complete embarrassment. What’s more we were able to provide two umpires for the match thanks to Alan Cottrell and the still injured James Thorn.

Thursday 3rd August 2006

Tour Match - 40 Over Game

New Ash Green 215-8 (40 overs)
Barrow Gurney 208-9 (40 overs)
New Ash Green won by 7 runs

With all the toing and froing over getting eleven bodies on the pitch the match itself was somewhat forgotten. The need to pick a balanced side had not been a prime factor in selection, and New Ash Green were once more faced with the difficulty of making a total big enough for their somewhat sparse looking bowling attack to defend. Matthew Quantrill and John Howland started cautiously against the tidy opening attack of Phil Febrey and young Ed Holdaway, the score being just 20 after 9 overs. Bearing in mind James Thorn’s maxim that 20-0 after 10 and 50-0 after 20 overs are the basis for a total of 200 in a 40 over game it seemed a solid enough start, and the batsmen accelerated a bit against the change bowling. Indeed the partnership went past 50 well before the 20th over and when Howland was out for 15 a century partnership (which would have been only New Ash Green’s second of the season) was beckoning. As it was the stand of 85 was the best opening stand of the year to date and gave New Ash Green an ideal platform. Alex Payne made 17 before being pinned so palpably LBW that he was walking before the umpire’s finger went up. Pete Burke then the raised the scoring rate when, after two dot balls at the other end, he took on the slow spin of Geoff Warren hitting four fours and a six from the first five balls he faced, and forcing Warren from the attack. With a four from the next ball he faced Burke had taken his tour runs total to 47 from 16 balls, but he was a bit more circumspect thereafter mixing singles and dot balls evenly until the end of his innings. Quantrill had also briefly taken up the scoring mantle hitting two fours and a six in four balls before tamely guiding a catch into the covers for 80 just as a very large total looked achievable. With the opening bowlers returning to keep things tight New Ash Green were unable to really accelerate in the last 10 overs, adding just 45 for the loss of five further wickets to finish on 215-8.

Although Barrow Gurney’s ground has been slightly expanded in recent years it still has several short boundaries, and 215 is by no means a big score, especially when the lack of bowling resources available to New Ash Green is taken into account. The wicket, though, was giving some assistance, and if the bowling was reasonably accurate it would take some good batting to reach the target. Pete Burke and Matt Bushe opened the bowling, and Barrow openers Geoff Warren and Phil Milton scored steadily from the first over. Burke made the initial breakthrough, having Warren caught behind, but was then immediately removed from the attack – as the only senior bowler in the side he was to be kept in reserve. Matthew Quantrill, bowling his first spell since tearing side muscles in June was first change, and after starting gingerly he settled into a reasonable medium pace, with a good line and length. With Bushe also bowling well the scoring rate was slowed down and Phil Milton started to play more aggressively. He drove Quantrill for four and six in one over and followed up with another four in the next before playing the shot once too often and driving a return catch to the bowler. Soon afterwards Holdaway played back to Bushe and knocked his own stumps down. Bushe finished with 1-37 in 8 overs and his replacement John Howland was successful with his first ball when Gordon Ladd had a huge swipe at a full toss but succeeded only in looping the ball gently to square leg. With Quantrill conceding just 2 runs in his last 3 overs Barrow were under pressure again at 76-4 after 19 overs. Although they scored a few from Howland’s last over they still had plenty to do in the last 20 overs. At this stage Quantrill, already with 80 and 1-23 in 7 overs, started to assume a Simon Duke like role in the game (though under the captaincy of Rob Newmarch rather than himself) as he took over the wicketkeeping duties to allow Temple Cloud’s Gary James to bowl if needed. With the two Figueirdo brothers playing cautiously New Ash Green initially tried the bowling of Jasper Holliday and young Ellie Holdaway, who was allowed by umpire James Thorn to bowl from a colts length. Although this was the time to accelerate you could see the two brothers thinking of the embarrassment if they got out to an 11 year old girl, and they treated her spell with great caution. Add to this the fact that they were clearly unsure what to make of Holliday’s looping deliveries and it was only through the number of wides bowled that the score really kept going at anything near the required rate. The pair conceded just one boundary each as Ellie finished with 0-17 in 4 overs and Jasper 0-30 in 4. This pair were replaced by Gary James, who bowled till the end with a tidy slow medium pace, and Kieran Hoddinott, who started well but lost it a bit in his third over. At this stage the older Figueirdo had started to attack, and the younger, having hardly hit the ball off the square also launched into Hoddinott. With 6 overs remaining they had put on 96 for the 5th wicket and needed 46 from the last 48 balls, a very makeable equation with wickets in hand. The second ball of the 35th over brought the breakthrough, with the younger brother Ben finding John Howland at mid on to be out for 31, and Pete Burke then struck with his first ball back to end older brother Richard’s innings at 60. Although they ran well Barrow Gurney failed to find the boundary at all in the last 6 overs and another wicket for Burke (3-28) and a run out in James’ final over as he ended with 1-31 set the scene for the President and captain for the day Rob Newmarch to bowl the final over. With 13 needed to win and two of Barrow’s veterans batting, and another to come in, it was a fitting finale and Newmarch didn’t disappoint, bowling Pete Holdaway as he took a big swing at the third ball. Newmarch couldn’t quite finish the game in style as Barrow’s last pair saw out the final over, but the game was won to leave New Ash Green with a satisfyingly even tour record – Won one, drawn one, lost one, abandoned one and cancelled one.

Matthew Quantrill was called away to tend to sick children and parents, and others were heading back to Kent, so the post match socialising was left to the few remaining members of the tour party, but a good evening at the Princes Motto was followed by the traditional end of tour meal at Pizza Express. Overall there was some disappointment at numbers and particularly at Wednesday’s disappearing act, but otherwise it was a very good tour, with all the games played well in good spirit and everyone getting the chance to take part and shine in some way or another. Next year is the 30th anniversary of the first tour, and of the first game against Barrow Gurney, so it is to be hoped that a few more members will be able to get their holiday organised in advance and make sure they are able to attend the full week, allowing those who struggle to play consecutive games to have a rest at some point in the tour!

And finally those all important tour averages….

2006 Tour Batting Averages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Qualification: 1 Completed Innings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pos.

 

Player

Games

Inns.

NO's

Runs

Hi-Score

Average

1

 

Q

4

3

0

161

80

53.67

2

 

Century Man

2

2

0

53

32

26.50

3

 

Dougal

2

2

0

49

43

24.50

4

 

The Boy Boycie

2

1

0

24

24

24.00

5

 

Capt. Slimline Al

2

2

0

45

28

22.50

6

 

Kezza

4

3

0

67

45

22.33

7

 

Damage

4

3

1

35

20

17.50

8

 

Spot

4

4

2

34

17*

17.00

9

 

Veeeej

1

1

0

10

10

10.00

10

 

Bushtaq

4

3

1

18

13

9.00

11

 

Gary Ringer

1

1

0

9

9

9.00

12

 

Disappearing Darren

3

3

1

16

13

8.00

13

 

Edge

3

2

0

16

13

8.00

14

 

Magz

3

2

0

5

5

2.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also Batted, but not Qualified for the Averages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

The President

1

1

1

8

8*

******

2

 

Very Senior Pro

2

1

1

0

0*

******

3

 

A Very Young Girl

1

0

0

0

0

------

4

 

Plumb

1

0

0

0

0

------

 

2006 Tour Bowling Averages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Qualification: 1 Wicket Taken

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pos.

 

Player

Overs

Mdns.

Runs

Wkts.

Best

R/Over

Average

1

 

Very Senior Pro

4

1

12

4

4-12

3.00

3.00

2

 

The President

1

0

5

1

1-5

5.00

5.00

3

 

The Boy Boycie

11

3

18

2

1-6

1.64

9.00

4

 

Spot

2

0

12

1

1-12