Jordans Taverners
Sunday May 12 at Coleshill Strollers won by nine wickets Jordans Taverners 139-9
(36.1 overs; Brodbeck 2-8, Dela Rue 2-20, Macaulay 2-30, Broster-Turley 1-12, Martindale 1-24)
Strollers 142-1
(20.2 overs; Pittams 86no, Travis 35no). What a lovely day for a game of cricket in the sleepy
Buckinghamshire village of Coleshill. Sadly Coleshill CC folded several years
ago, but the ground and clubhouse have been maintained and host Chesham CC on
Saturdays and Jordans Taverners CC on Sundays. For those with an interest in
architecture, the ground is overlooked by the Grand Designs water tower house.
To save you the walk over there from the club house, you can’t see much of the
interesting parts as they’re buried in a large grass bank.
The Strollers assembled to be greeted by the charming Robin
Yolland, now retired from active service, but an ever-present for Jordans Taverners
since our first game in 1985. Since you ask, the Strollers recorded a thumping
win 39 years ago, declaring on 173-3, then bowling out the Taverners for 49.
Since then honours have been pretty even.
Glen ‘Mr Consistency’ Oliver lost the toss and we were
asked to take the field. James Dela Rue and Gus Wills opened up and James promptly
bowled Joe Baker for two and shortly after encouraged Will Barton to nick one
into the safe hands of Blair Travis in the slips, for a duck.
Ashley Turney, looking his usual solid self, was joined by the
left-handed Simon Hungin, who immediately rattled off a series of boundaries. Freddie
Broster-Turley replaced Gus, and after a few sighters, settled into a good line
and length.
James was unlucky to not pick up another wicket. Turney
edged one to Freddie in the slips, but despite several attempts at the catch
the ball was finally grassed. Then Hungin offered a very low caught and bowled,
was given out and walked off, but being the decent man that he is, James
recalled him as he couldn’t be sure he’d taken it cleanly. We then had an IT
intermission as the scorer, using an iPad, had recorded Hungin out, but didn’t
know how to undo this. IT support, in the shape of the square-leg umpire,
sorted it after a few minutes delay. I don’t think we’ll be seeing Maggie
Patston scoring with an iPad any time soon!
Support arrived, in the shape of Jo Perrin and a friend. Having
taken her customary walk up from High Wycombe, it will come as no surprisethat Jo reported being able to hear Glen seven
minutes before arriving at the ground.
James completed his eight overs (2-20) and Travis took over. A
rare full toss was smashed by Hungin straight at Jim Hodgson at mid-off, but he
didn’t get enough of a hand to it to take the catch – however, he did get a
decently bruised thumb. Glen showed us the way by cleanly taking a catch off
Freddie’s bowling to dismiss Hungin for 24.
Turney was going nicely at the other end, hitting a series
of powerful shots straight down the ground. Unfortunately the new batsman,
Oliver Myers, took one of these full on the back of the head. Wisely, he was
taken from the field and went to be checked out at A&E. A drinks break was
taken and the pre-arranged keeper swap took place with Mike Pittams handing the
gloves to Wills.
Alastair Macaulay was brought into the attack and was
unlucky not to make an immediate impact. Freddie entertained us again with his
juggling skills, again unsuccessfully, and promptly dropped another, rather
more difficult, chance. James was enjoying Freddie’s misfortune, as last week
at Royal Ascot he had been on the receiving end of the team’s ‘support’ for his
drops.
Alastair then got his man with Cameron Hunter holing out to
Glen at long-off. How many times has he lured batsmen to their doom in the long-off,
long-on, cow corner zone? Alastair also bowled his full eight overs, adding the
wicket of Nick Gradel, bowled, to his analysis to finish with 2-30.
Our debutant, Hugh Martindale, showed no cobwebs from
having rested from cricket for a few years, having the danger man Turney (whose
61 was the highest score by some way!) smartly stumped by Wills. Simon Brodbeck
was tossed the ball and trapped Tim Sonnex lbw, then had Austin Tinsley caught
by Gus. The innings was completed when the two keepers combined to run out Matt
Bingle. 139 didn’t seem a daunting total but we were mindful of last year’s match
when, chasing 136, we were bowled out for 98.
Sadly, tea is not a given these days, but Jordans Taverners
put on a good spread for us. Finlay Perrin, taking a break from A Level
revision, timed his arrival well and didn’t hold back on the cakes and sandwiches
- after the players had taken theirs, of course!
Glen sent Mike Pittams and George Love out to open. The first
few balls from Nick Gradle whistled past Mike’s outside edge, creating a little
unease on the boundary, but then normal service was resumed as Mike dispatched
the ball to all parts.
George was run out for five with the total on 39. He claims
he was ‘barbecued by Pittams’, but as your scribe wasn’t watching, this can’t
be confirmed. Blair joined Mike and that was pretty much it. We were treated to
a fine display of aggressive batting from Pittams, ably supported by Travis. Victory
was achieved in the 21st over with Mike finishing on 86 not out and
Blair 35 not out. 70 of Mike’s runs came from boundaries.
All this excitement made for a thirsty crowd, so we
decamped to the spiritual home of Jordans Taverners, the Jolly Cricketers in
Seer Green. Over the years we have enjoyed many a pint here with our friendly
hosts as their former ground was just round the corner. It’s great to still be
playing these long-standing fixtures. Capt: Glen Oliver. Wkt: Mike Pittams/Gus Wills.
Match fees: Simon Brodbeck. Match report: Jim Hodgson.
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