Saturday 1st XI Vs Harpenden

Boars! Apologies for the lost weeks... Scoop Nichols has only recently informed me that I have only 500 words to play with after typing out small novels he couldn't fit them to the web page...

So, like Saturday's game, this will be short and sweet!

Arriving at the ground a little tired after entertaining the Boars and Boarettes with a summer BBQ, it was time to forget trying to find out who was sick on his front lawn and focus on the job ahead..... Come on who was it???

With Harpenden rooted to the bottom of the tree (surprising, as they have been tough opposition over the years) skip lost the toss and was sadly asked to bowl - with booze on our breath, we knew it would be hard going. Sweating like a Scouser doing a spelling test, Goltzy took the new ball on a green wicket... from the start he had the ball swinging and cutting off the seam causing our visitors early problems... With Gladiator also in full swing and looking surprisingly fresh after a couple of late tequilas the night before, they worked well in tandem containing the openers, and it was not long before wickets began to tumble. Supported well with some great fielding and catching, especially the one skip caught low at 1st slip... (Show boating) by snatching it between his fingers :-( it was ta-da for the day for me... Chilling in the summer sun with bandage to boot, it was nice to see the guys bowl out the visitors, who low in confidence could not contain our disciplined attack - all out for 64. By three O'clock, our openers were strapped in and ready to stroll out to complete a good day - what could go wrong? ....

Not being able to nail what’s wrong with our very talented batting line up, “oh yes it’s just come to me, lack of discipline or application"... we found ourselves 10 for 1 and there the rot set in. At 50 for 6, tempers were running high in the pav... Gladiator kicking balls and skips contemplating switching the oven on... only to realise it's electric... the visitors, thankfully had to take off their young talented opening bowler (under 19). With this forced change of bowling, Ben capitalised on a couple of bad balls and bang, we were almost there... not before he was dropped... if that had been taken it would have been very interesting, but thankfully it wasn't and the Boars claimed the 30..

Returning home a littler sore with split webbing, and with victory, I was safe in the knowledge that the ever lovely Natalie would be looking after my well being whilst taking care of a small sausage… left over from the BBQ it was time again to dig in!! Another game, another drama... but well played Boars.

A win is a win and 2nd place we proudly sit... its stressful but I love you all.