After a rush order of wine at 11:59pm on Saturday night
just before the hotel bar closed, Sunday morning began earlier for some than for
others. Those who did remain up for the 'afters' were said to have made some
bold batting order demands to Sunday's captain, Rob Wall. Would there be any
regrets?
Once stepping out into the sunshine about 10am, spirits
were significantly lifted by the blue skies and the promised mid-20s
temperature — a treat for mid-October especially when compared to
the rain and 10 degrees in London leading up to the weekend.
An hour or so later we arrived in Damazan and were greeted
at a delightful ground sandwiched between the local lake and a collection of
gites (holiday gites to be precise, which most definitely should not be
confused or grouped with any other type of gite).
We were greeted and warmly welcomed by two stalwarts of the
club — Jean-Claude and John. Groundsman John was approaching his 90th
birthday and this was to be his last match before finally being allowed to
retire; time will tell if we see him again next year! Worryingly, we also
spotted some of the opposition warming up in the nets a full 45 minutes prior
to the first ball.
Allegedly a game of cricket occurred shortly after.
Moving on, a few highlights from the day:
*A
delicious tea was provided, including freshly baked goods including scones
with jam & cream, a range of sandwiches and actual tea!
*A
wonderful post-match presentation from Jean-Claude including numerous
insults to the English in general, and rightfully none whatsoever for the
Kiwis.
*No
less than five gifts to the Strollers from Jean-Claude and the Damazans
club: an urn from the club containing some of the turf; a local bottle of
wine for the supporters; a dozen local craft beers, a puzzle for Siena; a
foie gras plate in the shape of a duck (appropriately gifted to quite a
worryingly high number of the Strollers top six whose scores for the day
happened to correlate quite well to the shape).
*A third
straight fantastic dinner location selected by Jo and Jim — this
time on the east banks of the river Garonne with a fantastic view back
across to the town centre.
*Freddie
Broster-Turley, who (eventually) proved that despite all previous evidence
to the contrary, it is actually physically possible for a Stroller to
catch a cricket ball on the full on a Sunday in Damazan.
After a second successful toss "negotiation" of
the weekend, the Strollers were batting. Ben Mangham and Freddie were sent out
for the first look at a skiddy artificial pitch with the last of the morning's
dew burning off. Both began positively with 20 runs coming from the first five
overs, Broster-Turley in particular was quick to pounce on any rare loose
balls.
A double bowling change soon dried up the runs though, and
as the last of the previous evening's red wines oozed out of Mangham's pores,
he attempted a tight single to mid-off. A running one-handed pick-up combined
with a side-armed throw and direct hit saw him at least five yards short.
Luckily his direction of travel was already toward the changing shed, so no
additional energy was wasted as he jogged off.
Expertly timed videography from Paige Copsey allowed the
rest of the team to analyse the alternate angles of regret crossing his face as
last night’s decisions were revisited.
*What followed was a procession as Aidan Selby (second duck
of the weekend), Wall (golden) and Peter Wood did not trouble the scorebook.
Brief interludes from Alastair Macaulay (6) and Mike Daly (1) were a shade
better and Broster-Turley (bowled after a hard fought 30) left the Strollers
hanging very precariously at 54-7.
Paige and Neil Hartley stopped the rot, though the
continued accurate swing bowling made runs hard to come by. After Paige was
caught and bowled, Glen Oliver walked out at the unfamiliar position of No 10
after his exploits the previous day. Together with Hartley he added 30 for the ninth
wicket, just dragging the Strollers over triple figures. Hodgson (2*) then
joined Hartley (12*) to see out the last couple of overs leaving the Strollers
at 105-9 after the allotted 35 overs.
To say that Damazan's opener Redwan did not waste time
getting about his work would be an understatement. Copsey dropped ever so
slightly short of a length on the fourth ball and was promptly deposited well
over the midwicket boundary, nearly into the lake.
Hartley and Jim Hodgson also come under attack with both
seeing an over go for more than 20. Betwixt the assault was some truly awful
catching - in the 12-over run chase eight chances were shelled. Copsey was the
most unfortunate bowler with four chances put down and Oliver next in line
with three. Both eventually got a wicket via the only sensible (possible?) way —
clean bowled. Broster-Turley finally held a catch off Macaulay's bowling, but
it was too little too late as we were put out of our misery very early in the
evening.
Thankfully the sun was still shining and there was some
time to enjoy a few drinks in the warmth of the evening. A great tour and
thanks once again to Jim, Jo, Stair and others who all contributed to making it
happen.
Capt: Rob Wall. Wkt: Mike Daly
Match report: Peter Wood.
