All good things come to an end eventually. We have had some great times but the feeling just isn't there anymore. Hasn't been for a while if truth be told. No-one's fault. We just need a break that's all. Re-define the nature of our relationship. Move on the best of friends and it matters not what people think.
Yep - me and Dunmow Cricket Club need to take some time out. We have been seeing far too much of each other. Played them first game of the season, then an evening 20:Twenty with another 20:Twenty scheduled for next Friday and AGAIN on Saturday. Each time they field a weaker and weaker team to give us a chance. A relationship which is not of equals will not stand the test of time....
It was a GLORIOUS sunny day and The Park looked fantastic - thanks Bretty and Jamie for cutting the outfield and preparing the square. It was a good toss to win and we batted and set off like a house on fire scoring at 8 an over with Ali looking in top form. Then it slowed as their better bowlers came on. 174 all out with a couple of overs left (cardinal sin that) was well shy of par - we were looking at 250+ at drinks. Ali got a half century and for the second Saturday in a row looked set to score his maiden century. It will come my friend.
After a splendid tea (thanks to Angus and Tracy) we set about them and got two early break though wickets courtesy of Jamie and the excellent and improving Biggles (more use of Paul's nickname please). But they dug in. The spinning duo of Brucie (welcome back) and Preacher tied them up and we got 3 vital wickets between us, including the dangerous big hitting affable 'Spider'. And then Charlie came on and showed great maturity to get 2 more vital wickets.
Now get this. With 5 balls of the innings left the last pair are at the crease. They have scored 173 and need 2 to win. Jamie gets the wicket with a great delivery under pressure. We win! Or do we? Walking off Dunmow say we added up out total wrong and only have 172. As Bretty would say "bollocks" - the score on the scoreboard is the right score. Plain and simple. They should have checked. And let's not end the relationship for now on a sour note. Like arguing over the CD collection. Or the juice extractor.
So a GREAT win for Canfield and the closest game in living memory. The skipper knows what he is doing.....sort of.
Man of the Match: Paul Lucas - great bowling and fielding
Champagne Moment: The skipper's leg break that removed spider (sorry but I rarely get a mention and it DID turn the game - pardon the pun)
Idiot Boy Moment: Charlie lobbing the ball back to Jamie only for said ball to land on his bonce.
So a great way to end it all. Angus - I will pass on the Dunmow game this Fri if that is okay. I need some time on my own and to take stock. I wish Dunmow all the best. It's been great. And I love her dearly still obviously.... but more as a good friend now.
Next week we are away (groan) to Sampfords (groan) and then we have the start of cricket week (yippee). I hope the sun continues to shine. And if you got my email about the cricket tour make sure you come back to me in the next 2 weeks. The tour will be a blast as well. Shame its Suffolk... I'd much prefer somewhere like - oh I don't know - East Sussex maybe? Good place to buy a holiday home anyway.
The is Captains Blog living in the moment and everything is alright with the world.
Over and out.
Preacherman
Monday, 30 June 2008
Thursday, 19 June 2008
"Blood"
Big News... my blog has been nominated for an award! Hell yeah. The "You-Have-Too-Much-Time-on-Your-Hands-Jon-Get-a-Life" award. There is but one nominee. But knowing my luck of late I won't even win that.
Saturday's match was cancelled. Again. Hatfield Broad Oak couldn't get a team due to injuries, people working and generally being hopeless cases. So I turned out for the Sunday XI (with Andy Silkstone skippering) and we played away to Wethersfield - the first time Great Canfield had played them.
On the way to the ground I stopped behind Trevor to help attend to a motorcyclist who was injured. Get this - 60mph down the High Roding to Dunmow B road and - smack - a pheasant (yes, a pheasant) flies out right into the biker's visor. Except the biker had his visor up. Messy - a lot of blood and one very dead pheasant. We called a paramedic, cleaned him up and used his mobile to call his mate and girlfriend. He was in a bit of shock (but not as much as the pheasant) and lost a bit of blood due to a broken nose. Like an ancient soothsayer I read the entrails of the pheasant positive in the knowledge that our good Samaritan act would deliver instant karma.
5 hours later and we are getting stuffed at Wethersfield. Small ground, uncut outfield, dead wicket. Paul Lucas dives to stop a boundary. The ball bounces, rears up and SMACK! broken nose number 2 for t heday. That's karma for you. It IS amazing how much blood streams out of your nose, don't you think? Dazed and confused he wondered off leaving a pool of blood on the square... which acted as a useful reference point for the sub fielder ("just to the left of the blood stain, mate - yep - lovely").
It was a timed game and we were never in the running. Could have held out for the draw except the middle and late order batted as we always do.... badly. By the end I had had enough. I should have stayed at home.
Man of the Match: Ali Ross for bowling tight and opening the batting to give us hope
Mug of the Match: Me - for dropping a skier, bowling like a dead pheasant and scoring the sum total of.... 2
Hero of the Match: Paul Lucas for batting last with a broken nose
Next week we have a 20: Twenty game on Friday against Dunmow (yawn - them AGAIN) and on Saturday we are at home to Newport Grammar. THIS MATCH IS A 1PM START.
Charlie has organised this fixture and is doing tea. Such a nice lad... for a Big Girls Blouse. As an established Canfield regular who will be turning out for Newport, Charlie will have something to prove (such as bowling at the Sat XI's skipper's head). So more blood on the way then.
Sorry the blog is late this week but I've been running around like a headless pheasant all week.
Until next time
Jon "The Preecher" Priest
Saturday's match was cancelled. Again. Hatfield Broad Oak couldn't get a team due to injuries, people working and generally being hopeless cases. So I turned out for the Sunday XI (with Andy Silkstone skippering) and we played away to Wethersfield - the first time Great Canfield had played them.
On the way to the ground I stopped behind Trevor to help attend to a motorcyclist who was injured. Get this - 60mph down the High Roding to Dunmow B road and - smack - a pheasant (yes, a pheasant) flies out right into the biker's visor. Except the biker had his visor up. Messy - a lot of blood and one very dead pheasant. We called a paramedic, cleaned him up and used his mobile to call his mate and girlfriend. He was in a bit of shock (but not as much as the pheasant) and lost a bit of blood due to a broken nose. Like an ancient soothsayer I read the entrails of the pheasant positive in the knowledge that our good Samaritan act would deliver instant karma.
5 hours later and we are getting stuffed at Wethersfield. Small ground, uncut outfield, dead wicket. Paul Lucas dives to stop a boundary. The ball bounces, rears up and SMACK! broken nose number 2 for t heday. That's karma for you. It IS amazing how much blood streams out of your nose, don't you think? Dazed and confused he wondered off leaving a pool of blood on the square... which acted as a useful reference point for the sub fielder ("just to the left of the blood stain, mate - yep - lovely").
It was a timed game and we were never in the running. Could have held out for the draw except the middle and late order batted as we always do.... badly. By the end I had had enough. I should have stayed at home.
Man of the Match: Ali Ross for bowling tight and opening the batting to give us hope
Mug of the Match: Me - for dropping a skier, bowling like a dead pheasant and scoring the sum total of.... 2
Hero of the Match: Paul Lucas for batting last with a broken nose
Next week we have a 20: Twenty game on Friday against Dunmow (yawn - them AGAIN) and on Saturday we are at home to Newport Grammar. THIS MATCH IS A 1PM START.
Charlie has organised this fixture and is doing tea. Such a nice lad... for a Big Girls Blouse. As an established Canfield regular who will be turning out for Newport, Charlie will have something to prove (such as bowling at the Sat XI's skipper's head). So more blood on the way then.
Sorry the blog is late this week but I've been running around like a headless pheasant all week.
Until next time
Jon "The Preecher" Priest
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
"Trainee"
Something different this week. I spend an inordinate amount of my precious time at work having to check and sign-off reports written by SPA's 60-strong executive team. Due to one thing and another I have been doing more of this kinda work of late. The highlight is always (and without fail) checking the first draft executive summary penned by one of our Graduate Trainees. Remember: write positively, lead with insight then add the supporting detail (when relevant), make sure the report meets the objectives with firm recommendations at the end and no repetition. Always consider the reader. Easy.
So..... what would happen if a Graduate Trainee at SPA (or elsewhere) wrote up the Lindsell game last Saturday? Shall we see what it would read like? Shall we?
On Saturday the 7th of June, Great Canfield Cricket Club's Saturday XI played a cricket match against Lindsell at Lindsell. The weather was overcast and a bit drizzly. Angus, the Lindsell cricket team's captain won the toss and elected to put Creat Canfield's Cricket Club's Saturday XI, captained by Jon Priest, who is captain of Great Canfield Cricket Club's Sat XI into bat. Great Canfield Cricket Clubs Sat XI suffered badly in conditions that favoured accurate swing bowling and were 15 for 5 wickets after 10 overs. Great Canfield Cricket Club's Saturday XI were bowled out for 80 runs after 22 overs. Patrick O''Brien top scored with 23 and was Great Canfield's Cricket Club's Saturday XI man of the match.
Then Lindsell batted and revered the batting line up so they could give us a chance. The bowlers who bowled for Great Canfield Cricket Club's Sat XI bowled very well and took 5 wickets before the inevitable wining runs were scored by Angus. It was all over in time for tea.
Tea was very nice. There were ham sandwiches and cheese sandwiches and smaller-than-usual pork pies and French bread ham and cheese sandwiches and jammy dodger biscuits and some cake and some tea.
After tea we played a friendly game of "beach cricket" - a 10 over a side format which Lindsell also won and we also lost. Then it stated to rain and we went to the Green Man for a drink!!
Patrick O'Brien was man of the match and Jamie Hall's catch off the bowling of bowler John Willams was the champagne moment. Mug of the match went to Jon for losing the toss.
We all enjoyed the match very much. Neil Brett made his long-awaited debut as did Bomber and they both batted well but did not score many runs.
Next week Great Canfield Cricket Club's Sat XI are playing at home to Hatfield Broad Oak at home at 2pm in the afternoon. I hope we can win that one!!
(Jon - is this okay? - have spent all day writing it).
Sigh
Laters
Preacherman
So..... what would happen if a Graduate Trainee at SPA (or elsewhere) wrote up the Lindsell game last Saturday? Shall we see what it would read like? Shall we?
On Saturday the 7th of June, Great Canfield Cricket Club's Saturday XI played a cricket match against Lindsell at Lindsell. The weather was overcast and a bit drizzly. Angus, the Lindsell cricket team's captain won the toss and elected to put Creat Canfield's Cricket Club's Saturday XI, captained by Jon Priest, who is captain of Great Canfield Cricket Club's Sat XI into bat. Great Canfield Cricket Clubs Sat XI suffered badly in conditions that favoured accurate swing bowling and were 15 for 5 wickets after 10 overs. Great Canfield Cricket Club's Saturday XI were bowled out for 80 runs after 22 overs. Patrick O''Brien top scored with 23 and was Great Canfield's Cricket Club's Saturday XI man of the match.
Then Lindsell batted and revered the batting line up so they could give us a chance. The bowlers who bowled for Great Canfield Cricket Club's Sat XI bowled very well and took 5 wickets before the inevitable wining runs were scored by Angus. It was all over in time for tea.
Tea was very nice. There were ham sandwiches and cheese sandwiches and smaller-than-usual pork pies and French bread ham and cheese sandwiches and jammy dodger biscuits and some cake and some tea.
After tea we played a friendly game of "beach cricket" - a 10 over a side format which Lindsell also won and we also lost. Then it stated to rain and we went to the Green Man for a drink!!
Patrick O'Brien was man of the match and Jamie Hall's catch off the bowling of bowler John Willams was the champagne moment. Mug of the match went to Jon for losing the toss.
We all enjoyed the match very much. Neil Brett made his long-awaited debut as did Bomber and they both batted well but did not score many runs.
Next week Great Canfield Cricket Club's Sat XI are playing at home to Hatfield Broad Oak at home at 2pm in the afternoon. I hope we can win that one!!
(Jon - is this okay? - have spent all day writing it).
Sigh
Laters
Preacherman
Sunday, 1 June 2008
"Biggles"
Everyone should have a nickname. And a hobby. That's my mantra. The world would be a nicer place believe me. Quite a few of the Canfield horde have them (nicknames, not hobbies); Bretty, The Chair, Gus, Clint, Panther and some have abbreviated first names that do much the same job - like Ali, J and Chas. Whilst on the subject I have an amusing tale about a nickname. In 1986 when I was a mere babe-in-arms market researcher I changed jobs and, I know you won't believe this, but I was pretty shy back then: wouldn't say boo to a goose. Took me a while to crawl out of my shell at my new company. Anyway, after a couple of months I was in the pub on a Friday lunch time and the department was talking about nicknames and Lara, the office go-fer turned to me and said "Did you know you have a nickname, Jon?" Buoyed by this as some important right of passage and a sign of acceptance I asked what my new moniker was. "Wanker" she said.
Paul Lucas needs a nickname. We've been here before but haven't quite cracked it. But after Saturday he deserves one. What a great game he played. A catch (off my bowling - always helps get a blog mention), a wicket and a great rear-guard action batting at number 9 where he gets his highest ever score and, with JW (another nickname - see we all have them) survives over 10 overs to protect our last wicket and so earn a not-at-all-well-deserved draw, only to be bowled with 14 balls left. Bugger. It was a mighty effort and we were mighty impressed. Well played sir.
I won the toss and put The Flitch (careful how I spell that) Pilgrims in to bat on a damp but drying wicket. We know this lot of old. Terribly, terribly nice chaps. But just as our battles with foreign foes are won on the playing fields of Eton, so village cricket matches in Essex are won on the beautiful cricket pitch at Felstead public school, this team representing the best of their 1980s Alumni. We bowled well and they made 202 in 34 overs - we skittled them out but they batted positively at 6 an over. Wickets for Priest (2), Ross (1), Lucas (1), Potter (2), Halls (1) and the Chair (1) - they only had 10 players. Our highlight was Charlie's super diving catch at cover (off my bowling - ta matey) - another great catch in successive games for The Big Girls Blouse.
The pitch was damp and the outfield slow. We knew they had made a good score. We would have to bat well and for them to bowl badly after tea. Both these didn't happen.
Ali and Guss opened the batting at a truly glacial pace with the bowling pitched up and straight. We were behind the rate when the first and then the second wickets fell. If I tell you Guss top scored with 25 you'll know the rest. Jamie, The Chair and me scored zip between us, exposing the rest of the team. We had yet to reach double figures. Enter Paul, closely followed by JW and they pushed, probed, defended and nicked it about. Paul played some good cricket shots and JW had a good forward defensive. We thought they'd hold out. We knew our luck must be in when the ball hit the stumps and the bails jumped in the air and landed back on the stumps! This must be our day. But when Lynda, Paul's wife, got all excited andwent to fetch her camera to photo her hero out in the square I knew we were tempting fate...
A great game tho'. Close, tense, fun and played in a chirpy but informal atmosphere. We will welcome the Pilgrims back next year and.. they will beat us again whilst being terribly nice about it. I will wear my Class War t-shirt next year.
Man of the Match: Paul Lucas
Champagne Moment: The ball-defying bails (thanks bails)
Mug of the Match: Clint - for nearly getting timed out when his turn to bat because "I was putting a new number plate on my car" - with his pads on - as you do
Thanks to Lynda and Paul for doing a first class tea. Next week, we are AWAY to Lindsell, 2pm start. Another tough game. I do seem to recall being a touch scathing about them in my blog last year ("Chin Up, Lindesll!) - I wonder if they will remember? It will be good to see my old mate Sniper again.
Right, back to Paul has his nickname. What do we know about him? Well, he flies planes in his spare time and he played a heroes innings, so how about... Douglas Bader? Ha-ha.
Biggles it is.
Good week everyone.
Preacherman
Paul Lucas needs a nickname. We've been here before but haven't quite cracked it. But after Saturday he deserves one. What a great game he played. A catch (off my bowling - always helps get a blog mention), a wicket and a great rear-guard action batting at number 9 where he gets his highest ever score and, with JW (another nickname - see we all have them) survives over 10 overs to protect our last wicket and so earn a not-at-all-well-deserved draw, only to be bowled with 14 balls left. Bugger. It was a mighty effort and we were mighty impressed. Well played sir.
I won the toss and put The Flitch (careful how I spell that) Pilgrims in to bat on a damp but drying wicket. We know this lot of old. Terribly, terribly nice chaps. But just as our battles with foreign foes are won on the playing fields of Eton, so village cricket matches in Essex are won on the beautiful cricket pitch at Felstead public school, this team representing the best of their 1980s Alumni. We bowled well and they made 202 in 34 overs - we skittled them out but they batted positively at 6 an over. Wickets for Priest (2), Ross (1), Lucas (1), Potter (2), Halls (1) and the Chair (1) - they only had 10 players. Our highlight was Charlie's super diving catch at cover (off my bowling - ta matey) - another great catch in successive games for The Big Girls Blouse.
The pitch was damp and the outfield slow. We knew they had made a good score. We would have to bat well and for them to bowl badly after tea. Both these didn't happen.
Ali and Guss opened the batting at a truly glacial pace with the bowling pitched up and straight. We were behind the rate when the first and then the second wickets fell. If I tell you Guss top scored with 25 you'll know the rest. Jamie, The Chair and me scored zip between us, exposing the rest of the team. We had yet to reach double figures. Enter Paul, closely followed by JW and they pushed, probed, defended and nicked it about. Paul played some good cricket shots and JW had a good forward defensive. We thought they'd hold out. We knew our luck must be in when the ball hit the stumps and the bails jumped in the air and landed back on the stumps! This must be our day. But when Lynda, Paul's wife, got all excited andwent to fetch her camera to photo her hero out in the square I knew we were tempting fate...
A great game tho'. Close, tense, fun and played in a chirpy but informal atmosphere. We will welcome the Pilgrims back next year and.. they will beat us again whilst being terribly nice about it. I will wear my Class War t-shirt next year.
Man of the Match: Paul Lucas
Champagne Moment: The ball-defying bails (thanks bails)
Mug of the Match: Clint - for nearly getting timed out when his turn to bat because "I was putting a new number plate on my car" - with his pads on - as you do
Thanks to Lynda and Paul for doing a first class tea. Next week, we are AWAY to Lindsell, 2pm start. Another tough game. I do seem to recall being a touch scathing about them in my blog last year ("Chin Up, Lindesll!) - I wonder if they will remember? It will be good to see my old mate Sniper again.
Right, back to Paul has his nickname. What do we know about him? Well, he flies planes in his spare time and he played a heroes innings, so how about... Douglas Bader? Ha-ha.
Biggles it is.
Good week everyone.
Preacherman
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