Western Tour 2023

Day 1 

East Woodhay (won toss) 155ao (36 overs).

Frogs 276-4 (40 overs) win by 121 runs.

On Sunday 27th August the Frogs arrived for their fifth annual fixture against East Woodhay CC to kick off the Western Tour. With the rain of the previous day that had significantly impacted the league fixtures (in what was a rather scrawly summer) thankfully abating to allow a full day of cricket.

On arrival at East Woodhay it was a good job that Andy Marshall arrived, as otherwise Elgar would have had a very sad week off at Chez Marshall - more on that later.

Turning to the cricket it was Andy Carson skippering for the day who lost the toss and the Frogs were inserted on another East Woodhay road! It was the skipper that opened up with Thierry Pascal (his first tour in 20+ years!) and after a steady start from East Woodhay the Frogs only took 25 off the first seven overs. However, this lay the foundations the Frogs required as from here the skipper cut loose supported well by Thierry as they scored 59 in the next seven overs and Andy brought up a 52 ball fifty. At the other end Thierry reached 31 before pulling one to square leg at 86-1 from 15. Ben Ward (on his tour debut) joined the skipper and the Frogs progressed nicely to 123-1 at the halfway stage but with the Frogs not forgetting that 250 is a par score!

After drinks, Ben found his way and deposited a six over the pavilion which lost the ball, whilst at the other end Carson continued on his merry way, reaching 100 off 86 balls which now means he has scored a hundred on every day of the week of the Western Tour.

Sunday - 115 vs East Woodhay CC (2023)

Monday - 101 vs Wiltshire Queries at Tidworth (2018)

Tuesday - 152 vs Devon Dumplings at Exeter CC (2014)

Wednesday - 102 vs North Devon CC (2012)

Thursday - 104 vs Somerset Stragglers at Valley of Rocks (2013)

Friday - 114 vs Somerset Stragglers at Taunton Deane (2019)

He was dismissed caught mid-off at 174-2 for 115 off 91 balls which brought Tom Marshall to the crease and he was quickly joined by Chris Lawton as Ben was caught for 27 at 185-3 with 12 overs left. Though the Frogs still wanted to post 250 and the rest! Marshall and Lawton ensured this was on course, both hitting excellent lofted straight drives - Marshall hitting a couple of those for six. When Lawton was bowled for 8 it was down to Paddy Searing (who did not get bumped out this year) to join Tom at 235-4 with 4 left. Marshall got to an excellent 50 from 41 balls and then some good running and placement from the pair saw the Frogs post an excellent 276-4 from their 40 overs. Marshall 60* and Searing 18*.

Tea followed and included perhaps the best white chocolate and raspberry cupcake I have ever eaten but the Frogs had to tear themselves away and go and field with a good score on the board.

As per last year the Frogs opening combo of Jono Wright and Jack Ellis bowled nicely and finally one of them was rewarded! After overstepping and having T Talbot-Williams caught at point by Joe O’Gorman, Jack managed to keep his foot behind the line and the same batter miscued a pull to mid-on, where Pascal did the rest. After 12 overs the Frogs had done well to keep EWCC to 57-1 and both Ellis and Wright were replaced by leg-spin. One leg-spinner was keener to have a bowl and it was Jog who got the second wicket bowling a good line outside off and Carson snaffling a good catch at extra cover from a low full toss. At the other end Tom Allen (GT) was into his spell, despite putting on his best grumpy impression and not wanting to bowl! He managed to get a wicket in the next over, bowling Mitchell for 2, and when he had B Talbot-Williams caught at the deep midwicket boundary by Tom Marshall (for a well compiled 58) he had two! The smile was nearly back and the Frogs were in the ascendency at drinks with EWCC 96-4.

After drinks Jog was replaced (only so the skipper got his bowling combos right) by Andy Marshall who bowled an excellent spell and in tandem with GT saw the Frogs take a further four wickets for 16 runs in the seven overs after drinks which put an end to the game. Three of those being bowled and the other off GT was caught by Paddy at midwicket. At 112-8 from 27 the EWCC skipper A Barnes had nearly run out of partners but with S Clements added 37 for the 9th wicket. GT just missed out on a 5-fer, trying to bowl the number 10 but finished with great figures of 8-1-36-4 - not bad for a man not wanting a bowl! After he finished Jog returned and he got the final two wickets. One skied to mid-off and then just as the seamers were about to return for their last two each, Adrian Batchelor skewed one in the air and skipper Carson took the catch at extra cover. Jog finishing 8-0-38-3 and Malc, perhaps with the most economical figures ever seen at East Woodhay (at least in this game!) 8-2-15-2.

This meant that the Frogs ran out winners by 121 runs but still on a very good pitch, just an excellent Frogs performance to start the tour. Elgar (see 2016 tour note) was awarded to Tom Marshall and at this stage I will refer you back to paragraph two of this report! The morning of the game, Tom had inexplicably and inexcusably left Elgar at home! Thankfully he was not driving himself to the game so was able to ring Malc to ensure he was brought along.

Having had food at the local pub, the Frogs were early into the local Spoons and enjoyed some excellent entertainment. The game of fives proved difficult for some e.g. Jono who lost a round despite having checked out five times - not keeping a straight face was proving challenging, the object game proved infuriating for some (bar James Hamilton who got it instantly) and a game of 20+1 was as usual even tougher. GT also managed to shout 10 (with two of his hands in and only one of Poshy’s) but kept both his hands clenched meaning a maximum of five.

However, the highlight of the evening came on the dancefloor. With the Frogs nearing the end at 1am until Joe O’Gorman came running through the Vinyl exclaiming a foam party on the Cameo dancefloor! Words cannot do it justice (hopefully the photo of Jono will) but what followed was perhaps the funniest 30mins of the week as eight of the next day’s playing XI managed to get doused in continual foam (and consequently soaked). A FOAM PARTY! The previous recorded foam party was 1998 in Taunton so 25 years on the 2023 Frogs were pleased to reignite the memories. The eight members then returned to their hotel rooms drenched but culturally better off - showers all round and time for some kip before Day 2.

 Day 2

   

Day 3

Devon Dumplings 144ao (33.4)

Frogs (won toss) 120-8 (39). 

Match Drawn.

On Tuesday the Frogs arrived at Exeter under dreary skies and with the radar set for a day of light drizzle - it turned out to be very correct. Andy Carson did manage to win the toss and the Frogs elected to bowl as the first lot of drizzle came down at about 1110 but play did start at 1135, only 5 minutes late. The Frogs won the toss and with no surprise elected to bowl. It was Tom Marshall and Jack Ellis that opened up and applied the early pressure as the Dumplings were reduced to 10-2 from 3 overs with one a piece for the openers, both wickets bowled. The first four were in fact bowled with two more for Tom and the Dumplings 42-4 after 13.

It looked like it would become another low scoring game as lunch was taken after more rain at 61-4. After lunch Ellis (7-1-21-1) was replaced by Jono who took wickets in his 2nd and 3rd over and when James Hamilton picked one up in his second it was 75-7. From here though the Dumplings skipper Ewen lead the counter attack and played excellently. He managed to propel the Dumplings to a very competitive 144ao with Jono Wright finishing with the excellent figures of 4-33.

As the Frogs came to bat the weather really did not improve and they sent James Hamilton out to pinch hit with skipper AC. There was an extended tea of 40 minutes due to rain and after the break Hamilton nicked off for 7(27!) and Lawrence joined AC. It was at this stage the rain was really falling and there was a discussion about whether the game should continue. The umpires and captains decided to see how things panned out and the rain did finally abate, but the grey skies didn’t. AC on 25 and moaning/not running with a sore foot - shouldn’t have inside edged drives onto the same part of the foot on Sunday played a tired shot and chipped to mid on for 23 but really needed to double it. Rich Lawrence at 3 also made 23 and played some glorious shots but he too was dismissed and when Paddy (17) went an over later it was suddenly 76-4.

The Frogs had been circumspect on a tricky pitch with even more rain on it and had not scored overly quickly.  So when Kieran Grey (6), Owen Marshall (13) went and Joe O’Gorman (1) went the Frogs were in a bit of bother. However, with Tom Marshall and Callum Carson at the crease there was still a chance, needing 47 from 11 overs with 3 wickets in hand.

However, it was so hard to force the rate and with 27 to get in 3 overs Callum (13) tried but was caught slip. This brought Jono in to join Tom for the last 16 balls and the Frogs shut up shot and drew, 24 short of the target.

An excellent game of cricket against an excellent Dumpling side on a pitch difficult for scoring runs. However the Frogs will look to perhaps conceding 20 too many or non of the top 4 really pushing on.

Elgar - Elgar was awarded to tour manager AC for his antics during and after the lunch break. With a 5 month sabbatical including a trip to India for the Cricket Worlf Cup it was an important day as tickets for India vs England were due to be released. A reward was offered of £20 to any frog that could help the manager secure a ticket but due to the slow nature of the website the skipper for the day was still in the queue at the end of the lunch break! So GT was summoned as 12thers to don his whites! To AC’s delight but very little other excitement a ticket for Lucknow (A) was secured but with AC missing 30 minutes for this he was awarded Elgar!

Day 4

 

Day 5

NDCC league XI vs Frogs - Cancelled

As dinner concluded at the Boathouse on the Wednesday evening, news came through that Thursday’s game vs North Devon League XI at Valley of Rocks had been cancelled. The forecast was right and there was very heavy rain overnight and the next morning so it was definitely the correct decision but a shame for the tourists. It left the tour organisers scrabbling for ideas but with indoor bowls and pitch and putt high up the research agenda, especially as the previously used Indoor Bowls centre at Barnstaple and pitch and putt at Exeter were known to have closed down. However, there was good news in the morning as two very productive phone calls from Tour Supremo were made and activities were organised.

The first visit was to the Mid Devon Indoor Bowls Centre in Tiverton and we must give them a big shout out for their hospitality and for accommodating us at short notice. Readers of the 2018 tour report will realise there is quite the love for Bowls amongst the Frogs and a fabulous two hours were enjoyed by all.

Twelve players played pairs bowls on three rinks with differing pairs in all three rounds that were played with some varying standard but all actually quite impressive! Matched by the bowls club hospitality.

The gold medal match in the third round was between the best players from the first two rounds which saw Thierry Pascal and Andy Carson play against Tom Marshall (who with AC had beaten Cal and Rich 13-1 in the opener) and Kieran Grey. It was a very tight game but after three ends the score was 3-1 to Pascal and Carson, who had enjoyed a two point end in the third thanks to a couple of excellent Pascal deliveries. The final end saw some very high quality bowls with the Grey/Marshall bowling first. After Marshall bowled their pairing’s second of four to within a foot on a long distance jack (exceptional bowling) and with Grey also in close they were two up early. Carson took on a bit of a risk to smash Marshall’s bowl out the way, stepping up with a driver at pace that was executed to perfection, to Tom’s utter disbelief and disappointment. With a bowl left each Marshall/Grey were still winning by a point (needing two to force a decider) but Grey did nestle in to about five feet out giving them the two they needed. But Carson with the last bowl produced an excellent forehand which snuck within Kieran’s to seal a 3-2 win for Pascal and Carson who ended up “champions” of sorts.

All the morning did though was reignite the love for bowls amongst the Frogs and again a huge shout to the MDBC for having us!

The afternoon saw a pop to Spoons for a quick lunch and then on to par 3 golf at Chumleigh but upon leaving the MDBC something was left behind on the way to lunch! Tom Marshall not checking his passengers and leaving GT in the car park in the drizzle!

Arriving at Chumleigh the morning’s rain had passed and the Frogs went out in groups of “expected” ability.

Group 1 - Thierry Pascal, Jono Wright, Callum Carson, Kieran Grey

Group 2 - Andrew Carson, James Hamilton, Richard Lawrence, Tom Allen

Group 3 - Stephen Walsh, Joe O’Gorman, Tom Marshall, Marc Williams

Group 4 - Owen Marshall, Yasmin, Zara Siddiqi, Lauren Hoare

An excellent afternoon was enjoyed by most(!) and a massive thank you must go to Chumleigh Golf Club for looking after us. The scores were as follows (for those that completed 18 holes):

Par 54

67 - T. Pascal

69 - A. Carson

70 - C. Carson, J. Hamilton, S. Walsh

71 - J. Wright

76 - K. Grey

80 - J. O’Gorman

81 - R. Lawrence

82 - M. Williams

Elgar was awarded to Jono for the day as a result of bringing his own golf clubs, bag, everything else and being the best golfer and ending up coming 6th! TMars somehow avoiding Elgar for leaving a passenger in the car park!

The evening was excellent as the Spelt managed to find space for the 10 Frogs that wanted to dine and the others enjoyed fish and chips from the local fish bar.

Day 6