Win for HWRCC takes Wick to Second place
Hampton Wick Royal won the toss and decided to bowl (ATS)
Weybridge Vandals 181-5 (52) Buckell 46, E X Tras 35 HWRCC 184-5 (31.2) Goulborn 52, Fudge 50 Gloubron, Cole, Fudge*, High, Wright, Hirsch, Iqbal, Webster, Powell, Soppitt, Clark+ A comprehensive win for HWRCC was marred only by a fielding performance from the away side reminiscent of a bad under 10s game. Once again we generously donated 35 extras to the opposition – virtually two batting points worth. Without them this would possibly have been one of the slowest assembled totals of the season had not Barnacle Bill of Kingstonians basiled his way to 27 of the most tedious runs since Chris Tavare was last told to bat all day and not to worry about the scoreboard. However when we came out to bat the runs were knocked off at round about six an over emphatically demonstrating that we were real cricketers, we just couldn’t field. Today we are second in the table as our old friends at Ripley did us a favour by not chasing Chobham’s total in 52 overs. Thanks lads. Once a bunch of blockers, always a bunch of blockers. The other thing that marred the afternoon’s entertainment was the nearby Shepperton village fete. We were not affected by the result of the biggest marrow competition going against us, nor were we inconvenienced by the Victoria sponge bake off (although whoever assembled the teas might have at least dropped by the stall to see what was available). No – what did absolutely mar the afternoon’s entertainment was the afternoon’s entertainment which was a succession of local bands playing approximately one hour sets. A hard rock set at about 4pm was particularly difficult to play through. It sounded almost as if a new abattoir had been opened and they were working through a serious back log of animals in double quick time. However the only thing that was actually being murdered was the back catalogue of ACDC, Van Halen and others. One of theirs suggested that’s where he would rather be. There’s no accounting for taste. It’s not to say that it was the worst performance in the field you will ever see. In fact the Wick limited Weybridge to a scoring rate of under 3.5. However 52 overs was a long time to field in unpleasant June temperatures and the last 10 overs produced a waterfall of runs which pushed Weybridge to perhaps 20 more runs than we had budgeted for. It was only really then that things slightly disintegrated and we couldn’t get ball in hand or up in the air quick enough. Before, we were affected by a strange malaise which found us on the back foot or ambling when run outs were possible. There was no calling in the field and point and cover were constantly, it seemed, getting in each other’s way while everyone steadfastly refused to hoy the ball to right end when run outs were possible which was, it seemed, about once an over. Clark had another day behind the timbers which he would rather draw a veil over 14 byes in the scorebook testament to an inability to deal with inconsistent bounce. There are a number of reasons for this slow rate. Opener Lord batted approximately 41 of the 52 overs on the day to assemble 33 runs. This was both a boon to his colleagues as he anchored the innings and a boon to us because he anchored the innings so well that no one batting around him could get the strike and he was having one of those afternoons we all have from time to time which one might describe as “scratchy”. Early on he edged a returning Webbo between Clark’s right hand and Wrigthy’s left at first slip and it’s a moot point whether it was worth one of them clinging on. Whilst it would have made Webbo’s figures look better and given him some reward for a largely accurate and at times rapid spell, it did save us rather a lot of runs. A shocking call on a Cole / Clark stumping effort later “you nearly had him it was this close” had the effect of winding Clark up to his harrying worst behind the stumps but similarly had the desired effect of keeping Lord at the crease. The second reason was 16 of Wrigthy’s marathon 17 over spell which went for only 36ish runs. That the last went for 12ish was probably a result of having bowled 16 overs of military medium on the reel in 28 degree heat. This was a polished performance from a batsman who has bowled a mere four overs for the 2s in 12ish games. Time and again he beat the bat with away swing and cut the occasional one back for variation. Only the impressive Buckland played a stroke that was truly under control at him all afternoon. Most of the runs he conceded in the first sixteen overs were scored through or over the slips much to everyone’s annoyance. All the other bowlers went at round about threes too in what was a fine effort from them. Buckland’s innings was in total contrast to that of Lord. The youngster (sixteen Wickman is guessing) played extremely well off his legs tucking Webbo away for a number of well placed fours behind square. He also worked Iqqers into the leg side from a succession of well timed drives. He middled absolutely everything except the two plumb LBW shouts against him the second of which was given off Powelly. His 46 runs established Weybridge in the game and gave them a sound platform from which to build. It was the stand out innings of the game until Fudge batted in HWRCC’s reply. Of the rest of Weybridge’s batting Wickman can remember little except that it accelerated at the right time at the end and the skipper embarrassed himself by calling a no ball when he spooned a borderline delivery to Golby at backward square which, after he had pointed it out, both umpires concurred with. Oh dear… 181 would not be enough unless Weybridge were a bowling side. In the event they turned out to be, like the Curate’s egg, good in only parts. Which was a little like tea. Good in parts. There was some kind of exciting sardine and vinegar sandwich which got the old taste buds a tingling. There were individual small Cornish pasties. There were radishes and spring onions. Presentation was poor though. The old harridan behind the bar looked like she hadn’t been happy since the late 1960s which detracted from the ambiance somewhat. Tea mugs were Wickman’s personal bete noire – horrible fake glass numbers with the capacity for about a spit’s worth of the brown stuff. If it wasn’t for the sardines this would be barely adequate. Couple this with the fact that we were all in something of a sulk about the fielding and you’ve got a fairly grim occasion. 5. Enough said. While we are on the subject of the bar Weybridge Vandal’s ground should come under the microscope. The track they had prepared was about as lively as a council run old people’s home which is why only ten wickets fell all day. The outfield had the twin perils of lumpy surface caused by rabbit furrows and a shelf running across which Joe Hirsch did well to negotiate in taking a difficult chance presented by Weybridge’s skipper. The island on which the club stands seemed to be littered with rugby paraphernalia. No vista was complete without an abandoned scrimmaging machine it seemed – like some grim graveyard for agricultural machinery. The obligatory floodlights for winter training were there too. The club itself was of no architectural merit whatsoever and the bar did not even overlook the cricket. It was a hotch potch of 1940s house with concrete monstrosity changing rooms built on along with a pre-fab annexe which housed… what? Nothing. Weird. Ugly, ugly, ugly. Frankly it could be absolutely beautiful what with the Thames running along both sides but this is obviously a place where only men come to play sport and the eye does not wish to linger. The Hampton Wick assault on Weybridge’s score began at 4anoverish with Cole and Golb reaching 50 courtesey of a drop by the Weybridge ‘keeper that would have had Clark reaching for the quill to pen his retirement. Cole looked comfortable until trying too hard to get on top of opener Tribe to perish at 25 from 35 balls. Fudge began his innings by blocking five balls and then hardly bothered with another ball afterwards, accelerating to 50 from 34 balls in total, overtaking Golb in the 40s. None of early strokes could be said to be timed or from the middle, but he soon found rhythm and his best was a flat pulled six over square which cleared the boundary by 20 yards. He was severe on every bowler. If Weybridge thought they might draw the game it was this innings, that injected pace and ferocity to the reply ,which made it all but certain that HWRCC would emerge victors. The partnership between Golb and Fudge of 88 in 50 minutes was brutal. But perhaps not as brutal as Charlie High’s innings of 17 off 9 balls that was close to child abuse coming as it did off the bespectacled youngster who so enraged Clark earlier. There was time for Golb to reach 52 from 84 balls – the vital anchor role as evidenced by Lord earlier only this time with runs and at a pace well above “snail”. Wrighty nurdled 19 runs, Hirschy picked up a second ball duck off a very decent ball and Junaid fiddled around for a not out nought before the final runs came in the 32nd over. Clark, Soppitt and Powell were held back to give the youngsters a chance otherwise perhaps the result would have been achieved even sooner in a flourish of agricultural blows. The Weybridge skipper was overheard saying that it was no disgrace to lose to us and he was right. In this form with the bat only the toss could have saved them because it was obvious that they had enough talent in the side to stick around and draw this had they bowled first. For the home side Soltan took a couple of wickets and was remarked to be a good player and Buckland came on and was complimented too. Tribe looked the pick of the attack and will have better afternoons. Golby reported on some banter which went along the lines of Oppo: So are you the one who got a ton recently. Glob: No that was him (pointing to Fudgey at the other end) Oppo: The 151? Glob: No, he just got a 100, the other guy is playing 1s. Oppo: Oh, okay. Glob: Oh and Charlie’s coming in next. He has scored two hundreds in the last month. Oppo: :( So that’s it for this week. Wickman is now away for a couple of weeks in the cricket free region of Spain, strangely at the same time as Clarky, so someone else will have to take over the mantle of match reporter and food critic. The team will be strengthened by the return of the very capable Stephens behind the sticks. With two wins in a row, HWRCC is experiencing an uplift in fortunes at a critical moment in their season. July looks now to be the crucial month in which we need to stay ahead of the chasing pack and even open up a gap if possible. Come on boys… Oh. Mom is Fudgey. 50 off effectively 29 balls is some going and made sure we Wickwashed Weybridge (the 3s cleaned them up a couple of weeks ago and the 1s did it yesterday). DEl saved Wickman the trouble of searching out a TFC performance by calling it himself as we walked off...
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