The 12-man V&A beat the Andy Taylor XII by 7 runs in a keenly contested 35-over game. Everyone contributed in their own special and sometimes spectacular ways. At 130 for 9, the Taylors needed 24 to win with capable batsmen, Green and Cooper, at the crease. Rob Taylor, their skipper, was still in the hutch ready to bat at 12. With the boundary miles back and a slow outfield, the V&A conceded only 15 runs and nipped home. That Rob Taylor did not get to bat was a relief to the V&A. The Taylors won the toss and chose to bowl on a green top. After Poynter fell straightaway for a duck, breezy knocks by Roger Smith (14) and Wayland (not many) helped an assured Rupert Morris (18) take the score to 50 for 4 off 13 overs. Morris deployed his late cut to great effect and thrilled us all […]

WINNER. WINNER. CHICKEN DINNER! Exclaimed Snooker World Champion, Stuart Bingham on hearing that the V&A had won their first match in 11 months. The form book suggested a win, but George Winters and his Townies & Country Folk XI have enough quality players to turn over a V&A side lacking the experience of De Caires, Bowden and Morris. George has recently moved home to Crackpole Hill and looked like he had been juggling numerous youth football fixtures in the morning. Either might explain his absence till tea. Olly Winters took up the reigns and led his team out to field in a 30-over game. Like the V&A squad, T&CF XI has a fairly balanced side that contains some talent and youth. This year they fielded 2 very competent 8 year old munchkins and a box of Rebellion Ale. Jesus was it cold up there. Pete Bridge and Alex Deacon bowled […]

The scorebook records the weather as warm, sweaty and almost foreign. The setting was as blissful as ever. All the V&A needed was good company and a tight game to complete the dream. The National Theatre was the finest of company, but could not match the strength in depth of the 9-man V&A team on the day. Skippers Peter Singh and Nick P-G did not toss, but agreed that V&A would bat first in a timed game. An hour later, questions were being asked whether Nick Emley understood the difference between a timed game and a timeless game. The V&A batting order was set by age order. Initially. We may feel that we ought to bat higher, bowl more overs or umpire less, but we keep shtum. Petulant Lachlan Nieboer (1981) did not. Thankfully, his David Essex neckerchief was tight enough to stop his neck exploding with rage. Of our […]