Newsletter and Match Reports - 2004

The President’s Review of 2004/05

It is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain the publication of the Newsletter in its present form so plans are evolving to change the way we keep in touch with members, playing and retired, to make better use of innovations in technology. This is likely to be the last publication in its “old” format.

The seasons 2004 and 2005 have followed a similar pattern with the Frogs unable to conjure wins in the early part of the season but finishing each year with a succession of victories. The Western Tour, five wins in 2004 and three in 2005 contributed significantly to our late flourish in each season, and I congratulate Richard Lawrence and Marc Williams for getting together on tour a group of talented young players who really enjoy their cricket and the delights of touring cricket in the west country on attractive grounds.

However, the club still has problems fielding strong enough sides in many of our fixtures in the London area. In 2005 there was a trend where we did not score sufficient runs quickly enough to set a competitive target and then did not have the bowling firepower to put opponents under sustained pressure. Often we would get early wickets but find that our second line bowlers could not follow up the advantage or defend a score that was 30 runs too few. I am sure that this is a problem which affects other wandering clubs and indicative of putting out sides with too many older players. The catch of course is that younger cricketers are often heavily committed to league cricket on Saturdays and for various reasons are unable, or prefer not, to play regularly on Sundays.

The continuing call must be for the club to attract good young players with a varied and interesting fixture list and then succeed in getting them to play for the Frogs regularly. However, I can report that we have secured some able young cricketers to play for us in our core fixtures – James Mason in particular played consistently well for us in 2005.

Playing Record - The Last Six Years

Year	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Abandoned/ Cancelled
2000	29	7	4	7	11
2001	22	3	9	4	6
2002	23	2	6	6	9
2003	25	9	5	6	5
2004	25	9	5	4	7
2005	24	6	10	6	3

On a sombre note there have been several deaths of members to report: James Campbell, who supported and entertained Frogs sides for many years on their Cambridge tour; Frank Chamberlain who was heavily involved in Leicestershire cricket and at one time chaired the TCCB; Oliver Spurway, a loyal and enthusiastic Frog, and recently John Thicknesse, a noted cricket journalist and John Letts, an attacking all round cricketer. His fierce assault on the young Derek Underwood , already a Kent 1^st XI bowler, at Beckenham was remembered for many years. Sadly age is beginning to take its toll of that rich seam of fine cricketers who featured so prominently for us in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

G L Prain

Leading Performances 2004

(based on scoresheets and reports received)

Batting

M Williams	121*	v	Devon Dumplings
Chetwode	121	v	Hampshire Hogs
Waters	116	v	Old Cranleighans
Chetwode	c.97	v	Hurlingham
Baker	95*	v	Nomads
Loader	86	v	Gents of Worcester
O Williams	84	v	Somerset Stragglers
Pargeter	74*	v	Grasshoppers
Leather	74*	v	North Devon
Phillips	67*	v	Old Cranleighans
M Williams	67	v	Grasshoppers
McIver	63	v	St Georges
Trevor	61	v	Guards
Loader	60*		North Devon
Warner	59	v	Old Cranleighans
T Wright	56	v	Somerset Stragglers
Prain	52*	v	Privateers
R Lawrence	52*	v	Somerset Stragglers
M Williams	52	v	Sussex Martlets
Walker	54	v	Hampshire Hogs
Mann	42*	v	St Georges
Pargeter	42*	v	Sussex Martlets
Leather	41	v	Devon Dumplings
Mason	40	v	Hampstead
Janmohamed	40	v	Guards

Bowling

E Bray	7-49	v	Wiltshire Queries
Rodger	6-51	v	North Devon
T Wright	6-71	v	Somerset Stragglers
Rawlinson	4-53	v	Grasshoppers
Walsh	4-22	v	Nomads
Roger	4-29	v	Hampstead
Marshall	4-36	v	Guards
Marshall	4-57	v	St Georges
T Green	4-121	v	Somerset Stragglers

Frogs vs Wimbledon CC

Venue: Church Road

Date: 2nd May

Result: Match Cancelled

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Frogs vs Harrow Wanderers CC

Venue: Ascott Park

Date: 16th May

Result: Match Cancelled

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Frogs vs Amersham CC

Venue: Shardeloes

Date: 23rd May

Result: Lost.

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Frogs vs Hampshire Hogs CC

Venue: Warnford

Date: 30th May

Result: Match Drawn

Frogs                           248-6 dec        (Chetwode 121, Walker 54)

Hampshire Hogs         242-6               (Westbrook 3 for 45)

Unfortunately the scoresheet has been mislaid (I had it – ed.) and this report is being written purely from (fading) memory. The memorable events however were Chetwode and Walker opening the batting because Abeed had a car full of Frogs and they were stuck on the A31! Mike smashed a magnificent 120 odd supported admirably by Edward Walker with a classy 51. The Frogs declared before halftime on 280ish but failed to bowl out the Hogs, who never threatened to get close, and the game rather petered out to a draw with the Hogs 8 down. The other notable event was the President, having already taken one fine catch in his customary gulley position, then stopping a certain 4 with his head. A visit to casualty and a few weeks’ recuperation resulted.

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Frogs vs Grasshoppers

Venue: St Georges College, Weybridge.

Date: 31st May

Result: Frogs win by 64 runs.

Frogs               280-7 dec        (Pargeter 74*, M Williams 67, Ward 39, Warner 38)

Grasshoppers   216                  (Rawlinson 5 for 53)

A strong batting side performed to plan rattled up 280 for the Frogs in 50 overs. A brisk opening stand of 63 between Richard Bray and Andrew Warner, who threatened a repeat of his pyrotechnics for Amersham against us the previous week, gave the Frogs the right platform for a big score. Duncan Ward and Marc Williams, who batted beautifully, then added over 80 together, after which Shane Pargeter joined in a further lucrative partnership, Pargeter scoring freely all round the wicket.

The Grasshoppers lost two early wickets to Pargeter and Ward, but there followed an excellent stand between Smalley and Turner. The score reached 100 before Harry Rawlinson, kindly captaining the side on the day, put himself on to bowl. His first three balls went for 10 and saw Smalley go to his 50, who however was promptly out off the fifth ball. Harry got another wicket in his second over and two more by the end of his sixth, effectively stifling the Grasshoppers challenge. From 160-4 they subsided to 168-8, although some tail end hitting boosted their score to over 200.

Our thanks go to the St George’s College for the use of their pitch. The weather came up trumps and the Frogs emerged convincing winners. All in all a good day’s cricket.

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Frogs vs Chesham CC

Venue: The Meadow

Date: 6th June

Result: Match Cancelled.

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Frogs vs Nomads CC

Venue: Epsom College.

Date: 13th June

Result: Frogs win by 9 wickets.

Nomads           140                  (Walsh 4 for 22)

Frogs               143-1               (Baker 95*)

“If it were done, when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well

It were done quickly:”

Later in the above speech, Macbeth questions the long-term consequences of the assassination under discussion. Happily for the Frogs, the main consequence of finishing off the Nomads by 4.15pm was that we were away in time to watch England’s opening game in Euro 2004.

Games like this one are seldom satisfactory, but it is always better to be on the winning side, and equally good to win emphatically.

Inserted on a slow pitch which showed signs of overnight watering, the Nomads only mustered as many as 140 as a result of some mixed early bowling. Twiston Davies and Marshall bowled some useful deliveries, though, and Marshall made the first breakthrough, via a high catch held nervelessly by Jones.

Walsh was introduced after a period of Nomads consolidation and, as predicted by Norman, cut down the middle-order with his accuracy and some movement off the seam. The match manager snaffled a couple with his darts, and Abeed finished off a sorry Nomads innings with a turn of the golden arm. The Frogs fielding was excellent, notably Jones and Phillips, and it was good to see Brown leaping about at short leg as of old.

With four hours to chase the target, Baker made good on his promise to clatter everything, and launched a number of enormous hits in his unbeaten 95. Phillips and Janmohamed provided sensible support to the big man’s fireworks, and the feeble Nomads attack, and the total, was seen off with around 45 overs to spare.

Epsom College was, as usual, a terrific backdrop to what should have been a much better game. Also disappointingly, the catering standards had declined (and the price had increased) since last year.

It may be that our two clubs are mis-matched – this victory was too easy, and a number of Frogs did not get much of a game. Nevertheless, it was nice to win, and my thanks to all those who played.

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Frogs vs St Georges XI

Venue: St Georges, Weybridge.

Date: 20th June

Result: Match Drawn

St Georges College     231-6 dec        (Marshall 4 for 57)

Frogs                           184-8               (McIver 63, Mann 42*)

Frogs flattered to deceive early on in this game but eventually settled, rather thankfully, for the draw.

The St George innings saw Frogs, if not rampant, lazily catching flies on outstretched tongues as Marshall, belying age and infirmity, picked off the first four wickets in a twenty over opening spell. At the other end, Joe Ireland bowled substantially better but was rewarded with no wicket for 85 in his 27 overs. The longevity of the opening bowlers was a clear indication of the paucity of back up, and so it was proved by Ambrose, coming in at number 7, who struck exactly 100 not out before the grateful Frogs were allowed respite with the declaration at 231.

A poor start after tea was remedied by the robust Neil McIver with a hard hit 63 (to follow his ton last year). The only other worthwhile score came from Russell Mann at number 9 with a similarly hard hit 42 not out. No one else exceeded 17 as the Frogs, always edgy, resisted the schoolboys’ push for victory in a fixture which again appeared to demonstrate the advantages of youth over experience.

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Frogs vs Old Cranleighans

Venue: Cranleigh

Date: 27th June

Result: Match Drawn

Frogs                           279-4 dec        (D Waters 116, Phillips 67*,Warner 59)

Old Cranleighans        227-6

After the various late risers had arrived, Frogs won the toss and batted.  The track was excellent and looked particularly good while Warner was batting.  His 59 came out of the first 71 runs scored and all but 7 came in boundaries.  When he departed, quickly followed by Baker, the scoring slowed so sharply that at lunch Frogs were 112-3 off 27 overs.  The first 10 overs after lunch yielded only 23 runs but then Waters (D) decided to open up.  77 came off the next 10 as he made his way to 116, ably supported by Phillips (67*) and Frogs eventually declared at 279/4.

OCs seemed intimidated by the target and started hesitantly.  Copleston scored his 56 so slowly that he made the chase almost impossible.  Janmohammed valiantly tried to increase the tempo but he was always going to be Rodger’s bunny, the only question was whether he’d get his hundred first.  After he fell for 93, OCs put the shutters up and the wicket was too good for Frogs to bowl them out.  Ward bowled well at the top of the innings and Waters (S) bowled 18 excellent overs of leg-spin with very little luck in his 2 for 106.

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Frogs vs Privateers

Venue: Haileybury College

Date: 4th July

Result: Lost by 4 wickets.

Frogs               159      (Prain 52*, Marshall 24)        

Privateers        160-6   (Twiston-Davies 3 for 43, Walsh 3 for 31)

With only six players at the ground on time a tactical win of the toss was required. The call was correct and the Frogs duly elected to bat. Team happy and the prospect of an experienced assault of the Privateers bowling looked on the cards with 17 quickly being reached by Ian Rolland and Richard Bray. However, the common menace of interesting shot selection and some enthusiastic appealing by the Privateers saw the Frogs a little unsteady at 63 for 6 at lunch! Numbers 3, 4 and 5 had contributed three zeros but Sean Brogden a useful 23. However, the Frogs had by then sent in their unflappable President, Graham Prain to restore order.

The Haileybury setting, pitch and lunch was good and our stoical optimism lifted a little by a bottle of port. Graham requested a glass for when he had finished batting and was told by the captain that should he bat to half past three one would be kept! The team also decided that an optimistic target of 150 should be set.

Graham batted carefully, providing good guidance to the lower order. Keith Roger chipped in with 15 quick runs but the target still looked some way off when we were 106 for 9. However, this only bought Andrew Marshall and Graham Prain together. They then amassed 54 runs together with Graham scoring an excellent 52 not out, containing 8 fours. Andrew also played well, and straight, hitting 24 to be the second highest scorer. So all out at a quarter to four with Graham earning his very well deserved glass of port and with our lunch time target surpassed leaving Privateers to get 160.

Bill Twiston-Davies and Steve Walsh were unleashed with the new ball and after some excellent catches by Graham Prain, Sean Brogden and Keith Roger the Privateers were struggling at 49 for 5. Graham’s catch was particularly good, the square cut being hit very hard by the opener into the gulley region. Bill had collected three of these wickets. The game looked on but the Privateers also had an experienced middle order. Despite using all six Frogs bowlers in rotation Thomas and Perry both collected good half centuries. Steve Walsh was bought back for a final attack and with the help of another good catch, this time by Ed Bray who also fielded very well, Steve collected his third wicket. The final 20 overs were ticking away and the rain began to fall with the scores level. However, despite appeals to the umpires we stayed out on the pitch and the Privateers collected a well deserved win with 14 overs remaining.

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Frogs vs Old Wellingtonians

Venue: Wellington College

Date: 11th July

Result: Match Cancelled.

The Wellington College groundsman called this game off in advance following unsettled weather, although the forecast for the Sunday was reasonable. And so it turned out; the sun shone and cricket was played all around SE England, unfortunately not at Wellington, leaving 22 disgruntled cricketers to find other ways of spending the day.

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Frogs vs Stowe Templars

Venue: Stowe School

Date: 18th July 

Result: Match Drawn - Rain.

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Frogs vs Hurlingham

Venue: Hurlingham

Date: 24th July

Result: Frogs lose.

The Hurlingham game was a disaster! The game did occur (in then absence of the Match Manager who was at a wedding). Last minute drop outs meant that Danny Baker led the six Frogs, fortunately batting, only to be “all out” just before lunch. In the hope of a real game Keith Roger was kindly permitted to bat again and he saw us through to lunch with the recently arrived Rawlinson who made up for thinking the game was on a Sunday by arriving changed and reaching the middle en route from the car park already padded up!

After lunch matters improved as Chetwode struck the ball to all parts and ended not out in the 90’s only be cut adrift by his 11 (?) year old son who unfortunately proved unable to accompany his father to a second century of the season.  By the close we had lost, but just about gained respectability as a result of an impressive performance with the ball which, at one point, look like securing an impressive and most unlikely victory.

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Frogs vs Mitcham CC

Venue: Mitcham Green

Date: 5th August

Result: Match Cancelled - Rain

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Frogs vs Adastrians CC

Venue: Vine Lane

Date: 8th August

Result: Lost by 8 wickets.

Frogs               214-8 dec        (Prain 34)

Adastrians       215-2                          

Various cry offs and sudden unavailability left the standby captain leading a makeshift side. The Frogs won the toss and at lunch had made a reasonable 92-3. However, the passage of play afterwards shifted the balance seriously the Adastrians’ way. The middle order became totally becalmed while wickets tumbled.  At 127-7 Graham Prain and Keith Rodger had much to do to retrieve the position and add some body to a derisory score. They were partially successful, taking the score to 200 before a delayed declaration; but a meagre total to defend on a fast pitch and outfield.

Worse was to come. It quickly became apparent that our bowling resources, hampered by Andrew Marshall injuring a muscle early in his spell, were as threadbare as the batting had earlier been.

The Adastrian score bounded upwards, largely in boundaries, as a plethora of loose balls was despatched to all parts. The openers plundered over 100 but with no back up bowling to follow up a couple of wickets which fell to Nick Rayner, the Adastrians cantered inexorably to an easy victory.

The result was particularly disappointing after the previous two years when the Frogs had played all the good cricket but failed to convert totals of 300 into wins.

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Frogs vs Ashtead CC

Venue: Ashtead CC

Date: 15 August

Result: Match Cancelled.

A full Frogs side was becoming increasingly suspicious at the lack of opposition as the appointed hour drew near. As the umpire would normally have been calling play an apologetic representative of Ashstead appeared, heavily burdened with tales of how mobile messages had been left earlier in the week. Unfortunately any such messages had gone unrequited and Frogs were left to unburden the messenger at the bar before heading home.

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Frogs vs Sussex Martlets CC

Venue: Arundel

Date: 18th August

Result: Frogs win by 3 wickets.

Sussex Martlets           206-8 dec

Frogs                           207-7               (M Williams 52, Pargeter 42*)

Having woken up to a very grey, wet and miserable London skyline, I have to honestly admit that cricket was the last thing on my mind at this stage. My mood was further compounded as I drove down through Guildford and Petworth, the chances of any play were looking very remote as a result of heavy overnight rain.

Harry, Duncan and Keith kept me abreast of the weather patterns and Duncan went so far as to say “it’s a day for swimming rather than cricket, I am stuck on the M25 but the game won’t start on time anyway, will it?”

I spoke to the opposition skipper Mike Harrison at least a half a dozen times between 7.30am and 10am, who informed me that there was no rain at Arundel and that the covers were off.

Upon arrival the outlook was cloudy but there was no rain, so far so good. As I walked out to the middle to toss up, I was short of an opening bat and and opening bowler, as well the normal and expected late arrival of Keith, what do I do if I win?

“Tails never fails” is what I was always told as a 12 year old, it still holds true. Job number two successfully completed – “we will have a bowl please.”

On a very untypical green Arundel pitch, Duncan produced a great spell of swing bowling with the wind while Shane bowled skilfully up the hill into the wind, which coupled with some superb fielding and catching in particular by the President leading by example, had the opposition at 73-4 after 33 overs.

A well deserved and superb lunch followed the morning session, but the 3 choices for desert left Keith feeling slightly full and not ready to turn his arm over. In the 2nd over after lunch Rob ‘Gilo’ Warburton induced a false shot from the batsman who must have not had enough lunch that he wanted to get back before it was all cleared away.

During the afternoon session, the wicket got better and batting became easier nonetheless we bowled manfully and were able to restrict the opposition to 206-8 after 57 overs. Were it not for some lusty hitting by their skipper Mike Harrison and Nick Creed it could have been less. However 207 to win in approximately 40 overs on a drying pitch, was always going to test us.

Our reply did not go according to plan or the first part at least, Harry Rawlinson was bowled in 1st over trying to pull a ball which he says ‘kept low,’ despite him wielding a bat which had all the characteristics of a railway sleeper.

This brought together the Williams ‘sisters’ who took the attack to the bowlers and at Tea we were looking in very good shape at 81-1 after 15 overs. All going according to plan now!!!

Shortly after reaching 50 Mark had a waft at a wide one and was caught behind, Matt Haynes soon followed bowled by Mike Harrison, then the middle order and Owen decided that to commit ‘hari-kari’ and two run outs and the President, ‘sacrificing his wicket’ we were staring down the barrel at 149-6 with 10 overs to go.

Thankfully some intelligent batting by Hugo Norman and Shane Pargeter 23 and 42 not out respectively ensured that there was no more drama, despite Hugo getting himself out with the scores level, and forcing yours truly to put his pads back on and score the winning run.

A win with 6 balls to spare, and the weather held, final job complete.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable day, superb lunch, ground and result. I hope Harry managed to get home, safely, we left him under a tree waiting for the RAC.

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Frogs vs Guards

Venue: Burton Court

Date: 22nd August

Result: Frogs win by 1 run. 

Frogs               182-6 dec        (Trevor 61, Janmohamed 40)             

Guards            181                  (Marshall 4 for 36, Janmohamed 3 for 32)

An hour before play, the omens seemed good for a fine day’s cricket. The weather was sunny and the setting of Burton’s Court was magnificent. Each team had 11 players.  Unfortunately, the Guards’ groundsman had gone AWOL and no wicket had been prepared – evidence perhaps of the effect of defence cuts at the grass roots level. It was left to members of both teams to mark out the popping crease, with white paint and teaspoons, and to prepare the wicket. With this achieved, the Frogs won the toss and batted.

After the early loss of Matt Drury (making his Frogs debut), Abeed Janmohammed and Matt Trevor batted very fluently and put on 68 for the second wicket, before Abeed fell for 40. Freddie Jones and Trevor took the total to 116 before Trevor’s polished innings came to an improbable end – lbw to a ball that bounced twice. The middle order of Jones (22), Richard Chalk (19) and Richard Phillips (27) all chipped in to take the score to 182 and a declaration after 49 overs. Predictably, the Guards’ bowling was mostly military medium but this suited the pitch and made strokeplay risky.  Rowley was the pick of the Guards’ bowlers, with figures of 12-2-32-3. But 183 looked a fair target.

The Guards’ innings got off to a bad start and quickly got worse - Abeed and Andy Marshall shared the early wickets. At tea, the Guards were in a parlous state at 47-7 and an early end to the game seemed imminent. But just when each Frog was privately planning what to do with the remainder of the afternoon, Giles Harris and Marcus Barnett of the Guards started to mount a rearguard action. At first, the runs came slowly, almost imperceptibly. A partnership of 50 was posted; then 75; then 100. The Guards’ target was reduced to only 32 runs off 8 overs. The Frogs found themselves contemplating a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. A breakthrough was needed.

It came in the form of Sean Brogden. Giving plenty of air to his off-spinners, Brogden finally tempted Barnett into carting the ball into Jones’s safe hands at deep square leg. Barnett and Harris had put on 104 for the 8th wicket. Shortly afterwards, Brogden snared the Guards’ number 10. With the Guards at 156 for 9, the Frogs breathed a collective sigh of relief. But Harris and the Guards’ number 11 stuck manfully to their guns, and inched towards the target. By the last over 6 runs were needed. Four runs came off the first 5 balls. The very last ball of the match saw the result decided. With 2 runs needed, the Guards got into confusion and Harris was run out at the bowler’s end. A fine victory for the Frogs by the narrowest of margins.

Mentions in despatches go particularly to Marshall (15-1-36-4), Abeed (12-2-32-3) and Brogden (8-0-27-2). The Frogs’ fielding was also very solid – hard chances were taken by Jones, Phillips, Prain, Abeed and Drury. Simon Ravindran also fielded with tremendous commitment. All in all, a great afternoon and a perfect advertisement of the entertainment and enjoyment afforded by Frogs cricket. Thanks and congratulations to all who played.

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Frogs vs Gents of Worcester

Venue: Malvern College

Date: 29th August

Result: Frogs lose by 7 wickets.

Frogs                           190                  (Loader 86)

Gents of Worcester     191-3

After last year’s convincing victory, Frogs were unable to raise a full side to rise to the challenge of a strong Worcester Gents side. Frogs lost the toss and were put into bat, where the bowlers were immediately met with the savage blows of Danny Baker’s stroke-playing technique, getting Frogs off to a blistering pace in the first ten overs. However, this assault was not to last when the aerial route of the ball was met by an eagerly awaiting mid-off for 34. Ed Bray unfortunately also succumbed early, bringing James Mason to the crease (who managed to score 24 in one over out of his sophisticated 32 between 3rd slip and point – magnificent!) with Frog and tour debutant Ed Loader – and what a debut! After learning about the ‘no sixes’ rule, Ed batted with patience and class for a superb 86 and allowed the Frogs to reach their respectable total of 190. The rest of the Frogs team did not fare so well with the bat with only the President reaching double figures in the lower order. When the Frogs took to the field, the weakness of the Frogs bowling attack was evident, even with the variation and aggression from Keith, and the Gents managed to reach 191 for only three. However, the Frogs were competitive and went down fighting. Two mentions of catching are worth mentioning; firstly from the President at gully off another Frog debutant Ed Maidment, bowling with some pace and secondly a one-handed dive at mid-off from Danny Baker! With a full side this fixture could have been a lot more evenly matched, but it leaves next year’s game as the perfect opportunity for the Frogs to bounce back to winning form.

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Frogs vs Exmouth CC

Venue: Exmouth

Date: 30th August

Result: Match cancelled.

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Frogs vs Devon Dumplings CC

Venue: Exeter CC

Date: 31st August

Result: Frogs win by 6 wickets.

Devon Dumplings       208-9 dec       

Frogs                           209-4               (M Williams 121*, Leather 41)

After the match in Worcester, this was seen to be the first match of the tour, as this was the first match where the touring party was complete. With the Mitcham tourists unavailable for the Sunday fixture due to a wedding only joining up with the squad on the Monday evening.

It was a superb victory for the Frogs, cruising to victory with an over to spare, having been set 209 to win off 48 overs. The Exeter pitch didn’t look as good as it has done in previous years, but with the local knowledge obtained from R. Lawrence and winning the toss it was decided that Frogs would have first bowl on it. In the end the pitch was quite a good one – if you were a spinner, as it turned miles! Tight bowling restricted the Dumplings, with J. Pooley taking 3-57 the pick of the bunch, although T. Green, E. Bray and K. Rodger all backed him up with fine spells of their own. Two run outs also helped the Frogs in the field, along with good fielding and good work behind the stumps, with O. Williams taking 1 catch and 2 leg side stumpings.

After 64 overs in the field, the Frogs couldn’t afford to take their time in reply, however they couldn’t afford to lose early wickets. This is exactly what happened, and at 16-3 things weren’t looking too bright. However, M. Williams joined S. Leather in the centre and with a patient approach without ever getting bogged down, slowly started to knock off the runs. Batting was never easy against the turning ball, so the gritty 41 made by debutant S. Leather in a stand of 136 was vital. With M. Williams nudging and stroking the ball into the gaps the other end, the match was beginning to swing Frogs way, however, Leather was dismissed with 57 still required. In strode the President who came in and knocked the ball about. With 20 still required off 3 overs there was still much to do, however, M. Williams took a liking to the returning opening bowler, taking 14 off off an over, allowing the match to be finished in style, the President ending on 21*.

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Frogs vs North Devon CC

Venue: Instow

Date: 31st August

Result: Frogs win by 97 runs.

Frogs               219-6               (Leather 74*, Loader 60*)

North Devon   122                  (Rodger 6 for 51)

A second win for the touring Frogs, this one was a little easier than the game at Exeter. The Frogs reached the ground early for a spot of beach football, some Devon ice cream and a good laugh at the Marines getting stuck in a huge hole that they had just dug on the beach!  This was a day for the Frogs to utilise the squad, so it was decided that Marc Williams be rested after his efforts at Exeter (this was to be vital in the decision for Brian of Bampton Award!).

The Devon side is usually either very young or very old and this was to be no exception. However the Frogs made heavy going of it with the bat. Indeed, things looked bad for the Frogs after 13 overs at 38-3. However Ed Loader and Simon Leather turned things around, both unbeaten with knocks of 60 and 74 respectively. Frogs ending up on 219 for 6 off 48 overs having accelerated impressively with 91 coming off the last 10 overs!.

In reply, North Devon never really looked likely of getting anything out of the game, even with 12 players! This game always produces the best out of Keith Rodger, last year he took 5-41, this year he bettered it by taking 6-51! Good bowling from both James Pooley and Tom Green, who took 3-46 and 2-8 respectively, supported him. Keith then celebrated by going for a dip in the less than warm sea! Even more impressively he avoided mishap with the Marines on night-time manoeuvres!

Special mention to ‘Tadpole’ Simon ‘Chasing’ Leather, who took the Brian of Bampton Award for his important 41 at Exeter and his 74* at Instow, and his general tidiness in the field. Hopefully a Frog for many years to come!

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Frogs vs Somerset Stragglers CC

Venue: Taunton

Date: 2nd September

Result: Frogs win by 20 runs.

Frogs                           258-4               (T Wright 56, O Williams 84, R Lawrence 52*)

Somerset Stragglers    238                  (T Wright 6 for 71, Green 4 for 121)

The Grudge match for the Frogs! This is normally the game where the Tourists start to suffer from injuries / illness / general tiredness / hangovers and the performance over the last five or so years has reflected this. However, this year it was all to change. The whole tour was geared towards this match, and as such opening pace spearhead Tom Green had only bowled a handful of quick overs, in order to be ready for this match. Another masterstroke was to keep the one appearance from Tom Wright for this game, both were on top form as the rampant Frogs marched on.

This fixture had been moved to the second pitch at the ground, as possibly the biggest marquee ever was being erected on the outfield of the first pitch. This enabled the minefield of a pitch that was used in last year’s fixture to be avoided. However this did result in a bit of a trek to the pitch, as well the smallest and hottest changing rooms which resembled a potting shed!

Batting first on a decent pitch, the Frogs went about the task patiently, but with the scoreboard constantly ticking over. At 25-1, in strode Tom Wright. He played magnificently, smashing the ball to all parts, in his typically Devonshire approach to batting – “if it’s there hit it, if it’s not, hit even farther!” He departed for a well made 56 and brought together Owen Williams and Richard Lawrence, who put on 111 for the fourth wicket, Owen making a hard grafted and often improvised 84, and Richard ending on 52*.

In reply, the Stragglers went about the task in their usual free scoring fashion, quickly putting on 58 for the first wicket. Things weren’t looking too good for the Frogs at 147-2, however the Toms bowling started grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and started to apply pressure to the Stragglers. Soon it was 195-7, and the match was beautifully poised. Would the Frogs manage to snare another 3 wickets or would the Stragglers knock them off? It proved to be the Frogs day, with Tom Wright bowling magnificently and Tom Green ably assisting at the other end wrapping up the tail, and enabling the tourists to go out into Taunton that evening on a high.

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Frogs vs Wiltshire Queries CC

Venue: Tidworth

Date: 3rd September

Result: Frogs win by 1 wicket.

Wiltshire Queries        98                    (Bray 7 for 49)

Frogs                           99-9

The final match of the tour, played 3, won 3 (still maintaining that the Sunday game doesn’t count!). Could the Frogs make it a 100% record on tour? The tourists carried their weary / hung over bodies via a number of strangely named places in Somerset (many thanks navigator Lawrence!) to Wiltshire. Special mention here to Tom Green’s marvellous piece of driving out of the hotel car park!

Normally this fixture is rain affected, giving the fatigued/alcohol weary bodies of the tourists a little bit of respite, this year it wasn’t to be the case. The Tidworth pitch has deteriorated over the past few years and this year it was even worse. Very little bounce and carry, unpredictable movement along with the slope didn’t lend itself to runs being scored freely. Having lost the toss, and asked to bowl, the Frogs were happy at bowling the Queries out for 98, even if it was twenty runs too many. The star of the show was Ed Bray, taking 7-49 in two fine spells of bowling.

In reply, the Frogs struggled with the bounce getting lower and lower, struggling to 78-9, still 21 runs short of victory and staring defeat in the face. However, Owen Williams and Chris Westbrook thought otherwise. Both were determined not to get out, blocking the ball when required, nudging the ball and leaving the ball when and if they could. Nails were getting shorter as the pair pinched every run they could, inching their way towards the target, before they scampered the winning runs.

Victory snatched from the jaws of defeat, 100% tour record, and a superb week had by the tourists!

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Frogs vs Hamstead CC

Venue: Lymington Road

Date: 5th September

Result: Frogs win by 38 runs.

Frogs               175-7               (Mason 40)

Hampstead      137                  (Rodger 4 for 29)

A 40 over a side game was agreed because of a ladies cricket match that had been arranged for the morning.

The Ladies of Hampstead sipped champagne and watched Trevor and Mason stride to the crease after the Frogs won the toss.  Rendell, the left-arm quick once again opened for Hampstead and proved just as difficult to score from as he had the previous season.  Only 8 runs came from his 7-over spell.  Myook, at the other end, also bowled tightly, conceding just 17 from 5 overs.  While this seemed a slow start in a limited overs game, Matt and James were patiently building the only partnership of note in the match.  When Aitchison replaced Myook the shackles were loosened and 30 runs came off his 4 overs. 

By the time Burnell got one through Trevor on 20, the opening pair had put on 80. Phillips joined Mason who was bowled by Wasim Khan for 40.  Walsh and Rodger both swung lustily to increase the run rate and were successful, for a short time.  Steve hit 2 fours in his 9 and Keith hit a 4 and a 5 in his 12.  The Frogs were looking unsteady when Phillips was caught and bowled by Berks for 22 and Chalk came and went without bothering the scorer. 

The President steadied the ship by skilfully finding the gaps in the field; Rolland prodded a while for 7 and Marshall ended the innings on a high by scoring the same from 2 balls, an indication of future potential when pinch hitting is required.  The President remained undefeated on 18.  The Frogs had scrambled 175 from 40 overs and were not at all confident that it was enough.

Hampstead started well.  Walsh and Marshall were tight in the early overs but Burnell and Chapman were starting to look settled.  Trevor came on and had Burnell (18) caught behind and followed up by trapping Carter (18) in front.  The match was evenly balanced, when in a decisive spell Marshall bowled both Els (0) and Smith (0), and Phillips followed by removing Rendell thanks to a sharp catch by the President. 

With a combination of accurate bowling and extraordinarily tight fielding, inspired by the vigour of Trevor, Mason, Tim Chalk and Chris Prain (who, in his enthusiasm tore his cricket attire in a way that was undoubtedly most pleasing for the ladies), the Frogs began to take a firm grip on the game.  The in-form Rodger not only removed the dangerous Chapman (41) but also bowled Chibber (4), Aitchison (0) and Moore (19) to finish with 4-29 from 7.2 overs.  The Frogs had Hampstead all out for 137 in 35.2 overs.  It was probably the best bowling and fielding performance of the season.  In a match in which no batsman had been allowed to dominate, the Frogs opening stand proved decisive.  The pressure exerted by the Frogs in the field had undoubtedly helped in defending a relatively modest total.  A very satisfying performance.

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