On a  glorious Sunday morning, 24 cricketers engaged in a epic battle of leather on willow!  The pitch, as ever, was groomed to perfection by John (Malpass), and both he and Roy (Smith) donned the white coats, and stood guard over proceedings!

The lads captain Matty Humpleby tossed up with the Dads vice captain, Chris Wood and after winning it, 'Woody' chose top bat first. The Dads opened up with Richard Naylor and Robin Kettlewell, and the other early order was Mark Jackson at 3, and Kev Kerfoot at 4.  This is important to know, as after 4 overs, that Dads had slumped to 4 for 4, with all these gents back in the tent, Jacques Allen, Tom Brine and Alex Naylor (with 2) doing the damage!  (Mark 'Fergy' Ferguson took 3 catches). This did not bode well!! 

Enter the next two gladiators, Russ Brine and Tom Stalley.  With some scampering and lusty blows, the score rattled along to 15 before Tom was caught behind with a 'spitting viper' of a delivery off his gloves from 'Fergy', quickly followed by Richard Dalton who missed the 'preverbial' straight one from Adam Slater.  Next up was Daz 'Dazzler' Slater, who last year was cruelly run out without facing a ball, determined to make amends he set about the attack ably assisting Russ until the score reached 25, Russ having reached 15 retired from the crease.  Well batted Russ!  Woody was next in, in his first ever innings, after negotiating the first one, he was castled, Slater getting another.  Adam 'Paddy' Patrick (last years Lads skipper, who was 'subbing' for his dad, John) entered the fray! A lusty blow to the boundary first up against his nemesis, Matty was quickly followed by his dismissal, as he had his timbers rocked, to much jubilation from the lads! That was the one they really wanted!!   At 33 for 8, the Dads were in dire straits!  The dependable Dom Allen strode to the wicket and with ease helped himself to 3 boundaries, Dazzler was then cleaned up by Jamie Allen for a determined 7 and that meant the last man and captain Stolarski went in to see what he could do to push the score along.  Matty then pulled off a master stroke, by putting on Jacques Allen for his second over.  This was 'THE' classic Dad v Lad encounter.  Dom was already on 13, and knowing Russ was ready to come back to the crease, he decided to put the boy in his place, Jacques floated one up, Dom 'danced', nay 'skipped' down the wicket, his eyes (under his sunglasses!) were as large as saucers, he wound up like Babe Ruth eyeing up a 'homer', he swished.........the crowd gasped.........he missed, and Tom 'Huffers' Huffinley whipped off the bails, leaving Dom stranded, and more importantly OUT!! The last pair was now at the crease, Russ and Stol, could they turn around the fortunes of the Dads? Matty then tried the trick of the last over again, putting on Stolarski Junior against Senior.  His first ball was sent down, and Dad managed to push one round the corner for a single. PHEW!!  Russ then facing went for one blow too many and his stumps were flattened, wrapping up the Dads innings for a lowly 57!!  A disappointing performance by the Dads, but credit where credit is due, well bowled and fielded to the lads!

The Dads would have to bowl well !

 After a well earned cuppa and a bacon sandwich, this titanic struggle was re-commenced. Cricket always has the capability of making you smile at anytime, and ensure you see things that other sports simply cannot.

Enter the six footer Jamie Allen, and 3 foot Alex Naylor to open up, a brilliant, brilliant moment!! 

Determined to get the team off to a flyer, Jamie set about the attack from the off, and with consumate ease, plundered the Dads to all parts, before retiring with the games only 6!  Next in, skipper Matty who clearly wanted to put the game beyond doubt with aggressive intent.  But he didn't account for man of the moment, Russ Brine who 'sent his bails to Wales' first ball!  Revenge was sweet for the keeper Paddy, who let Matty know his thoughts!!  Russ wasn't finished yet, who in the same over skittled Joe Stolarski with his last ball of his over, 28-3! Naylor and Eddie Kerfoot were watchful for a couple of overs, taking stock and defending some miserly bowling, As the pressure built, something had to give, Eddie was sharply caught by Richard Naylor off his own bowling and after crashing 2 boundaries over the grasping and 'swallow like' Dalton, Naylor was caught at Cover by the captain off of Stalley's bowling. 

 The score was now 47 for 5, could the unbelievable happen, could the Dads pull it out the fire?? Not if Slater had anything to do with it, he came in, confident as ever, putting his first two scoring shots to the boundary and taking the score over 50, victory was in sight, but going for another big shot, he was cleaned by Woody with one of his floaters! 54 for 6! This soon became 55 for 7, 55 for 8 and 55 for 9 as Fergy and Matt Stalley fell to Jacko and Jacques fell to Brine (whose figures were a magical 3 for 0!)  These last 3 runs were taking some getting! 

The lads wanted 3 runs, the Dads needed two wickets, the ever growing crowd were literally on the edge of their seats. Ross Kettlewell and Tom Brine were at the crease, and the ball was thrown to Stalley to ball a tight over.  First ball, WIDE, 56 - 9, next ball WIDE, 57 - 9, the scores tied!  It was left to the confident Ross to clip the next ball off his pads to see his side home. The lads had made amends for last years defeat, and earned themselves a deserved victory!  Well done the Lads.

  All was left was for the cup to be handed to the winning captain, Matty Humpleby!!

Personal thanks to John and Roy for officiating, and Liam Stanhope for scoring, and Immy Ahmed assisting with the tins.  To the tea room for keeping the crowd fed and watered, and to the crowd themselves for supporting this ever entertaining and enjoyable event.

Also to the Dads and Lads who without them, this game could not take place!

Thanks again, and see you next year!!

                                                            Andre