The extraordinary thing about the V&A’s match on Saturday 17 May was that the team were obviously thought to be so talented that they took on not one but two teams, a combined Penn Street and The Hermits (in fact, as neither could quite raise an eleven).  But the story then became even more complicated as they came with twelve so to give everyone a game one of theirs also fielded for the V&A, meaning that to avoid too many on the pitch at one time, one of the V&A had to drop out every five overs and merely admire their comrades from the pavilion. And if you are still with me so far (which I very much doubt) hang on until it gets even more complicated as one PSH (as I shall call the combined opposition) strained a muscle when batting, thus needing a runner who of course largely stood at […]

Refreshers  152-6.  Pitlarge 2-27,  Jacot 2-15, Hayley 1-21 V&A 136 all out. Arnold 59, Bird 47.  Richard Jory 5-23 On Saturday the 14th a hand-picked and carefully selected band of brothers (enhanced at the last moment by most of captain Bird’s extended family) took on The Refreshers, apparently a bunch of lawyers who clearly knew a thing or two about the rules (or should one say ‘laws’) of cricket, comprising 7 men and 4 women – who proved to be their secret weapon if not with the bat, then certainly with the ball taking two if not three of the first few wickets when it came to their turn to show how things should be done. One of the Birds seemed to win the toss and so the mighty V&A took to the field with as they say the sun shining brightly over the Stonor valley and the deer wandering […]