Match Report
Sunday 13 June -v- Gravesend Rugby Club at Chislehurst
With Spud attempting to turn water into wine, for the Mottingham Clergy XI, against Eltham College, Slack became Nob for a day in our first ever meeting with Gravesend Rugby Club. The return of Tubby Clark, for the vacating Craven Webb, was the only other change to a side that was threatening a devastating run of form. GT duly did what the regular skip had not managed in the previous six games and generously offered our visitors first knock on the sleek green track of The Willows. Gravesend took comprehensive advantage and despite solid displays throughout, particularly from B'Stard and Coco, with three wickets apiece, they managed to set a daunting target of 172. Lardy bowled himself back into form with an accurate, unbroken stint of fifteen overs, though did not get the wicket return it is rumoured he deserved.
The recent comparative success of our openers ended abruptly with JB failing to combat the ‘Straight Ball Syndrome’ and from then on we struggled to maintain the necessary scoring rate. Both Neils found hitting the ball and running a far too tricky equation to comprehend, and though occupying the crease for a good time, it did not improve our prospects of overhauling the target. When the Skip arrived at the ground pandemonium had set in, with Rhino and Darkie engaging in a ‘Who can hoick the biggest contest’, in a bid to retrieve the situation. With the result meandering in the direction of the draw, Limp did what all good skippers do, helping his averages along after GRCC had taken off their best bowlers. Even these late fireworks failed to take us any where near the required total and we closed at a respectable 135-7. GT took his entertainment responsibilities in his usual light-hearted manner by going home for a hot shower and leaving the oppo kicking their heels in the Queens Head for an hour.
