The Strollers assembled in Bordeaux on a warm and bright
Friday, with the weather a promising sign of things to come. Rob Wall was all set
to inflict his Franglaise on unsuspecting locals and restaurateurs.
An evening of wine and charcuterie was enjoyed at Le
Metropolitain and it was wonderful to see so many wives, partners and young
Siena making the trip and getting involved. The attention quickly moved on to
the cricketing challenges ahead.
The Ibis provided breakfast and everyone made their way out
to Chateau Giscours, where records of the vineyard go back to 1552. They
produce 25,000 cases of Grand vin Chateau Giscours every year,
an amount that even Ben Mangham conceded he would struggle to fit in his
campervan and finish before Christmas.
Regular readers will know the struggles the appointed
captain, Glen Oliver, has had with the coin toss. An agreed toss spared any
blushes and saw the Strollers put in to bat.
Wall and Mike Daly headed out to face the music, quite
literally as the band to celebrate the end of the summer harvest were starting
to find their voice along with the celebrating grape harvesters. The
walking crew, led by Jo, went off to inspect and explore the grounds of the
Chateau.
Wall and then Aidan Selby got caught with balls that stuck
in the pitch. Daly crawled his way to 19 before being relieved by Selby’s
trigger finger.
Looking on, Brian Taylor found the music to his liking and
started to cut shapes that are usually reserved for dance nights at the
Nottingham Liberal Democrat Club after big election wins.
Oliver found no issues with the pitch and slow outfield.
The music moved up a gear, and so did Oliver on his way to a nicely crafted
hundred.
Sayem Rahmen had recently joined Giscours and proved to be
rapid with a few Strollers pleased not to be on the receiving end of his pace. Peter
Wood played nicely to pick up 20 and Freddie Broster-Turley found the pace to
his liking in his 12, including a fine six over the bowler’s head.
Mangham added four, Neil Hartley was unlucky to be
dismissed for one and Jim Hodgson enjoyed his time in the middle.
The Strollers finished on 186 from 35 overs before heading
for tea. Tea was a slightly different affair from the English garden
variety as Giscours brought out a few bottles of rose and claret to wash down
the spread.
There was some suspicion the wine was brought out to derail
the Strollers performance, although fears were quickly allayed as Wood and
Broster-Turley found early wickets.
Resistance was provided by Clinton, Giscours’ elder statesman,
who frustrated the Strollers attack for a solid 19 before the Strollers’ own
statesman, Hodgson, found the breakthrough.
Steph Oliver led the charge for the wine tasting and had no
trouble finding willing participants to join in. The tasting ended with a ride
back in a golf cart from a tipsy wine guide whose cart was listing from all of
the purchases.
Back on the field, wickets from Alastair Macauley and run-outs
on the strong arm of Wood kept up a steady stream of wickets. Paige Copsey
bowled with great line and length, unlucky not to take a wicket.
An intriguing moment in the match came with the Strollers
requiring one wicket, Hartley ever so slightly misjudging a catch. The look on
his face said it all and he was told to limber up for a bowl. Hartley should
have had no concerns as he bowled with vigour usually reserved for last orders
at 11.59pm in certain French hotels. Hartley found the edge and a fine juggling
catch was taken by Selby at first slip.
Giscours were all out for 68 and the Strollers enjoyed
refreshment with the opposition in the sunshine. Clinton from Giscours
suggested that the fixture next year might involve a BBQ under the Chateau;
this got the Strollers thirsting for a return next year.
Tracks back to Bordeaux started to be made. Wood and Selby,
giddy with the excitement of the day and the prospect of bunking in together
again, jumped into the back of Mangham and Copsey’s camper with some of
Giscours finest tucked under their arm for the ride.
A dinner at Mille Et Une Saveurs, a Lebanese family
restaurant, provided a perfect end to an enjoyable day in the sun.
Capt:
Glen Oliver. Wkt: Rob Wall.
Match report: Mike Daly.
