Wuff lost the toss, which put us into field on a day that could have been mistaken for mid-August. The pitch was a fine one, with good pace and bounce, and largely true. Andy kept wicket freeing Jon to put in an very tasty spell of bowling that was unlucky not to have been rewarded with a wicket. Sporting a magnificent mane, variously likened to that of John Snow, Jeff Thomson and Robert Plant, he speared in some fine yorkers and would be wise to steer clear of the barbers on this evidence.

Stephen, though not yet run into top form, put in a pacey early spell that tested the DUDs opener. Wickets weren't falling, but the Dragons were being held to an acceptable run rate, especially in the tight first five overs, which only went for thirteen runs. The Pages put in very creditable performances, with Bob bowling a good three over spell and Margaret formidably economical over eight overs, with a wicket to boot. For a man held together almost entirely by Danish massage Lars bowled superbly to bag three wickets in a brilliant four over masterclass. But for pure sporting theatre, Gaf's dramatic two wickets/double stumping in two balls took the glittering prize. Overall, it was a good bowling effort (with Murd and Jonny getting into the stumping act as well) and it was only in two seperate five over periods after 30 overs that the DUDs really were able to let fly. A score of 200-odd would have been chaseable, but we just weren't quite able to hold them to that.

The Dragons make a very decent bowling attack, and our batting showed a bit of rustiness, although Andy hit a boundary and a six in succession and Jon, with a nasty neck twinge picked up in the field, nonetheless hit some beautiful shots and was unlucky to be caught off a fine straight drive back over the bowler's head. Jeff Plant looks to be a very promising young cricketer. Murd had a sharp cameo innings. Lars was cruising in fine form with six boundaries under his belt, but departed for 37. But perhaps the highlight was a solid late partnership between Stephen and the skipper that steered our scoring ship at least within the harbour of respectability.

But it was still a thoroughly enjoyable day against fine opponents, a feeling made all the more so by the knowledge that our remaining time at Hedders is there to be savoured.

BACK TO MAIN PAGE